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Ancient and Modern Spiritualism
The Scripture account of Saul’s visit to the woman of Endor puz-
zles many students of the Bible. Some say that Samuel was actually
present, but the Bible gives evidence for the opposite conclusion.
If Samuel was in heaven, he must have been called from there
either by God or by Satan. No one can believe for a moment that
Satan had power to call the prophet from heaven to honor the magic
spells of a lawless woman. Nor can we conclude that God sum-
moned him to the witch’s cave, for the Lord had already refused to
communicate with Saul by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.
The message itself shows where it came from. Its purpose was
not to lead Saul to repent, but to urge him on to ruin. This is not the
work of God, but of Satan. In addition, Scripture cites the act of Saul
in consulting a sorceress as one reason why he was rejected by God:
“Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against
the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also
because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire
of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over
to David the son of Jesse.” (
1 Chronicles 10:13, 14
). Saul did not
communicate with Samuel, God’s prophet, but with Satan. Satan
could not present the real Samuel, but a counterfeit that served his
purpose of trickery.
In ancient times sorcery and witchcraft were founded upon a
belief that one could talk with the dead. Those who practiced these
arts claimed to obtain a knowledge of future events through departed
spirits. “When they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and
wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their
God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?” (
Isaiah
8:19
).
The gods of the heathen were believed to be the spirits of de-
parted heroes who had risen to the level of gods, so the religion of
the heathen was a worship of the dead. Speaking of the apostasy
of the Israelites, the psalmist says, “They joined themselves also to
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