NEW-AGE PHILOSOPHY
Does Eastern Paganism Have Light
For Us Today?
I have been shown that we must be guarded on every side and perseveringly
resist the insinuations and devices of Satan. He has transformed himself into an
angel of light and is deceiving thousands and leading them captive. The
advantage he takes of the science of the human mind, is tremendous. Here,
serpentlike, he imperceptibly creeps in to corrupt the work of God. The miracles
and works of Christ he would make appear as the result of human skill and power.
If he should make an open, bold attack upon Christianity, it would bring the
Christian in distress and agony to the feet of his Redeemer, and his strong and
mighty Deliverer would put the bold adversary to flight. He therefore transforms
himself into an angel of light and works upon the mind to allure from the only
safe and right path. The sciences of phrenology, psychology, and [hypnotism] are
the channel through which he comes more directly to this generation and works
with that power which is to characterize his efforts near the close of
probation.
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12: "And
then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit
of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him,
whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, and 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 delusion, that they should believe a
lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness."
SATAN SNEAKS IN
Satan has come unperceived through
these sciences and has poisoned the minds of thousands and led them to
infidelity. He is well pleased to have the knowledge of these sciences
widespread. It is a plan which he himself has laid that he may gain access to
minds and influence them as he pleases. While it is believed that one human mind
so wonderfully affects another, Satan, ready at hand, insinuates himself and
works on the right hand and on the left. And while those devoted to these
sciences laud them to the heavens because of the great and good works they
affirm are wrought by them, they are cherishing and glorifying Satan himself,
who steps in and works with all power and signs and lying wonders--with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness. Said the angel: "Mark its influence. The
controversy between Christ and Satan is not yet ended." This entering in of
Satan through the sciences is well devised by his Satanic majesty, and in the
minds of thousands will eventually destroy true faith in Christ's being the
Messiah, the Son of God.
THE WIZARDS FAIL-
I was directed to the power of God
manifested through Moses when the Lord sent him in before Pharaoh. Satan
understood his business and was upon the ground. He well knew that Moses was
chosen of God to break the yoke of bondage upon the children of Israel, and that
in his work he prefigured Christ's first advent to break Satan's power over the
human family and deliver those who were made captives by his power. Satan knew
that when Christ should appear, mighty works and miracles would be wrought by
Him, that the world might know that the Father had sent Him. He trembled for his
power. He consulted with his angels how to accomplish a work which should answer
a twofold purpose: 1. To destroy the influence of the work wrought by God
through His servant Moses, by working through his agents, and thus
counterfeiting the true work of God; 2. To exert an influence by his work
through the magicians which would reach down through all ages and destroy in the
minds of many true faith in the mighty miracles and works to be performed by
Christ when He should come to this world. He knew that his kingdom would suffer,
for the power which he held over mankind would be subject to Christ. It was no
human influence or power possessed by Moses that produced those miracles wrought
before Pharaoh. It was the power of God. Those signs and wonders were wrought
through Moses to convince Pharaoh that the great "I AM" sent him to
command Pharaoh to let Israel go that they might serve Him.
Pharaoh called for the magicians to
work with their enchantments. They also showed signs and wonders, for Satan came
to their aid to work through them. Yet even here the work of God was shown to be
superior to the power of Satan, for the magicians could not perform all those
miracles which God wrought through Moses. Only a few of them could they do. The
magicians' rods did become serpents, but Aaron's rod swallowed them up. After
the magicians sought to produce the lice, and could not, they were compelled by
the power of God to acknowledge even to Pharaoh, saying: "This is the
finger of God." Satan wrought through the magicians in a manner calculated
to harden the heart of the tyrant Pharaoh against the miraculous manifestations
of God's power. Satan thought to stagger the faith of Moses and Aaron in the
divine origin of their mission, and then his instruments, the magicians, would
prevail. Satan was unwilling to have the people of Israel released from Egyptian
servitude that they might serve God. The magicians failed to produce the miracle
of the lice, and could no more imitate Moses and Aaron. God would not suffer
Satan to proceed further, and the magicians could not save themselves from the
plagues. "And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the
boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians."
Exodus 9:11.
God's controlling power here cut off
the channel through which Satan worked, and caused even those through whom Satan
had wrought so wonderfully to feel His wrath. Sufficient evidence was given to
Pharaoh to believe, if he would. Moses wrought by the power of God. The
magicians wrought not by their own science alone, but by the power of their God,
the devil, who ingeniously carried out his deceptive work of counterfeiting the
work of God.
