hell , who renounce the truths which Heaven has provided as a defense for the righteous in the day of trouble , and accept the refuge of lies offered by Satan in its stead--the delusive pretensions of spiritualism .
Marvellous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this generation . Thousands reject the word of God as unworthy of belief and with eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan . Sceptics and scoffers denounce the bigotry of those who contend for the faith of prophets and apostles , and they divert themselves by holding up to ridicule the solemn declarations of the Scriptures concerning Christ and the plan of salvation , and the retribution to be visited upon the rejecters of the truth . They affect great pity for minds so narrow , weak , and superstitious as to acknowledge the claims of God and obey the requirements of His law . They manifest as much assurance as if , indeed , they had made a covenant with death and an agreement with hell-- as if they had erected an impassable , impenetrable barrier between themselves and the vengeance of God . Nothing can arouse their fears . So fully have they yielded to the tempter , so closely are they united with him , and so thoroughly imbued with his spirit , that they have no power and no inclination to break away from his snare .
Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world . The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden : " Ye shall not surely die ." " In the day ye eat thereof , then your eyes shall be opened , and ye shall be as gods , knowing good and evil ." Genesis 3:4 , 5 . Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of spiritualism . He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs ; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time . Says the prophet : " I saw three unclean spirits like frogs ; . . . they are the spirits of devils , working miracles , which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world , to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty ." Revelation 16:13 , 14 . Except those who are kept by the power of God , through faith in His word , the whole world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion . The people are fast being lulled to a fatal security , to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God .
Saith the Lord God : " Judgment also will I lay to the line , and righteousness to the plummet : and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies , and the waters shall overflow the hiding place . And your covenant with death shall be disannulled , and your agreement with hell shall not stand ; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through , then ye shall be trodden down by it ." Isaiah 28:17 , 18 .
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