“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:15 KJV.
“The very name of witchcraft is now held in contempt. The claim that men can hold intercourse with evil spirits is regarded as a fable of the Dark Ages. But Spiritualism, which numbers its converts by hundreds of thousands, yea, by millions, which has made its way into scientific circles, which has invaded churches, and has found favor in legislative bodies, and even in the courts of kings—this mammoth deception is but a revival in a new disguise of the witchcraft condemned and prohibited of old.
Satan beguiles men now, as he beguiled Eve in Eden, by exciting a desire to obtain forbidden knowledge. ‘Ye shall be as gods,’ he declares, ‘knowing good and evil.’ But the wisdom which Spiritualism imparts is that described by the apostle James, which ‘descendeth not from above, but is earthly. sensual, devilish.’
The prince of darkness has a masterly mind, and he skillfully adapts his temptations to men of every variety of condition and culture. He works ‘with all deceivableness of unrighteousness’ to gain control of the children of men; but he can accomplish his object only as they voluntarily yield to his temptations. Those who place themselves in his power by indulging their evil traits of character, little realize where their course will end. The tempter accomplishes their ruin, and then employs them to ruin others.
To those who regard themselves as educated and refined, Satan addresses himself by exciting the imagination to lofty flights in forbidden fields, leading them to take so great pride in their superior wisdom that in their hearts they despise the Eternal One. To this class the great deceiver presents Spiritualism in its more refined and intellectual aspects, and he thus succeeds in drawing many into his snare. He who could appear clothed with the brightness of the heavenly seraphs before Christ in the wilderness of temptation, comes to men in the most attractive manner, as an angel of light. He appeals to the reason by the presentation of elevating themes, he delights the fancy with enrapturing scenes, and he enlists the affections by his eloquent portrayals of love and charity. That mighty being who could take the world’s Redeemer to an exceedingly high mountain, and bring before him all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them, will present his temptations to men in a manner to pervert the senses of all who are not shielded by divine power.
To the self-indulgent, the pleasure-loving, the sensual, the grosser forms of Spiritualism are adapted; and multitudes eagerly accept teachings that leave them at liberty to follow the inclinations of the carnal heart. Satan studies every indication of the frailty of human nature, he marks the sins which each individual is inclined to commit, and then he takes care that opportunities shall not be wanting to gratify the tendency to evil. He tempts men to excess in that which is in itself lawful, causing them through intemperance to weaken physical, mental, and moral power. He has destroyed and is destroying thousands through the indulgence of the passions, thus brutalizing the entire nature of man. When the people are led to believe that desire is the highest law, that liberty is license, and that man is accountable only to himself, who can wonder that corruption and depravity teem on every hand? The reins of self-control are laid upon the neck of lust, the powers of mind and soul are made subject to the animal propensities, and Satan exultingly sweeps into his net thousands who profess to be followers of Christ.
But none need be deceived by the lying claims of Spiritualism. God has given the world sufficient light to enable them to discover the snare. If there were no other evidence, it should be enough for the Christian that the spirits make no difference between righteousness and sin, between the noblest and purest of the apostles of Christ and the most corrupt of the servants of Satan. By representing the basest of men as in Heaven, and highly exalted there, Satan virtually declares to the world, No matter how wicked you are; no matter whether you believe or disbelieve God and the Bible. Live as you please; Heaven is your home.” EGW, SOP, Vol 4, 1884, pp. 372-375.
It is the 6th day of this Ministry’s Zoom Camp meeting. We will continue tonight at 7:00-9:00pm US Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDT). Tomorrow (Friday) will be the 7th meeting and will spend only an hour 7:00-8:00pm. I will be attending our brethren in Australia and Philippines via Zoom from 8:00-12MN. Our Sabbath service is on this Saturday 11:00am US (EDT) with a testimony from Tatenda Chinomona, from Australia, and will continue the study of Revelation 8:10.
I fully appreciate your support and prayers for this Ministry. Thank you so much.