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A New Life (Revival and Beyond)
in which no attempt is made to honor God’s law? What about the
tongues movement in some protestant and catholic churches? Are
healing miracles, which accent some of the revivals of our time, real?
Can God work miracles through those who proclaim Jesus’ pardon
for sins and yet teach others to ignore the Ten Commandments as
unnecessary or impossible?
It is obvious from a study of history that not all revivals are God-
inspired. Counterfeits have appeared every time there has been the
genuine. The Bible tells us that Satan can and does perform miracles.
He would, if possible, deceive the very elect. We will not always be
able to trust what we see and hear and feel
.
It is not the purpose of this book to pass judgment on the popular
revivals of today. Who can doubt that there are genuine conversions
at some of these meetings? In fact, we will go a step further and
suggest that genuine healing may result from the exercise of faith in
God’s word. In some cases this may be in spite of the evangelist, not
necessarily because of him. It is the purpose of this book, rather, to
consider certain criteria that help one to distinguish between the true
and the false
.
In one of her earliest visions, seventeen-year-old Ellen Harmon
[4]
(White) was given an unusual message. It was February, 1845. When
Christ had not returned to this earth as expected a few months earlier,
the disappointed Adventists were divided and confused. Through Bible
study some of them found an explanation for this disappointment.
Visions given to Ellen Harmon helped to confirm their conclusions.
They discovered Bible truths that had largely been ignored while their
attention had been focused on preparation for Christ’s return. But the
great majority of Adventists rejected all such study or explanation
.
In this vision of 1845 Ellen saw the little loyal group kneeling
before God’s throne in prayer. Most of them arose and followed Jesus
by faith as his work moved into the most holy place. They received
the holy spirit, and there “was light, power, and much love, joy, and
peace.”—
Early Writings, 55
.
But the group which remained bowed before the throne continued
to pray there, even though Christ had left. Satan appeared to take
Christ’s place at the throne, answering their prayers. Ellen saw this
group look up, not knowing to whom they prayed, asking for the Holy
Spirit. She described what she saw in vision this way: “Satan would