The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

IX. Materialization of “Spirits” Is Deceptive Device

1. DEMONIC SPIRIT IMPERSONATED PROPHET SAMUEL

The episode of Saul and the “sorceress of Endor,” in league with a “familiar spirit,” is trenchantly discussed and the personating agency unmasked. Here is the key paragraph: “It was not God’s holy prophet that came forth at the spell of a sorcerer’s incantation. Samuel was not present in that haunt of evil spirits. That supernatural appearance was produced solely by the power of Satan. He could as.easily assume the form of Samuel as he could assume that of an angel of light, when he tempted Christ in the wilderness.” ⁹¹ CFF2 738.1

2. POPULAR CLAIMS FLOUT DIVINE STIPULATIONS

Mrs.White comments on the fact that “the first act of the evil spirit [the “pretended prophet”] which personated the prophet, was to communicate secretly with this wicked woman, to warn her of the deception that had been practiced upon her” by King Saul ⁹² Noting that “there are some who take the position that Samuel was actually present at the interview with Saul,” she states, “But the Bible itself furnishes sufficient ground for a contrary conclusion.” ⁹³ If Samuel had actually been in Heaven, on such a premise he must have been summoned thence “either by the power of God or by that of Satan.” She then pointedly observes: CFF2 738.2

“None can believe for a moment that Satan had power to call the holy prophet of God from heaven to honor the incantations of an abandoned woman. Nor can we conclude that God summoned him to the witch’s cave; for the Lord had already refused to communicate with Saul, by dream, by Urim, or by prophets. These were God’s own appointed mediums of communication, and He did not pass them by to deliver the message through the agent of Satan. The message itself is sufficient evidence of its origin.” ⁹⁴ CFF2 738.3

3. “COMMUNION WITH DEAD” IS FOUNDATION OF HEATHENISM

Mrs. White then comments on a related factor:
“Nearly all forms of ancient sorcery and witchcraft were founded upon a belief in communion with the dead. Those who practiced the arts of necromancy claimed to have intercourse with departed spirits, and to obtain through them a knowledge of future events. This custom of consulting the dead is referred to in the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘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?”’ ⁹⁵ CFF2 738.4

And she adds that “this same belief in communion with the dead formed the corner-stone of heathen idolatry.” ⁹⁶ CFF2 739.1

4. EVIL ANGELS SIMULATE “SPIRITS OF DEAD.”

Connecting this with Spiritualism, Mrs. White then observes, “Under the name of Spiritualism the practice of communicating with beings claiming to be the spirits of the departed, has become wide-spread.” But while there is much “trickery” connected with Spiritualism, it is not all imposture. There are “genuine manifestations” in its phenomena, and “marked evidences of supernatural power.” And “when confronted with manifestations which they cannot account for upon this ground [of trickery],” many are “led to acknowledge its claims.” ⁹⁷ Then comes this incisive statement as to its ancestry and origin: CFF2 739.2

“Modern Spiritualism, and the forms of ancient witchcraft and idol worship,—all having communion with the dead as their vital principle,are founded upon that first lie by which Satan beguiled Eve in Eden: ‘Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof,... ye shall be as gods.’ Alike based upon falsehood and perpetuating the same, they are alike from the father of lies.” ⁹⁸ CFF2 739.3

Applying this principle, she declares: “The ‘familiar spirits’ were not the spirits of the dead, but evil angels, the messengers of Satan.” ⁹⁹ CFF2 739.4

5. FRAUDULENT BECAUSE DEAD ARE INCOMMUNICADO

The Biblical reason for the fraudulency of “communion with the dead” is stated thus:
“The Hebrews were expressly forbidden to engage, in any manner, in pretended communion with the dead. God closed this door effectually when He said: ‘The dead know not anything.... Neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun’ (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6). ‘His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish’ (Psalm 146:4). And the Lord declared to Israel: ‘The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people’ (Leviticus 20:6).” ¹⁰⁰ CFF2 739.5

6. APOSTLE FORBIDS “FELLOWSHIP” WITH DEVILS

Citing the apostle Paul’s admonition not to “have fellowship with devils” (1 Corinthians 10:20), Mrs. White plainly states: CFF2 740.1

“Modern Spiritualism, resting upon the same foundation, is but a revival, in a new form, of the witchcraft and demon-worship that God condemned and prohibited of old. It is foretold in the Scriptures, which declare that ‘in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” ¹⁰¹ CFF2 740.2

As to the peril of Spiritualism, Ellen White said that “one of the marked characteristics of Spiritualist teachers” is that “they refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God,” ¹⁰² and adds: “Spiritualism, by denying Christ, denies both the Father and the Son, and the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist.” ¹⁰³ CFF2 740.3

