~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~
Question: I've always heard that God commanded to not communicate with the dead, but I cannot find that scripture ANYWHERE by using even the big Strong's concordance! I don't know what other key words to look up for reference, since nobody I know seems to know the exact words used in the verse. I'm beginning to wonder if when God told them to not touch or handle the dead, we have mis-translated that into not to "communicate with" the dead, inferring a literal conversation with them as opposed to just physically touching them, since "communication" is also used in reference to actions in the N.T. Can you help? I ask because I am studying out Saul, Samuel, and the woman with a familiar spirit.Answer:
In answer to your question, let me start by saying: There is not one authentic case of the dead communicating with the living to teach that men who die can so communicate. The rich man in hell wanted someone to communicate with his lost family, and Abraham stated that this was not possible because of the great gulf that separated them (Luke 16:19-31 KJV).
Furthermore, in Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not suffer a WITCH to live". A WITCH was one that used FAMILIAR SPIRITS (or demon spirits) impersonating the dead. God commanded that no one practicing conjuring the dead should live because they were using demonic powers to falsify reality. The Hebrew word for WITCH is kashaph (3784).
Also in Leviticus 19:31, "Regard not them that have FAMILIAR SPIRITS, neither seek after WIZARDS, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God." The phrase FAMILIAR SPIRITS here gives the thought of one that is casting their voice, like a ventriloquist, who deceives others into thinking they're speaking to someone they're not. This Hebrew word for FAMILIAR SPIRITS is owb (178)
Also in Leviticus 20:6, "And the soul that turneth after such as have FAMILIAR SPIRITS and after WIZARDS...I will even set my face against that soul...." the Hebrew word for WIZARD is yiddoniy (3049) It means conjurer or knowing one. Satan definitely is a "knowing one" but what he knows is only how to corrupt your soul. His demons do his bidding in impersonating anything that will deceive you into believing he has power or that God does not.
In the Old Testament time, before Christ's sacrifice, there was a great gulf fixed between paradise and hell. At that time there was no communication between the dead and the living. It is more so now that there is no paradise but that the saints reside in heaven that there is no communication with the dead. In Hebrews 9:27, it is written: "And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
There is no indication that the Christian dead or other dead have any place in God's order. The only spiritual communication God desires is with Him, His Spirit and His Son, Christ. All other is the deception of Satan, His adversary who makes it appear to be family or friends but, like the ventriloquist, is nothing other than demons.
God has promised that we shall see our loved ones if they have accepted Him. If they have not, they are forever lost to us and God and to seek them means eternal damnation of our soul.
There have been many testimonies of people that have been involved in so-called communication with some dead person but as they were drawn farther and farther into FAMILIAR SPIRITS, the demon revealed his true face and then laughed at the deception and the web they were caught in, as they had become demon-filled through the experience. This is why God commanded all the WITCHES to be put to death and demanded that His people have no contact with those who practice His enemy's ways.
What will be your choice? God or Satan?
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