Credit: âFresh Manna Todayâ
In 1965, Paul Harvey broadcast a chilling warning to America, entitled âIf I Were the Devil.â The monologue outlined totalitarian steps that the "Devil" would use to trigger the total destruction and downfall of the American Republic.
It is truly amazing and at the same time, frightening, to see how accurately he âprophesiedâ the future spiritual condition of the United States, over 47 years ago. Many of his statements were considered ridiculously outlandish back in 1965. Yet, we find ourselves todayâŠ
đ PAUL HARVEYâS âIF I WERE THE DEVILâ - TRANSCRIPT:
"If I were the devil ⊠If I were the Prince of Darkness, Iâd want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And Iâd have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldnât be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree â Thee. So Iâd set about however necessary to take over the United States. Iâd subvert the churches first â Iâd begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: âDo as you please.â
âTo the young, I would whisper that âThe Bible is a myth.â I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that whatâs bad is good, and whatâs good is âsquare.â And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, âOur Father, which art in WashingtonâŠâ
âAnd then Iâd get organized. Iâd educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. Iâd threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. Iâd pedal narcotics to whom I could. Iâd sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. Iâd tranquilize the rest with pills.
âIf I were the devil Iâd soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings Iâd have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions â just let those run wild, until before you knew it, youâd have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
âWithin a decade Iâd have prisons overflowing, Iâd have judges promoting pornography â soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil Iâd make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
âIf I were the devil Iâd take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.
And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil Iâd just keep right on doing what heâs doing.
Paul Harvey....... good day.â
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