MINDS ARE WEAKER
As we near the close of time, the
human mind is more readily affected by Satan's devices. He leads deceived
mortals to account for the works and miracles of Christ upon general principles.
Satan has ever been ambitious to counterfeit the work of Christ and establish
his own power and claims. He does not generally do this openly and boldly. He is
artful and knows that the most effectual way for him to accomplish his work is
to come to poor, fallen man in the form of an angel of light. Satan came to
Christ in the wilderness in the form of a beautiful young man--more like a
monarch than a fallen angel--with scripture in his mouth. Said he: "It is
written." Our suffering Saviour met him with scripture, saying: "It is
written." Satan took advantage of the weak, suffering condition of Christ,
who had taken upon Him our human nature.
Read Matthew 4:8-11: "Again, the
devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the
kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, All these
things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus
unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold,
angels came and ministered unto Him."
Here Satan spread the world before
Christ in the most attractive light and intimated to Him that He need not endure
so much suffering to obtain the kingdoms of the earth; Satan would yield all his
claims if Christ would but worship him. Satan's dissatisfaction first commenced
in heaven because he could not be first and highest in command --equal with God,
exalted above Christ. He rebelled and lost his estate; and he, and those who
sympathized with him, were turned out of heaven. In the wilderness he hoped to
gain advantage through the weak and suffering condition of Christ, and obtain
from Him that homage which he could not obtain in heaven. But Jesus, even in His
faint and exhausted condition, yielded not to the temptation of Satan for a
moment, but showed His superiority and exercised His authority by bidding Satan:
"Get thee hence"--or, Depart from Me. Satan was baffled. He then
studied how he could accomplish his purpose and receive the honor from the human
race which was refused him in heaven and by Jesus upon earth. Could he have
succeeded in tempting Christ, then the plan of salvation would have failed, and
he would have succeeded in bringing hopeless misery upon mankind. But that which
Satan failed to effect in coming to Christ he has accomplished in coming to man.
If Satan can so befog and deceive the
human mind as to lead mortals to think that there is an inherent power in
themselves to accomplish great and good works, they cease to rely upon God to do
for them that which they think there is power in themselves to do. They
acknowledge not a superior power. They give not God the glory which He claims,
and which is due to His great and excellent Majesty. Satan's object is thus
accomplished, and he exults that fallen men presumptuously exalt themselves as
he exalted himself in heaven and was thrust out. He knows that if man exalts
himself, his ruin is just as certain as was his own.
SATAN FAILED TO SNARE JESUS
Satan failed in his temptations to
Christ in the wilderness. The plan of salvation has been carried out. The dear
price has been paid for man's redemption. And now Satan seeks to tear away the
foundation of the Christian's hope and turn the minds of men into such a channel
that they may not be benefited or saved by the great sacrifice offered. He leads
fallen man, through his "all deceivableness of unrighteousness," to
believe that he can do very well without an atonement, that he need not depend
upon a crucified and risen Saviour, that man's own merits will entitle him to
God's favor. And then he destroys man's confidence in the Bible, well knowing
that if he succeeds here, and faith in the detector which places a mark upon
himself is destroyed, he is safe. He fastens upon minds the delusion that there
is no personal devil, and those who believe this make no effort to resist and
war against that which they think does not exist. Thus poor, blind mortals
finally adopt the maxim, "Whatever is, is right." They acknowledge no
rule to measure their course.
Satan leads many to believe that
prayer to God is useless and but a form. He well knows how needful are
meditation and prayer to keep Christ's followers aroused to resist his cunning
and deception. By his devices he would divert the mind from these important
exercises, that the soul may not lean for help upon the Mighty One and obtain
strength from Him to resist his attacks. I was pointed to the fervent, effectual
prayers of God's people anciently. "Elias was a man subject to like
passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly." Daniel prayed unto his God
three times a day. Satan is enraged at the sound of fervent prayer, for he knows
that he will suffer loss. Daniel was preferred above the presidents and the
princes because an excellent spirit was in him. Fallen angels feared that his
influence would weaken their control over the rulers of the kingdom, for Daniel
was high in command. The accusing host of evil angels stirred up the presidents
and princes to envy and jealousy, and they watched Daniel closely to find some
occasion against him that they might report him to the king; but they failed.
Then these agents of Satan sought to make his faithfulness to God the cause of
his destruction. Evil angels laid out the plan for them, and these agents
readily carried it into effect.
