Category: prophecy

Reading Time: 13 minutes

If the dead are completely insensate, with whom or what do spiritualist mediums communicate? Every honest person will admit that at least some of these phenomena are fraudulent; but others cannot be explained as such. There obviously is some supernatural power connected with spiritualism.

What does the Bible teach on this point?

THE BASIS OF SPIRITUALISM.

Spiritualism originated with Satan’s first lie to Eve-“‘You will not surely die’” (Gen 3:4). His words were the first sermon on the immortality of the soul. Today, throughout the world, religions of all sorts unwittingly repeat this error. For many,the divine sentence that “the soul who sins shall die.”

And today we have popular preachers rebelling against the Word and making it out to mean “the soul that sins will not surely die. (we are all sinners). (Rom 3:23). Ezekiel 18:20 has been reversed to say “the soul, even though it sins, shall live eternally and go straight to heaven before the resurrection.” (…………) The reference brackets are empty for that sentence because there is not a single verse in the Bible to prove this dogma of the popular churches.

This erroneous doctrine of natural immortality has led to belief of consciousness in death. Even though the Bible says

“the dead know not anything.” (Eccl 9:4-6)

As we have seen, these positions of our most admired preachers, priests, pastors, etc directly contradict the Biblical teaching on this subject. These new age spiritualistic beliefs were incorporated into the Christian faith from pagan philosophy. Particularly that of Plato-during the time of the great apostasy. See Eph 2:19-22. These beliefs became the prevailing view within Christianity and continue to be the dominant view today.

Belief that the dead are conscious has prepared many Christians to accept modern-day spiritualism in all of its forms and guises. If the dead are alive and in the presence of God, why could they not return to earth as ministering spirits? (Heb 1:14). And if they can, why not try to communicate with them to receive their counsel and instruction, to avoid misfortune, or to receive comfort in sorrow?

Building on this line of reasoning, Satan and his angels (Rev 12:4,Rev 12:9) have established a channel of communication with the spirit world of the devil through which they can accomplish their deception. Through such means as spiritualistic seances, (Gen 3:4) they impersonate departed loved ones, bringing supposed comfort and assurance to the living. At times they predict future events,which, when proved to be accurate, seems to give them credibility. Then the dangerous heresies they proclaim take on the aura of authenticity, even though they contradict the Bible and God’s law. Having removed the barriers against evil, Satan has free rein to deceive and to lead people away from God and to certain evils that God has condemned in His Word.

WARNING AGAINST SPIRITUALISM.

No one need be deceived by spiritualism. The Bible clearly exposes its claims as false. As we have seen, the Bible tells us that the dead do not know anything, that they lay unconscious in the grave. The Bible also strongly forbids any attempt to communicate with the dead or the spirit world. It says that those who claim to communicate with the dead, as spiritualistic mediums do today, are actually communicating with “familiar spirits” (Deut 18:10-11) that are “spirits of devils.” that actually work real miracles that we will believe if we do not accept what the Bible says on this point. (Rev 16:4).

What if someone you know who died came to you all of a sudden and said they did not in fact die? The Lord said these activities were abominations, and that those who perpetrated them were to be punished. (Lev 19:31; Lev 20:27; Deu 18:10-11).

Isaiah expressed well the gross error of spiritualism:

“When they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God?

Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa 8:19-20).

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead.(Deut 18:10-11)

Only the teachings of the Bible can safeguard Christians against this overwhelming deception that will test every person on the planet. The first lie (Gen 3:4)will be the last lie upon which everyone will be tested. (Rev 3:10)

MANIFESTATIONS OF SPIRITUALISM.

The Bible records a number of spiritualistic activities-from the magicians of Pharaoh and the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers of Nineveh and Babylon to the witches and mediums of Israel-and condemns them all. The Bible even says that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” (1 Sam 15:23).

