Some will remember the homespun, conservative ABC radio commentator Paul Harvey. Millions of Americans listened to his news and commentary broadcast over 1,200 radio stations nationwide during his lengthy career.
In one famous broadcast, first delivered April 3, 1965, he considered how the devil might undermine the United States over time, using a subtle and not-so-subtle, yet diabolical strategy.
“If I were the devil, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness,” Harvey began, “and I would have a third of its real estate and three-fourths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, thee, so I would set about however necessary to take over the United States.”
Harvey predicted the devil would begin by undermining religious institutions. “I’d subvert the churches first. I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I’d whisper to you as I whispered to Eve, ‘Do as you please.'”
“To the young I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince them that man created God, instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good and what is good is ‘square.'”
He would cause seniors to believe that solutions to their problems lie with the federal government. “And the old I would teach to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington.'”
After this, the devil’s media campaign would begin. “Then I would get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa.”
“I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.”
“If I were the devil, I’d soon have families at 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 I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.”
Then he would set his sights on the school system. “If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it you’d have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.”
“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing. I’d have judges promoting pornography. Soon I could evict God from the courthouse, and 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.”
Even Christian holidays would lose their meaning. “If I were the devil I would make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.”
“If I were the devil I would take from those who have and give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what do you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as a way to get rich.”
“I would caution against extremes in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct.”
Fewer young people would decide to get married. “I would convince the young that marriage is old fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on 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, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s been doing….Paul Harvey, good day.”
Blessed is the our Lord Jesus who give wisdom of knowledge to make us be prepared by the mighty power of His Spirit, amen.
That could be the answer to every article, just about, couldn’t it?
Why didn’t America hear this message of truth 47 years ago ? Paul Harvey always made a difference….why did hears and hearts fail to hear the truth and make a difference like Mr. Harvey ?
He was a true visionary in that he got the specifics spot on. But it was all, of course, coming right out of scripture in principle. Still, he “preached” a good “gospel”. I’d say he’s doing fine right about now!!
Please email me Paul Harvey’s prediction as I wish to forward it to many of my friends. I am elderly and do not know how to copy it from my computer screen in a way that I can then forward it.
Gordon
If you have Firefox installed and us it instead of Internet Explorer. Get the add-on “Add This” This add on makes it easy to just use 1 click to send it to facebook or in an email. I just used it for both.
Willa, if Gordon can’t copy and paste, do you actually believe they they can install a new browser, get add-ons, attach it to an email, or send it via facebook? just sayin
Possibly Paul Harvey had prophetical gifts, but I rather believe that he had a good insight of the western societies.
He was striving to imagine himself in the Devil’s skin and wondering how to easily destroy the west christian societies within the shortest time. If we analyze what happened in a 50 years period it looks logical the Devil so manipulated the men in luring them that they would improve the society while getting rid of the religions, in persuading them that religions and peculiarly the catholic religion was an obstacle in reaching that aim.
The church in America lost her prophets and statesmen in the prosperity following WWII. The politicians in the church pursued the desires to indulge, impress and acquire (I John 2:15-17) and the church became just like the world. Politicians think only of the next election while statesmen think of the next generation. There were many “prophets-in-the-pews” who could see the disintegration of the church, but the “powers-in-the-pulpits” pursued their own dreams and ambitions, much like our representatives in congress. Harvey was right to say the loss of faith in God’s Word would facilitate all kinds of evils. Our broken families and broken kids fund the drug wars in Mexico and Asia. Most likely only tremendous national disaster will wake up our sleeping leaders.
Lonny , HOW RIGHT YOU ARE !!!
Funny how still today that most of the Christian churches still don’t get it.
Paul Harvey was amazingly accurate in some of his predictions:
Drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at school house doors? Churches teaching psychology instead of the Bible? Priests misusing boys? Judges promoting pornography?
Who would have imagined all of this 47 years ago?
The Devils ploy Has God said, and I don’t exist so no need to worry about me says the Devil.
Oh my!!!—can our eyes be opened to the truth???—And the answer for our nation—II Chronicles 7:14 –My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and will heal their land. May we remember all the saints that have went before us on this Memorial Day– and PRAY for the United States of America to WAKE UP!!!!!