The king was ignorant of the subtle
mischief purposed against Daniel. With full knowledge of the king's decree,
Daniel still bows before his God, "his windows being open." He
considers supplication to God of so great importance that he would rather
sacrifice his life than relinquish it. On account of his praying to God, he is
cast into the lions' den. Evil angels thus far accomplish their purpose. But
Daniel continues to pray, even in the den of lions. Was he suffered to be
consumed? Did God forget him there? Oh, no; Jesus, the mighty Commander of the
hosts of heaven, sent His angel to close the mouths of those hungry lions that
they should not hurt the praying man of God; and all was peace in that terrible
den. The king witnessed his preservation and brought him out with honors. Satan
and his angels were defeated and enraged. The agents he had employed were doomed
to perish in the same terrible manner in which they had plotted to destroy
Daniel.
THE PRAYER OF FAITH
The prayer of faith is the great
strength of the Christian and will assuredly prevail against Satan. This is why
he insinuates that we have no need of prayer. The name of Jesus, our Advocate,
he detests; and when we earnestly come to Him for help, Satan's host is alarmed.
It serves his purpose well if we neglect the exercise of prayer, for then his
lying wonders are more readily received. That which he failed to accomplish in
tempting Christ, he accomplishes by setting his deceitful temptations before
man. He sometimes comes in the form of a lovely young person, or of a beautiful
shadow. He works cures, and is worshiped by deceived mortals as a benefactor of
our race. Phrenology and mesmerism are very much exalted. They are good in their
place, but they are seized upon by Satan as his most powerful agents to deceive
and destroy souls. His arts and devices are received as from heaven, and faith
in the detector, the Bible, is destroyed in the minds of thousands. Satan here
receives the worship which suits his Satanic majesty. Thousands are conversing
with, and receiving instructions from, this demon-God and acting according to
his teachings. The world which is supposed to be benefited so much by phrenology
and animal magnetism, never was so corrupt. Satan uses these very things to
destroy virtue and lay the foundation of spiritualism.
I was directed to this scripture as
especially applying to modern spiritualism: Colossians 2:8: "Beware lest
any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of
men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Thousands, I
was shown, have been spoiled through the philosophy of phrenology and animal
magnetism, and have been driven into infidelity. If the mind commences to run in
this channel, it is almost sure to lose its balance and be controlled by a
demon. "Vain deceit" fills the minds of poor mortals. They think there
is such power in themselves to accomplish great works that they realize no
necessity of a higher power. Their principles and faith are "after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
Jesus has not taught them this philosophy. Nothing of the kind can be found in
His teachings. He did not direct the minds of poor mortals to themselves, to a
power which they possessed. He was ever directing their minds to God, the
Creator of the universe, as the source of their strength and wisdom. Special
warning is given in verse 18: "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a
voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which
he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."
PLEASING FABLES-
The teachers of spiritualism come in a
pleasing, bewitching manner to deceive you, and if you listen to their fables
you are beguiled by the enemy of righteousness and will surely lose your reward.
When once the fascinating influence of the archdeceiver overcomes you, you are
poisoned, and its deadly influence adulterates and destroys your faith in
Christ's being the Son of God, and you cease to rely on the merits of His blood.
Those deceived by this philosophy are beguiled of their reward through the
deceptions of Satan. They rely upon their own merits, exercise voluntary
humility, are even willing to make sacrifices, and debase themselves, and yield
their minds to the belief of supreme nonsense, receiving the most absurd ideas
through those whom they believe to be their dead friends. Satan has so blinded
their eyes and perverted their judgment that they perceive not the evil; and
they follow out the instructions purporting to be from their dead friends now
angels in a higher sphere.
Satan has chosen a most certain,
fascinating delusion, one that is calculated to take hold of the sympathies of
those who have laid their loved ones in the grave. Evil angels assume the form
of these loved ones and relate incidents connected with their lives and perform
acts which their friends performed while living. In this way they deceive and
lead the relatives of the dead to believe that their deceased friends are angels
hovering about them and communing with them. These they regard with a certain
idolatry, and what they may say has greater influence over them than the word of
God. These evil angels, who assume to be dead friends, will either utterly
reject God's word as idle tales, or, if it suit their purpose best, will select
the vital portions which testify of Christ and point out the way to heaven, and
change the plain statements of the word of God to suit their own corrupt nature
and ruin souls. With due attention to the word of God, all may be convinced if
they will of this soul-destroying delusion. The word of God declares in positive
terms that "the dead know not anything." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6:
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything,
neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also
their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they
any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun."