Recall the “familiar spirit” seance that the witch of Endor conjured for Saul. Scripture says, “When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets” (1 Sam 28:6). God, then, had nothing to do with what happened at Endor. Saul was deceived by a demon impersonating the dead prophet Samuel; he never saw the real Samuel. The witch saw the form of an old man while Saul only “perceived” or concluded that it was Samuel. (1 Sam 28:14).

If we are to believe that that apparition truly was Samuel, we must be prepared to believe that witches, wizards,necromancers, sorcerers, spiritualists, or mediums can call the righteous dead from wherever they go when they die. We must also then accept that the godly Samuel existed in a conscious state in the earth, because the old man ascended “out of the earth” (1 Sam 28:13). This seance apparently brought Saul despair, not hope. The next day Saul committed suicide (1 Sam 31:4). Yet the so-called “Samuel” had predicted that on that day Saul and his sons would be with him (1 Sam 28:19). If he were correct, we would have to conclude that after death the disobedient Saul and the righteous Samuel dwelt together!

Instead, we must conclude that an evil angel brought about the deceptive events that occurred at this seance.

BIBLE PROPHECY AND SPIRITUALISM

The Final Delusion.

In the past the manifestations of spiritualism were confined to the realm of the occult, but more recently spiritualism has taken on a much more “Christian” appearance so that it might deceive the Christian world better. In professing to accept Christ and the Bible, spiritualism has become an extremely dangerous enemy to believers. Its effects are very subtle and deceptive. Through the influence of spiritualism “the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect.

Love, so called, is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a cheap, weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. (Ezekiel 22:26 , Acts 15:9). God’s justice, His denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight by such teachings that God condemns. The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a dead letter while pleasing, bewitching fables captivate the senses and lead people to reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith. Through this means right and wrong become relative and each person, or situation, or culture becomes it’s own norm as to what is “truth.” (Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25, Deut 12:8, Prov 12:15, Prov 21:2). In essence each person becomes their own god, fulfilling Satan’s promise that “ye shall be as gods” and “ye shall NOT surely die.” (Gen 3:5, KJV ).

Before us is “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Rev 3:10). Satan is about to use great signs and miracles in his final effort to deceive the world. These will be real miracles! They wont be fake magic. Speaking of this masterful delusion, John said:

“I saw three unclean spirits like frogs. They are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Rev 16:13-14; Rev 13:13-14).

Only those who are kept by the power of God,(1 Pet 1:5) having their minds fortifed with the truths of Scripture, accepting it as their only authority, will be able to escape. All others have no protection and will be swept away by this delusion.

THE FIRST AND SECOND DEATHS.

The second death is the final punishment of unrepentant sinners all whose names are not written is the book of life-that takes place at the end of the 1000 years (see Rev 21:1-5). From this death there is no resurrection. With the destruction of Satan and the unrighteous, sin is eradicated and death itself is “the last enemy to be destroyed.” (1 Cor 15:26; Rev 20:14; Rev 21:8).

Christ has given the assurance that everyone “‘who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death’” (Rev 2:11). Based on what Scripture has designated the second death, we can assume that the first death is what every person-except those who are translated-experiences as a result of Adam’s transgression. It is the normal outworking on humanity of the degenerative effects of sin.

Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures. {DD 41.3}

THE CROWNING DECEPTION

For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor 11:13-15)

As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Savior’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air:

“Christ has come! Christ has come!”

The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10. {DD 41.4}

But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out. {DD 42.1}

Some time ago when I was selling Bible books door to door, I had an appointment with a lady to study the prophecies of Daniel and The Revelation. When the day came to do this visit, I knocked on the door and waited. After what seemed like forever, she answered the door and asked me to come in. It was obvious that she was very distressed and had been crying. As it turned out, she had just lost her two young daughters just two weeks ago, in a nasty car accident. I even started crying because it was really a horrible thing.

But when I asked her what upsets her the most, this is exactly what she said:

“Now I will never get to see my girls again. They are gone forever.”

