I am a reader of your paper, and I see in the number dated September 25 the statement that Spiritualists communicate with Satan or his evil angels. [See article 121, "Are the Dead with Christ?"] One thing alone will prove that you are wrong; and you will see that the spirits will communicate, and show themselves to their friends. In 1 Samuel 28 you will see that Saul recognized Samuel, and the spirit of Samuel was not Satan or one of his angels. From the days of Moses until now, there have been communications with the spirits. In 1 John 4:1 we are told to try the spirits, whether they are of God.
Precisely; that is what we have been writing about. The fact that we are told to "try the spirits, whether they be of God," is proof that there are spirits that are not of God; and whatever spirit is not of God is of Satan.
I have been struck with the fact that comparatively few people seem to understand the truth about angels,--that they are an entirely different order of beings from man. It is this confusion of ideas concerning the angels and the spirits of men, that makes so many an easy prey to Spiritualism. They read in the Bible about supernatural beings communicating with men, and straightway assume that the dead can and do communicate with their friends.
Some years ago I was talking with a very intelligent gentleman, the editor of an influential Spiritualist journal, who asked how it was that I, a believer in the Bible, denied spirit communication. Said he, wonderingly, "Do you not believe that there are any such things as spirits at all?"
To him I replied, just as I say now to our inquiring friend: "Certainly I believe in spirits good and bad; and I believe that they can communicate with us. I believe this, because the Bible teaches it. They not only communicate with us, but good spirits have a great deal to do with us every day, and we are very dependent upon them. But these spirits are angels, and not men, and they never were men."
In the first chapter of Hebrews we are told that: "[God] makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;" (Hebrews 1:7) and that they are all "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." (Hebrews 1:14)
God gives His angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways (Psalm 91:11); and, "The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them." (Psalm 34:7)
These angels, sons of God, (Job 1:6, 2:1) were in existence before there were any men; for when the foundations of the earth were laid they all "shouted for joy." (Job 38:7)
They could not possibly be the spirits of dead men; for they were all created not only before any man died, but before there was any man. But some of the angels "kept not their first estate," (Jude 6) and have given themselves up to try to thwart the purposes of God, and to lead men astray. This they do in various ways; but one of the boldest is to profess to be the spirits of good men who have died, and to have come direct from heaven with messages for men still on earth. "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
Right here is where we need to heed the exhortation to "try the spirits, whether they are of God." (1 John 4:1)
How shall we try them? "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 8:20)
Now it need not take us long to prove them thoroughly by God's Word. Indeed we may know them at the very outset; for when they come professing to be the spirits of the dead, we know at once that they are lying spirits, and we should have no further words with them. We know they are lying spirits, because "the dead know not anything." (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
A spirit's claim to be one of the dead returned, proves him to be of the devil.
But what about Saul and Samuel? That is easily answered. My friend says that "the spirit of Samuel was not Satan or one of his angels."
That is self-evident; but the spirit that talked with Saul on his night visit to the spiritualist medium was not the spirit of Samuel. Read the account in 1 Samuel 28. Verse 7 says that Saul said to his servants, "Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit at Endor." (1 Samuel 28:7)
Note particularly that this woman had "a familiar spirit;" not many, but one; there was one spirit with whom she was in constant communication. Now will anybody claim that the spirit of Samuel held itself subject to the beck and call of a woman, who by the command of God was an outlaw? The idea is too absurd and repulsive to be entertained even by those who believe that Samuel was conscious after death. Note further that: "When Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets." (1 Samuel 28:7)
Because God would not answer Saul, he had recourse to the woman with a familiar spirit,--one who was "an abomination unto the Lord." (Deuteronomy 18:12)
This proves conclusively that God had nothing whatever to do with that interview. But since it was not of God, it was certainly of the devil; and we know that Samuel, who faithfully served the Lord all his lifetime, would not serve the devil when he was dead, even if he were conscious and able to serve anybody. Hence we know that neither God nor Samuel had anything to do with Saul's interview with the woman of Endor. The spirit with whom he talked was not the spirit of Samuel but the spirit of a demon personating Samuel.
Moreover, the Scripture does not say that Saul saw any spirit, but plainly indicates that he did not. When, as a result of the woman's incantations, the spirit appeared, Saul did not see it, but asked, "what did you see? An old man comes up; and he is covered with a mantle. Then Saul perceived that it was Samuel." (1 Samuel 28:13-14)
How did he perceive that it was Samuel? Solely by what the woman said. He wanted Samuel, and of course the evil spirit knew enough to personate him.
But it is thought that the fact that it is said that Saul perceived that it was Samuel proves that Samuel, although dead, was there. Not by any means. Read the account of the fall, in Genesis 3:1-6. God had said that death would surely follow eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan said, "You shall not surely die: For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5)
Then follows the statement that: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat." (Genesis 3:6)
Are we to understand that the tree was really good for food, and to be desired to make one wise? Certainly not; It was deadly, and not at all good for food. The woman, hypnotized by the serpent,--Satan,--who is the author of all hypnotism, saw what was not so. Even so it was with Saul.
It is true that from the days of Moses, and long before his day, until now, there has been communication with spirits; and so there will be till the end. We are glad to know this, for so we know that we may be permitted, even as Abraham and Lot, to hold converse with angels who are sent forth to do service for us.
There is most certainly a reality to Spiritualism. Men do really communicate with real spirits; but never with the spirits of the dead. And though the spirits of devils are continually on the watch to lure us to destruction, we need not fear them, so long as we hold fast to the shield of faith, and "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17)--Present Truth, October 23, 1902.
Notice to Correspondents
Although we do not publish any names in the "Editor's Private Corner," we like always to have both the names and addresses of all who send questions; for sometimes a question cannot be answered through the paper; and whether it can or not, we wish to be able to communicate with the sender.
Quite frequently, however, the address is so indistinct that it cannot be made out; and we ask as a special favor that all correspondents will write their name and addresses legibly.
Will all who write asking questions, or making any reference to matter contained in the paper, please address their letters to the Editor of Present Truth, and not to the International Tract Society? Please do not fail to note this.--Present Truth, October 23, 1902.