INTRODUCTION
1Sa 28:3, 6-7 says, “…And Saul had put away the mediums and the spirit-knowers out of the land… And when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. And Saul said to his servants, Seek me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servant said to him, Behold, there is a woman who is a medium, at Endor.”
THE LAW ON CONSULTING MEDIUMS
Under the Law, mediums and spiritists were banned from Israel, and Israel was not to be defiled by them. Calling to the dead was an abomination (terrible scandal) before the Lord.
Lev 19:31 says, “You shall not turn to mediums, and you shall not seek to spirit-knowers to be defiled by them. I am Jehovah your God.”
Deu 18:9-12 says, “When you come to the land which Jehovah your God gives you, you shall not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead. For all that do these things are an abomination to Jehovah. And because of these abominations Jehovah your God drives them out from before you.”
As Saul sought the medium he brought upon himself the curse of the Law.
Lev 20:6 says, “And the person who turns after mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.”
Saul had to disguise himself so that the witch would not know him as he had previously banned witches and spirits, and was feared by them (1Sa 28:8-10). Saul asked medium to summon the dead prophet Samuel as he wanted to know what God would say to him.
Did the spirit of Samuel Appear or was it a Familiar Spirit in his Image?
When the witch saw the spirit of Samuel rising (whom she called a god), she screamed in shock and this shows that indeed it was Samuel who appeared.
1Sa 28:11-14 (ESV) says, “Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.”
This was not a demon impersonating Samuel, for the prophecy that the summoned spirit of Samuel spoke is consistent with the Word of the Lord which as previously delivered by the ministry of the same prophet before his death.
1Sa 28:15-19 (ESV) says, “Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do." And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."
The Prophecy of dead Samuel
Samuel said that Saul would join him the next day in the realm of the dead, and Saul died the next day. So, the prediction was correct to prove that this was indeed Samuel. But this story presents a difficulty because in the Law it was made clear ‘the dead know nothing’ at all, and this scripture has been used by bible scholars to dismiss the fact that the person the witch summoned was indeed Samuel.
So is it right to consult dead Prophets?
No it is not. A closer look at the scripture shows that it is not talking about whether or not the spirits of the dead could be summoned, but about the fact that people practice evil while they live and afterwards they die.
Ecc 9:3-5, 10 says, “This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go 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… Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go.”
Here the preacher is warning people to maximize their potential in fulfilling their God-given purpose while they are still alive, for there is no knowledge or ability to work after death. This scripture has nothing to do with communication between the dead and the living.
Paradise Before and After the Cross
Before the cross Paradise (the Greek word for the Hebrew ‘Eden’) was under the power of Satan under the earth, after he had grabbed earthly authority away from Adam; and it was next to hell. The devil had the keys of death by which he had authority and access both to Paradise and Hell. So Christ through the cross took away the keys of death and Hell (Hades) from Satan, and stripped from them all Adamic authority they had.
Heb 2:14 says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Col 2:14-15 (YLT) says, “Having blotted out the handwriting in the ordinances that is against us, that was contrary to us, and he hath taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross; having stripped the principalities and the authorities, he made a shew of them openly-having triumphed over them in it.”
Rev 1:17-18 says, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Do not fear, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One, and I became dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, Amen. And I have the keys of hell and of death.”
Before Jesus was crucified He spoke of a real story in which two men died, the rich man and the beggar named Lazarus. When they died the rich man went to hell, and Lazarus went to Paradise then known as Abraham’s bosom.
The most interesting thing in this story is that the rich man and Abraham could see and communicate with each other, though there was a great chasm (gulf) between them.
Also when the rich man in hell asked for Abraham to send the dead Lazarus to his brothers and warn them of the danger awaiting them in hell, Abraham told him that the brothers had the Law of Moses and the books of the Prophets to teach them, and they would not listen to Lazarus (if he would rise from the dead) if they would not hear the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Luk 16:19-31 says, “There was a certain rich man who was customarily clothed in purple and fine linen and making merry in luxury every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. But even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it happened that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich one also died and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, there is a great chasm fixed between you and us; so that they desiring to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they pass over to us from there. And he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if one should go to them from the dead, they would repent. And he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even though one rose from the dead.”
This story shows that the dead could communicate with each other across Paradise and hell, and Abraham’s response also shows that it was possible for the dead to rise and speak with the living.
It was when Christ rose from the dead that He led the saints that were in satan’s captivity (bondage) free as He took Paradise from the devil’s custody in ‘the lowest depths of the earth’, to the third heaven under God’s authority.
Eph 4:8-9 (GNB) says, “As the scripture says, "When he went up to the very heights, he took many captives with him; he gave gifts to people." Now, what does "he went up" mean? It means that first he came down to the lowest depths of the earth.”
When Paradise was being shifted from the underworld to the third heaven, the saints who had died rose with Christ and were seen walking in Jerusalem.
Mat 27:52-53 says, “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
It was after this event that Paradise is now seen in third heaven as described by the apostle Paul.
2Co 12:2 says, “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
Moving Paradise to the third heaven was what Jesus meant when He promised His disciples that He was going to prepare ‘a place’ for them, where He will come again and receive them to Himself.
When He was on the cross Christ assured the thief who expressed His faith in Him that He would be with Him in Paradise, the ‘prepared place’ where Christ is now seated together with believers in heaven.
Luk 23:42-43 says, “And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise,”
Joh 14:2-3 says, “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.”
Eph 2:5-6 says, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Conclusion
Now, after Paradise has been moved to the third heaven after being separated from hell underground, it is no longer possible for witches to summon the spirits of the saints in heaven, neither is it possible for them to summon the spirits of the dead sinners in hell; for Jesus took the keys of death and hell as mentioned earlier.
What they actually summon in the disguise of one's dead relatives are familiar spirits or demons that knew and followed the person, and have the ability to imititate the personality of the dead; which evil and foolish!
Ecc 9:3-5 says, "This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go 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 any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten."
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