Our local public library provides space for all
types of groups and individuals as part of their
service to the public. It can range from science, to
art, to history, and, in this latest instance, to that
of the supernatural. Lately it has arranged an
appearance of a young woman who is a self-professed
medium. By the information that went out about her, it
seems that not only does she contact the dead, but
encourages others to do so as well. Apparently, the
list filled up quickly in such a quantity as to
necessitate a move to the local fire house for
additional space as this has proven to be insufficient
at the library. Even this has not been enough since
waiting list has now become necessary.
It appears that
this woman has attracted the attention of a local
weekly newspaper as well which has provided a great
deal of coverage about her. After giving her
considerable “ink,” I felt strongly moved to write a
letter to the editor and present a view of this subject
from a biblical point of view – something I have rarely
heard covered even in the days before my church
denomination spiraled into apostasy. It seems that,
like Bible Prophecy, it has been and continues to be
largely ignored. This is what we'll explore greater
detail here.
Perhaps the
best place to begin is to ask the question: Is the
spirit world real?
Since God
himself is Spirit, as are the angels in heaven, the
answer is clearly, "Yes." But does it end there? The
evangelist Paul, who wrote most of what comprises the
Epistles in the New Testament of the Bible, reveals
that there is a darker component just as real. In fact,
he reveals that the struggle between good and evil we
see on Earth is merely a reflection of what is going
on in a much bigger scale in the spiritual realm which
lies beyond our senses:
Ephesians
6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
There is,
in fact, a battle raging even now between God and his
angels; Satan and his demons. The harsh world that we
face every day is merely a reflection of this very
thing.
Now who is exactly is Satan?
From the book of Job, second chapter, in the Old
Testament, we see that he is called one of "the sons of
God." This was a term used to designate angels -
supremely powerful beings God created as fully mature
very likely before the formation of our universe. The
Bible also reveals that Satan - once known as Lucifer,
was once an ally of God whose pride caused him to fall
(Isaiah 14:12-15). The book of Revelation suggests a
third of the angels, sometimes symbolically called
"stars" – e.g. Revelation 1:20) joined him in his
rebellion (Revelation 12:4 - the dragon mentioned here
is Satan which is shown in verse 9.).
The devil
has always coveted God's throne, even trying to get
Jesus himself to roll over (Luke 4:1-11). This battle
for supremacy continues and the prime method used
toward this end is that of deception. What few realize
is that the reptilian image most presented of Satan is
not at all the case, as Paul shows us here:
2
Corinthians 11:14-15 And no marvel; for Satan himself
is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is
no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as
the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works.
I presented
this preface to provide some of the background that
will be helpful to consider when we are faced with the
claims of those who believe they are contacting the
dead. What does the Bible say on the subject of death?
Let's take a look:
Daniel 12:2 And
many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall
awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment.
Note that
there is no mention of the souls of the dead being
involved with the living here.
There is
also the matter of what appears to be a "one place or
the other" principle. To the repentant thief, Jesus
said:
Luke 23:43And Jesus said unto
him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with
me in paradise.
Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from
the body, and to be present with the Lord.
This
suggests that the souls of the departed don't hang
around on Earth after the death of the body year after
year, century after century. It also casts serious
doubt on the concept of "purgatory." The Bible pretty
much says, you either go to meet God when you die, or
you go into hell to await final judgment (Revelation
20:11-15) - no stops or delays on the way either to
heaven or Sheol.
Now that
we've looked at what happens to the departed souls,
what doesthe Bible say about playing around with the
occult in general? Under the Mosaic Laws, it was pretty
harsh:
Leviticus 20:27 A man also or
woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard,
shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them
with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
In the New
Testament it appears this approach was softened, but by
every indication still to be avoided (Acts 8:9-22;
16:16-18). Perhaps even more telling is that there is
NEVER in either testament of the Bible ANY TIME when
dealing with the occult is presented in a positive
manner. Jesus never did it, nor did his disciples.
What should that tell us?
As another
example of necromancy (communicating with the dead) is
something to be avoided, note the tragic tale of
Israel's first king Saul in 1 Samuel 28:7-20). What is
interesting in this account is that the medium appeared
to actually raise the spirit of Samuel - who “came up”
probably out of the ground. Why didn't he, as a
righteous man, "come down" from heaven? It appears that
prior to Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the souls
of the righteous dwelt in a place later called
"Abraham's Bosom," while the wicked resided in a place
we'd normally picture as hell (Luke 16:19-31), both of
which realms were part of "Sheol," translated in the
King James Version as "the grave." The Greek word
"hades" is a direct equivalent. After Jesus rose from
death and ascended 40 days afterward into heaven, it
appears that the righteous also could now go there,
too, (possibly an event which followed the account in
Matthew 27:50-53) and that is where they and those who
believe in Jesus are now. That once-mortal people who
lived on Earth are seen in heaven is recorded in
Revelation in several places (Revelation 4:4-11;
7:9-10).
For those who
never heard about Jesus, it is a little more unclear,
but I am sure a just God will never rip anyone off.
Paul suggests this very thing (Romans 2:14-16). It
would also seem that before the age of discretion, all
children go there automatically (Matthew 19:14) - and
this is a particularly comforting thought.
How about our devout Jewish
friends? The Bible tells us the God chose the Hebrews
out of all the people on the Earth to reveal himself
across the ages. Jesus himself was, of course, very
much a Jew descended from Jacob’s son Judah, as was
King David. Perhaps at some point in their lives, maybe
even at the very end, those Jews, anyone in fact who
may not, for whatever reason, have known about Jesus,
but who have earnestly sought after God have the chance
to accept Jesus. This, of course, is pure speculation
on my part. I really don't have an answer to this
question, other than to believe that God will ALWAYS do
what's right.
As for evil
people who have willfully rejected God (and his Son in
the A.D. era), these end up in the "torment section" of
Sheol, waiting for final judgment at the final end of
history (again, see Revelation 20:11-15).
So, what are we
to make of those who contact "loved ones" who have
died?
If those who rejected God are
in hell, those who accepted him are in heaven, how does
one explain supposedly getting in touch with dead loved
ones and reportedly receiving information that only
they would know? Could it be that what they are
contacting are in fact evil spirits, demons, if you
like, masquerading as the souls of those they have
lost? Remember these beings are immortal and who knows
just how much information they may be privy to on Earth
during a person's life? Certainly the devil himself has
great access as the "prince of this world (John
12:31)".
If you read again what Paul
wrote about Satan's penchant for deception, appearing
as an “angel of light” to provide a deceptive message,
along with those working for him, it seems like preying
on a person's weakness to be reunited with a loved one
presents a prime opportunity and excellent chance to
drag an unsuspecting individual into the world of the
occult, something the Bible has told us to avoid. I am
sure he also takes full advantage out of people who
genuinely mean well and wish to comfort others
regarding their dead relatives and loved ones, but are
ignorant of what the Bible has to say. Remember
sincerity itself is never a guarantee of someone being
correct. They could very well be “sincerely wrong!”
In view of
what the evidence here shows, my advice is to leave to
God those things that are clearly in his jurisdiction
and not to open the door to the devil and the powers of
darkness. If you are involved in any of this, GET OUT
OF IT! If you know anyone who is, let them know where
the Bile stands on this issue, and do all you can to
persuade them to do the same! The decision, of course,
lies with each individual - you can't make it for them.
But you can give them the
truth - and in so doing stop them from traveling a very
dangerous path!