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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
Says the prophet Isaiah: “When they shall say unto you, Seek
unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep
and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the
living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony. If they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
[
Isaiah 8:19, 20
.] If men had been willing to receive the truth so
plainly stated in the Scriptures, that the dead know not anything,
they would see in the claims and manifestations of Spiritualism the
working of Satan with power and signs and lying wonders. But
rather than yield the liberty so agreeable to the carnal heart, and
renounce the sins which they love, the multitudes close their eyes to
the light, and walk straight on, regardless of warnings, while Satan
weaves his snares about them, and they become his prey. “Because
they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,”
therefore “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie.” [
2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11
.]
Those who oppose the teachings of Spiritualism are assailing,
not men alone, but Satan and his angels. They have entered upon a
contest against principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high
places. Satan will not yield one inch of ground except as he is driven
back by the power of heavenly messengers. The people of God
should be able to meet him, as did our Saviour, with the words, “It
is written.” Satan can quote Scripture now as in the days of Christ,
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and he will pervert its teachings to sustain his delusions. But the
plain statements of the Bible will furnish weapons powerful in every
conflict.
Those who would stand in this time of peril must understand
the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the nature of man and
the state of the dead; for in the near future many will be confronted
by the spirits of devils personating beloved relatives or friends, and
declaring the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will appeal
to our tenderest sympathies, and will work miracles to sustain their
pretensions. We must be prepared to withstand them with the Bible
truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who thus appear
are the spirits of devils.
Just before us is the “hour of temptation, which shall come upon
all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” [
Revelation
3:10
.] All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of