By Ellen G. White
Nearly all forms of ancient sorcery and witchcraft were founded upon a belief in communion with the dead. This custom of consulting the dead is referred to in the prophecy of Isaiah:
“And 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?” Isa. 8:19.
Thus the religion of the heathen was a worship of the dead. In the account of the sin of Israel at Bethpeor, it is stated: “Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor.” Num. 25:1–3. The psalmist tells us what kind of gods these sacrifices were offered to: “They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead,” that is, sacrifices that had been offered to the dead. Ps. 106:28.
The belief in communion with the dead is still held, even in professedly Christian lands. Spiritual beings sometimes appear to persons in the form of their deceased friends or relatives and relate incidents connected with their lives and perform acts that they performed while living. In this way they lead unsuspecting individuals to believe that their dead loved ones are angels, hovering over them and communicating with them. Those assumed to be the spirits of the departed are regarded with a certain idolatry, and with many their word has greater weight than the Word of God.
Modern spiritualism and the forms of ancient witchcraft and idol worship—all having communion with the dead as their vital principle—are founded upon that first lie by which Satan beguiled Eve in Eden: “Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof…ye shall be as gods.” Gen. 3:4, 5.
The Hebrews were expressly forbidden to engage in any manner in pretended communion with the dead. God closed this door effectually when He said: “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 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.” Lev. 20:6. The “familiar spirits” were not the spirits of the dead, but evil angels: the messengers of Satan.
The apostle Paul warned his brethren, saying, “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” 1 Cor. 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.” Ps. 106:37, 38. 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 prohibited. 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 Tim. 4:1. Paul, pointing to the special working of Satan in spiritualism immediately before Christ’s second coming, declares that it is “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thess. 2:9.
The lure by which spiritualism attracts 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 Word opened before us the great events of the future—all that it is essential for us to know—and 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 despise what He has revealed in His holy Word.
Satan leads men to consult those who speak with familiar spirits; and by revealing hidden things of the past, he inspires confidence in his power to foretell things to come. Thus he is 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. See Isa. 8:19, 20.
Those assumed to be the spirits of the departed are regarded with a certain idolatry, and with many their word has greater weight than the Word of God.
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. The teaching of the demon gods in ancient times fostered the vilest license. Spiritualism declares that there is no death, no sin, no judgment, no retribution; that “men are unfallen demigods”; that desire is the highest law; and that man is accountable only to himself. The barriers that God has erected to guard truth, purity, and reverence are broken down, and many are thus emboldened in sin. The Lord presented before Israel the results of holding communion with evil spirits, in the abominations of the Canaanites: they were without natural affection, idolaters, adulterers, murderers, and abominable by every corrupt thought and revolting practice. Men do not know their own hearts; for “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jer. 17:9.
God is leading His people out from the abominations of the world that they may keep His law; because of this, the rage of “the accuser of our brethren” knows no bounds. “The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:10, 12. The antitypical1 land of promise is just before us, and Satan is determined to destroy the people of God and cut them off from their inheritance. The admonition “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” was never more needed than now. Mark 14:38.
The word of the Lord to ancient Israel is addressed also to His people in this age: “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them,” “for all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:12.
Adapted from Patriarchs and Prophets, “Ancient and Modern Sorcery.”
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“Antitype: something that is foreshadowed by a type or symbol, as a New Testament event prefigured in the Old Testament.” Dictionary.com.
Ellen G. White (1827–1915) was a Christian author and speaker whose inspirational writings have been translated worldwide.