TLEM
True Light Educational Ministry
Then
you will
know the Truth and the Truth will set you free ( John
8:32)
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WHAT
ABOUT COMMUNICATING WITH THE DEAD?
Many
psychics, or mediums, claim to be able to speak with the dead. Unlike the
channelers or fortune-teller,s these mediums claim the ability to speak with
any deceased person. While most are fakes, some are able to reveal information
believed known only by the deceased. Before contacting such a psychic or
medium you should know more about this ability. You should also know what the
psychic is really trying to teach. Finally where is the message coming from,
and what does the Scriptures teach on the subject.
To
understand the conflicts in the capabilities of a psychic or medium, an
examination of their basic teachings is needed. For this study we are using
the teachings of a psychic from Long Island (1). These teachings are the same
from all the psychics.
The Long
Island psychic states there is no death. One simply moves to another dimension
here on earth. Once in that dimension you go through different layers of
consciousness. Once there, judgment is fully in your hands. God is within and
all are god. He teaches the souls are capable of returning immediately or
remaining.
Without
going into a full study of this psychics teachings, notice the conflicts. No
longer is God a supreme person, but a god within us (we are gods). Since we
are god the final judgment is not by Him, but we judge ourselves. There is no
heaven or hell. Death is simply a move to another dimension here on earth. If
you are killed or die and feel cheated out of life you can return immediately
(reincarnation). Some souls will seek higher levels of consciousness before
returning. Others prefer to wait out the time in the next dimension. Thus the
psychic is really teaching, No God or salvation by God, and reincarnation.
This psychic we should point out claims to be a devout Christian.
Scripture
teaches us NOT to attempt to communicate with the deceased. Necromancy, is the
communication with alleged spirits of the dead. This is strongly forbidden in
the Scriptures (Lev. 20:6,27; Deut. 18:9-14). The point is made clear in
Isaiah 8:19. "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who
whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the
dead on behalf of the living? To the law and testimony! If they do not speak
according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry they
will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged
and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look
toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and
they will be thrust into utter darkness." It means that so called
communications with the dead are not of God and should not be indulged. First
Chronicles 10:13 states that Saul died for his disobedience to God in
contacting one with a familiar spirit.
The
term, familiar spirit, is a spirit that mediums claimed they could summon for
consultation (Deut. 8:11). The word familiar has the sense of the Latin
familiaris, belonging to ones family, and hence ready to serve one as a
servant. Such a spirit was thought to be able to reveal the future. The
mediums usually are through to be associated with these familiar spirits.
Today's mediums prefer to refer to them as spirit guides. The witch of Endor
was known for her association with a familiar spirit (1 Sam. 28:7). Saul, in
seeking to communicate with the deceased Samuel, contacted this known witch.
As stated previously that contact cost him his life.
One of
the great mysteries is what occurs after death. There are some very clear
facts about the here-after found in the Scriptures. The soul leaves the body
at death and either joins God in heaven or Satan in hell. Ecclesiastes 12:7
states that at death, the dust (body) shall return to the earth as it was; and
the spirit shall return to God who gave it. Notice the clear statement made by
Stephen is Acts 7:59. "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed,
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Scripture,
while not specific on the location of heaven and hell, is specific in heaven
not being on earth. The simplest proof of this is Jesus ascension into heaven.
He ascended upward into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). Hell is always described as
downward (2 Peter 2:4; John 5:14; Matt. 12:40). Thus they are not simply in
another dimension here next to us.
Then
what about the information these psychics give? They are often very accurate
in fine details that only the deceased would know. The answer is obvious. The
familiar spirits or demons have been around since the fall of Lucifer. Their
mission is to strengthen Satan's forces and lead us away from God. Remember
they teach there is no supreme God, but rather we are all gods (god within).
Is that statement any different from what the serpent told Eve in the garden?
They
teach reincarnation in place of resurrection. The psychic used in our example
specifically states we do not die but move to the next dimension. Did not the
serpent not make the same promise? As for the reincarnation theory, a simple
review shows how wrong they are about this. On one side the claim is if the
departed does not like the other dimension, they can return immediately. Those
suddenly killed usually decide to return as soon as possible. Yet the same
psychic claims to be able to contact the spirit in most cases. He claims if he
fails, it is the clients (one seeking contact) fault. If John, Dick, or Harry
returned to another human form, how could they still be contacted in the other
dimension? Then if they have gone through several reincarnations, who do you
ask for? The Bible teaches we are to die once (Hebrews 9:27). With the
psychics reincarnation, we face many bodily deaths. Reincarnation offers no
guarantee or promise. If one returns, he maintains no knowledge of the past
life, and therefore has gained nothing by passing through it. Jesus offers a
very different invitation. Believe in Him and we leave our bodies at death
while our spirit goes to be with God in heaven.
The
souls are capable of communicating with each other and God (Isaiah 14:9-11;
Ezekiel. 32:27-32; Luke 16:19-31). While capable of communicating with each
other Scriptures teach that the departed do not know what is happening to us
here on earth (Job 14:10,21; Eccl. 9:5). No more than we know what is
happening with the departed souls. When we die our souls will again be
together with those departed before us.
When
Jesus Christ returns, He will bring with Him those souls in heaven. Their
bodies will be raised and united with the soul's in their resurrection (1 Th.
4:13-18; John 5:28,29; 1 Cor. 15:15- 38). Since the Bible clearly states Jesus
will ascend down from heaven with those souls, they can not be here in another
dimension.
To
insure sharing in the joy of heaven you must turn away from any of the psychic
or mediums teachings. As a Christian, it is your obligation not only to refuse
these teachings, but to stand up against them. Most of those seeking this type
of knowledge are not aware as to where it comes from. It is a Christians
obligation to advise them of the dangers of this practice.
References
1.
Anderson, George, Joel Martin & Patricia Romanowski, We Don't Die, Berkley
Books, New York, 1989
For
Additional Information Contact
True
Light Educational Ministry
P.O. Box
310
Shirley,
NY 11967
Telephone
(631) 395-4646
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