p. 11 | SPIRITUALISM

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 17, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 20.

SPIRITUALISM.

1. What is Spiritualism, or Spiritism?

Communication between human beings and the supposed spirits of the dead; belief in the return of the dead in spirit form, to hold converse with the living.

2. Is it possible for the dead to communicate with the living?

"The living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, . . . neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun." Eccl. 9:5, 6.

3. Man’s disbelief in the Word of God has led the larger portion of the human race to believe in the immortality of the soul. Belief in that naturally led to belief in the conscious state of the dead, and therefore to the idea that the dead could and did communicate with the living.

4. Have we any instance of a spiritualistic seance in Old Testament times?

"Then said Saul unto His servants, Seek me a woman who hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her, . . . Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice, . . . saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid; for what seest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a robe. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel." 1 Sam. 28:6-14.

5. What command did the Lord give concerning communication with spiritualistic mediums?

"Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them; I am Jehovah your God." Lev. 19:31.

6. How do we know that this same work will be carried on in the last days?

"But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons." 1 Tim. 4:1.

7. What is the condition of those who seek counsel of spiritualistic mediums?—They have departed from the faith.

8. May we look for demon-wrought miracles in the last days?

"Whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." 2 Thess. 2:9.

9. How will it be possible for Satan to carry on his deceptive work?

"And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness." 2 Cor. 11:14.

10. What are these spiritualistic agents in reality?

"For they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty." Rev. 16:14.

11. With whom, then, are men and women dealing when they seek counsel at the lips of spiritualistic mediums?—The spirits of demons.