Can our dead speak to us?
(1 Samuel 28:3-25; Matthew 7:21-27; Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21) Blog Dec. 4-10, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Adan chose death for the human race, but Jesus came to take Adam’s place as the Representative of humanity. By dying and rising again he opened the door to eternal life for all who believe in him. This hope will be realized when he comes again. Until then all who die, remain in their graves, entirely unconscious, for humanity is not naturally immortal. Since immortality is only given to the righteous, the wicked will not burn in hell forever, but rather be consumed, both root and branch.
Sound Doctrine
1. What is a vital necessity for all human beings? All humanity need the Word of God (Jer. 10:23; Rom. 3:1-2).
2. What place should the Bible occupy in a person’s life? The Bible should occupy the position of highest authority in a person’s life (Luke 24:25-27; Eph. 2:11-12; Heb. 4:12-13).
3. What other documents are necessary for living? No other document, apart from the Bible, is necessary for living this life, for it clearly explains how to be saved & how to live a godly life (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
4. What story did Jesus tell to illustrate the supreme importance of living in harmony with God’s Word? By the story of the wise man who built his house upon the rock, Jesus taught the importance of both hearing & doing God’s Word (Matt. 7:21-27).
5. What illustration did Paul use to show the importance of doctrine? Paul compared doctrine to a belt that holds the Christian’s armor on & to a sword with which to overcome Satan’s attacks (Eph. 6:10-18).
6. How does Peter compare personal experience to Scripture? Peter says that inspired Scripture is much more trustworthy than personal experience, even if that experience is a personal encounter with the transfigured Christ or hearing a voice from heaven (2 Pet. 1:16-21).
7. What do people prefer in place of sound doctrine? People prefer fables that cater to their lusts over sound doctrine that points out their sins (2 Tim. 4:2-4).
8. What is it that turns people from being servants of sin to being servants of righteousness? It is doctrine that turns people from being servants of sin to being servants of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18).
Life after death
9. According to the Bible, is there life after death? Yes, both Job, Isaiah, & Jesus clearly state that there is life after death (Job 14:10-15, 21; Isa. 26:19; John 5:25-29).
10. How long must a person wait for life after death? The person who dies is not immediately transformed into another life form on earth (reincarnation) nor into a new life form in heaven or in hell. Rather, God will resurrect the righteous dead at Christ’s second coming & the wicked dead at the end of the millennium. There is also a special resurrection of some righteous & some wicked just before Christ’s second coming (Dan. 12:2; Luke 14:14; 20:35-36; John 5:28-29; Rev. 1:7; 20:5-6).
11. What kind of life are the dead in Christ not given until their resurrection? Those who die in Jesus are not given incorruption, glory, power, or a spiritual body until they are raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:42-44).
12. Is it possible for a corruptible human being to live in God’s presence in heaven? No, only the incorruptible may enter heaven. Therefore, those who die in Christ cannot be living with God in heaven until their resurrection in the last days (1 Cor. 15:50).
13. If life after death is only given by God in resurrection, then what happens to the soul of a person when they die? Upon death the soul of a person is fragmented for the breath of life returns to God who gave it & the body decays in the grave. So, a person does not again become a living soul until the breath & body are reunited in resurrection (Gen. 2:7; Psa. 104:29; Eccl. 12:7; Eze. 37:5).
Can our dead speak to us?
14. Is it possible for a dead person to speak to the living? The only way a dead person can speak to the living is by what they said or wrote before they died, or symbolically like the blood of Abel (Gen. 4:10) or that of the martyrs (Rev. 6:9-10), for in death there is no more thought, seeing, hearing, nor speaking (Psa. 115:17; 146:4; Eccl. 9:5-6; 12:7).
15. What is God’s attitude toward mediums who claim to be able to communicate with the dead or to bring up the spirits of the dead? God tells his people not to pay attention to mediums or wizards for he is against all such & they should be eliminated from among God’s people (Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 27; Duet. 18:10-12; Eph. 5:11).
16. Who did King Saul see when he went to the witch of Endor? Saul saw the witch & his companions, but he didn’t see Samuel. Even if some believe that righteous Samuel went to heaven at death, they could not countenance him leaving there at the beckon of a witch nor would God’s prophet seek to discourage the king but rather would call him to repentance (1 Sam. 28:13-20).
17. Who spoke to King Saul when he went to the witch of Endor? Just as an evil spirit spoke through the damsel in Philippi so an evil spirit, impersonating Samuel, spoke to Saul in Endor, for Satan himself is able to appear as a messenger of light (Acts 16:16-18; 2 Cor. 11:14).
18. If Satan and his angels have so much power what is there to prevent them from appearing and speaking to us as if they were our dead loved ones? This they can do if God allows (1 Sam. 28:15-19; Rev. 16:13-14).
19. What does God say will result from listening to evil spirits in the last days? God’s Spirit expressly states that in the last days some will depart from the faith as a result of listening to seducing spirits & doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1).
20. What resources for counteracting evil spirits has God given believers? God has given believers truth, faith, righteousness, the Bible, prayer, & the Holy Spirit for resisting Satan’s attacks (Eph. 6:10-18; Jam. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).