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not surely die： for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof； 。 。 。 ye
shall be as gods。〃 Genesis 3：4； 5。 Alike based upon falsehood and
perpetuating the same； they are alike from the father of lies。
The Hebrews were expressly forbidden to engage in any manner in pretended
communion with the dead。 God closed this door effectually when He said： 〃The
dead know not anything。 。 。 。 Neither have they any more a portion forever
in anything that is done under the sun。〃 Ecclesiastes 9：5； 6。 〃His breath
goeth forth； he returneth to his earth； in that very day his thoughts
perish。〃 Psalm 146：4。 And the Lord declared to Israel： 〃The soul that
turneth after such as have familiar spirits； and after wizards； to go a
whoring after them； I will even set My face against that soul； and will cut
him off from among his people。〃 Leviticus 20：6。
The 〃familiar spirits〃 were not the spirits of the dead； but evil angels；
the messengers of Satan。 Ancient idolatry； which； as we have seen； comprises
both worship of the dead and pretended communion with them； is declared by
the Bible to have been demon worship。 The apostle Paul； in warning his
brethren against participating； in any manner； in the idolatry of their
heathen neighbors； says； 〃The things which the Gentiles sacrifice； they
sacrifice to devils； and not to God； and I would not that ye
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should have fellowship with devils。〃 1 Corinthians 10：20。 The psalmist；
speaking of Israel； says that 〃they sacrificed their sons and their
daughters unto devils；〃 and in the next verse he explains that they
sacrificed them 〃unto the idols of Canaan。〃 Psalm 106：37； 38。 In their
supposed worship of dead men they were in reality worshiping demons。
Modern spiritualism； resting upon the same foundation； is but a revival in a
new form of the witchcraft and demon worship that God condemned and
prohibited of old。 It is foretold in the Scriptures； which declare that 〃in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith； giving heed to seducing
spirits； and doctrines of devils。〃 1 Timothy 4：1。 Paul； in his second letter
to the Thessalonians； points to the special working of Satan in spiritualism
as an event to take place immediately before the second advent of Christ。
Speaking of Christ's second coming； he declares that it is 〃after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders。〃 2
Thessalonians 2：9。 And Peter； describing the dangers to which the church was
to be exposed in the last days； says that as there were false prophets who
led Israel into sin； so there will be false teachers； 〃who privily shall
bring in damnable heresies； even denying the Lord that bought them。 。 。 。
And many shall follow their pernicious ways。〃 2 Peter 2：1； 2。 Here the
apostle has pointed out one of the marked characteristics of spiritualist
teachers。 They refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God。 Concerning
such teachers the beloved John declares： 〃Who is a liar but he that denieth
that Jesus is the Christ？ He is antichrist； that denieth the Father and the
Son。 Whosoever denieth the Son； the same hath not the Father。〃 1 John 2：22；
23。 Spiritualism； by denying Christ； denies both the Father and the Son； and
the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist。
By the prediction of Saul's doom； given through the woman of Endor； Satan
planned to ensnare the people of Israel。 He hoped that they would be
inspired with confidence in the sorceress； and would be led to consult her。
Thus they would turn from God as their counselor and would place themselves
under the guidance of Satan。 The lure by which spiritualism attracts the
multitudes is its pretended power to draw aside the veil from the future and
reveal to men what God has hidden。 God has in His
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word opened before us the great events of the futureall that it is
essential for us to knowand He has given us a safe guide for our feet amid
all its perils； but it is Satan's purpose to destroy men's confidence in
God； to make them dissatisfied with their condition in life； and to lead
them to seek a knowledge of what God has wisely veiled from them； and to
despise what He has revealed in His Holy Word。
There are many who become restless when they cannot know the definite
outcome of affairs。 They cannot endure uncertainty； and in their impatience
they refuse to wait to see the salvation of God。 Apprehended evils drive
them nearly distracted。 They give way to their rebellious feelings； and run
hither and thither in passionate grief； seeking intelligence concerning that
which has not been revealed。 If they would but trust in God； and watch unto
prayer； they would find divine consolation。 Their spirit would be calmed by
communion with God。 The weary and the heavy…laden would find rest unto their
souls if they would only go to Jesus； but when they neglect the means that
God has ordained for their comfort； and resort to other sources； hoping to
learn what God has withheld； they commit the error of Saul； and thereby gain
only a knowledge of evil。
God is not pleased with this course； and has expressed it in the most
explicit terms。 This impatient haste to tear away the veil from the future
reveals a lack of faith in God and leaves the soul open to the suggestions
of the master deceiver。 Satan leads men to consult those that have familiar
spirits； and by revealing hidden things of the past； he inspires confidence
in his power to foretell things to come。 By experience gained through the
long ages he can reason from cause to effect and often forecast； with a
degree of accuracy； some of the future events of man's life。 Thus he in
enabled to deceive poor； misguided souls and bring them under his power and
lead them captive at his will。
God has given us the warning by His prophet： 〃When they shall say unto you；
Seek unto them that have familiar spirits； and unto wizards that peep and
that mutter： should not a people seek unto their God？ for the living to the
dead？ To the law and to the testimony： if they speak not according to this
word； it is because there is no light in them。〃 Isaiah 8：19； 20。
Shall those who have a holy God； infinite in wisdom and
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power； go unto wizards； whose knowledge comes from intimacy with the enemy
of our Lord？ God Himself is the light of His people； He bids them fix their
eyes by faith upon the glories that are veiled from human sight。 The Sun of
Righteousness sends its bright beams into their hearts； they have light from
the throne of heaven； and they have no desire to turn away from the source
of light to the messengers of Satan。
The demon's message to Saul； although it was a denunciation of sin and a
prophecy of retribution； was not meant to reform him； but to goad him to
despair and ruin。 Oftener； however； it serves the tempter's purpose best to
lure men to destruction by flattery。 The teaching of the demon gods in
ancient times fostered the vilest license。 The divine precepts condemning
sin and enforcing righteousness were set aside； truth was light regarded；
and impurity was not only permitted but enjoined。 Spiritualism declares that
there is no deat