That of the former date reads: “I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York and other places was the power of Satan, and that such things would be more and more common, clothed in a religious garb so as to lull the deceived to greater security, and to draw the minds of God’s people, if possible, to those things, and cause them to doubt the teachings and power of the Holy Ghost.”—Early Writings, 43.PGGC 76.3

At the time of this vision there was only the “rapping” manifestation. Questions were asked, and the answer of “yes” or “no” was given by either two or three “raps.” The greater part of the people regarded the “rappings,” as they were then called, as trickery, or sleight-of-hand performance. At that time the idea was not even suggested that “spirit rappings” would assume to be a religious organization, as it has since done, with its titles of “Rev. ---, pastor of the First Spiritualist Church of ---,” etc.PGGC 77.1

In the vision of August 24, 1850, we read: “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 the earth were accomplished by this same power.”PGGC 77.2

It is since that vision was given in 1850 that Spiritualists have taught, both in their oral instructions and in their printed books and papers (what they did not teach previously to that date), that all the miracles of Christ were wrought by the power of mesmerism, and that He was only a “well-developed medium.”PGGC 77.3

Another statement is given, taken from “Early Writings,” page 87, first printed in 1853: “I saw the rapping delusion-what progress it was making, and that if it were possible, it would deceive the very elect. Satan will have power to bring before us the appearance of forms purporting to be our relatives or friends now sleeping in Jesus. It will be made to appear as if these friends were present; the words that they uttered while here, with which we were familiar, will be spoken, and the same tone of voice that they had while living will fall upon the ear. All this is to deceive the saints, and to ensnare them into the belief of this delusion.”PGGC 77.4

At the time this vision was given, the mode of communicating with the spirits was by calling over the letters of the alphabet, and spelling out the communication, and by a “rap” the spirits designated the letter wanted. No one had, at that date, heard of a case of what has been so much talked of during the last thirty years,—the “materializing of spirits;” that is, the spirit assuming a bodily form, shaking hands with people, and talking with them in tones that they claim to recognize as the exact tone of voice of a dead relative or friend.PGGC 78.1

It was about the years 1857-58,—four years after Mrs. White had put in print that the spirits would assume the forms of dead friends,—that mediums claimed to see their friends and to hear them speak.PGGC 78.2

In the light of this rule for testing prophets, what can we say of the predictions made throughPGGC 78.3

Mrs. White concerning Spiritualism? She stated, when it was not here, what would be done. The thing predicted came. That is, according to the Bible, proof of divine inspiration in the vision.PGGC 79.1

RULE FIVE-TRUE PROPHECIES ARE FULFILLED

VISION OF THE CIVIL WAR