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Occult / Magic / Spiritism

Bible Question: Do Spiritualist Mediums really communicate with the spirits of the dead?

Answer:—Spiritualism is a rapidly growing movement, numbering several millions of people, among which are some of the brightest minds of the day. There is no question as to many of the facts clearly established in the rites and ceremonies of Spiritism. Many of the phenomena produced, with the aid of spirit mediums, have been pronounced as beyond all controversy supernatural. The Bible tells us exactly to what these phenomena may be attributed. A clear account is given of the fall of some of the angels from Divine grace because of disobedience. These are restrained "in chains of darkness" (the darkness of the night—manifestations can take place only in the dark), until the judgment time. These demons or fallen angels have impersonated the dead and represented that they wished to communicate with their friends through the aid of mediums. Evidently it is displeasing to the Lord for any of His people to communicate with these demons. (See Isa. 8:19,20). The Superintendent of one of the largest insane asylums stated recently that fully one half of the insane patients were obsessed by evil spirits.

Bible Question: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."—Exo. 22:18. From this expression would we not understand that the writers of the Scriptures believed in the existence of witches? What is a witch?

Answer:—Throughout the world today there are thousands and millions of people who firmly believe in what is known as "Spiritism." Among those who thus believe are some of the brightest minds of the day—doctors, lawyers, judges, professors, etc., a class of people who would not be deceived by mere sleight-of-hand performances, or by hallucinations. These know that it is possible to communicate with beings of the spiritual realm, through the aid of spirit mediums, clairaudiants, clairvoyants, and the like—the modern wizards and witches. Few recognize that every one of these spirit beings who thus communicate with members of the race of mankind are of the demons, or fallen angels—evil spirits—whose sole aim and purpose is to deceive the members of the race by impersonating the dead, and representing that they are the spirits of the departed ones. The Sacred Writers certainly recognized the existence of the demons, and of the witches (spirit mediums) of their day.

Bible Question: Please explain Isa. 8:19-22, where the Prophet speaks of "familiar spirits," and "wizards" that work in the dark.

Answer:—The "familiar spirits" are the demons that infest earth's atmosphere, and who are busily engaged in impersonating the dead, representing that they are the spirits of the departed ones, and thus confusing and deceiving many, who have not given heed to the instructions of the Scriptures to the effect that the dead are dead, and will not be alive or conscious until the awakening time in the resurrection. The "wizards" are the mediums who act as the agents of these and mutter and work mysteriously in the dark, in place of working out in the open where all may be clear and plain. The powers of righteousness do not have to labor in the dark and in an underhand way, as they have nothing to conceal. The "hungry" ones are those who have neglected "the law and the testimony"—God's Word—and are giving heed to the doctrines of demons. They are dissatisfied and suffer the pangs of regret and remorse, because there is nothing to satisfy their cravings in the direction in which they are seeking to be enlightened. Theirs is a deplorable condition of darkness and anguish of mind, as they have neglected the only real source of comfort and consolation—the Scriptures.

Bible Question: Tell me about the Witch of Endor, "familiar spirits", mediums.