I told her at some point that we don’t need to study prophecy today, lets just look at something you might find encouraging. When I told her about the Hope of the resurrection,she and I both had tears again. She was just so happy to hear that she would see her girls again, and that she didnt have to worry about them already being in heaven and crying because they miss their Mom, and because they can see her crying and screaming in spiritual anguish and moral outrage. Like the passage says:

“I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”(1 Thes 4:13)

In the meantime, let us be assured by the following point:

Bible prophecy eventually leads to the point where sin and sinners no longer exist and it is my prayer that all who are reading this will be included in that number.

Satan came as an angel of light in the wilderness of temptation to deceive Christ; and he does not come to man in a hideous form, as he is sometimes represented, but as an angel of light. He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do? Tell them that Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man’s worst enemy, yet who claims to be God; and that when Christ shall make His appearance, it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands; and that when He shall come, we shall know His voice (RH Dec. 18, 1888). {6BC 1105.11}

AN UNFAILING TEST. (Mat 7:15; 2 Thes 2:7-12.) Satan has come down in these last days to work with all deceivabelness of unrighteousness in them that perish. His satanic majesty works miracles in the sight of false prophets, in the sight of men, claiming that he is indeed Christ Himself. Satan gives his power to those who are aiding him in his deceptions; therefore those who claim to have the great power of God can only be discerned by the great detector, the law of Jehovah. The Lord tells us if it were possible they would deceive the very elect. The sheep’s clothing seems so real, so genuine, that the wolf can be discerned only as we go to God’s great moral standard and there find that they are transgressors of the law of Jehovah {6BC 1106.1}

PREPARING FOR THE FINAL ACT

This world is like a theater. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. God is lost sight of. There is no unity of purpose, except as parties of men confederate to gain their ends. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled. The world has not been given into the hands of men, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama–Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect (Letter 141, 1902). {6BC 1106.2}

The apostle John in vision heard a loud voice in heaven exclaiming:

“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12.

Fearful are the scenes which call forth this exclamation from the heavenly voice. The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction will reach its culmination in the time of trouble. {DD 41.2}

Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures. {DD 41.3}

THE CONTROVERSY ENDED

The chaos caused by sin will not last forever. Someday we will live as God intended—in peace, love, and happiness. Death and Sorrow will be banished forever. And best of all, you can be a part of that amazing new world! {DD 52.1}

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” Revelation 21:1. The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin. {DD 60.3}

THE MARKS OF LOVE REMAIN

One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. Says the prophet, beholding Christ in His glory: “He had bright beams coming out of His side: and there was the hiding of His power.” Habakkuk 3:4, margin. That pierced side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled man to God—there is the Savior’s glory, there “the hiding of His power.” “Mighty to save,” through the sacrifice of redemption, He was therefore strong to execute justice upon them that despised God’s mercy. And the tokens of His humiliation are His highest honor; through the eternal ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power. {DD 60.4}

IN THE CITY OF GOD

There shall be no night. None will need or desire repose. There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering praise to His name. We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning and shall never be far from its close. All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless fight to worlds afar—worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. (The Great Controversy, pg 673-678}

THE CONTROVERSY IS ENDED

And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise. {DD 62.3}

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13.

The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love. {DD 62.5}

Reading Time: 14 minutes

But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning] (1 Tim 4:1-2, AMP)

Satan deceives people by offering a clever imitation of the real thing. The false teachers gave stringent rules (such as forbidding people to marry or to eat certain foods). This made them appear self-disciplined and righteous. Their strict disciplines for the body, however, could not remove sin (see Col 2:20-23). We must not be unduly impressed by a teacher’s style or credentials; we must look to their teaching about Jesus Christ. Their conclusions about Christ show the source of their message. (Life Application Notes re 1 Tim 4:1-2)

Another Christian writer warns us:

Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness. (PK 188).

Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of Spiritualism, the latter creates a world-wide bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. (GC 588).

Jesus wants everyone to know whats coming. It would be irresponsible for Christians who know to not tell others. We warn each other all the time about the weather, or about various wars or social quandary. This is no different. The warning is being sounded in love. With a deep and compassionate care for everyone reading it.

When Jesus was talking about the time of the end, just before He comes again, He answered a question of concern by the disciples about “what are the signs of your coming?” (Mat 24:3) The very first thing that Jesus mentioned in His reply was to let no one deceive you.” (Mat 24:4)

Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. (Mat 24:4-5)

Paul obviously knew about this warning from our Lord when he amplified the warning to say something very startling:

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-30)

[People] will arise speaking perverse things. Already they have been working and speaking things which God has never revealed, bringing sacred truth upon a level with common things. Issues have been and will continue to be made of [people’s] conceited fallacies. None of which are true. The devisings of human minds will invent tests that are no tests at all, that when the true test shall be made prominent, (Rev 3:10) it shall be considered on a par with the man-made tests that have been of no value. We may expect that everything will be brought in and mingled with sound doctrine, but by clear, spiritual discernment, by the heavenly anointing, by The Holy Spirit we must distinguish the sacred from the common which is being brought in to confuse faith and sound judgment and demerit the great, grand, testing truth for this time.

Throughout the Bible, it has been a major problem that the Churches of the land become befuddled about plain doctrine from the Bible, and fail to make any difference between the holy and the unholy:

Her priests have broken My Law and have defiled My holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and the common, and have not taught between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am defiled among them. (Ezekiel 22:26)

Paul had a tough time trying to warn the people of the day, as we see here by his comments after he warned about “the rise of false Christians in Church:

So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.(Acts 20:31-32)

Never, never was there a time when the truth will suffer more from being misrepresented, belittled, demerited through the perverse disputings of men than in these last days. Men have brought themselves in with their heterogeneous mass of heresies which they represent as oracles for the people. The people are charmed with some strange, new thing, and are not wise in experience to discern the character of ideas that men may frame up as something. But to call it something of great consequence and tie it to the oracles of God does not make it truth. Oh, how this rebukes the low standard of piety in the churches. Men who want to present something original will conjure up things new and strange, and without consideration will step forward on these unstable theories that have been woven together as a precious theory. And present it as a life and death question. {6BC 1064.6}

One of the key pillars of Spiritualism is deception. The very thing that Jesus has warned us about. The very first warning Jesus gave about the time of the end was about the rampant deception that Christians and the Churches would be directly confronted with:

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (Mat 24:24-26)

My friends, we will soon see some very astounding things in “the news.” Will we see “Mary?” Will we see “Jesus” healing people? John The Revelator gives an even dimmer outlook on final events before Jesus comes:

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Rev 16:13-14)

During the “time of the end” (Dan 8:17) we will all experience massive deceptions, on a scale never known before in all of Earth’s history. (Dan 12:1) As we have just read in Scripture, there WILL BE “THE SPIRITS OF DEVILS WORKING MIRACLES .” (Rev 16:13-14)

Now, this is not hard to understand, in principle, but how many of you today actually believe this? And if you do believe that we will see this kind of thing, HOW will you determine what is from demons, and what is the truth as it is in Jesus? Will you believe it because its on the internet? Or, perhaps you will believe it more if it on ‘the news?” Or maybe a preacher of a church is telling you to believe something that is simply not true? Or even more convincing, will you believe it just because you see it or detect it with your five senses? I mean, if the spirits of demons are going to do real miracles in front of us, they will have to be really convincing to dupe so many people. (many will be deceived” Mat 24:11)

What is the one thing that is already being used to  trick  people into embracing the strongest deception that we will see just before our Lord returns? When I think about this question; I realize, with a chill down my spine, that we are already being primed for the great deception spoken of in Bible prophecy. We can note here how that the reason there is no such thing as a counterfeit three dollar bill, is because there is no such thing as a real three dollar bill. Deceptions of Biblical proportions are always based on some point of essential truth that the forces of evil wish to distract us from. And right on that point is what Jesus warns us about in Mat 24:24.