7. VICIOUS PURPOSE OF DEMONIC MESSAGE

Mrs. White then adds that “it is Satan’s purpose to destroy men’s confidence in God.” And reverting to Saul, she says, “The demon’s message to Saul, although it was a denunciation of sin and a prophecy of retribution, was not meant to reform him, but to goad him to despair and ruin.” ¹⁰⁴ Such are the outworkings of Spiritualism. CFF2 740.4

MAJOR 19TH CENTURY WITNESSES TO CONDITIONALISM—SECTION C

No.	Page	Name	Date	Place	Religion	Position	Nature of Man	Intermediate State	Punishment of Wicked
1	535	Baker, Lewis C.	1881-92	U.S.	Presby.—Epis.	Pastor—ed. (Reconciliation)	Not inherently immort.		Total destruction
2	542	Huntington, W.R.	1878-1906	U.S.	Episcopal	Rector	Life only in Christ		Utter destruction
3	547	Boardman, G.D.	1878-80	U.S.	Baptist	Pastor	Not natural immort.		No eternal torment
4	552	Phelps, Amos A.	1882	U.S.	Meth.—Cong.	Pastor	No present immort.	Unconscious in death	Ultimate destruction
5	558	Gordon, A.J.	1836-95	U.S.	Baptist	Pastor	Immort. at resurrec.
6	567	Oliphant, C.H.	1884-89	U.S.	Congreg.	Pastor—lecturer	Potential immort.		Dissolution & destruc.
7	572	Hopkins, John H.	1860	U.S.	Prot.—Episcopal	Bishop—prof.	(Mortal)		No eternal torments
8	573	Parkhurst., C.H.	1892	U.S.	Presbyterian	Pastor—prof.	(Mortal)		Eventual obliteration
9	574	Moomaw, B.C.	1880-90	U.S.	Dunkard	Minister	Dependent & Conditional		Total annihilation
10	576	Beecher, Edward	1878	U.S.	Congreg.	Sem. prof.—coll. pres.	(Mortal)		Ultimate destruction
11	586	Olshausen, Her.	1840	Germany	Lutheran	Univ. prof.	No innate immort.
12	587	Nitsch, Karl I.	1829	Germany	Lutheran	Univ. prof.	Created for immort.		Will cease to exist
13	588	Schultz, Hermann	1861-82	Germany	Lutheran	Univ. prof.	No natural immort.		Absolute destruction
14	593	Rothe, Richard	1863-70	Germany	Lutheran	Univ. prof.	Conditional immort.		Extinction of being
15	595	Dorner, Isaak A.	1881-90	Germany	Lutheran	Univ. prof.	(Mortal)		Complete destruction
16	596	Delitzsch, Franz	d. 1890	Germany	Lutheran	Univ. prof.	No natural immort.
17	597	Vinet, Alexandre	1845	Switzerland	Reformed		Man is mortal
18	598	Secretan, Chas.	1890	Switzerland		Univ. prof.	No inherent immort.		Annihilation of wicked
19	600	Sabatier, Armand	1894	France		Univ. prof.	No innate immort.		Complete dissolution
20	601	de May, Henry	1818-1871	Switzerland			Soul is mortal		Wicked perish
21	602	PETAVEL, E.	1870-90			Univ. prof.	No inalienable immort.		Final extinction
22	621	Freer, Fred. A.	1877-1902	England	Baptist—Cong.	Trans.—author	Immort. conditional		Utterly extinguished
23	625	Byse, Charles	1872-83	Switz.—Belg.	Free Ch. (Fr.)	Minister—tr.	Immort. conditional		Utterly destroyed
24	627	Gladstone, Wm. E.	1896	England	Anglican	Prime Minister—author	Immortal-Soulism false		Sheer extinction
25	638	Parker, Joseph	1899	England	Congregationl.	Pastor (City Temple)	Not innately immort.		Final eternal extinction
26	641	STOKES, SIR G. G.	1890-97	England	Anglican	Scientist—Univ.prof.	Not inherently immort.	State of unconcsiousn.	2nd death—no resur.
27	651	A SUCCESSION OF STUDIES ON, AND WARNINGS AGAINST, SPIRITUALISM APPEAR THROUGHOUT LATTER HALF OF CENTURY
28	654	Hastings, H. L.	1853-65	U.S.	Adv. Christian	Author—ed. (The Christian)	Immort. conditional	Unconscious in death	Total destruction
29	655	Grant, Miles	1861-95	U.S.	Adv. Christian	Ed.—author—evangelist	Conditional immort.	Unconscious sleep	Complete destruction
30	657	Taylor, D. T.	1870	U.S.	Meth.—Adv. Chr.	Pastor—author	Mortality	Sleep in death	Final extinction
31	659	Whitmore, J.H.	1870	U.S.	Adv. Christian	Author	Conditional immort.	Unconscious in death	Total destruction
32	660	Wellcome, Isaac	1874	U.S.	Adv. Christian	Historian—pub.	Man wholly mortal	Thought & life suspended	Utterly perish (2nd d’th)
33	661	Piper, F. Leroy	1891-1904	U.S.	Adv. Christian	Editor—author	Conditional immort.	Unconscious in death	Total destruction
34	664	Russell, Chas. T.	1874-1908	U.S.	Jehovah’s Wit.	Founder—author	No inherent immort.	Unconscious sleep	Utter final destruction
35	671	White, James	1874-81	U.S.	Chr. Con.—S.D.A.	Ed. & pub. (Pres. Truth)	Man wholly mortal	Unconscious in death	Total destruction
36	675	Bates, Joseph	1874	U.S.	Chr. Con.—S.D.A.	Preacher—author	Man mortal	Unconscious till resurrec.	Total destruction
37	676	White, Ellen G.	1874-1915	U.S.	Meth.—S.D.A.	Author	Created for immort.	Sleeps till resurrec.	Utter ult. destruct.
38	679	Andrews, J.N.	1829-33	U.S.	S.D.A.	Author—ed.—missionary	Conditional immort.	Sleeps till resurrec.	Utter destruction
39	680	Canright, D.M.	1870	U.S.	S.D.A.	Preacher—author	Conditional immort.	Sleep of the dead	Utter extinction
40	688	Smith, Uriah	1853-1900	U.S.	S.D.A.	Ed. (R&H)	Man wholly mortal	Unconscious sleep	Total destruction