The Prince of Darkness is real and as far as we know He is probaly in off now and changing or laws and world now. I t is important that we get our youg children into church and youg adults so they can start learning the way of the Lord. We loosed so many young people do to them starting families and not have time for the lord because they are trting to make a living and not being to plan there time for the church. We need to have a time at the church so that our seniors can come and get to geather with there own and praise the lord because they are our core when it comes prayer . They have seen it all. Sever them lunch low cost or free and try to get younger Christians in to socialize with them and learn the detication they have for the lord.
As far as we know the Prince of Darknes is in control of the world alread so it is important to really all the Cristians young , adault, and seniors to the church and reafirm the belief in the lord. We have to find way to bring our young adaults that are busy with work and raising there families to the churh so they can see the Lord has a plan for them to find time for them to fit into there lives. We can’t forget about our bigest prayer group which is the seniors in our churches. We should have a time for them to meet and get togeather and sosialize and be able to get a healthy lunch. They have so much to give. Just think about asking a Question about the Bible and the person can qote you the page number and tell you what it say word by word with out opening the bible. How ausome is that.
I’m a member of ELMBROOK CHURCH in Brookfield Wisconsin and we have that.
Would you Please e-mail to me Paul Harvey’s prediction for America. It is amazing to see how much damage our enemy has done to our culture in the last 50 years, but that has always been his purpose. To deceive, to lie and to destroy. We are at war! Warriors of the Living God where are you? We have to start by pushing to reintroduce the Ten Commandments back in the halls of our school systems.
Can you add a “share” button to your site? What an amazing prediction!
Harvey was responding to social unrest that was brewing during that era, the 60’s. His last statement was “I’d just keep on doing what he is doing.” That decade included the successful movement to get the US out of an unjust war and (though the decade undeniably had a mix of positive and negative consequence). The world hasn’t gone to hell in a handbasket. Religiosity in the US persists and has increased. Teenage pregnancy has declined. Life expectancy is higher. Violence is down (despite popular beliefs.) The statement that “he would cause seniors to believe that solutions to their problems lie with the federal government” is just a tacky way of arguing that proponents of social security are on Satan’s side. Please! His statement that “within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing” is a bit prophetic, but the dramatic growth of prisons didn’t happen in the 70’s; it happened due to new minimum sentencing standards in the 90’s, and it has had very problematic consequences. But if you look at who was behind it, I’d say it was misguided conservatives, not the devil. The idea that the devil would whisper “that the Bible is a myth” implies the horrifying charge that non-Christians are in league with the devil. I agree that our God is alive, but Paul Harvey is not our prophet! Being a Christian does not mean checking your intellect at the door.
The Bible says you cannot serve two masters. You either love Jesus or you do not. Nonchristians may not be in league with Satan. But without the knowledge and understanding of what is good and evil that is sought by christians, how does one know right from wrong? Many people are misled. Satan knows how to appeal to us all. Without the love of Jesus, it is more likely that we follow the wrong path. Society is decaying around us. Drugs, promiscuity, immoral behavior. You would have to be blind not to see it happening. I dont know where you live, but around here, teenage pregnancy is rampant. Violent crimes are on the increase. Maybe you live on Waltons Mountain. But down here in the real world, too many of us have forgotten God. Too many of us have chosen to listen to the devil and follow his ways because it makes us feel good. Yes, Paul Harvey was right. But you are right also, Paul Harvey is not our prophet. Our prophet is Jesus. Read your Bible. The Bible is the word of God. The Bible tells us what will happen. And I have not checked my intellect at the door. I believe Jesus. I believe what he says. This world is in trouble and our only hope is Jesus!
JESUS is much more then a prophet. read colossians 1:15,20. best decription of who JESUS is in the Bible. satan spends very little time bothering unbelievers. unbelievers are already on there way to hell. he spends most ofo his time keeping believers ineffective to reach unbelievers. each believer has the holy spirit inside of them. this is power! power to heal, raise the dead. the same power that raised JESUS from the dead. JESUS teaches us about this power and how to use it. few chuches teach much or anything about this power. AWMI.ORG is teaching about this power and how to use it. JESUS is the name above every name. cancer,death. poverty and divorve are all names . JESUS never taught to pray for the sick. he taught us to go heal the sick and raise the dead. JESUS was given all authority,then he gives believers the authority to use this authority in his name. this is so simple most miss it.
