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of all the earth： 〃Depart from Me； ye cursed； into everlasting fire〃？
Matthew 25：21； 41。 Oh； solemn mockery！ shameful impeachment of the wisdom
and justice of God！
The theory of the immortality of the soul was one of those false doctrines
that Rome； borrowing from paganism； incorporated into the religion of
Christendom。 Martin Luther classed it with the 〃monstrous fables that form
part of the Roman dunghill of decretals。〃E。 Petavel； The Problem of
Immortality； page 255。 Commenting on the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes；
that the dead know not anything； the Reformer says： 〃Another place proving
that the dead have no 。 。 。 feeling。 There is； saith he； no duty； no
science； no knowledge； no wisdom there。 Solomon judgeth that the dead are
asleep； and feel nothing at all。 For the dead lie there； accounting neither
days nor years； but when they are awaked； they shall seem to have slept
scarce one minute。〃 Martin Luther； Exposition of Solomon's Booke Called
Ecclesiastes； page 152。
Nowhere in the Sacred Scriptures is found the statement
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that the righteous go to their reward or the wicked to their punishment at
death。 The patriarchs and prophets have left no such assurance。 Christ and
His apostles have given no hint of it。 The Bible clearly teaches that the
dead do not go immediately to heaven。 They are represented as sleeping until
the resurrection。 I Thessalonians 4：14； Job 14：10…12。 In the very day when
the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl broken （Ecclesiastes 12：6）；
man's thoughts perish。 They that go down to the grave are in silence。 They
know no more of anything that is done under the sun。 Job 14：21。 Blessed rest
for the weary righteous！ Time； be it long or short； is but a moment to them。
They sleep； they are awakened by the trump of God to a glorious immortality。
〃For the trumpet shall sound； and the dead shall be raised incorruptible。 。
。 。 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption； and this mortal
shall have put on immortality； then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written； Death is swallowed up in victory。〃 I Corinthians 15：52…54。 As
they are called forth from their deep slumber they begin to think just where
they ceased。 The last sensation was the pang of death； the last thought；
that they were falling beneath the power of the grave。 When they arise from
the tomb； their first glad thought will be echoed in the triumphal shout： 〃O
death； where is thy sting？ O grave； where is thy victory？〃 Verse 55。
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Chapter 34
Can Our Dead Speak to Us？
The ministration of holy angels； as presented in the Scriptures； is a truth
most comforting and precious to every follower of Christ。 But the Bible
teaching upon this point has been obscured and perverted by the errors of
popular theology。 The doctrine of natural immortality； first borrowed from
the pagan philosophy； and in the darkness of the great apostasy incorporated
into the Christian faith； has supplanted the truth； so plainly taught in
Scripture； that 〃the dead know not anything。〃 Multitudes have come to
believe that it is spirits of the dead who are the 〃ministering spirits；
sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation。〃 And this
notwithstanding the testimony of Scripture to the existence of heavenly
angels； and their connection with the history of man； before the death of a
human being。
The doctrine of man's consciousness in death； especially the belief that
spirits of the dead return to minister to the living； has prepared the way
for modern spiritualism。 If the dead are admitted to the presence of God and
holy angels； and privileged with knowledge far exceeding what they before
possessed； why should they not return to the earth to enlighten and instruct
the living？ If； as taught by popular theologians； spirits of the dead are
hovering about their friends on earth； why should they not be permitted to
communicate with them； to warn them against evil； or to comfort
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them in sorrow？ How can those who believe in man's consciousness in death
reject what comes to them as divine light communicated by glorified spirits？
Here is a channel regarded as sacred； through which Satan works for the
accomplishment of his purposes。 The fallen angels who do his bidding appear
as messengers from the spirit world。 While professing to bring the living
into communication with the dead； the prince of evil exercises his
bewitching influence upon their minds。
He has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends。
The counterfeit is perfect； the familiar look； the words； the tone； are
reproduced with marvelous distinctness。 Many are comforted with the
assurance that their loved ones are enjoying the bliss of heaven； and
without suspicion of danger； they give ear 〃to seducing spirits； and
doctrines of devils。〃
When they have been led to believe that the dead actually return to
communicate with them； Satan causes those to appear who went into the grave
unprepared。 They claim to be happy in heaven and even to occupy exalted
positions there； and thus the error is widely taught that no difference is
made between the righteous and the wicked。 The pretended visitants from the
world of spirits sometimes utter cautions and warnings which prove to be
correct。 Then； as confidence is gained； they present doctrines that directly
undermine faith in the Scriptures。 With an appearance of deep interest in
the well…being of their friends on earth； they insinuate the most dangerous
errors。 The fact that they state some truths； and are able at times to
foretell future events； gives to their statements an appearance of
reliability； and their false teachings are accepted by the multitudes as
readily； and believed as implicitly； as if they were the most sacred truths
of the Bible。 The law of God is set aside； the Spirit of grace despised； the
blood of the covenant counted an unholy thing。 The spirits deny the deity of
Christ and place even the Creator on a level with themselves。 Thus under a
new disguise the great rebel
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still carries on his warfare against God； begun in heaven and for nearly six
thousand years continued upon the earth。
Many endeavor to account for spiritual manifestations by attributing them
wholly to fraud and sleight of hand on the part of the medium。 But while it
is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off as genuine
manifestations； there have been； also； marked exhibitions of supernatural
power。 The mysterious rapping with which modern spiritualism began was not
the result of human trickery or cunning； but was the direct work of evil
angels； who thus introduced one of the most successful of soul…destroying
delusions。 Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a
merely human imposture； when brought face to face with manifestations which
they cannot but regard as supernatural； they will be deceived； and will be
led to accept them as the great power of God。
These persons overlook the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the
wonders wrought by Satan and his agents。 It was by satanic aid that
Pharaoh's magicians were enabled to counterfeit the work of God。 Paul
testifies that before the second advent of Christ there will be similar
manifestations of satanic power。 The coming of the Lord is to be preceded by
〃the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders； and with
all deceivableness of unrighteousness。〃
2 Thessalonians 2：9；10。 And the apostle John； describing the
miracle…working power that will be manifested in the last days； declares：
〃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。〃 Revelation 13：13；
14。 No mere impostures are here foretold。 Men are deceived
by the miracles which Satan's agents have power to do； not which they
pretend to do。
The prince of darkness； who ha