Chapter XXIV: Part XI: Life Only in Christ (2)

“His body also was like the _beryl_, and his face as the appearance of _lightning_, and his eyes as _lamps of fire_, and his arms and his feet like in color to _polished brass_, and the voice of his words _like the voice of a multitude_.” Dan. 10:6.

NOTE.—Similar descriptions are given of God, the “Ancient of
days,” in Dan 7:9; and of Christ, “the Son of man,” in Rev.
1:13-15

12. What was the appearance of the angel that rolled away the stone from the sepulcher at the resurrection of Christ?

“His countenance was _like lightning_, and his raiment _white as snow_.” Matt. 28:3.

13. What shows that the angels sent to Abraham and Lot were real beings?

“And he [Abraham] took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and _they did eat_.” “And he [Lot] made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and _they did eat_.” Gen. 18:8; 19:3.

14. What reason does Paul give to encourage us to entertain strangers?

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: _for thereby some have entertained angels unawares_.” Heb. 13:2.

15. In his dream at Bethel, what did Jacob see?

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: _and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it_.” Gen. 28:12.

16. To whose authority are the angels subject?

“Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; _angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him_.” 1 Peter 3:21, 22.

NOTE.—In Joshua 5:13-15, Christ is called “captain of the Lord’s
host.”

17. In what work are angels engaged?

“Are they not all _ministering spirits_, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Heb. 1:14.

18. What scripture indicates that each child of God has an accompanying angel?

“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven _their angels_ do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 18:10.

NOTE.—Another has said: “Christians who live in the light of God’s
countenance are always accompanied by unseen angels, and these
holy beings leave behind them a blessing in our homes.”

19. How is their watch-care over God’s people expressed?

“The angel of the Lord _encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them_.” Ps. 34:7.

Daniel In The Lions’ Den. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about
them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7.

20. By what means were the three Hebrews protected while in the fiery furnace?

“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is _like the Son of God_.... Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath _sent His angel, and delivered His servants_ that trusted in Him.” Dan. 3:25-28.

21. When cast into the lions’ den, how did Daniel say he had been saved from death?

“_My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths_, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me.” Dan. 6:22.

22. When surrounded by the Syrian host, what did Elisha say, and for what did he pray, to encourage his frightened servant?

“And he answered, _Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them_. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, _open his eyes, that he may see_. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; _and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha_.” 2 Kings 6:16, 17.

23. What does the psalmist say of the chariots of God?

“The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even _thousands of angels_.” Ps. 68:17.

24. By what means were the apostles delivered from prison?

“_The angel of the Lord_ by night _opened the prison doors_, and brought them forth.” Acts 5:19.

25. How was Peter delivered later?

“_The angel of the Lord came upon him_, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.... And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.... They came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.” Acts 12:7-10.

NOTE.—“What we call physical law is no obstruction to angelic
ministrations. Bolts and bars and prison gates disappear at their
volition, and dungeons like palaces shine in their presence. No
place can be so dismal, no cavern so deep and dark, no Inquisition
cell so hidden and fetid, no fortress so strongly guarded, that
they cannot find quick and easy access, if a child of God is
there.”—_“__Footprints of Angels in Fields of Revelation,__”__ by
E. A. Stockman, pages 74, 75._

26. When Elijah was about to take a forty days’ journey, how was he strengthened for it?

“_And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat_; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” 1 Kings 19:7, 8.

27. After His forty days’ fast and temptation in the wilderness, how was Christ strengthened?

“Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, _angels came and ministered unto Him_.” Matt. 4:11.

28. How was Christ strengthened while suffering in the garden of Gethsemane?

“And _there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him_.” Luke 22:43.

29. Are the angels interested in the plan of salvation?

“Which things _the angels desire to look into_.” 1 Peter 1:12.

30. Are they interested in the conversion of men?

“Likewise, I say unto you, _there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth_.” Luke 15:10.