You are 100% correct, sir. My husband and I are HUGE Andrew Wommack supporters. We listen to him every night as we’re going to sleep. I listen to him in my car, while working, etc. Big Healing School believers, too. AWMI.net is a major weapon against the enemy…who is just a dog without teeth, anyway.
Totally agree with you that if 1% of the church taught as Wommack teaches, America would be changed almost immediately. The world, too.
Be blessed!
BTW, the moniker isn’t designed to suggest that conservatives aren’t good Christians; many are. It’s designed to suggest that being a conservative is not the same thing as being a Christian.
This version is slightly altered from the original in 1964.
well, the prediction about America or actually the Church was made 2000 yrs ago. we hear many preachers beggging GOD to do this or do that as if we want a revival more then GOD does. we would have more revival then we would know what to do with if we would do what GOD has told us to do. GOD has given us all that we need to drown out the voice of evil. that would be the same power that rose JESUS from the dead inside every believer. finding a church that teaches how to use this power that JESUS won back at the cross and by his name givres us the authority to use. the ministry that I have found is ANDREW WOMMACK MINISTRIES or AWMI.ORG. IF 1% of the churches were like this ministry we could change America.
To all my fellow brother and sisters in Christ,
I Pray for each of you and that the word of GOD and his love and compassion will feel your hearts and souls to brimming!!!!I am new in Christ and excited to be so!
I feel that JESUS will come soon and cant wait!!!!! The end times are here and as Christians we should try to reach all, as JESUS did with LOVE and COMPASSION. Read your bible brother and sisters and you will see. I do not fear the time to come as we only have to TODAY to make it right with GOD. Remember one day at a time for that is all that we have. Love all as though today is your last. GOD is so good and only wants the best for each beautifull soul ! GOD bless each of one of you!
The part about convincing people that man made God and not the other way around gave me chills and hurts my heart. But our Savior Jesus has victory over death! To those who will open their eyes and hearts….
Paul Harvey was awesome. Can you imagine 47 years from now? I don’t know if I want to…
As for me and my family we will serve the lord thy God. the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob!
Thanks for this artile,it opened my eyes.
If I was the devil I would vote for the republican party that’s wat I read between the lines.
The blind may open their eyes and still not see.
It’s all too easy to forget that America was so very special in human history. What was, will be again. Paul Harvey didn’t have to be a prophet, to see the evil of history coming back to repeat itself: he lived through Hitler and knew of Stalin…evil has always been trying to destroy good. It always will. That’s what it gets paid for. What Harvey was so very, very good at was not buying into anyhting except an exceptional America.
Wow!
While attending college at Ricks Jr. College ( now BYU Idaho ) in Rexburg, Idaho during the school year 1969-70 Mr Harvey came and spoke during America Week. I had been listening to him on the radio for a few years. It was a honor to see and hear him speak in person.
Harvy is a solid American and Christian man. We all in the generations of ww2 and following can understand where he is coming from. May God wake up America be for it is too late!
Blessed is the our Lord Jesus who give wisdom of knowledge to make us be prepared by the mighty power of His Spirit, amen.
That could be the answer to every article, just about, couldn’t it?
Why didn’t America hear this message of truth 47 years ago ? Paul Harvey always made a difference….why did hears and hearts fail to hear the truth and make a difference like Mr. Harvey ?
He was a true visionary in that he got the specifics spot on. But it was all, of course, coming right out of scripture in principle. Still, he “preached” a good “gospel”. I’d say he’s doing fine right about now!!
Please email me Paul Harvey’s prediction as I wish to forward it to many of my friends. I am elderly and do not know how to copy it from my computer screen in a way that I can then forward it.
Gordon
If you have Firefox installed and us it instead of Internet Explorer. Get the add-on “Add This” This add on makes it easy to just use 1 click to send it to facebook or in an email. I just used it for both.
Willa, if Gordon can’t copy and paste, do you actually believe they they can install a new browser, get add-ons, attach it to an email, or send it via facebook? just sayin
Possibly Paul Harvey had prophetical gifts, but I rather believe that he had a good insight of the western societies.
He was striving to imagine himself in the Devil’s skin and wondering how to easily destroy the west christian societies within the shortest time. If we analyze what happened in a 50 years period it looks logical the Devil so manipulated the men in luring them that they would improve the society while getting rid of the religions, in persuading them that religions and peculiarly the catholic religion was an obstacle in reaching that aim.