WORSHIPPING DEMONS!
Deceived mortals are worshiping evil
angels, believing them to be the spirits of their dead friends. The word of God
expressly declares that the dead have no more a portion in anything done under
the sun. Spiritualists say that the dead know everything that is done under the
sun, that they communicate to their friends on earth, give valuable information,
and perform wonders. Psalm 115:17: "The dead praise not the Lord, neither
any that go down into silence." Satan, transformed into an angel of light,
works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. He who could take up the Son
of God, who was made a little lower than the angels, and place Him upon a
pinnacle of the temple, and take Him up into an exceeding high mountain to
present before Him the kingdoms of the world, can exercise his power upon the
human family, who are far inferior in strength and wisdom to the Son of God,
even after He had taken upon Himself man's nature.
In this degenerate age, Satan holds
control over those who depart from the right and venture upon his ground. He
exercises his power upon such in an alarming manner. I was directed to these
words: "Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed
up by his fleshly mind." Some, I was shown, gratify their curiosity and
tamper with the devil. They have no real faith in spiritualism and would start
back with horror at the idea of being mediums. Yet they venture and place
themselves in a position where Satan can exercise his power upon them. Such do
not mean to enter deep into this work, but they know not what they are doing.
They are venturing on the devil's ground and are tempting him to control them.
This powerful destroyer considers them his lawful prey and exercises his power
upon them, and that against their will. When they wish to control themselves
they cannot. They yielded their minds to Satan, and he will not release his
claims, but holds them captive. No power can deliver the ensnared soul but the
power of God in answer to the earnest prayers of His faithful followers. 300
The only safety now is to search for
the truth as revealed in the word of God, as for hid treasure. The subjects of
the Sabbath, the nature of man, and the testimony of Jesus are the great and
important truths to be understood; these will prove as an anchor to hold God's
people in these perilous times. But the mass of mankind despise the truths of
God's word and prefer fables. 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11: "Because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause
God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
The most licentious and corrupt are
highly flattered by these Satanic spirits, which they believe to be the spirits
of their dead friends, and they are vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds.
Colossians 2:19: "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by
joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth
with the increase of God," they deny Him who ministers strength to the
body, that every member may increase with the increase of God.
Vain philosophy. The members of the
body are controlled by the head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head and believe
that all the members of the body must act themselves and that fixed laws will
lead them on in a state of progression to perfection without a head. John 15:1,
2, 4-6: "I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch
in Me that beareth not fruit, He taketh away: and every branch that beareth
fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." "Abide in
Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in
the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the Vine, ye are the
branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast
forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the
fire, and they are burned."
Christ is the source of our strength.
He is the Vine, we are the branches. We must receive nourishment from the living
Vine. Deprived of the strength and nourishment of that Vine, we are as members
of the body without a head and are in the very position which Satan wishes us to
be in, that he may control us 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 delusion, that they should believe a lie." Spiritualism is
a lie. It is founded upon the great original lie, "Ye shall
not surely die."
Thousands cut off the Head, and the result is the members act without Jesus for
their head, and another guides the body. Satan controls them.
HELP TO BREAK FREE-
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
watchcare of His angels, and Satan, ever upon the watch to destroy souls, begins
to present to them his deceptions. Such 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. Those
who have tempted the devil to tempt them will have to make desperate efforts to
free themselves from his power. But 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. But 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. 302
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; we do not realize his power. If our eyes
could be opened to discern the fallen angels at work with those who feel at ease
and consider themselves safe, we would not feel so secure. Evil angels are upon
our track every moment. We expect a readiness on the part of bad men to act as
Satan suggests; but while our minds are unguarded against his invisible agents,
they assume new ground and work marvels and miracles in our sight. Are we
prepared to resist them by the word of God, the only weapon we can use
successfully?
Some will be tempted to receive these
wonders as from God. The sick will be healed before us. Miracles will be
performed in our sight. Are we prepared for the trial which awaits us when the
lying wonders of Satan shall be more fully exhibited? Will not many souls be
ensnared and taken? By departing from the plain precepts and commandments of
God, and giving heed to fables, the minds of many are preparing to receive these
lying wonders. We must all now seek to arm ourselves for the contest in which we
must soon engage. Faith in God's word, prayerfully studied and practically
applied, will be our shield from Satan's power and will bring us off conquerors
through the blood of Christ.
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