31. Before whom are we said to speak?

“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; _neither say thou before the angel_, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?” Eccl. 5:5, 6.

32. For what must men give account in the judgment?

“But I say unto you, That _every idle word_ that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Matt. 12:36. See also Eccl. 12:13, 14.

33. Out of what will they be judged?

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged _out of those things which were written in the books_, according to their works.” Rev. 20:12.

34. What shows that the actions of men are recorded?

“And the Lord harkened, and heard it, and _a book of remembrance was written before Him_ for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.” Mal. 3:16. See also Isa. 65:6; Jer. 2:22.

35. In the judgment how many angels minister before God?

“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: _thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him_: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7:10.

NOTE.—Since the angels are our ministering spirits, and our lives
are open before them, it is reasonable to infer that they make the
record of our lives. Then when the books are examined, they will
of necessity be present, to minister before God.

36. What does Christ promise overcomers?

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but _I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels_.” Rev. 3:5.

37. What protection has God promised His people during the seven last plagues?

“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For _He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone_.” Ps. 91:10-12.

38. When Christ comes, who will come with Him, and what will they do?

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father _with His angels_.” “And _they shall gather together His elect_ from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matt. 16:27; 24:31.

39. Where will all the saints then go?

“Then we which are alive and remain _shall be caught up together with them in the clouds_, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17.

NOTE.—We shall then have the privilege of seeing and conversing
not only with the good and blest of all ages, but with the angels
who have ministered to us during our earthly pilgrimage.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

O, may Thine angels, while I sleep,
Around my bed their vigils keep;
Their love angelical instil,
Stop every avenue of ill!
May they celestial joys rehearse,
And thought to thought with me converse.

BISHOP KENT.

The Dark Ministries Of Bad Angels

Satan’s Entrance To Eden. "The prince of this world cometh, and hath
nothing in Me." John 14:30.

1. Against whom do we wrestle?

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but _against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness_ [margin, _wicked spirits_] in high places [margin, heavenly places].” Eph. 6:12.

NOTE.—“The facts of history concur with the statements of
revelation in forcing upon us the unwelcome conviction that the
human race is subject to the malevolent influence of an organized
and all-pervading demonism. Alike in the career of nations and in
the phenomena of personal destiny the presence of demoniacal skill
and power is often prominent, frequently dominant, always
evil.”—_“__Footprints of Angels in Fields of Revelation__”__ by E.
A. Stockman, page 2._

2. To what place were the angels that sinned cast?

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but _cast them down to hell_ [Greek, _tartarus_, a place of darkness], and delivered them into _chains of darkness_, to be reserved unto judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4.

3. What is Satan himself called?

“The _god of this world_.” 2 Cor. 4:4. “The _prince of this world_.” John 14:30. “The _prince of the power of the air_.” Eph. 2:2.

4. How numerous are these wicked spirits, or fallen angels?

“And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is _Legion_: for we are _many_.” Mark 5:9.

5. What is the chief occupation of Satan and his angels?

“And He was there in the wilderness forty days, _tempted of Satan_.” Mark 1:13. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, _seeking whom he may devour_.” 1 Peter 5:8. See Rev. 12:9, 12; 16:14.

NOTES.—“In undiminished possession of their intelligence and
strength, they constantly assault us in every weakness, through
every avenue, by every means, by methods foul or fair.... Whom
they cannot destroy they cease not to worry, torment. They inspire
evil tempers; arouse dark passions; instil ill will; beget malice,
envy; impose care, fear, distrust; suggest deceit, fraud, and all
the forms of crime.” “Supremely do they revel in the criminal
domain. They foster falsehood, incite revenge, fan jealousy, beget
quarrels, help on thefts, robbery, and arson, further divorces,
plan defalcations, instigate murders. They run the saloons and
edit the _Police News_.”—_“__Footprints of Angels in Fields of
Revelation,__”__ pages 9, 10, 22._

6. What are we admonished not to do?

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: _neither give place to the devil_.” Eph. 4:26, 27.