The church in America lost her prophets and statesmen in the prosperity following WWII. The politicians in the church pursued the desires to indulge, impress and acquire (I John 2:15-17) and the church became just like the world. Politicians think only of the next election while statesmen think of the next generation. There were many “prophets-in-the-pews” who could see the disintegration of the church, but the “powers-in-the-pulpits” pursued their own dreams and ambitions, much like our representatives in congress. Harvey was right to say the loss of faith in God’s Word would facilitate all kinds of evils. Our broken families and broken kids fund the drug wars in Mexico and Asia. Most likely only tremendous national disaster will wake up our sleeping leaders.
Lonny , HOW RIGHT YOU ARE !!!
Funny how still today that most of the Christian churches still don’t get it.
Paul Harvey was amazingly accurate in some of his predictions:
Drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at school house doors? Churches teaching psychology instead of the Bible? Priests misusing boys? Judges promoting pornography?
Who would have imagined all of this 47 years ago?
The Devils ploy Has God said, and I don’t exist so no need to worry about me says the Devil.
Oh my!!!—can our eyes be opened to the truth???—And the answer for our nation—II Chronicles 7:14 –My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and will heal their land. May we remember all the saints that have went before us on this Memorial Day– and PRAY for the United States of America to WAKE UP!!!!!
The Prince of Darkness is real and as far as we know He is probaly in off now and changing or laws and world now. I t is important that we get our youg children into church and youg adults so they can start learning the way of the Lord. We loosed so many young people do to them starting families and not have time for the lord because they are trting to make a living and not being to plan there time for the church. We need to have a time at the church so that our seniors can come and get to geather with there own and praise the lord because they are our core when it comes prayer . They have seen it all. Sever them lunch low cost or free and try to get younger Christians in to socialize with them and learn the detication they have for the lord.
As far as we know the Prince of Darknes is in control of the world alread so it is important to really all the Cristians young , adault, and seniors to the church and reafirm the belief in the lord. We have to find way to bring our young adaults that are busy with work and raising there families to the churh so they can see the Lord has a plan for them to find time for them to fit into there lives. We can’t forget about our bigest prayer group which is the seniors in our churches. We should have a time for them to meet and get togeather and sosialize and be able to get a healthy lunch. They have so much to give. Just think about asking a Question about the Bible and the person can qote you the page number and tell you what it say word by word with out opening the bible. How ausome is that.
I’m a member of ELMBROOK CHURCH in Brookfield Wisconsin and we have that.
Would you Please e-mail to me Paul Harvey’s prediction for America. It is amazing to see how much damage our enemy has done to our culture in the last 50 years, but that has always been his purpose. To deceive, to lie and to destroy. We are at war! Warriors of the Living God where are you? We have to start by pushing to reintroduce the Ten Commandments back in the halls of our school systems.
Can you add a “share” button to your site? What an amazing prediction!
Harvey was responding to social unrest that was brewing during that era, the 60’s. His last statement was “I’d just keep on doing what he is doing.” That decade included the successful movement to get the US out of an unjust war and (though the decade undeniably had a mix of positive and negative consequence). The world hasn’t gone to hell in a handbasket. Religiosity in the US persists and has increased. Teenage pregnancy has declined. Life expectancy is higher. Violence is down (despite popular beliefs.) The statement that “he would cause seniors to believe that solutions to their problems lie with the federal government” is just a tacky way of arguing that proponents of social security are on Satan’s side. Please! His statement that “within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing” is a bit prophetic, but the dramatic growth of prisons didn’t happen in the 70’s; it happened due to new minimum sentencing standards in the 90’s, and it has had very problematic consequences. But if you look at who was behind it, I’d say it was misguided conservatives, not the devil. The idea that the devil would whisper “that the Bible is a myth” implies the horrifying charge that non-Christians are in league with the devil. I agree that our God is alive, but Paul Harvey is not our prophet! Being a Christian does not mean checking your intellect at the door.
