第 131 节
作者:闪啊闪      更新:2021-02-21 14:06      字数:9322
  religious organizations of the day have refused to listen to unpopular
  truths plainly brought to view in the Scriptures; and in combating them they
  have adopted interpretations and taken positions which have sown broadcast
  the seeds of skepticism。 Clinging to the papal error of natural immortality
  and man's
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  consciousness in death; they have rejected the only defense against the
  delusions of spiritualism。 The doctrine of eternal torment has led many to
  disbelieve the Bible。 And as the claims of the fourth commandment are urged
  upon the people; it is found that the observance of the seventh…day Sabbath
  is enjoined; and as the only way to free themselves from a duty which they
  are unwilling to perform; many popular teachers declare that the law of God
  is no longer binding。 Thus they cast away the law and the Sabbath together。
  As the work of Sabbath reform extends; this rejection of the divine law to
  avoid the claims of the fourth commandment will become well…nigh universal。
  The teachings of religious leaders have opened the door to infidelity; to
  spiritualism; and to contempt for God's holy law; and upon these leaders
  rests a fearful responsibility for the iniquity that exists in the Christian
  world。
  Yet this very class put forth the claim that the fast…spreading corruption
  is largely attributable to the desecration of the so…called 〃Christian
  sabbath;〃 and that the enforcement of Sunday observance would greatly
  improve the morals of society。 This claim is especially urged in America;
  where the doctrine of the true Sabbath has been most widely preached。 Here
  the temperance work; one of the most prominent and important of moral
  reforms; is often combined with the Sunday movement; and the advocates of
  the latter represent themselves as laboring to promote the highest interest
  of society; and those who refuse to unite with them are denounced as the
  enemies of temperance and reform。 But the fact that a movement to establish
  error is connected with a work which is in itself good; is not an argument
  in favor of the error。 We may disguise poison by mingling it with wholesome
  food; but we do not change its nature。 On the contrary; it is rendered more
  dangerous; as it is more likely to be taken unawares。 It is one of Satan's
  devices to combine with falsehood just enough truth to give it plausibility。
  The leaders of the Sunday movement may advocate reforms
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  which the people need; principles which are in harmony with the Bible; yet
  while there is with these a requirement which is contrary to God's law; His
  servants cannot unite with them。 Nothing can justify them in setting aside
  the commandments of God for the precepts of men。
  Through the two great errors; the immortality of the soul and Sunday
  sacredness; Satan will bring the people under his deceptions。 While the
  former lays the foundation of spiritualism; the latter creates a bond of
  sympathy with Rome。 The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in
  stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism;
  they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and
  under the influence of this threefold union; this country will follow in the
  steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience。
  As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day;
  it has greater power to deceive and ensnare。 Satan himself is converted;
  after the modern order of things。 He will appear in the character of an
  angel of light。 Through the agency of spiritualism; miracles will be
  wrought;the sick will be healed; and many undeniable wonders will be
  performed。 And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible; and manifest
  respect for the institutions of the church; their work will be accepted as a
  manifestation of divine power。
  The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now
  hardly distinguishable。 Church members love what the world loves and are
  ready to join with them; and Satan determines to unite them in one body and
  thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism。
  Papists; who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church; will be
  readily deceived by this wonder…working power; and Protestants; having cast
  away the shield of truth; will also be deluded。 Papists; Protestants; and
  worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power; and
  they will see in this union a grand movement
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  for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long…expected
  millennium。
  Through spiritualism; Satan appears as a benefactor of the race; healing the
  diseases of the people; and professing to present a new and more exalted
  system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer。 His
  temptations are leading multitudes to ruin。 Intemperance dethrones reason;
  sensual indulgence; strife; and bloodshed follow。 Satan delights in war; for
  it excites the worst passions of the soul and then sweeps into eternity its
  victims steeped in vice and blood。 It is his object to incite the nations to
  war against one another; for he can thus divert the minds of the people from
  the work of preparation to stand in the day of God。
  Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared
  souls。 He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature; and he uses
  all his power to control the elements as far as God allows。 When he was
  suffered to afflict Job; how quickly flocks and herds; servants; houses;
  children; were swept away; one trouble succeeding another as in a moment。 It
  is God that shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the
  destroyer。 But the Christian world have shown contempt for the law of
  Jehovah; and the Lord will do just what He has declared that He wouldHe
  will withdraw His blessings from the earth and remove His protecting care
  from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others
  to do the same。 Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard。
  He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs; and he
  will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is
  afflicting them。
  While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all
  their maladies; he will bring disease and disaster; until populous cities
  are reduced to ruin and desolation。 Even now he is at work。 In accidents and
  calamities by sea and by land; in great conflagrations; in fierce
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  tornadoes and terrific hailstorms; in tempests; floods; cyclones; tidal
  waves; and earthquakes; in every place and in a thousand forms; Satan is
  exercising his power。 He sweeps away the ripening harvest; and famine and
  distress follow。 He imparts to the air a deadly taint; and thousands perish
  by the pestilence。 These visitations are to become more and more frequent
  and disastrous。 Destruction will be upon both man and beast。 〃The earth
  mourneth and fadeth away;〃 〃the haughty people 。 。 。 do languish。 The earth
  also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have
  transgressed the laws; changed the ordinance; broken the everlasting
  covenant。〃 Isaiah 24:4; 5。
  And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are
  causing these evils。 The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven
  will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God's
  commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors。 It will be declared
  that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this
  sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance
  shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the
  fourth commandment; thus destroying reverence for Sunday; are troublers of
  the people; preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal
  prosperity。 Thus the accusation urged of old against the servant of God will
  be repeated and upon grounds equally well established: 〃And it came to pass;
  when Ahab saw Elijah; that Ahab said unto him; Art thou he that troubleth
  Israel? And he answered; I have not troubled Israel; but thou; and thy
  father's house; in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord; and
  thou hast followed Baalim。〃 1 Kings 18:17; 18。 As the wrath of the people
  shall be excited by false charges; they will pursue a course toward God's
  ambassadors very similar to that which apostate Israel pursued toward
  Elijah。
  The miracle…working power manifested through spiritualism
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  will exert its influence against those who choose to obey God rather than
  men。 Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to
  convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error; affirming that the laws of
  the land should be obeyed as the law of God。 They will lament the great
  wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious teachers that
  the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday。 Great
  will be the indignation exc