davidbu@loowit.wr.tek.com (David E. Buxton) (03/30/91)
Here is the story of Saul relative to the witch of Endor:
When Samuel brought messages from God to Saul, Saul repeatedly tried to
justify his actions which were increasingly contrary to what God
expected of him. (1 Sam 13, 15, etc.)
Samuel mourned for Saul but never went to see him again. (1 Sam 15:35)
Samuel died. (1 Sam 25:1)
Saul in persuit of David, yet David spares his life. (1 Sam 26, 27)
Saul terrified of the Philistine army. (1 Sam 28:5)
"And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him,
either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets. Then Saul said to his
servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and
inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "In fact, there is a
woman who is a medium at En Dor. So Saul disguised himself and put on
other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the
woman by night. And he said, "Please conduct a seance for me, and bring
up for me the one I shall name to you." "-- 1 Sam 28:6-8 (NKJ)
What do you see, Saul asks, "I saw a spirit ascending out of the
earth." (1 Sam 28:13)
An old man wearing a robe is coming up. And with that description Saul
is sure it is Samuel (1 Sam 28:14)
Clearly we see Saul rejected by God and because God will not respond to him
any longer he, in desperation, goes to a spirit medium and asks for a
seance. How can it be said that God refuses to communicate with Saul before
the seance but then does so during the seance? Saul did not see the spirit
entity. The spirit medium describes the spirit that ascended up out of the
earth. Note that this spirit did not come down from heaven but up out of
the earth. Her description sounds rather vague for Saul to be so sure.
Some insist that because Samuel was a prophet, that God would not let Satan
impersonate him. But again, God refused to communicate with Saul before the
seance and Satan is capable of impersonating an "angle of light":
"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an [angel of
light]. "-- 2 Cor 11:14 (NKJ)
Some insist that because the spirit of Samuel prophecied the death of Saul
that it could have been none other than Samuel, sent from God, with a pro-
phecy for Saul. This prophecy (vs 19) says that tomorrow you (Saul) will be
with me (Samuel). How can this be if Samuel went to heaven and Saul is des-
tined soon to be in hell (suicide)? Only Satan would have us believe that
we go to his spirit world when we die. Note that the prophecy was that Saul
would die the next day. But at least three days pass (1 Sam 30:1). Saul
gets involved in the battle. His three sons are killed (1 Sam 31:2). Saul
is wounded (vs 3). His armor bearer refuses to kill him (vs 4). He kills
himself (vs 4). Can suicide be an acceptable fulfillment of a prophecy from
God? Sounds more like a prophecy that Satan is more than capable of rather
than a prophecy demonstrating the power of God.
Here is a Biblical explanation of why Saul died:
"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the
LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he
consulted a medium for guidance. "-- 1 Chr 10:13 (NKJ)
Here is a story of spiritualism from Rio de Janeiro as told by a missionary:
"More than the tropical heat kept me awake as the night breeze carried
the sound of haunting drum beats and the chanting of devil worshippers.
"Earlier that night I had driven past Copacabana beach and seen throngs
of white-robed, phantom-like people calling upon the spirits. I
stopped to look. What I saw would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Those people weren't playing games.
"Right next to me stood a young lady who didn't believe in the superna-
tural. She challenged one of the mediums to prove to her that the spir-
its had mythical power. My pulse quickened as I saw the swift response
to her mad challenge. Before I knew what was happening, her body was
writhing, completely out of control, and was eerily tossed into the
air, after which she landed on the ground with a thud.
"In our eleven years in Brazil, we faced psychic phenomena that defy
description. In that country, one sixth of the population indulges in
some form of devil worship."
Those who have denied the reality of demonic forces will someday be
overwhelmed by the evidence of unexplainable phenomena. Bible prophecy
tells us this will be a growing problem of the time of the end that we are
in. In religious circles, widespread denial of the personality of the devil
has almost crushed the protective provision of the Holy Scripture. Many
Christians; citing healings, deliverance from addictions, voices and many
other miracles prefer these 'authenticators' over the clear word of God.