SIGNIFICANCE OF EVIDENCE REVEALED BY CHART C

1. In the Old World the last quarter of the century saw scientists like Sir George Gabriel Stokes, Cambridge professor and president of the Royal Society, and illustious Prime Minister Gladstone, each with truly remarkable treatises, on the roster of aggressive Conditionalists. Famous City Temple pastor Joseph Parker, of London, takes a strong stand.

2. Dr. Emmanuel Petavel, of Switzerland, produced doubtless the most impressive Conditionalist treatise of the century. And a half dozen renowned German theologians, with reputations encircling the globe, are matched with about the same number of French savants, now championing the Conditionalist position.

3. The last half of the century saw the emergence of entire denominations—the Advent Christians and Seventh-day Adventists—alike espousing Conditionalism. All members of each body hold tenaciously to this tenet, and Conditionalism is thus extended all over the globe.

4. At least a dozen new periodicals, issued by the two groups within the century—principally the World’s Crisis, The Chrstian, Messiah’s Advocate, The Review and Herald, and the Signs of the times—constantly promulgate the Conditionalist position.

5. A publishing work of exceptional proportions issues literally millions of pieces of Conditionalist literature during the closing decades of the nineteenth century.

6. The paralleling, but separate, Second Advent and Conditional Immortality movements of the third and fourth decades now meet and merge in the fith decade in Adventist faith. Prior thereto they had had largely independent emphasis. Now they combine and blend in coordinated emphasis, while the original separate movements wane and fade out of the picture.

7. The most complete and balanced concept of the tenets of Conditionalism is now to be found, surpassing that of any previous period.

8. Even the militantly anti-Evangelical Jehovah’s Witness group also adopts and publicizes widely the essential Conditionalist positions.

9. Spiritualism, starting crudely just before the middle of the century assumes new and appealing forms, and comes to exert an increasing influence in the churches, penetrating intellectual and scientific circles, and especially the metaphysicists. This takes on unprecendented proportions in the twentieth century, and will be discussed there.

Technical and Statistical Aspects of Section C

The preponderant shift to the New World is impressive. The Conditionalist witnesses in this section (C) are spread as follows: North America, twenty-six; Switzerland and France, seven; Germany, six; Engand, four; and Belgium, one.

In religious affiliation in this latter portions of the century, they now stand as Seventh-day Adventist, seven; Advent Christian, six; Anglican or Episcopalian, six; Lutheran, five; Baptist, three; Congregationalist, three; Methodist, two; Christian Connection, two; and one each among the Presbyterians, Independents, Free Church, Reformed, Dunkard, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Finally, as to vocations or positions held by the Conditionalists, they stand, in addition to one prime minister, one bishop, and one baronet scientist, university professors, thirteen; pastors and rectors, eleven; editors, six; publishers, five; founderst of religious movements, three; and one college president, one translator, one historian, and one missionary, This presents a new pircture.