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Explanation
101
3. The view that the Lord “had stretched out His hand the second
time to recover the remnant of His people,” on page 74, refers only
to the union and strength once existing among those looking for
Christ, and to the fact that He had begun to unite and to raise up His
people again.
4.
Spirit Manifestations
. [
see appendix.
] On page 43 read as
follows: “I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York and
other places was the power of Satan, and that such things would be
more and more common, clothed in a religious garb so as to lull the
deceived to greater security and to draw the minds of God’s people,
if possible, to those things and cause them to doubt the teaching and
power of the Holy Ghost.” This view was given in 1849, nearly five
years since. Then spirit manifestations were mostly confined to the
city of Rochester, known as the “Rochester knockings.” Since that
time the heresy has spread beyond the expectations of anyone.
Much of the view on page 59, headed “Mysterious Rapping”
given August 1850, has since been fulfilled, and is now fulfilling.
Here is a portion of it: “I saw that soon it would be considered
blasphemy to speak against the rapping, and that it would spread
more and more, that Satan’s power would increase, and some of his
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devoted followers would have power to work miracles, and even to
bring down fire from heaven in the sight of men. I was shown that
by the rapping and mesmerism these modern magicians would yet
account for all the miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, and
that many would believe that all the mighty works of the Son of God
when on earth were accomplished by this same power.”
I saw the rapping delusion-what progress it was making, and
that if it were possible it would deceive the very elect. Satan will
have power to bring before us the appearance of forms purporting to
be our relatives or friends now sleeping in Jesus. It will be made to
appear as if these friends were present; the words that they uttered
while here, with which we were familiar, will be spoken, and the
same tone of voice that they had while living will fall upon the ear.
All this is to deceive the saints and ensnare them into the belief of
this delusion.
I saw that the saints must get a thorough understanding of present
truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures.
They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils