SPIRITISM AND DEMONISM.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1979, 22 November 1921, Page 3

SPIRITISM AND DEMONISM.

A BIBLE STUDENT'S VIEW. Without denying any of the authentic phenomena of Spiritualism, as testified to by its modern advocates, Mr Edward Nelson, lecturer of the International Bible Students' Association,in a lecture on Sunday night to the Bible Students' Class, in I'almerston North, accounted for these phenomena, as being the work of fallen angels, called demons, or devils, in the Old and New Testaments. The history of these is given in Genesis, (>tli chapter, where, as the "Sons of God," having control of the human rata prior to the Deluge, they became disobedient, married human females, while in materialised form, and debauched the race. The Flood destroyed their offspring as well as the race. The angels were deprived of the power of appearing as men, and wore confined in Tartarus (the earth's atmosphere), until the thousand year reign of Christ begins. From their abode they cannot influence men without the consent of the. persons. People who yield, through ignorance, or other motive, become mediums, and in the end are unable to get rid of the incubus. There are about forty references to demons in the Gospels (Luke, 9: 3S-42, and Mark, 9; 17-27, are notable passages), but not once are we told that these demons are spirits of dead humans. The doctrine of the immortality of the Soul, taught in all heathen religions, as well as in our own churches, is chiefly responsible for the successful spread of Spiritualism all over the civilised world to-day. It was Satan who first taught this doctrin in the Garden of Eden, when he said to Mother Eve, "Ye shall not surely (really) die" ,(Gen. 3: 4). This was the first lie ever told (Jud., 8: 44),'and the whole world has been deceived by it. People who firmly believe, on the authority of the Church, that death is only a "shedding of thei body," are ready to believe their departed can give them messages. The fallen angels know the affairs of men, and therefore can personate the dead, and thus gain over the minds of men, resulting in moral, mental, and physical injury. The Bible' teaches that the dead are dead, and know nothing in the death state (Eccl., 9: 5); when they die their thoughts perish (Psa., 49: 12). "By one man's disobedience sin entered the world, and death (cessation of life) by sin" (Rom., 5: 12). Resurrection is the only gateway to future life. "If there is no resurrection of the dead then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (testifies 1 Cor., 15:IS). Thus it is Scriptually proved that the alleged communications from the dead are unreliable, false, and delusive. Many suicides are due to promptings of evil spirits. The great war can be said to have been precipitated by their evil influence, as It was a matter of public knowledge that the ex-Emperor of Germany for years heard a small voice," which urged him on to grasp after world power. Likewise, the forme*" Tsar of Russia continually kept and consulted mediums. The monk Rasputin (a medium) did the same service to him as the Delphic Oracle, did ito ancient rulers of Greece, Asia, and Rorrie. But it was all from these fallen angels or demons. A knowledge of the teaching of the Bible and full consecration to God's will is the efficient safeguard against these malignant influences.