Walter Rea : Great Controversy Notes (original) (raw)

Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Chapters 26, 28, 29, 36

by Walter Rea

Like most of the Book of "Great Controversy", supposedly written by Ellen White, these four chapters, "Agency of Evil Spirits", "The First Great Deception", "Spiritualism and Desolation of the Earth", all had their beginnings in the early "Reviews" of the Years 1851 to 1856. They, like most of the book, came from articles written by J. N. Andrews in those early "Reviews" and later copied by Uriah Smith, his brother in law and then taken by James White and used in his articles or books and finally ended up in the "Great Controversy", under the name of Ellen White. All of the more than 70 Bible texts used in Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, as well as the later ones added in the 1911 edition of "Great Controversy" were covered in these early articles, often in their exact order as used by Ellen. Thus, as in all of the doctrinal subjects of the book, nothing really came from Ellen white or her visions but came first from the fertile mind of J. N. Andrews as the following references will show. All the following references are from the early "Reviews" and the articles were mostly written by J. N. Andrews or those that followed him. Volume 1, Pages 84-86; Volume 2, Pages 12-13, 70, 99; Volume 3, Page 28; Volume 4, Pages 34-36, 59, 73, 157; Volume 5, Pages 73-75, 192; Volume 5, Pages 17-19, 25-28, 33-36, 41-42, 129-132, 137-139; Volume 6, Pages 7, 17-19, 54, 201-203.

That enemy of Jesus Christ, Thomas Pains, is now reported through a medium, Rev. C. Hammond, to be in the highest circle of the spirit world. …He says that his name is "written in the records of eternal life," that he has received the plaudit, "well done good servant," that he has obtained the "reward" of the faithful, and has entered into eternal "joy". Nothing short of a demon could have the brass to talk of Paine on this wise. …So died Thomas Paine in the depths of wickedness; and now he is a sainted spirit in the highest circle of the spirit world, and has come to teach this "Rev. Charles Hammond," who, under his inspiration, is to enlighten the world! What a hope is there held out to the vilest sinner. He may go on in crime, and feel assured of finally reveling with Paine in the glories of the higher circles of heaven. (Review Volume 4, page 74) …So that when our dearest, deceased friends shall appear before us, we can say Get behind me Satan. …Such a shield we shall need in the "hour of temptation, which cometh upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Review, Volume 4, page 157. Spiritual manifestations, page 157.) - 1854

Thomas Paine whose body has mouldered to duct, and who is to be called forth at the end of the 1000 years, at the second resurrection, to receive his reward, and suffer the second death, is purported by Satan to be in heaven, and highly exalted there. Satan used him on earth as long as he could and now he is carrying on the same work through pretensions of having Thomas Paine so much exalted and honored; and as he taught on earth, Satan is making it appear that he is teaching in heaven. And some on earth who have looked with horror at his life and death, and his corrupt teachings while living, now submit to be taught by him who was one of the vilest and most corrupt of men…virtually saying to the world and infidels, No matter how wicked your are; no matter whether you believe in God or the Bible, or disbelieve; live as you please heaven is your home for every one knows that if Thomas Paine is in heaven, and so exalted, they will surely get there. …He is making the world believe that the Bible is no better than a story-book, uninspired, while he holds out something to take its place; namely Spiritual Manifestations.

White, Ellen, Spiritual Gifts, Pages 176-178 - 1858

I saw the rapping delusion. Satan has power to bring the appearance of forms before us purporting to be our relatives and friends that now sleep in Jesus. …I saw that the saints must have a thorough understanding of the present truth, which they will have to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives, who will declare to them unscriptural doctrines.

White, Ellen, Spiritual Gifts, Page 173 - 1858

"He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men," …Says Hon. J. W. Edmonds, Judge of the Supreme Court.

"Scarcely more than four years have elapsed since the Rochester knockings were first known among us. Then mediums could be counted by units, but now by thousands-than believers could be numbered by hundreds, now by tens of thousands. …Besides the undistinguished multitude there are many men of high standing and talent ranked among them--doctors, lawyers and clergy men in great numbers, a Protestant bishop, the learned and reverend president of a college, men of our higher courts, members of Congress, foreign ambassadors, and ex-members of the United States Senate." …And they have now extended themselves over Great Britain, France, Germany and many other countries. The Emperor and Empress of France, the Queen of Spain, and the Roman Pontiff have all sought to these spirits for knowledge.

J. N. Andrews, Review, April 3, 1855, pages 201-203 - 1855

"He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do." …But Spiritualism, which numbers its converts by hundreds of thousands, yea, by millions, which has made its way into scientific circles, which has invaded churches, and has found favor in legislative bodies, and even in the courts of kings.

White, Ellen, _Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Page 372 - 1884

The Bible clearly predicts that in the last days Satan is to work with all power, and signs, and lying wonders. …"He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men", They deny the resurrection of the dead; the second advent of Christ, the judgment, and indeed, all leading doctrines of the Christian religion; they place the most profligate and wicked men, like infidel Paine, in the highest heaven…the over throw of the authority of the Bible, and, finally, they openly deny the inspiration of the Word of God.

…Rev. xvi, 13, where one of the three unclean spirits is represented a s going out of the mouth

…relates to the hour of temptation that shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.

…Peace and safety is the delusive dream in which men indulge.

…Read Charles Beecher's work "The Bible a Sufficient Creed."

…Should it be objected that the world is too much enlightened to submit to such deception or to unite in such a work of persecution, we answer that the word of God gives us this prophecy in clear language;

J. N. Andrews, Review, April 3, 1855, Pages 201-203 - 1855

The coming of the Lord is to be preceded by "the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders". …"He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men. …If there were no other evidence of the real character of spiritualism, it should be enough for the Christian that the spirits make no difference between righteousness and sin, between the noblest and purest of the apostles of Christ and the most corrupt of the servants of Satan. …No matter how wicked you are; no matter whether you believe or disbelieve God and the Bible. [ Not legible in notes ]

…Just before us is "the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth."

…Sermon on "The Bible a Sufficient Creed," Delivered at Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 22, 1846 (page 389)

…A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of the papacy. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success. (page 573)

…I saw three unclean spirits like frogs…they are the spirits of devils, working miracles.

…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. (Review, page 202, J. N. A. The multitude must be swept away by them. The truth of God, that shows all of this as the work of the Devil, will be the only shield then. Those only who have kept the word of Christ's patience will then be kept.)