A Threefold Union of Worship

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For 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

“And they worshipped the dragon [Satan] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast [Papacy], saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” “And I beheld another beast [Protestant America]…And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” Revelation 13:4, 12.

Almost all forms of ancient sorcery and witchcraft are founded upon a belief in communication with those who have passed on to the grave. This same belief in communication with the dead is the cornerstone of heathen idolatry. The gods of the heathen were believed to be the deified spirits of departed heroes. Thus the religion of the heathen was a worship of the dead. This is evident from the Scriptures. In Numbers 25, “the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.” In Psalm 106 it further clarifies, “They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.”

The deification of the dead holds a prominent place in nearly every system of heathenism, as do supposed communion with the dead. Their gods are believed to communicate their will to men, and also, when consulted, to give them counsel. Of this character were the famous oracles of Greece and Rome. Belief in communion with the dead is still held today, even in professedly Christian lands. Under the name of spiritualism the practice of communicating with beings claiming to be the spirits of the departed is widespread. Evil spirits do appear to persons in the form of their deceased friends, and relate incidents connected with their lives and perform acts which they performed while living. In this way they lead men to believe that their dead friends are angels, hovering over them and communicating with them. Those who thus appear to be the spirits of the departed are regarded with a certain idolatry, and with many their word has greater weight than the Word of God [Bible]. There are many individuals, however, who regard this spiritualism as a mere imposture. These will soon be confronted with manifestations which they cannot deny, and will be led to acknowledge their belief. Apostate Christianity and the forms of ancient witchcraft and idol worship—all holding communion with the dead as their vital principle—are alike from the father of all lies.

Ancient idolatry, comprised of both worship of the dead and pretended communion with them, is demon worship according to the Bible. The apostle Paul, in warning his brethren against participating, in any manner, in the idolatry of their heathen neighbors, says, “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God, and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:20. The psalmist, speaking of God’s people, says that “they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,” and in the next verse he explains they sacrificed them “unto the idols of Canaan.” Psalm 106:37, 38. In the worship of dead men you are in reality worshiping demons. Apostate Christianity, now 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. The divine precepts condemning sin and enforcing righteousness are set aside; truth is lightly regarded, and impurity is not only permitted but enjoined. Spiritualism declares that there is no death, no sin, no judgment, no retribution; that “men are unfallen demigods;” that desire is the highest law; and that man is accountable only to himself. The barriers that God has erected to guard truth, purity, and reverence are broken down, and many are thus emboldened in sin. Does not such teaching suggest an origin similar to that of demon worship?

The Scriptures declare that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Timothy 4:1. Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, points to the special working of Satan in spiritualism as an event to take place immediately before the return of Jesus Christ. Speaking of Christ's second coming, he declares that it is “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9. And Peter, describing the dangers to which the church is now exposed in these last days, says that as there were false prophets who led Israel into sin, so there will be false teachers, “who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.... And many shall follow their pernicious ways.” 2 Peter 2:1, 2. Here the apostle has pointed out one of the marked characteristics of spiritualist teachers. They refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Concerning such teachers the beloved John declares: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” 1 John 2:22, 23. Spiritualism, by denying Jesus Christ, denies both the Father and the Son, and the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist.

God’s people are expressly forbidden to engage in any manner of 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.” “There is no work, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave.” Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:4. Not only did Jesus warn us not to be involved in any spiritualism, but He declared to Israel: “The soul that turns 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. “Familiar spirits” have never been the spirits of our dead loved ones, but evil angels of Satan.

While we carefully secure our houses with bolts and locks to protect our property and our lives from evil men who would do us harm, we seldom think of the evil angels who are constantly seeking access to us, and against whose attacks we have, in our own strength, no method of defense. When permitted, they distract our minds, disorder and torment our bodies, destroy our possessions and our lives. Their only delight is in misery and destruction. Fearful is the condition of those who resist God’s divine claims and yield to Satan's temptations, until God gives you up to the control of these evil spirits.

In Mark 7, the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman was grievously vexed with a devil, whom Jesus cast out by His word. In Matthew 12 there was “one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb.” In Mark 9, a youth who had a dumb spirit, that ofttimes “cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him.” In Luke 4, the maniac who, tormented by “a spirit of an unclean devil”, disturbed the Sabbath quiet of the synagogue at Capernaum—all were healed by our compassionate Savior. In nearly every instance, Jesus Christ addressed the demon as an intelligent entity, commanding him to come out of his victim and to torment him no more. Those possessed with devils are usually represented as being in a condition of great suffering; yet this is not always the case. For the sake of obtaining supernatural power, very many, even today, welcome these satanic influences. These of course have no conflict with the demons. Of this class were those who possessed the spirit of divination,—Simon Magus, Elymas the sorcerer, and the damsel who followed Paul and Silas at Philippi.

It is because Satan can most readily control the minds of those who are unconscious of his influence, that the Word of God gives us so many examples of his malignant work, unveiling before us his secret forces, and thus placing us on our guard against his assaults. None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who, notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of the Scriptures, deny the existence and agency of the devil and his angels. So long as you are ignorant of their wiles, they have almost inconceivable advantages; many give heed to their suggestions while you suppose yourself to be following the dictates of your own mind. This is why, as we approach the close of time, when Satan is to work with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he spreads everywhere the belief that he does not exist. It is his policy to conceal himself and his manner of working. There is nothing that the great deceiver fears so much as that we shall become acquainted with his devices.

