Heavenly Visions

FULFILMENT OF TRUE PROPHECIES

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

WHEN, in ancient times, the Lord revealed to the people the nothingness of their idols and the untruthfulness of their false prophets, he sent through his prophets these words: “Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show us the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods [that is, know that ye have divine power to open the future to us]: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.” Isaiah 41:21-23. HEVI 43.1

It is apparent from this text that the power to predict future events, and the fulfilment or failure of such prediction, was a rule strictly applied “aforetime” in deciding who were true prophets of God, and who were the false prophets inspired only by the “lying spirit” (1 Kings 22:22) of Satan. This being a good rule for those in olden times, why not as good for the “latter days,” when false prophets are to arise to deceive if possible “the very elect”? We will therefore apply the test to predictions made by Sister White concerning modern Spiritualism, in the years 1849-50. HEVI 43.2

That of the former date reads: “I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York and other places was the power of Satan, and that such things would be more and more common, clothed in a religious garb so as to lull the deceived to more security, and to draw the minds of God’s people, if possible, to those things, and cause them to doubt the teachings and power of the Holy Ghost.” HEVI 43.3

At the time of this vision there was only the “rapping” manifestation. Questions were asked, and the answer of “yes” or “no” was given by either two or three “raps.” The greater part of the people regarded the “rappings,” as they were called, “trickery,” or “sleight of hand performance.” At that time the idea was not even suggested that “spirit rappings” would assume to be a religious organization, as it has since done, with its titles of Rev. ----, pastor of the First Spiritualist church of ----, etc., etc. HEVI 43.4

In the vision of Aug. 24, 1850, we read: “I was shown that by the rapping and mesmerism, these modern magicians would yet account for all the miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that many would believe that all the mighty works of the Son of God when on the earth were accomplished by the same power.” HEVI 43.5

It is since that vision was given in 1850 that Spiritualists have taught, both in their oral instructions and in their printed books and papers (what they did not teach previously to that date), that all the miracles of Christ were wrought by the power of mesmerism; and that he was only a “well-developed medium,” etc. HEVI 43.6

Another statement is given, taken from supplement to “Experiences and Views, “page 3, first printed in 1853: “I saw the rapping delusion-what progress it was making, and that if it were possible, it would deceive the very elect. Satan will have power to bring before us the appearance of forms purporting to be our relatives or friends now sleeping in Jesus. It will be made to appear as if these friends were present, the words that they uttered while here, with which we were familiar, will be spoken, and the same tone of voice that they had while living will fall upon the ear. All this is to deceive the saints, and ensnare them into the belief of this delusion.” HEVI 43.7

At the time this vision was given, the mode of communicating with the spirits was by calling over the letters of the alphabet, and spelling out the communication, and by a “rap” the spirit designated the letter wanted. No one had, at that date, heard of a case of what has been so much talked of during the last thirty years-the “materializing of spirits;” that is, the spirit assuming a bodily form, shaking hands with people, and talking with them in tones that they claim to recognize as the exact tone of voice of a dead relative or friend. HEVI 43.8

It was about the years 1857-58-four years after Sister White had put in print that the spirits would assume the forms of dead friends-that mediums claimed to see their friends, and to hear them speak. It was when the writer was holding a series of meetings in Assyria, Mich., in March, 1858, that he first met a medium who claimed that she had actually seen her dead friends. HEVI 43.9

While the Scriptures were being quoted, showing that the dead are unconscious, and that the “rapping spirits” are spirits of devils instead of spirits of the dead, a great power from Satan came upon this medium, who arose in the audience, and in a stentorian tone said: “I don’t care anything about your Bible texts that ‘the dead know not anything,’ and that the spirits are‘the spirits of devils;’I know what I have seen. I have seen my grandmother, and talked with her. I know just how my grandmother looked: she had a wart on her cheek. I know how she walked, too: she wore a pair of old slippers down at the heel, and ‘skuffed’ them on the floor when she walked. The first I heard of her coming was the ‘skuffing’ of the slippers. I looked up, and there was grandmother. I talked with her for half an hour. Don’t you think I knew her voice? You need not talk this scripture to me. I KNOW I have seen my grandmother.” Mesmerized by the spirit of Satan, no doubt she saw the “resemblance” of her grandmother. HEVI 43.10

In the light of this rule for testing prophets, what can we say of the predictions made through Sister White concerning Spiritualism? She stated, when it was not here, what would be done. The things predicted came. That is according to the Bible proof of divine inspiration in the vision. The Review and Herald, November 7, 1899 HEVI 44.1

Now the mysteries of life
Gather round me;
Now its problems are unsolved
And confound me;
Now I am but like a child;
And the mountain way is wild,
But what time I am afraid,
I will trust. HEVI 44.2

God, whose mighty love is strong
For me ever,
Christ, with pity, watching still
My endeavor,
I am very much afraid,
Hasten, therefore, to my aid;
Strengthen, quiet, succor me,
Trusting thee. —Marianne Farmingham. HEVI 44.3