Jesus said that the final deception would be so powerful, so overwhelming, that it would run the danger of possible deceiving the very elect. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Mat 24:24) The reason that demonic deception is often so completely convincing is because there is always some truth to it. Deception needs truth in order to be exposed. Something true. These “miracles of demons” will always use something true to try to convince us of something that is not true. The “father of lies” has been practicing his masterful art of deception for many years. Since Eden. (John 8:44, Gen 3:4)

The Bible is very clear about where all lies come from:

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.(John 8:44)

It would be very worthwhile now at this point to take a look in our Bibles at the very first lie ever promulgated by the devil:

“And the serpent said unto the woman, “YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE:” (Gen 3:4)

Why is Gen 3:4 the first lie? Because God said the complete opposite just one verse previous:

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, LEST YE DIE. (Gen 3:3)

Other Bible versions make this truth even clearer:

But there is one tree we must not eat from. God told us, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not even touch that tree, or you will die.'” (Gen 3:4, ERV)

Scripture shows us the first lie. God says if we do certain things, collectively known as “sin” then we will “die.” It cannot get any clearer than this. Other prophets also realized this truth. The devil is the first being that has told us the opposite. “We will not die.” So whom do we believe? God or the devil?

The danger of depending only on what we perceive with our five senses is very real here in the book of Genesis:

“The woman could see that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked so good to eat…” (Gen 3:6) The devil had Eve hook, line, and sinker here. Eve could see the serpent as “touching the forbidden fruit” The serpent plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree and placed it in the hands of the half-reluctant Eve. Then he reminded her of her own words, that God had forbidden them to touch it, lest they die. She would receive no more harm from eating the fruit, he declared, than from touching it. Perceiving no evil results from what she had done, Eve grew bolder. When she “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.” It was grateful to the taste, and as she ate, she seemed to feel a vivifying power, and imagined herself entering upon a higher state of existence. Without a fear she plucked and ate.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food — Her imagination and feelings were completely won; and the fall of Eve was soon followed by that of Adam. The history of every temptation, and of every sin, is the same; the outward object of attraction, the inward commotion of mind, the increase and triumph of passionate desire; ending in the degradation, slavery, and ruin of the soul (James 1:15; 1 John 2:16).

Long has Satan been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden, “Ye shall not surely die: in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4,5).

Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of Spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time, and the world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion. They are fast being lulled into a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God. {SR 398.2}

The spiritualism of today has simply taken this first lie from Eden and their intention is to make it the last lie. Paul said the following:

“…I fear that you will be tricked, just as Eve was tricked by that lying snake. I am afraid that you might stop thinking about Christ in an honest and sincere way. We told you about Jesus,and you received the Holy Spirit and accepted our message. But you let some people tell you about another Jesus. Now you are ready to receive another spirit and accept a different message. (2 Cor 11:3-4,CEV)

It seems that when it comes to the question about what happens when we die, that all kinds of ideas will come out of the wood work. Obviously, none of us are immortal, as is God, (1 Tim 1:17) and none of us have died before, we can only go by what is written and intended by scripture on this vital subject. 1 Cor 15:52 says none of us are immortal until the second coming of Jesus; and this makes perfect sense when we understand how the Bible describes death and the resurrection. IF as many are bound to say, we just go straight to heaven when we “die” then we really didn’t die, and we are immortal now. If we go to heaven right away when we die, then why would we need the cross?

