p. 9 | Spiritualism

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 8, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 31.

Spiritualism

1. What is Spiritualism defined to be?

A belief that departed spirits hold intercourse with mortals by means of physical phenomena, as by rapping, or during abnormal mental states, as in trances, or the like, commonly manifested through a medium.—Webster, latest revised edition.

The belief that the spirits of the dead in various ways communicate with and manifest their presence to men, usually through the agency of a person called a medium; also, the doctrines and practises of those so believing.—Standard Dictionary, edition 1906.

2. Is this belief of ancient origin?

Belief in the power of departed spirits to communicate with living men, and the attribution of various phenomena to it as a cause, date back many centuries.—Ib.

3. What reply should the believer make when asked to consult with these spirits said to come from the dead?

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: 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. Isa. 8:19, 20.

4. What is the testimony of the "Word" in regard to the dead?

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun. . . . Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Eccl. 9:4-6, 10.

5. What does the psalmist say of the thoughts of man in death?

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Ps. 146:3, 4.

NOTE.—The foregoing texts affirm of the dead that "they know not anything;" "the memory of them is forgotten;" "their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished;" "there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Then how is it possible for the dead to communicate with the living? The very thought of it is absurd, and such plain Bible texts should forever settle the matter.

6. Did the Lord warn ancient Israel against those who had "familiar spirits"?

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. Lev. 19:31.

And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Lev. 20:6.

NOTE.—This law in regard to "familiar spirits" was given to Israel just after they left Egypt, thus showing that the effort to communicate with the dead was in vogue in that time, and that the people believed that it might be done. If this were not the case, God would not have made a law upon the subject.

7. May we safely believe every spirit that comes to us?

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1.

NOTE.—The foregoing text indicates that there are spirits that "are of God," the angels; and also those that are not of God, messengers of evil. Hence the necessity of the injunction to "try the spirits." If all spirit manifestations were alike good, there would be no need of being exhorted to try the spirits that come to us. And contrariwise, if all spirits were evil, the injunction would necessarily have been to have nothing to do with any spirits. But as the matter stands we are to be on our guard, for both good and evil spirits are in the world.

8. What does the Bible say would take place particularly in the "latter times"?

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. 1 Tim. 4:1.

9. What is said in another text will be one of the occupations of these "seducing spirits"?

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Rev. 16:13, 14.