God will send a powerful delusion to those who do not search after truth.
(II Thes 2:9-11)
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principali-
ties, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:12)
Many researchers have become aware of the reality of something behind the
phenomena which they investigate. There is too much evidence to dismiss it.
There are demonic powers which do not just exist in the minds of frightened
people. There is no denial that satanic miracles exist in abundance.
Those who accept that a loved ones conscious soul goes to heaven are vulner-
able to spiritism which promises communication with departed loved ones.
Instead, they meet a masquerading demon. It promises to exalt but only
degrades in the end. It promises that all who hear its siren voice will be
like God, only to lead them into fellowship with demons. My Bible warns
that Satan and his host will become more and more active in their manifesta-
tions as time goes on. Everyone whose faith is not firmly established upon
the Word of God will be deceived and overcome. How can you be sure to avoid
the increasing deceptions that we face?
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light. (2 Cor 11:14)
Here is what Satan will sound like:
His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compas-
sionate tones he presents some of the same gracious heavenly truths
which the Saviour uttered. His miracles will be thoroughly convincing.
Only his subtle departure from the true precepts of scripture will
reveal his true identity.
Don't forget that Satan used to be Lucifer, the leader of God's choir in
heaven.
A warning from Isaiah:
"And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar
spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter {Todays spiritism
is far more subtle and modern}: should not a people seek unto their
God? For the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if
they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light
in them." (Isaiah 8:19,20)
Mark 5 tells the story of the Gadarene demoniac with titanic strength in the
hands of Satan. This man could break stout chains that could not hold a
normal man. I do not doubt the power of Satan and his impersonating 'spir-
its'.
A few more texts:
Don't seek after FAMILIAR spirits or wizards. (Lev. 19:31)
By satanic aid Pharaoh's magicians counterfeited the works of God
through Moses. (Ex. 7:10-12)
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming them-
selves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself
is transformed into an angel of light: (2 Cor 11:13,14)
Even the demons submit to Jesus name. (Luke 10:17,18,20)
In Luke 24 we find the disciples frightened when Jesus appeared before
them. They thought Jesus was a spirit. Such a spirit would be the
spirit of Satan masquerading as Jesus. Jesus urged them to touch Him
and see that it was really the Jesus they knew.
Put on the whole armor of God against the wiles of the devil; for we
wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers of darkness.
(Eph. 6:11,12)
Satan works with power and signs and lying wonders and with deceiving
unrighteousness. (II Thes. 2:9-12)
Satan and his angels cast to this earth. (Rev 12:7-10)
Satan's miracles will deceive those who dwell on this earth. (Rev.
13:13,14)
"For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles" (Rev. 16:14).
Here are some quotes from the Encyclopedia of Occult & Parapsychology:
Brenda Crenshaw, a Los Angeles psychic said: "There are spirits who
are impersonators who will come through a medium to make claims that
are not true."
Sir Arthur Conon Doyle, speaking of the spirits of the dead with whom
he professed to communicate, one confessed: "We have unhappily, to
deal with absolute cold blooded lying on the part of wicked or mische-
vious intelligences."
After experimenting with the occult, G.K. Chesterton said: "The only
thing I will say with complete confidence about that mystic and invisi-
ble power is that it tells lies."
"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." (Eph 6:12)
In Hebrews we find that there are ministering spirits {God's angels} who are
sent by God to minister unto us. (Hebrews 1:14) Let us not confuse these
with Satan's spirits who impersonate the dead, and also the living who seek
to deceive us for profit. (2 Cor. 11:14, 15 and 2 Thes. 2:9-12)
Yes, Jesus has His angels here on earth who do perform miracles and do visit
humans on this earth. The Bible makes it clear that these angels of God
never impersonate the dead. Not once in the Bible, do we find an Angel of
God claiming to once be a human. Usually His angels are mysteriously gone
before we realize they were one of God's angels, thinking they were human
until they vanish. Impersonations of the dead are only performed by Satan's
angels or by humans performing magic or deceit.
Dave (David E. Buxton)
From the Silicon RainForest of the Northwest