NOTE.—Those who give vent to anger or retain old grudges, who
parley with temptation or tamper with vice, who indulge in
intemperance, pride, foolishness, or levity, or give way to any
other weakness, give place to the devil; that is, they give the
devil an opportunity to work through them—give him an advantage
over them. We should therefore close every avenue to Satan and his
angels. We should suppress anger, be sober and watchful, and nip
in the bud every prompting to sin.

7. What spirits stand ever ready to deceive and ruin those who are off guard or bent on going astray?

“And the Lord said, Who shall persuade [margin, deceive] Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?... _And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him._ And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and _I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets_. And He said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.” 1 Kings 22:20-22. See 2 Thess. 2:10, 11.

8. With what were many possessed in Christ’s time?

“And they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were _possessed with devils_.” Matt. 4:24.

NOTE.—Vampire-like, evil angels take possession of, and make their
abode with, all over whose minds and bodies they can gain control.
Only through Christ can this demoniacal captivity be broken. Until
this is done, one in this condition is led captive by Satan “at
his will.” His self-control and power to resist temptation are
gone. See 2 Tim. 2:26.

9. How do evil spirits sometimes treat those thus possessed?

“And as he was yet a coming, _the devil threw him down, and tare him_.” 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 God, 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 class of God’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 classes 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
God, 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 bloody
conflicts, their chief delight being to compass 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

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 God.” 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 God 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 God 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 pass 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 God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.” 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 God,
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 God’s sight.

7. With what is witchcraft classed by Paul, and what does he say to those who are guilty of such things?

“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies.... I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:20-23.

8. What should one do if asked to inquire of a familiar spirit?

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: _should not a people seek unto their God?_ for the _living_ to the _dead_?” Isa. 8:19.

NOTE.—Giving the sense of this passage, Dr. Adam Clarke says:
“Should not a nation seek unto its God? Why should you seek unto
the dead concerning the living?” But this is exactly what
Spiritualism teaches men to do,—to seek unto the _dead_ concerning
the _living_.

9. What instruction does the apostle John give touching this subject?

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but _try the spirits whether they are of God_.” 1 John 4:1.

10. By what are we to try them?

“_To the law and to the testimony_: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.

11. Should we allow ourselves to be influenced by signs or wonders performed by those who would try to lead us away from God and His law?

“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; _thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet; or that dreamer of dreams_: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice.” Deut. 13:1-4.

12. How much do the dead know of what is going on among men?

“Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. His sons come to honor, and _he knoweth it not_; and they are brought low, but _he perceiveth it not of them_.” Job 14:20, 21.

13. Do the dead know _anything_?

“For the living know that they shall die: but _the dead know not anything_.” Eccl. 9:5. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; _in that very day his thoughts perish_.” Ps. 146:4.

14. What scripture forever precludes the idea that the dead come back to earth to communicate with the living?

“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_.” Eccl. 9:6.

15. Then when miracles are performed by spirits purporting to be those of our dead friends, to what shall we attribute them?

“For they are _the spirits of devils, working miracles_.” Rev. 16:14.

16. What will be one characteristic of last-day apostasies?

“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.

NOTES.—The following items illustrate a condition widely
prevalent:—

“ ‘A lawyer with a national reputation, well known to me,’ said J.
L. Hall, of New York, ‘never begins the preparation of a difficult
case without getting “advice from the other side,” as he describes
the search.... Another distinguished man of New York City once
asserted to me that he had his familiar spirit with which he
talked as freely as with a human companion,’ ”—_Washington Herald,
May 8, 1911._

A noted Brooklyn divine some years ago, not realizing that he was
voicing Spiritualistic views, gave expression to the following:
“What are our departed Christian friends, who in this world had
their joy in the healing art, doing now?—Busy at their old
business. No sickness in heaven, but plenty of sickness on
earth.”—_Christian Herald, July 8, 1882._