The Bible says you cannot serve two masters. You either love Jesus or you do not. Nonchristians may not be in league with Satan. But without the knowledge and understanding of what is good and evil that is sought by christians, how does one know right from wrong? Many people are misled. Satan knows how to appeal to us all. Without the love of Jesus, it is more likely that we follow the wrong path. Society is decaying around us. Drugs, promiscuity, immoral behavior. You would have to be blind not to see it happening. I dont know where you live, but around here, teenage pregnancy is rampant. Violent crimes are on the increase. Maybe you live on Waltons Mountain. But down here in the real world, too many of us have forgotten God. Too many of us have chosen to listen to the devil and follow his ways because it makes us feel good. Yes, Paul Harvey was right. But you are right also, Paul Harvey is not our prophet. Our prophet is Jesus. Read your Bible. The Bible is the word of God. The Bible tells us what will happen. And I have not checked my intellect at the door. I believe Jesus. I believe what he says. This world is in trouble and our only hope is Jesus!
JESUS is much more then a prophet. read colossians 1:15,20. best decription of who JESUS is in the Bible. satan spends very little time bothering unbelievers. unbelievers are already on there way to hell. he spends most ofo his time keeping believers ineffective to reach unbelievers. each believer has the holy spirit inside of them. this is power! power to heal, raise the dead. the same power that raised JESUS from the dead. JESUS teaches us about this power and how to use it. few chuches teach much or anything about this power. AWMI.ORG is teaching about this power and how to use it. JESUS is the name above every name. cancer,death. poverty and divorve are all names . JESUS never taught to pray for the sick. he taught us to go heal the sick and raise the dead. JESUS was given all authority,then he gives believers the authority to use this authority in his name. this is so simple most miss it.
You are 100% correct, sir. My husband and I are HUGE Andrew Wommack supporters. We listen to him every night as we’re going to sleep. I listen to him in my car, while working, etc. Big Healing School believers, too. AWMI.net is a major weapon against the enemy…who is just a dog without teeth, anyway.
Totally agree with you that if 1% of the church taught as Wommack teaches, America would be changed almost immediately. The world, too.
Be blessed!
BTW, the moniker isn’t designed to suggest that conservatives aren’t good Christians; many are. It’s designed to suggest that being a conservative is not the same thing as being a Christian.
Hmm, this sounds familiar.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/devil.asp
This version is slightly altered from the original in 1964.
well, the prediction about America or actually the Church was made 2000 yrs ago. we hear many preachers beggging GOD to do this or do that as if we want a revival more then GOD does. we would have more revival then we would know what to do with if we would do what GOD has told us to do. GOD has given us all that we need to drown out the voice of evil. that would be the same power that rose JESUS from the dead inside every believer. finding a church that teaches how to use this power that JESUS won back at the cross and by his name givres us the authority to use. the ministry that I have found is ANDREW WOMMACK MINISTRIES or AWMI.ORG. IF 1% of the churches were like this ministry we could change America.
To all my fellow brother and sisters in Christ,
I Pray for each of you and that the word of GOD and his love and compassion will feel your hearts and souls to brimming!!!!I am new in Christ and excited to be so!
I feel that JESUS will come soon and cant wait!!!!! The end times are here and as Christians we should try to reach all, as JESUS did with LOVE and COMPASSION. Read your bible brother and sisters and you will see. I do not fear the time to come as we only have to TODAY to make it right with GOD. Remember one day at a time for that is all that we have. Love all as though today is your last. GOD is so good and only wants the best for each beautifull soul ! GOD bless each of one of you!
The part about convincing people that man made God and not the other way around gave me chills and hurts my heart. But our Savior Jesus has victory over death! To those who will open their eyes and hearts….
Paul Harvey was awesome. Can you imagine 47 years from now? I don’t know if I want to…
As for me and my family we will serve the lord thy God. the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob!
Thanks for this artile,it opened my eyes.
If I was the devil I would vote for the republican party that’s wat I read between the lines.
The blind may open their eyes and still not see.
It’s all too easy to forget that America was so very special in human history. What was, will be again. Paul Harvey didn’t have to be a prophet, to see the evil of history coming back to repeat itself: he lived through Hitler and knew of Stalin…evil has always been trying to destroy good. It always will. That’s what it gets paid for. What Harvey was so very, very good at was not buying into anyhting except an exceptional America.
Wow!
While attending college at Ricks Jr. College ( now BYU Idaho ) in Rexburg, Idaho during the school year 1969-70 Mr Harvey came and spoke during America Week. I had been listening to him on the radio for a few years. It was a honor to see and hear him speak in person.
Harvy is a solid American and Christian man. We all in the generations of ww2 and following can understand where he is coming from. May God wake up America be for it is too late!
There is no Devil…
Comments are closed.