Earth’s probation is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of our High Priest (Hebrews 8) going on now in man's behalf. Satan now has many agents in our churches ready to present any and every kind of error to ensnare souls—heresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and capacities of those whom he would ruin. He is holding people in darkness and impenitence till Jesus' mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin. Consequently, there are many church members who have no real faith in God or in His Word who assent to some principles of truth and pass as Christians, and thus they are enabled to introduce their errors as Scriptural doctrines.

The lure by which Satan, Catholicism, and false Protestantism attracts the multitudes is the latter’s desire for an easy religion that requires no striving, no self-denial, no divorce from the follies of this world. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they truly desire is a method of forgetting God which passes as a worship service in remembrance of Him. This threefold union of worship is adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world—those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved while still sinning. Here is the secret of its power.

The belief that it is of no consequence what you believe as long as you believe in Jesus Christ is one of Satan's most successful deceptions. Jesus prayed in John 17:20, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Satan knows that the truth, received in the love of it, is what sanctifies the soul of the receiver; therefore he is constantly seeking to substitute false theories, fables, or another gospel.

By the cry, “we are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14) men are blinded to the devices of their adversary, while he is all the time working steadily for the accomplishment of his object. As he succeeds in supplanting the Bible by human speculations, the law of God is set aside, and the churches are under the bondage of sin while they claim to be free.

He who rejects truth because it involves self-denial and taking up his cross daily, so that you may not be at variance with the world, will be left to receive damnable heresy. Even those who look with horror upon one deception will readily receive another. Paul, who warned of a class who “received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,” states: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10- 12.

James declares, the wisdom that is from above is “first pure.” Had he encountered those who take the precious name of Jesus upon lips defiled by tobacco, those whose breath and person are contaminated by its foul odor, and who pollute the air of heaven and force all about them to inhale the poison—had the apostle come in contact with a practice so opposed to the purity of the gospel, would he not have denounced it as “earthly, sensual, devilish”? Slaves of tobacco (those refusing to quit) and those holding on to other evil habits, while claiming the blessing of entire sanctification, talk of their hope of heaven; but God's Word plainly declares that “there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth.” Revelation 21:27.

The same is true of sexual lust. “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. He whose body is the temple of the Holy Spirit will not be enslaved by any pernicious habit. His powers belong to Jesus Christ, who has bought him with the price of His blood. His property is the Lord's. How can he be guiltless in squandering this entrusted capital? Professed Christians yearly expend an immense sum upon useless and pernicious indulgences, while souls are perishing for the Word of life. God is repeatedly robbed in our tithes and offerings, while we consume upon the altar of destroying lust more than we give to relieve the poor or for the support of the gospel. If all who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ were truly sanctified, our means, instead of being spent for needless and even hurtful indulgences, would be turned into the Lord's treasury, and Christians would set an example of temperance, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. Then we would truly be the light of the world.

It is by beholding that we become changed. And as those sacred precepts in which God has opened to men the perfection and holiness of His character are neglected, and the minds of the people are attracted to human teachings and theories, what marvel that there has followed a decline of living piety in our churches. Saith the Lord: “They have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13

Although there is widespread interest in Christianity, many profess conversion, and there are large accessions into Christian churches; nevertheless the results are not such as to warrant the belief that there is a corresponding increase of real spiritual life. The light which flames up for a time soon dies out, leaving the darkness more dense than before. Popular revivals are too often carried by appeals to the imagination, by exciting the emotions, by gratifying the love for what is new and startling. Converts thus gained have little desire to listen to Bible truth, little interest in the testimony of prophets and apostles. Unless a religious service has something of a sensational character, it has no attractions for them. A message which appeals to unimpassioned reason awakens no response. The plain warnings of God's Word, relating directly to their eternal interests, are unheeded. With every truly converted soul their relation to God and to eternal things is the great topic of life. But where, in the popular churches of today, is the spirit of consecration to God? Converts do not renounce their pride and love of the world. They are no more willing to deny self, to take up their cross, and follow the meek and lowly Jesus, than before their conversion. Religion has become the sport of infidels and skeptics because so many who bear its name are ignorant of its principles. The power of godliness is nearly departed from many of our churches. Picnics, church theatricals, church fairs, mega churches, personal display, have banished thoughts of God. Lands and goods and worldly occupations engross the mind, and things of eternal interest receive hardly a passing notice.

Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are still true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the final visitation of God's judgments (plagues) upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for our Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit revival. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.

There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God's word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there you may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed. And by the rule which Christ Himself has given, “Ye shall know them by their fruits”, it is evident that these movements are not the work of the Spirit of God. In the truths of His Word, God has given to men a revelation of Himself; and to all who accept it they are a shield against the deceptions of Satan. It is a neglect of these truths that has opened the door to the evils which are now so widespread in the religious world. The nature and the importance of the law of God have been, to a great extent, lost sight of. A wrong conception of the character, the perpetuity, and the obligation of God’s divine law has led to errors in relation to conversion and sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in our churches. Here is to be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of God in the revivals of our time.

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4