Occult Forces of the East Join Those of the West

Our workers are, we believe, aware of the important research assignment made by the General Conference, upon which L. E. Froom has been working intensively for the past four years. We are happy to announce that the resultant manuscript has now been completed, with substantial parts. of it already in the hands of the publishers. Titled The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, and subtitled "The Conflict of the Centuries Over Life, Death, and Destiny," it constitutes a two-volume companion to the Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers set. This tracement carries us across the centuries, from 900 B.C. down to 1962, in its special field. It is destined, we believe, to create an interest in the religious world. Widespread discussion is bound to result.

Eight chapters in the concluding sec­tion depict the sinister rise and climax of the modern revival of Spiritualism, which is destined to play such an awesome part in earth's final crisis. The publishers plan to issue these excerpted chapters in ad­vance, in inexpensive paper-back form, for wide distribution and promotional publicity. Interest in the complete work will thus be stimulated. To give Ministry readers a sample of its scope, content, and form, we here reproduce chapter VIII, presenting an almost untouched aspect of the question—"Occult Forces of the East Join Those of the West." This im­portant over-all presentation meets a long-felt need, with an approach that is unique and compelling.—Eds.

 

Isaiah's  intriguing expres­sion, "replenished from the east" (Isa. 2:6), with its re­lated "soothsayers" involve­ment, assumes new signifi­cance in the light of predicted developments to come during the latter period of Spiritual­ism's modern revival. Among the climactic "last times" developments in coming events, as foretold in the New Testament, will be the appearance of deceptive forces from the "east," according to Revelation 16:12. And this, as we have seen, is in im­mediate connection with the sinister emer­gences of the "unclean spirits" of verse 13 —these coming from the three all-embrac­ing categories (1) of a resurgent paganism, as well as (2) a world-influencing Papacy, and (3) the growing apostasy in Protes­tantism. According to the inspired outline of Bible prophecy, the "east" is destined to play a definite part in Spiritualism's un­precedented eruption and final deceptions.

1. COMING IMPERSONATION OF SECOND ADVENT.—One of the most daring, grandi­ose, and blasphemous aspects of Spiritual­ism's last-day schemes will evidently be an imposing attempt to impersonate the sec­ond coming of Christ in simulated grandeur. With that in mind, let us turn briefly to India and the East. Jesus has long been set forth, and personated, as one of the great avatars ¹of India—an incarna­tion, embodiment, epiphany, or exaltation —repeatedly manifesting himself allegedly among the masters of the East.

In 1894 Baird T. Spalding,' an Ameri­can research engineer, began a series of journeys, he states, seeking to trace the "great masters of Himalayas"—the avatars of India and Tibet. This quest he has left on record in his five-volume Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East (1937).' In the three and a half year pe­riod of his travels he recorded five alleged messages that a materialized "Jesus" gave as one of the mystic avatars, designed to impress the American traveler.' These avatars assertedly appear and disappear at will, and travel invisibly and instan­taneously,' and this included "Jesus." His alleged words are recorded. But their sub­tlety and speciousness became increasingly apparent on scrutiny.

2. TWIN LIES OF EDEN CONSTANTLY RE­PEATED.—All through Spalding's volumes the devil's twin lies of Eden are affirmed in varying forms— (1) "Ye shall not surely die" and (2) "Ye shall be as gods" (Gen. 3:4, 5). These paralleling and related con­cepts are stressed again and again. There can be no mistake as to the intent of these multiple assertions. From previous discus­sions it is obvious that the spirit being call­ing himself "Jesus," and whom the masters of the East are fellowshiping with and following, is a fraud and a deceiver.

Before continuing, let us probe a bit into the real significance of reincarnationism.

6. INDIA THE SPAWNING GROUND OF RE­INCARNATIONISM.—The doctrine of rein­carnation is so vital in this survey of East­ern occultism and its penetrations into Western thought that an understanding of its origins, involvements, and historical ramifications is essential. It presupposes the immortality of the soul. It goes back to remote antiquity. It teaches that souls mi­grate from one body to another until com­plete purification has been achieved. It is fundamental in accepted Hindu thought, being held both in Brahmanism and Bud­dhism. Coupled with the Law of Karma, it teaches that each new birth is determined by the deeds of the previous life. It in­volves belief that souls emanated from the Supreme Spirit, and were then born on earth as separate existences. The soul, thus separated from the real source of its life, is bound to return to it, and become merged again into that divine entity with which it was originally one. But, having become contaminated by sin, it must strive to free itself from guilt and become fit for its heavenly career.

The doctrine of reincarnation and trans­migration of souls was also found in Egypt as well as in Persia before the time of Zoroaster. But it was derived from Indian sources. In Grecia the belief was confined to the philosophers, who likewise received it from Egypt, and thence from India. Pherecydes so held. But it was developed by Pythagoras and Plato, at which time it had a remedial function. And the Neopla­tonists adopted it as a natural inheritance. In the Christian Era, Origen held to the pre-existence of the soul. It was accepted by some of the Gnostics and Manichaeans. It was also found in certain obscure sects in Europe during the Middle Ages. It like­wise survives among various savage tribes in Africa. But India was its spawning ground. And, as here noted, it has been brought sharply to the fore in the West by Spiritualism and theosophy. Such is the historical sweep of the doctrine. It is thus traceable back to the old original lies in Eden.

Spalding constantly says we are to apply to ourselves the term "I AM," descriptive of Deity and commonly employed by Jesus to Himself—I AM the way, the truth, the life, the door, the shepherd.

This much must be said: The inanities allegedly uttered by Spalding's "Christ" are puerile and degrading and misleading. They are as darkness in contrast to dazzling light when placed alongside our Saviour's words enshrined in the New Testament. Such is the essence of Spalding's investiga­tion of the concepts and contemplations of the East with reference to immortality, the deity of man, the pantheistic notion of God, the claim of reincarnation, and the derogation of Christ—and expectation of a future appearance. It is the Eastern count­erpart of Western Spiritualism. So, while East is East and West is West, they clasp hands across the undeniable basic tenets of Spiritualism. The "unclean spirits" from the "dragon" are stirring. Consolidation and climax are under way for the final de­ception.

9. BIBLICAL PORTRAYAL OF INIMITABLE ADVENT.—Let none be deceived. The New Testament is explicit and detailed. The second advent of Christ will be with tran­scendent power and great glory (Matt. 24: 30, 31; 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 21:27). Christ will descend visibly from the clouds of heaven, just as He ascended into heaven (Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:16; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 1:7). He will come in flaming fire for the de­struction of sinners (2 Thess. 1:8, 9) and the redemption of His saints (Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23). He will come with all His holy angels (Matt. 16:27; Mark 13:26, 27). These facts cannot be simulated or dupli­cated, but a false appearance will be at­tempted in some form.