August 24, 1850, I saw that the "mysterious rapping"
was the power of Satan; some of it was directly from him, and
some indirectly, through his agents, but it all proceeded from
Satan. It was his work that he accomplished in different ways;
yet many in the churches and the world were so enveloped in gross
darkness that they thought and held forth that it was the power
of God. Said the angel, "Should not a people seek unto their
God? for the living to the dead?" Should the living go to
the dead for knowledge? The dead know not anything. For the living
God do ye go to the dead? They have departed from the living God
to converse with the dead who know not anything. (See Isa. 8:19,
20.)
I saw that soon it would be considered blasphemy to speak against
the rapping, and that it would spread more and more, that Satan's
power would increase and some of his devoted followers would have
power to work miracles and even to bring down fire from heaven
in the sight of men. 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 earth were
accomplished by this same power. I was pointed back to the time
of Moses and saw the signs and wonders which God wrought through
him before Pharaoh, most of which were imitated by the magicians
of Egypt; and that just before the final deliverance of the saints,
God would work powerfully for His people, and these modern magicians
would be permitted to imitate the work of God.
That time will soon come, and we shall have to keep hold of the
strong arm of Jehovah; for all these great signs and mighty wonders
of the devil are designed to deceive God's people and overthrow
them. Our minds must be stayed upon God, and we must not fear
the fear of the wicked, that is, fear what they fear, and reverence
what they reverence, but be bold and valiant for the truth. Could
our eyes be opened, we should see forms of evil angels around
us, trying to invent some new way to annoy and destroy us. And
we should also see angels of God guarding us from their power;
for God's watchful eye is ever over Israel for good, and He will
protect and save His people, if they put their trust in Him. When
the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will
lift up a standard against him.
Said the angel, "Remember, thou art on the enchanted ground."
I saw that we must watch and have on the whole armor and take
the shield of faith, and then we shall be able to stand, and the
fiery darts of the wicked cannot harm us.