Types in Hebrews - Table of Contents - Holy Pig Splash Page
Types in Hebrews - Table of Contents - Holy Pig Splash Page
Types in Hebrews - Table of Contents - Holy Pig Splash Page
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characteristic <strong>of</strong> our times. Dur<strong>in</strong>g last century there were many religious movements <strong>of</strong> this character,<br />
and there was not one <strong>of</strong> them that did not end <strong>in</strong> disaster. If real spiritual power, br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g ecstatic joy<br />
and peace to its votaries, could accredit a religious movement as div<strong>in</strong>e, the Irv<strong>in</strong>gite apostasy had<br />
credentials <strong>in</strong>comparably superior to any that can be appealed to by similar revivals today.<br />
The story <strong>of</strong> that movement is as pathetic as it is solemn. Its leaders were em<strong>in</strong>ent both as men and as<br />
Christians, no feather-headed fanatics, but staid and well-known Englishmen - lawyers, merchants,<br />
bankers, etc. They were accustomed to meet for prayer <strong>in</strong> the early morn<strong>in</strong>g, not <strong>in</strong> twos and threes, but<br />
<strong>in</strong> hundreds. And the authentic records <strong>of</strong> the movement tell us <strong>of</strong> the deep peace and ecstatic joy they<br />
experienced when, seem<strong>in</strong>gly <strong>in</strong> answer to their yearn<strong>in</strong>g prayers for Pentecostal bless<strong>in</strong>g, "the power<br />
fell on them," and signs and wonders awed them gifts <strong>of</strong> tongues, gifts <strong>of</strong> prophecy, gifts <strong>of</strong> heal<strong>in</strong>g. It<br />
behooves us to pr<strong>of</strong>it by these lessons <strong>of</strong> the past. "Experience keeps a dear school, yet fools will learn <strong>in</strong><br />
no other." But Christians are called upon to walk "not as fools, but as wise"; and wisdom consists <strong>in</strong><br />
"understand<strong>in</strong>g what the will <strong>of</strong> the Lord is." And the supreme purpose <strong>of</strong> God is the exaltation <strong>of</strong> Christ;<br />
"that <strong>in</strong> all th<strong>in</strong>gs He might have the preem<strong>in</strong>ence." The cult <strong>of</strong> the Spirit, therefore, is a departure from<br />
the l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> that div<strong>in</strong>e purpose, and its votaries fall an easy prey to the "seduc<strong>in</strong>g spirits" <strong>of</strong> the latter<br />
days. (1 Timothy 4:1)<br />
The <strong>in</strong>telligent observer <strong>of</strong> what is pass<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Christendom today may f<strong>in</strong>d tokens clear and many that<br />
the lists are prepar<strong>in</strong>g for the great predicted struggle <strong>of</strong> the latter days between the old apostasy and the<br />
new - the religious apostasy <strong>of</strong> the Pr<strong>of</strong>ess<strong>in</strong>g Church, claim<strong>in</strong>g to be the oracle <strong>of</strong> God, and the <strong>in</strong>fidel<br />
apostasy which, though pander<strong>in</strong>g for a time to that venerable superstition, will eventually turn aga<strong>in</strong>st it.<br />
And <strong>in</strong> the development <strong>of</strong> this f<strong>in</strong>al apostasy Satan will energize evil men, and accredit them with "all<br />
power and signs and ly<strong>in</strong>g wonders." "For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall<br />
show great signs and wonders, <strong>in</strong>somuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very<br />
elect." (Matthew 24:24)<br />
These awfully solemn words <strong>of</strong> Christ are ignored by the vast majority <strong>of</strong> Christians. And yet the<br />
signs are many that Satan is prepar<strong>in</strong>g the way for this his last great master-stroke. To this end the<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>ess<strong>in</strong>g Church has been leavened by one <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>anest heresies <strong>of</strong> all the ages - that <strong>in</strong> certa<strong>in</strong><br />
vitally important portions <strong>of</strong> His teach<strong>in</strong>g, the Lord <strong>of</strong> Glory was the bl<strong>in</strong>d dupe <strong>of</strong> Jewish superstition<br />
and ignorance and error. And the "old Serpent" <strong>of</strong> Eden further deludes men by hid<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d the<br />
mythical monster <strong>of</strong> ancient Babylonian paganism; and by teach<strong>in</strong>g them that demons are base and filthy<br />
creatures who help that bogie devil to degrade mank<strong>in</strong>d. 1 But the real Satan - the Satan <strong>of</strong> Scripture- is<br />
the god <strong>of</strong> this world, the corrupter, not <strong>of</strong> morals, but <strong>of</strong> faith. And the real demons are the same that<br />
embarrassed the Lord by their homage; for, we read, "the unclean spirits whensoever they beheld Him<br />
fell down before Him and cried say<strong>in</strong>g, Thou art the Son <strong>of</strong> God." (Mark 3:11, R.V.) And these are the<br />
seduc<strong>in</strong>g spirits <strong>of</strong> the latter times, that we are warned aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>in</strong> Scripture. Their <strong>in</strong>fluence is pla<strong>in</strong>ly<br />
seen <strong>in</strong> the revival <strong>of</strong> Theosophy and Spiritualism, and <strong>in</strong> the rise <strong>of</strong> "Christian Science," "the New<br />
Theology," and "Millennial Dawnism." True it is that all these movements deny the Lord Jesus Christ;<br />
but the mysterious fact that demons confessed Him when He appeared on earth is no pro<strong>of</strong> that they<br />
would confess Him <strong>in</strong> these days when the advent <strong>of</strong> the false Christ is draw<strong>in</strong>g near. And yet, <strong>in</strong> order to<br />
delude the Christian, they may confess Him still.<br />
This it was that deceived the great and good men who were the leaders <strong>in</strong> the Irv<strong>in</strong>gite revival: how<br />
then are their imitators <strong>of</strong> today to escape the snare? The answer will be found <strong>in</strong> the open<strong>in</strong>g words <strong>of</strong>