Chapter 2—Warnings Relating To Present and Future Experiences

Seventh-day Adventists have known for decades that just before the outpouring of the promised latter-rain power Satan would make a tactical move in an attempt to blunt the impact of the power of the Spirit upon the Christian world. Ellen White predicted: “Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will make it appear that God’s special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.”—The Great Controversy, 464CESDAC 3.2

In the charismatic movement, Seventh-day Adventists have witnessed at least a partial fulfillment of this prophecy. The emotional exercises involved in charismatic worship services are seen as the workings of the Holy Spirit and evidence of the presence and blessing of God. Christians who are caught up in these ecstatic experiences accept the feelings of happiness and the emotional highs generated in charismatic meetings as the criterion for spiritual truth. If biblical teachings are not directly associated with the charismatic experience and the teachings of those who direct the charismatic services, these biblical teachings are questioned as representing truth and rejected outright by many.CESDAC 3.3

This raises a question that must be faced by Seventh-day Adventists today, Is it possible for the same thing to happen within our church? On the basis of our past history, Ellen White not only believes that it is possible, but states emphatically that Satan will introduce a counterfeit to the latter rain experience in an attempt to either prevent it from coming or bring about a failure to recognize and receive it when it does come. The following counsel will guard God’s people from accepting a “charismatic” experience in the place of the genuine experience which will exist under the latter rain.CESDAC 3.4