Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
"Mysterious Rapping"
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In the mid-1800s two of these sisters claimed to communicate with the dead.
Illustration —
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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 Isaiah 8:19, 20.) {EW 59.1}
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.1
I was pointed back to [60]
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. {EW 59.2}
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. {EW 60.1}
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. {EW
60.2}
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