Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

344 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[365]has directions from these spirits to make special moves and is flatteredwith the hope of success. Another receives directions which differwidely from those given to the first. Sometimes those who follow thedirections given obtain a victory, but more frequently they meet withdefeat.The spirits sometimes give these leading men an account of eventsto transpire in battles in which they are about to engage, and of individualswho will fall in the battle. Sometimes it is found to be asthese spirits foretold, and this strengthens the faith of the believers inspiritual manifestations. And again it is found that correct informationhas not been given, but the deceiving spirits make some explanation,which is received. The deception upon minds is so great that manyfail to perceive the lying spirits which are leading them on to certaindestruction.The great leading rebel general, Satan, is acquainted with thetransactions of this war, and he directs his angels to assume the formof dead generals, to imitate their manners, and exhibit their peculiartraits of character. And leaders in the army really believe that the spiritsof their friends and of dead warriors, the fathers of the RevolutionaryWar, are guiding them. If they were not under the strongest fascinatingdeception, they would begin to think that the warriors in heaven (?) didnot manifest good and successful generalship, or had forgotten theirfamed earthly skill.Instead of the leading men in this war trusting in the God of Israel,and directing their armies to trust in the only One who can deliverthem from their enemies, the majority inquire of the prince of devilsand trust in him. Deuteronomy 32:16-22. Said the angel: “How canGod prosper such a people? If they would look to and trust in Him; ifthey would only come where He could help them, according to Hisown glory, He would readily do it.”I saw that God would not give the Northern army wholly into thehands of a rebellious people, to be utterly destroyed by their enemies.I was referred to Deuteronomy 32:26-30: “I said, I would scatter theminto corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease fromamong men: were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest theiradversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they shouldsay, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done all this. For they area nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.