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WHAT ABOUT COMMUNICATING WITH THE DEAD?
Many psychics, or mediums, claim to be able to speak
with the dead. Unlike the channelers or fortune-teller,s
these mediums claim the ability to speak with any
deceased person. While most are fakes, some are able
to reveal information believed known only by the
deceased. Before contacting such a psychic or medium
you should know more about this ability. You should
also know what the psychic is really trying to
teach. Finally where is the message coming from, and
what does the Scriptures teach on the subject.
To understand the conflicts in the capabilities of a
psychic or medium, an examination of their basic
teachings is needed. For this study we are using the
teachings of a psychic from Long Island (1). These
teachings are the same from all the psychics.
The Long Island psychic states there is no death.
One simply moves to another dimension here on earth.
Once in that dimension you go through different
layers of consciousness. Once there, judgment is
fully in your hands. God is within and all are god.
He teaches the souls are capable of returning
immediately or remaining.
Without going into a full study of this psychics
teachings, notice the conflicts. No longer is God a
supreme person, but a god within us (we are gods).
Since we are god the final judgment is not by Him,
but we judge ourselves. There is no heaven or hell.
Death is simply a move to another dimension here on
earth. If you are killed or die and feel cheated out
of life you can return immediately (reincarnation).
Some souls will seek higher levels of consciousness
before returning. Others prefer to wait out the time
in the next dimension. Thus the psychic is really
teaching, No God or salvation by God, and
reincarnation. This psychic we should point out
claims to be a devout Christian.
Scripture teaches us NOT to attempt to communicate
with the deceased. Necromancy, is the communication
with alleged spirits of the dead. This is strongly
forbidden in the Scriptures (Lev. 20:6,27; Deut.
18:9-14). The point is made clear in Isaiah 8:19.
"When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists,
who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire
of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the
living? To the law and testimony! If they do not
speak according to this word, they have no light of
dawn. Distressed and hungry they will roam through
the land; when they are famished, they will become
enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king
and their God. Then they will look toward the earth
and see only distress and darkness and fearful
gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness."
It means that so called communications with the dead
are not of God and should not be indulged. First
Chronicles 10:13 states that Saul died for his
disobedience to God in contacting one with a
familiar spirit.
The term, familiar spirit, is a spirit that mediums
claimed they could summon for consultation (Deut.
8:11). The word familiar has the sense of the Latin
familiaris, belonging to ones family, and hence
ready to serve one as a servant. Such a spirit was
thought to be able to reveal the future. The mediums
usually are through to be associated with these
familiar spirits. Today's mediums prefer to refer to
them as spirit guides. The witch of Endor was known
for her association with a familiar spirit (1 Sam.
28:7). Saul, in seeking to communicate with the
deceased Samuel, contacted this known witch. As
stated previously that contact cost him his life.
One of the great mysteries is what occurs after
death. There are some very clear facts about the
here-after found in the Scriptures. The soul leaves
the body at death and either joins God in heaven or
Satan in hell. Ecclesiastes 12:7 states that at
death, the dust (body) shall return to the earth as
it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave
it. Notice the clear statement made by Stephen is
Acts 7:59. "While they were stoning him, Stephen
prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Scripture, while not specific on the location of
heaven and hell, is specific in heaven not being on
earth. The simplest proof of this is Jesus ascension
into heaven. He ascended upward into heaven (Acts
1:9-11). Hell is always described as downward (2
Peter 2:4; John 5:14; Matt. 12:40). Thus they are
not simply in another dimension here next to us.
Then what about the information these psychics give?
They are often very accurate in fine details that
only the deceased would know. The answer is obvious.
The familiar spirits or demons have been around
since the fall of Lucifer. Their mission is to
strengthen Satan's forces and lead us away from God.
Remember they teach there is no supreme God, but
rather we are all gods (god within). Is that
statement any different from what the serpent told
Eve in the garden?
They teach reincarnation in place of resurrection.
The psychic used in our example specifically states
we do not die but move to the next dimension. Did
not the serpent not make the same promise? As for
the reincarnation theory, a simple review shows how
wrong they are about this. On one side the claim is
if the departed does not like the other dimension,
they can return immediately. Those suddenly killed
usually decide to return as soon as possible. Yet
the same psychic claims to be able to contact the
spirit in most cases. He claims if he fails, it is
the clients (one seeking contact) fault. If John,
Dick, or Harry returned to another human form, how
could they still be contacted in the other
dimension? Then if they have gone through several
reincarnations, who do you ask for? The Bible
teaches we are to die once (Hebrews 9:27). With the
psychics reincarnation, we face many bodily deaths.
Reincarnation offers no guarantee or promise. If one
returns, he maintains no knowledge of the past life,
and therefore has gained nothing by passing through
it. Jesus offers a very different invitation.
Believe in Him and we leave our bodies at death
while our spirit goes to be with God in heaven.
The souls are capable of communicating with each
other and God (Isaiah 14:9-11; Ezekiel. 32:27-32;
Luke 16:19-31). While capable of communicating with
each other Scriptures teach that the departed do not
know what is happening to us here on earth (Job
14:10,21; Eccl. 9:5). No more than we know what is
happening with the departed souls. When we die our
souls will again be together with those departed
before us.
When Jesus Christ returns, He will bring with Him
those souls in heaven. Their bodies will be raised
and united with the soul's in their resurrection (1
Th. 4:13-18; John 5:28,29; 1 Cor. 15:15- 38). Since
the Bible clearly states Jesus will ascend down from
heaven with those souls, they can not be here in
another dimension.
To insure sharing in the joy of heaven you must turn
away from any of the psychic or mediums teachings.
As a Christian, it is your obligation not only to
refuse these teachings, but to stand up against
them. Most of those seeking this type of knowledge
are not aware as to where it comes from. It is a
Christians obligation to advise them of the dangers
of this practice.
References
1. Anderson, George, Joel Martin & Patricia
Romanowski, We Don't Die, Berkley Books, New York,
1989
For Additional Information Contact
True Light Educational Ministry
P.O. Box 310
Shirley, NY 11967
Telephone (631) 395-4646
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TLEM