The Devil's Vision

by Rev. John C. Woodward

 

The Devil once said,

To his demons below,

"Our work is progressing

Entirely to slow;

The Holiness people

Stand in our way

Since they don't believe

In the show or the play.

 

They teach that the carnival,

Circus and dance,

The tavern and honky-tonk

With games of chance,

Drinking and smoking,

These things are all wrong;

That Christians don't mix

With the ungodly throng.

 

They're quick to condemn

Everything that we do;

To cause unbelievers

To be not a few.

They claim that these things

Are all of the devil,

That Christian Folk live

On a much higher level.

 

Now, fellows, their theology,

While perfectly true,

Is blocking the work

We are trying to do.

We'll have to get busy

And figure a plan

That will change their standards

As fast as we can.

 

Now, I have a vision

Of what we can do;

Hearken - I'll tell

This deception to you.

Then find me a wise

But degenerate man

Whom I can use

To help work out this plan.

 

There's nothing so real

As the thing you can see;

The eyes and the mind

And the heart will agree.

So what can be better

Than an object to view?

I say it will work

And convince not a few.

 

 The home is the place

For this sinful device;

The people deceived

Will think it quite nice,

The world will possess it

Most Christian can't tell

That it's all of the devil

And was plotted in hell.

 

We'll sell them with pictures

Of the latest news,

And while they're still looking

We'll advertise booze.

At the soul-damning cigarette

Also they'll look,

Until they forget

What God says in His Book.

 

At first it will shock them

They'll seem in a haze;

But soon they'll be hardened

And continue to gaze.

We'll give them some Gospel

That isn't to strong,

And a few sacred songs

To string them along.

 

They'll take in the ads

With the latest fashions

And soon watch the shows

That stir their evil passions.

Murder and love-making

Scenes they'll behold,

Until in their souls

They are bitterly cold.

The 'old family altar'

Which once held such charm

Will soon lose its place

Without much alarm.

 

Praying in secret

Will also be lost

As they look at the screen

Without counting the cost.

The compromise preachers

Who don't take their stand

Will embrace this new vision

And think it is grand.

They'll help fool the people

And cause them to sin

 

By seeking this evil

And taking it in.

Influence is great,

And this you can see.

Just look at my fall,

And you'll have to agree.

It won't take too long

My demons, to tell

That the vision of Satan

Will populate hell.

 

Divorce will increase

Sex crimes will abound;

Much innocent blood

Will be spilled on the ground.

 

The home will be damned

In short order I say,

When this vision of mine

Comes in to stay.

 

Get busy my cohorts,

And put this thing out;

We'll see if the Church

Can continue to shout.

The Holiness people

Who stand in our way

Will soon hush their crying

Against show and play.

 

We'll cover the earth

with this 'Devil-vision.'

Though we'll camouflage it

With the name "Television."

The people will think

They are getting a treat

'Till the anti-christ comes

And takes over his seat.

 

He'll then rule the world

While the viewers behold

The face of 'the beast'

To whom they were sold.

We'll win through deception

This cannot fail,

Though some 'Holiness' preachers

Against it wll rail."

 

 

"Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall the of the Spirit Reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7-8

 

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall comsume with the Spiritof His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming; even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not thelove of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

II Thessalonians 2:8-12