Answer: It was Saul and you can find it in the book of 1 Samuel in the 28 chapter.
[7] Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
[8] And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
[9] And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 1 Samuel 28:7-9
The following is a small lesson with a lot on content on the subject. It came from one of the very first multi-media production in the world. The date was 1916. The production used a combination of hand painted slides, a record player and personal addresses. It was called "The Photo Drama of Creation."
The Witch of Endor
We have already noted that the fallen angels at the
time of the Deluge were barred from further materialization.
Since then they have sought otherwise
to influence humanity. Few would communicate with them
if they knew their real character; hence they represent themselves
as being our dead friends and relatives. As such they
attempt to communicate with the living through "mediums,"
who are deceived, else they would not serve as "mediums" for
demons.—Isaiah 8:19;Deuteronomy 18:9-12.
In olden times these mediums were called witches, wizards,
necromancers. They had "familiar spirits," or were familiar
with the spirits who were disobedient in the days of Noah.
God had forewarned Israel against these evil spirits and their
mediums. He said that no such mediums should be permitted
to live in the land of Israel. They might operate amongst
nations not under Divine care, but God's representative, Saul,
was commanded to put to death all such.
When King Saul got out of fellowship with God, who refused
further communications, he turned for advice to a witch at
Endor, and asked her to awaken Samuel the Prophet, who
meantime had died. The evil spirits impersonated Samuel
easily enough, and the witch gave the King messages in his
name, whereas Samuel was dead and could not give or receive
messages. King Saul saw nothing; he merely received an
answer from the witch, who said she saw and heard Samuel.
The evil spirits have some way of knowing much respecting
the future. But anybody under the circumstances might have
known the fate to expect for Saul and his army. The King
himself knew what to expect. It was this that troubled him
and led him to seek the witch, contrary to the Divine command.
It is not for a moment supposable that God and Samuel, having
refused to communicate with the King, would change and permit
a witch, condemned by the Divine Law, to overrule the
matter.—1 Chronicles 10:13,14.

Bible Question: Fallen Angels Materializing Today?
In the pre-flood days, when the angels came down & had relations with the daughters of men, were the offspring (Nephilim) always sons? And what stops the fallen angels from doing this today?

Answer: THREE WORLDS. In order to understand the status of the fallen angels today, it would be good to go back to see what was happening in the " the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (2 Peter 3:6). Apostle Peter tells us actually that there were three worlds— periods of time under a specific rulership. After the " world that was" is the " present evil world" under Satan, the " god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). The " new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" under Christ's reign is the third world.
FIRST WORLD RULED BY ANGELS. Although no specific scripture says so, Apostle Paul makes the statement, " For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak" (Hebrews 2:5). From that statement, we may conclude that the angels were charge of the " first world" after man's fall and up to the flood. They were given the opportunity to rule over mankind. Instead , the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose" (Gen 6:2). The results were disastrous because the resulting children, Nephalim, created more evil in the world than ever.
FALLEN ANGELS CAST INTO TARTAROO. These fallen angels did not stay in the spirit realm, but materialized and came to earth and made worse the downward fall of man by intermarrying and producing giants of despicable character. In the flood they returned to the spirit realm but were then confined to a certain place until a certain time— the Judgment Day. " And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6). Where are they kept until then? 2 Peter 2:4 says, " For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [tartaroo], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." This place " tartaroo" (Strong's #5020) only occurs once in the Bible and is translated " hell."
UNTIL THE 1,000-YEAR JUDGMENT DAY. The two other words translated " hell" used often in the New Testament are " Hades" (Strong's #86) and " Gehennah (Strong's #1067). These words are entirely different than where the angels are being held until the Judgment Day. We would understand that the fallen angels were then restrained (but not with literal " chains" ) in the earth's atmosphere until the Judgment day. As a result, they have not been able to materialize as before— even until today. Peter tells us God's judgment day is not 24 hours, but a thousand years. " But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:7, 8). Some of the fallen angels, we would understand, will have repented having benefited from observing for thousands of years the sinful course of mankind.
FALLEN ANGELS TESTED IN THE JUDGMENT DAY. The features of the 1,000-year Judgment Day will open gradually open, beginning with the judgment of the nations and then the judgment of individuals of mankind. It is the same period during which Satan is bound (Revelation 20:1-3), so mankind will have a real opportunity to escape his blinding influence as god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). But it also opens with a time of trouble caused by spiritual as well as earthly forces resisting the setting up of Christ's Kingdom. The fallen angels will, no doubt, also be tested being given ability to materialize again to determine whether they have really reformed and accepted God's will and purpose for them or not.
Hope these thoughts weaving the scriptures together are helpful and reasonable for you to consider. Let us know if you have any questions, comments or would like us to go further on how we know when the Judgment Day starts.