Writing concerning “Communion With the Departed,” General Booth,
of the Salvation Army, said: “Through all my history, my personal
intercourse with the spirit world has been but limited. I have not
been favored with many visions, and it is but seldom that I dream
dreams that impart either pleasure or profit; and yet I have a
spiritual communion with the departed saints that is not without
both satisfaction and service. And especially of late the memories
of those with whom my heart has had the choicest communion in the
past, if not the very beings themselves, have come in upon me as I
have sat at my desk or lain wakeful on my bed in the night-season.
Amongst these, one form, true to her mission, comes more
frequently than all besides, assuring me of her continued
partnership in my struggle for the temporal and eternal salvation
of the multitudes—and that is my blessed, my beautiful wife!”—_War
Cry, Nov. 27, 1897._

“Dr. Joseph Parker, of the City Temple, London, has openly
declared that he prayed to his departed wife every day. He said
that he never came to the City Temple to preach without asking her
to come with him. He further says: I encourage my friend to pray
to his wife, and to pray God to ask her to come to his help. She
will be more to him than twelve legions of unknown angels.”—_The
Living Church, Nov. 14, 1899._

“The emperor Nicholas ... has fallen under the influence of a
Spiritualist named Philipp, who rules the emperor to such an
extent that His Majesty makes no important decision, even in
relation to family life, without consulting his Spiritualistic
guide.”—_Melbourne Age, Nov. 15, 1902._

In a statement given put Dec. 20, 1910, soon after the death of
Mrs. Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, Mrs. Amelia Stetson,
one of the leaders of the Christian Science Church of New York
City, said: “Mrs. Eddy, who was the female Christ, will return to
earth. I am watching and waiting for the manifestation of Mrs.
Eddy in the semblance of human form. It may come today, it may
come next week, it may not come for ten years, but it will surely
come.... The millennium is at hand. Mrs. Eddy is not dead. She is
still alive, and when she appears again on earth, it will be as
herself—as Mary Baker Eddy.”

“A message purporting to come from Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the
founder of Christian Science, through Mr. William T. Stead, the
noted English journalist, shortly after the former’s death, says,
‘There is no death; all is life; all is freedom,’ ”—_Signs of the
Times, Feb. 28, 1911._

And soon after Mr. Stead himself went down on the “Titanic,” April
15, 1912, Spiritualists in different parts of the world received
numerous messages purporting to have come from him.

17. How does Satan deceive the people?

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is _transformed into an angel of light_.” 2 Cor. 11:14.

18. What role do his agents assume?

“Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be _transformed as the ministers of righteousness_.” Verse 15.

19. Will Satan and his agents attempt to counterfeit the coming of Christ, and work signs and wonders to confirm their pretentious claims?

“Then if any man shall say unto you, _Lo, here is Christ_, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, _and shall show great signs and wonders_; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24:23, 24.

20. What will be one of the last great signs performed by this means, to fasten men in deception?

“And he doeth great wonders, so that _he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men_, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Rev. 13:13, 14.

21. What scripture shows that Satan is to work with special power and deceptive wonders just before Christ’s second coming?

“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.” 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. See also Rev. 12:12.

22. While many will be deceived by these wonders, and accept of the false Christs that appear, what will those say who have maintained their love for the truth, and patiently waited for Christ’s return?

“And it shall be said in that day, _Lo, __THIS__ is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: __THIS__ is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation_.” Isa. 25: 9.

23. What warning has been given us through the apostle Peter?

“_Be sober, be vigilant_; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” 1 Peter 5: 8.

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Wicked spirits gather round thee,
Legions of those foes to God—
Principalities most mighty—
Walk unseen the earth abroad;
They are gathering to the battle,
Strengthened for the last deep strife;
Christian, arm! be watchful, ready.
Struggle manfully for life.