Adventist Perspective on Souls and Occult Deception

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The belief that man is a living soul, rather than possessing an independent, immortal soul, means that there is no "separate soul" for a witch or wizard to remove Genesis 2:7PTUK April 5, 1894, page 212.9+1. Any experience where a person appears to leave their body or communicate with the dead is actually a manifestation of satanic deception and the work of evil spiritsPK 210.2+2.

Here is a closer look at how these supernatural phenomena are understood:

The Nature of Man and the Soul

• A Living Being: A soul is not a ghostly entity residing within a person; rather, the Bible defines a "soul" as the whole living person resulting from the combination of the body and the breath of life Genesis 2:7HPGO 43.1.

• Unconsciousness in Death: When a person dies, their thoughts perish and they enter a state of total silence and unconsciousness in the grave Psalms 146:4+1HPGO 56.3+1.

• No Intermediate Existence: Because the dead know nothing, they cannot wander the earth or communicate with the living; therefore, no human "soul" can depart the body to perform magic or travel Job 14:123SP 425.3+1.

The Source of Occult Power

• Demonic Personation: What people perceive as "souls" or "spirits" of the dead are actually "spirits of devils" who simulate the identity of individuals to deceive the living 2 Corinthians 11:14-15EW 87.2+2.

• Satanic Arts: The practices of ancient witchcraft, sorcery, and modern spiritualism are all founded on the first lie told in Eden: "Ye shall not surely die" Genesis 3:4GC 561.2+1.

• Mesmerism and Magic: Acts that seem to involve the separation of the mind or spirit from the body—such as those found in mesmerism or animal magnetism—are arts used by the "great deceiver" to gain control of human mindsPK 210.2+2.

Biblical Warnings against Sorcery

• Forbidden Communication: God has strictly forbidden any attempt to consult the dead or deal with familiar spirits because such acts are an abomination and lead people onto Satan's ground Leviticus 19:31+1GC88 556.2+1.

• The Deception of Saul: When King Saul visited the witch of Endor, he did not actually see the prophet Samuel; he was deceived by a satanic representation of an "old man covered with a mantle" rising out of the earth 1 Samuel 28:13-14SWE 10.3+1.

• The Power of Truth: To stay safe from these "lying wonders," one must cling to the Bible truth that the dead are asleep until the resurrection 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10Ev 249.2+2.

By understanding that man is a unit and the dead are unconscious, we are protected from the "mammoth deception" of thinking that any part of a human can be removed or function independently of the physical life God has givenGC88 556.2+2. 😊

Witches and wizards do not actually leave their bodies; rather, they are under the influence of satanic sorcery where evil spirits create powerful illusions and take control of the mindSWE 28.3+1. Since the Bible teaches that the soul is the entire living person and not an independent entity, it is impossible for a "soul" to detach and fly elsewhere while the body remains behind Genesis 2:7MPC 87.2.

Here is an explanation of what is actually occurring during these experiences:

The Illusion of "Out of the Body" Experiences

• Mental Infatuation: Satan weaves a spell about the human mind, using "spiritual witchcraft" to steel the heart and create deceptive infatuations that feel entirely real to the person involvedST September 18, 1893, par. 4.

• Aided by Evil Angels: Satan sends his evil angels to personify friends or communicate "doctrines of devils," leading people captive at his will through these mental diversionsSWE 28.3.

• Parallels to Mesmerism: These states are similar to certain mesmeric or magnetic conditions where the consciousness of the individual is actually replaced or controlled by the "demoniser," making the person act or perceive things only at the bidding of the evil spiritLTJMB3 228.1+1.

• Visions vs. Reality: Even in divine visions, such as when Paul was "caught up," the images formed in the mind are realities provided by a higher power, but they do not involve a literal "immortal spirit" speeding away independently of the body 2 Corinthians 12:2-4HHMLD 203.3+1.

The Agency of Satanic Deception

• Miracle-Working Power: Satan uses "lying wonders" and "arts of infatuation" to sustain his deceptions, including the appearance of supernatural travel or communication 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10ST September 18, 1893, par. 4+1.

• Control of the Will: Once a person tampers with these "curious arts" out of curiosity, they can be lured on until they are controlled by a will stronger than their own, unable to escape the mysterious power of the adversary2MCP 702.1+1.

• The Foundation of the Lie: This entire system of belief is built upon the original falsehood that man has a conscious existence independent of the body, a doctrine that originated with the serpent in Eden Genesis 3:4-5SWE 28.3.

Biblical Truth as a Safeguard

• The State of the Dead: The scriptures are clear that the dead "know not anything" and their "thoughts perish" the moment they die; they cannot function as spirits in this world or any other until the resurrection Ecclesiastes 9:5+1TMR 98.1.

• Forbidden Ground: Because these manifestations are "spirits of devils" working miracles, God has fenced up the road to such knowledge with his prohibition to protect us from fatal deceptions Revelation 16:14SWE 28.3+1.

• Total Dependence on the Word: Our only safety from these satanic delusions is to remain settled in the truth that life comes from Christ alone and that all such occult manifestations are frauds perpetrated by the devilSITI February 27, 1893, page 270.10+1.

By clinging to the Word of God as our shield, we can recognize that any "flight" or "departure" from the body is not a reality of human nature, but a masterpiece of deception designed to lead the soul away from the CreatorCIHS 16.1+1. 🛡️✨