On Enchanted Ground

What do you do when the word of Satan seems to be more logical, up-to-date, and relevant than the Word of God? This was precisely the dilemma of Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–6) and continues to be the problem of many today who allow human reason to have the final word.

Moses Hull (1836–1907) accepted the Adventist message in July 1857 and was ordained to the gospel ministry the next year.

He became an eloquent preacher, a good writer, and a skillful apologist in public debates, especially in opposition to Spiritualists.

But James and Ellen White warned him about his penchant for these debates and the danger of exposing himself to Satan’s influence.

Initially, he appeared to be faithful. In the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald of March 25, 1862, he called Spiritualism “the worst form of infidelity.” However, in October 1862, in Paw Paw, Michigan, he debated a Spiritualist named W. F. Jamieson, and from then on, his life was no longer the same.

On November 5, 1862, Ellen White received a vision revealing Moses Hull’s dangerous condition. She warned him, “You have parleyed with Satan, and reasoned with him, and tarried upon forbidden ground,” but he was still fully “asleep to his danger.” And she added, “He was presented to me as standing upon the brink of an awful gulf, ready to leap. If he takes the leap, it will be final; his eternal destiny will be fixed.

He is doing work and making decisions for eternity.” Many rejoiced when Hull returned to the Adventist Church and rejoined the ministry, but sadly, his recommitment did not last very long. On September 20, 1863, in Manchester, New Hampshire, he preached his last sermon as an Adventist pastor.

Later he became an influential Spiritualist lecturer and author, and he remained so until his death in 1907. Ultimately, he leaped onto the forbidden ground, and Satan triumphed. Satan’s enchanted ground is too attractive, and his arguments are too persuasive. We must stay away from them!