a dead loved one if he would believe the Bible statement, “The dead know not anything.” Immortality is a gift of God that is given to man on the resurrection morning. Man is “mortal,” and only through Christ and at the second coming of Christ does he receive the crown of immortality. The false doctrine of the natural “immortality” of the soul precludes the belief in a future resurrection, annihilates the Bible fundamental of a future judgment, and relegates to the mythical the blessed hope of the second coming of Christ. But how precious is the Bible doctrine in contrast with the pagan deception! “Behold, I show you a mystery,” we read in 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
GOD WARNED AGAINST SPIRITISM
Modern spiritism finds its counterpart in ancient necromancy. What an abomination it was in days of old when men forsook the word of God and sought after those who had familiar spirits! From the throne of God came the warning against the corruption that was so common in heathen nations: “There shall not be found among you anyone . . . that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
Spiritistic leaders do not hesitate to cite the example of Saul and the witch of En-dor as Bible proof for the reality of the messages from the spirit world. It would be well for us to read the record as it is given in 1 Samuel 28. Because of willful disobedience King Saul had lost his right to the throne and his privilege of calling upon the Lord as his helper. In his extremity Saul sought for a woman that had a “familiar spirit.” What a tragedy it is for a man who has once rejoiced in the truth of God and has been called a friend of God so to fall into sin that he will deliberately follow in the way that God calls an abomination! And the sad record is left us, “So Saul died . . . for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit.” 1 Chronicles 10:13.
The home of the Fox family, at Hydesville, New York, where modern spiritism is supposed to have originated in 1848. However, the delusions of spiritism are as old as sin.
When Saul was in touch with God, he decreed the destruction of all who had “familiar spirits.” After his sin and rejection of God, he turned to the abominations of witchcraft. But it was not Samuel with whom Saul communed through the mediumship of the witch of En-dor. From the description given by the medium, Saul judged the spirit to be Samuel. “He said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel.” Would Samuel, if in heaven, still be a bent old man, clad in a mantle? If in heaven, why was he called up from the earth? Would God permit a dissolute woman, living contrary to His law, to call up His prophet? Could she make the prophet answer, when God had refused to answer Saul? It was not Samuel with whom Saul communed, but a fallen angel. King Saul paid the penalty for his transgression.
A TRANSGRESSION OF GOD’S LAW
Those who surrender themselves to the working of the occult forces, transgress the command of God, align themselves with midnight paganism, and seal their own destiny. From Leviticus, chapter 20, verse 6, I read: “The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, . . . I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” Spiritism has discarded the long-worn cloak of paganism, and stands before us clad as an angel of light. But underneath the angelic mask may be seen the “cloven hoof.” Every Christian fundamental is set at naught by this deceptive Antichrist. It repudiates the fall of man, the sinless incarnation of Christ, the atonement, and the gospel. It places Buddha, the god of pagan Hinduism, in a higher “sphere” than Christ. It teaches the abominable theory of the transmigration of souls. It commits the unpardonable sin of representing the work of Satan as that of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is our only safeguard against the multifarious deceptions of these last days. The “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” is one of the marked signs of the “last days.” And, assuredly, the powers of darkness are now being marshaled for the last stand against righteousness. The call of God to-day is a “back-to-the-Bible” message. If we stand upon this rock of truth, we can never be drawn10into the quicksands of occultism. If we let its wondrous light illumine our pathway, we can never wander near the precipice that rises above the valley of destruction. While philosophers and kings are consulting the ouija board and the familiar spirits, while the world of religion is being drawn into the confederacy of evil, we must consult God’s great Book of truth, and form a covenant with Him by prayer. May God help us in these unsettled days to forsake every false doctrine, to accept every Bible truth. And then, as Jesus comes in majestic power, as the righteous dead are raised to immortality, as the righteous living are transformed and taken with them to the mansions above, we shall be numbered with that victorious throng.
