The Climax of Deception

That the marvels of Spiritualism would increase as the end nears, was plainly taught by our Saviour in describing the workings of Satan just before the second advent. He left us the warning:

"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.

Evidently, then, by the miracle-working power that he possesses, Satan will work mighty deceptions through both human and supernatural agencies. And the crowning deception will be his own manifestation as the Promised One, simulating Christ's second coming. But the power and glory that will fill all earth and the heavens at Christ's coming, cannot be copied by Satan, with all his miracle-working skill. That is why it is so important that we understand the Bible teaching as to the nature and manner of Christ's second advent. The doctrine of the silent, secret, mystical coming is all abroad in the world, the teaching exactly calculated to prepare the way for Satan's purposes of deception.

Therefore Christ forewarns us:

"Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:25-27.

The teachings of ancient theosophy and spiritualism--the mysticism of the East--have been permeating Christendom in recent years. Mme. Jean Delaire, writing in a London review, said some years ago:

"India has apparently still a mission to fulfil, for her thought is slowly beginning to mold the thought of Europe and of America; our keenest minds are today studying her philosophy; our New Theology is founded upon the old, old Vedanta."--_National Review, September, 1908, p. 131._

This flood of ancient spiritualism from the East has come about according to Isaiah's prophecy of things that were to "come to pa.s.s in the latter days:"

"Thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, because they are filled with customs from the East, and are soothsayers like the Philistines." Isa. 2:6, A.R.V.

In 1909 one of the leading representatives of theosophical thought, Mrs.

Annie Besant, of India, toured America with the message of a coming messiah. She announced:

"My message is very simple: 'Prepare for the coming Christ.' We stand at the cradle of a new subrace, and each race or subrace has its own messiah. Hermes is followed by Zoroaster; Zoroaster by Orpheus; Orpheus by Buddha; Buddha by Christ. We now await with confidence a manifestation of the Supreme Teacher of the world, who was last manifested in Palestine. Everywhere in the West, not less than in the East, the heart of man is throbbing with the glad expectation of the new avatar."

The leaven of the spiritualistic philosophy has been working its way through Christendom during this generation. We see clearly that the evil one is preparing the way for his final work of deception.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HOME OF THE FOX FAMILY, HYDESVILLE, N.Y.

Spiritualism originated in this house March 31, 1848.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "HE IS RISEN"

"Because I live, ye shall live also." John 14:19.

COPYRIGHT, STANDARD PUB. CO.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: MARY MEETS HER RISEN LORD

"He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25.]

LIFE ONLY IN CHRIST

MAN'S NATURE AND STATE IN DEATH

A wide-open door for Spiritualism is afforded by the teaching that man has life in himself--immortality by nature; and that death is not really death, but another form of life.

The Scriptures close this door of false hope, teaching us that man is mortal, that death is really death, and that immortality is the gift of G.o.d through Christ by the resurrection from the dead.

Clearly and definitely the Bible teaches that G.o.d only has immortality, styling Him "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality." 1 Tim. 6:15, 16.

This scripture disposes of every idea that man is immortal by nature, and opens the way for a consideration of the Scripture teaching concerning man's nature, his state in death, and the promise of life and immortality in Christ.

Man by Nature Mortal

The word "mortal," as used in that ancient question by Eliphaz, describes man's nature:

"Shall mortal man be more just than G.o.d?" Job 4:17.

In the creation, life was conditional upon the creature's relation to Christ the Creator, in whom all things consist:

"All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life." John 1:3,4.

He was, and is, as the psalmist says, "the fountain of life." Cut off from vital connection with Him, there could be no continuance of life.

The Lord warned Adam that his life was conditional upon obedience. "In the day that thou eatest thereof," He said of the forbidden tree, "thou shalt surely die." Gen. 2:17. It was a declaration that man was not immortal, but was dependent upon G.o.d for life.

When by unbelief and sin man rejected G.o.d, the sentence--death eternal--must have been executed had not the plan of salvation intervened. But as the stroke of divine justice was falling upon the sinner, the Son of G.o.d interposed Himself and received the blow. "He was bruised for our iniquities." In the divine plan, the great sacrifice for man was as sure then as when, later, it was actually made on Calvary.

Christ was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

And there Adam, the sinner, now with a fallen human nature, which would be perpetuated in his descendants in all subsequent time, was granted an extension of life, every moment of which, whether for him or for his posterity, was the purchase of Christ by His own death, in order that in this time of probation man might find forgiveness of sin and a.s.surance of life to come. Adam was not created immortal, but was placed on probation, and had he continued faithful, the gift of immortality must have been given him at some later time, after he had pa.s.sed the test. As the original plan is carried out through Christ, "the second Adam," the gift of immortality is bestowed finally upon all who pa.s.s the test of the judgment and are found in Christ, in whom alone is life.

Having fallen, Adam, now possessed of a sinful nature, must die. "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23. It was impossible that sin or sinners should be immortalized in G.o.d's universe. So, inasmuch as the tree of life in Eden had been made the channel of continuance of life to man, the Lord said:

"Now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: therefore the Lord G.o.d sent him forth from the garden of Eden." Gen. 3:22, 23.

This negatives the idea that there could ever be an immortal sinner, who should mar G.o.d's creation forever. Sin works out nothing but death.

"Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15. Fallen himself, Adam could bequeath to his posterity only a fallen, mortal nature. So began the sad history summed up in the text:

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death pa.s.sed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12.

Mortality Universal

Mortality is written upon all creation. Ages ago the wise man wrote, "There is one event unto all: ... they go to the dead." Eccl. 9:3. Human hearts everywhere and in all time have cried out against the remorselessness of the great enemy. "Do people die with you?" was the question met by Livingstone in the untraveled wilds of Africa. "Have you no charm against death?" The Greek as well as the barbarian confessed to the helplessness of man before the great enemy. Centuries before Christ, Sophocles the Athenian wrote:

"Wonders are many! and none is there greater than man, who Steers his ship over the sea, driven on by the south wind, Cleaving the threatening swell of the waters around him.

"He captures the gay-hearted birds; he entangles adroitly Creatures that live on the land and the brood of the ocean, Spreading his well-woven nets. Man full of devices!

"Speech and swift thought free as wind, the building of cities; Shelters to ward off the arrows of rain, and to temper Sharp-biting frost--all these hath he taught himself. Surely Stratagem hath he for all that comes! Never the future Finds him resourceless! Deftly he combats grievous diseases, Oft from their grip doth he free himself. Death alone vainly-- Vainly he seeks to escape; 'gainst death he is helpless."

--_Chorus from Antigone._

What unspeakable pathos in the cry of humanity's helplessness before death, the great enemy! But when Adam went out of Eden, it was with the a.s.surance of life from the dead through the promised Seed, if faithful.

It is the message of the one gospel for all time--everlasting life in Christ.