Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 151

Luke 9:42.

NOTE.-Those under demoniacal control are simply the sport and plaything of the evil spirits possessing and controlling them.

10. As we near the closing scenes of human probation, why may we expect an increase in demoniacal manifestations?

"Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! _for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time_." Rev. 12:12.

NOTE.-Acquainted, as they are, with the laws of nature, Satan and his angels raise storms and scatter disease and death as far as lies within their power; and, as enemies of G.o.d, they likewise pervert the truth and disseminate error as far as possible. Far better, also, than the inhabitants of the world, do they know that the end of all things is fast approaching, and that their time to work is short.

11. Concerning what have we been definitely informed?

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that _in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils_." 1 Tim. 4:1.

12. What cla.s.s of G.o.d's servants have evil angels, through wicked men, seemed to make special objects of attack?

"Which of _the prophets_ have not your fathers persecuted?" Acts 7:52.

NOTES.-"Of all cla.s.ses of men employed by the Heavenly Father in the work of redemption, none are more fiercely hated by the wicked angels than the whole line of the prophets; for from the first to the last they foretell the final and eternal overthrow and utter extinction of the 'powers of darkness,' the 'spirits of disobedience.' "-_"__Footprints of Angels in Fields of Revelation,__"__ page 14._

Evil angels also incite men and nations to war, and by this means divert their attention from things pertaining to the kingdom of G.o.d, and so take peace from the earth. Rev. 16:14. This will end in Armageddon.

"Familiar with the laws which govern mental conditions, the fallen hosts ply all their specious arts to excite personal suspicions and animosities, and to create national resentments and b.l.o.o.d.y conflicts, their chief delight being to compa.s.s the destruction of peace and the banishment of concord from the earth, to embitter the poor children of sin and sorrow against each other, and turn our world into an arena of strife and crime."-_Id._, page 22.

13. What will be the final doom of Satan and his angels?

"Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, _prepared for the devil and his angels_."

Matt. 25:41. "And the day that cometh shall _burn them up_, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither _root_ nor _branch_." Mal. 4:1.

See Rev. 20:9.

Spiritualism

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Saul And The Witch Of Endor. "They are the spirits of devils, working miracles." Rev. 16:14.

1. What is Spiritualism defined to be?

"A belief that departed spirits hold intercourse with mortals by means of physical phenomena, as by rapping, or during abnormal mental states, as in trances, or the like, commonly manifested through a medium; spiritism."-_Webster._

_Spiritism_: "The theory that mediumistic phenomena are caused by spirits of the dead."-_Webster._

NOTE.-"The very central truth of Spiritualism is the power and possibility of spirit return, under certain conditions, to communicate with those in the material form."-_N. F. Ravlin, Spiritualistic lecturer, of California._

2. Did this doctrine exist in ancient times?

"Regard not them that have _familiar spirits_, neither seek after _wizards_, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your G.o.d." Lev. 19:31.

NOTE.-"The phenomenal aspect of modern Spiritualism reproduces all essential principles of the magic, witchcraft, and sorcery of the past. The same powers are involved, the same intelligences are operating."-_F. F. Morse, in __"__Practical Occultism,__"_ page 85.

3. How does G.o.d regard sorcerers?

"And I will come near to you to judgment; and _I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers_." Mal. 3:5

4. What does He say of the teachings of enchanters and sorcerers?

"Therefore harken not ye to ... your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, ... for _they prophesy a lie unto you_, to remove you far from your land."

Jer. 27:9,10.

NOTES.-Rev. F. B. Meyer, of England, gives the following warning against dabbling in Spiritualism: "I have known several families that have been cursed by having recourse to clairvoyants and mediums. There are grave dangers in these things; and when occult powers are used for selfish ends, it is possible for men and women to be filled with evil spirits, as was the girl at Philippi.

People are fools to play with the dregs of the spirit world."-_Present Truth, Sept. 7, 1911._

"I am perfectly certain that the whole movement known as modern Spiritualism is in the hands and under the direction of the father of evil spirits; in other words, is thoroughly and unmistakably diabolical."-_Dr. C. Williams, of London, England._

5. Before their entrance into Canaan, what instruction did Moses give Israel concerning these things?

"When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy G.o.d giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pa.s.s through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy G.o.d doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy G.o.d." Deut. 18:9-13.

NOTES.-Whoever consults or has to do with mediums or any who profess to receive instruction or communications from the spirits of the dead, disregards this plain instruction, and places himself upon the enemy's ground. Ever since Satan told that first lie in Eden, when he denied that _death_ would be the result of _sin_, in the very face of death itself, he, working upon man's natural dread of death and upon his distress at the thought of being separated from loved ones, has been endeavoring to persuade men to believe that the dead are not dead, and that men do not die.

Idolatry, heathenism, Spiritualism, occultism, and the whole brood of false isms of this kind, it will be noticed, deal very largely with _death_. This, of itself, indicates their origin, and should be a warning to all to let them alone-to have nothing whatever to do with them. They are from beneath, and not from above. However promising or pleasing they may be at first, they are downward and destructive in their tendency, and ultimately lead away from G.o.d, into unbelief of His Word and into sin. They promise life by denying death, and apparently "make good" Satan's lie in Eden, through the ministration and manifestations of evil angels representing themselves to be the spirits of the dead.

In a sermon on "Spiritualism an Imposture," Rev. T. De Witt Talmage said: "Spiritualism takes advantage of those who are weak and morbid with trouble. We lose a friend. The house is dark, the world is dark, the future seems dark. If we had, in our rebellion and weakness, the power to marshal a host and recapture our loved one, we should marshal the host. Spiritualism comes in at that moment, when we are all worn out by watching,-all worn out, body, mind, and soul,-and says: 'Now I will open that door; you shall hear the voices. Take your places around the table; all be quiet now.' ... O, I hate Spiritualism, because it takes advantage of people when they are weak, and worn out, and morbid under life's bereavements and sorrows!... If Spiritualism had its way, it would turn the world into a pandemonium of carnality. It is an unclean and adulterous system."

6. Under the theocracy of Israel, what was the law concerning witches and those who had familiar spirits?

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Ex. 22:18. "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death." Lev. 20:27.

NOTE.-This shows how dangerous and deadly everything of this character is in G.o.d's sight.