82
Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
branches. We must receive nourishment from the living vine. Deprived
of the strength and nourishment of the vine, we are as members of
the body without a head, and are in the very position Satan wishes
us to be in, that he may control these members as pleases himself.
He works “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might
be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that
they should believe a lie.” Spiritualism is a lie. It is founded upon the
great original lie, “Thou shalt not surely die.” Thousands cut off the
Head, and the members act without Jesus for their head, and the result
is, another guides the body. Satan controls them.
I was shown that Satan cannot control minds unless they are yielded
to his control. Those who depart from the right are in serious danger
now. They separate themselves from God, and from the watch-care
of the angels of God, and Satan, ever upon the watch to destroy souls,
begins to present to such his deceptions, and they are in the utmost
peril. And if they see and try to resist the powers of darkness, and
to free themselves from Satan’s snare, it is not an easy matter. They
have ventured on Satan’s ground, and he claims them. He will not
hesitate to engage all his energies, and call to his aid all his evil host to
wrest a single human being from the hand of Christ. And those who
have tempted the Devil to tempt them will have to make desperate
efforts to free themselves from his power. When they begin to work
for themselves, then angels of God whom they have grieved will come
to their rescue. Satan and his angels are unwilling to lose their prey.
They contend and battle with the holy angels, and the conflict is severe.
And if those who have erred continue to plead, and in deep humility
confess their wrongs, angels who excel in strength will prevail, and
wrench them from the power of the evil angels.
[92]
As the curtain was lifted, and I was shown the corruption of this
age, my heart sickened, my spirit nearly fainted within me. I saw that
the inhabitants of the earth were filling up the measure of the cup of
their iniquity. God’s anger is kindled, and will be no more appeased
until the sinners are destroyed out of the earth.
Satan is Christ’s personal enemy. He is the originator and leader of
every species of rebellion in Heaven and earth. His rage increases, and
we do not realize his power. If our eyes could be opened to discern the
fallen angels at their work with those who feel at ease and consider