Who is a liar but anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He who denies the Father and the Son is antichrist.(1 John 2:22)

The Bible describes it this way, the same way as He explained it in Eden:

“The wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23). But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. ” The dead know not anything.” (Eccl 9:4-5) When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord TOGETHER and IN THE CLOUDS.” The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later. (Rev 20:5-6)

A wise preacher who has mentored me in the past once encouraged me with the thought that “the gospel is wonderfully simple, and simply wonderful. And that is certainly true when it comes to this topic. Over the years I have wondered how so many theories could come in like a wave on the ocean and just wash away all the simplicity that is in Christ, only to substitute it with “the doctrine of demons,” that will “seduce by a false appearance.” (1 Tim 4:1-2)

There is hope for those who are still alive—it does not matter who they are. But this saying is true: A living dog is better than a dead lion. The living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything. They have no more reward. People will soon forget them. After people are dead, their love, hate, and jealousy are all gone. And they will never again share in what happens on earth. (Eccl 9:4-6, ERV)

Eccl 9:4-6 tells us clearly what happens when we die, and further, it emphasizes how that as long as we are alive, there is always hope for us in Christ. And so we can conclude that the Bible doctrine of the state of the dead is for the living. It gives us the warning and the assurance that even if we were a real dog, as long as we are breathing on this side of the ground; there is hope for us in Christ. “For a living dog is better than a dead lion.”

YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE?

Do we have some kind of unconscious soul that survives the physical death of our body? Lee Strobel, in his popular book, “The Case For Heaven,” asserts that yes we do. I have often wondered how anyone can believe such a thing. The Bible simply does not support this New Age idea which is just a repeat of the world’s first lie, (Gen 3:4) which was also used in the world’s first seance. (1 Sam 28:7-15).

The serpent duped Adam & Eve into thinking that “ye shall NOT surely die.” And this lie is being repeated almost everywhere today.

Christians need to remember it was the devil who said this, NOT Jesus or the Bible. (Gen 3:4-5). The Bible clearly reflects the fact that we shall surely die. The Bible says it happens to everyone “once” (Heb 9:27) and that death is “the last enemy to be destroyed,” (1 Cor 15:26) so why would Bible believing Christians say that only part of us goes to heaven and never dies, and the other part of us is mortal and “dies?” Strobel should know better than to use things we have coined as “Near Death Experiences” as a part of the  alleged Bible “evidence” for his opinion that we go straight to heaven when we die.

Are there other texts that would agree with Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 ? Lest someone suspects “cherry-picking” I offer the following: Job 14:21, Isa 63:16, Job 7:8-10, Eccl 1:11, Eccl 2:16, Eccl 8:10, Isa 26:14.

The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) If we go to Heaven as soon as we die then this cannot be true! But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. The Bible says nothing about part of us being mortal and the other part immortal. No one is immortal in whole or in part until the second coming of Jesus. (see 1 Cor 15:50-54) Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people because they wait for the resurrection when those who have died in Christ will be resurrected TOGETHER with those who remain and are alive at His second coming. (see 1 Thes 4:13-18). Verses 15-18 emphasize strongly that When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorifed and caught up TOGETHER (at the same time) to meet their Lord IN THE AIR. Now, if we were to believe that when people die they go straight to heaven, then we have a real problem with the Bible’s account of the resurrection. Essentially, there is no need for a resurrection if we go straight to heaven when we die.

The Sadducees said there was no resurrection. (Mat 22:23, Mark 12;18, Luke 20:27) Jesus said “Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life! He who believes in Me, though he die, yet he shall live.” (John 11:25) The Bible explains the reason we cannot believe that people go straight to Heaven when they die, because then there is no need for a resurrection either:

But if Christ is proclaimed, that He was raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is worthless, and your faith is also worthless. And we are also found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified of God that He raised Christ; whom He did not raise if the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ is not raised. And if Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins. Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1 Cor 15:12-19)

The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later. (Job 19:25-27; Psalms 146:3-4 ; Eccl 9:5-6; Eccl 9:10; Dan 12:2; Dan 12:13; Isa 25:8; John 5:28-29; John 11:11-14; Rom 6:23; Rom 16:1-27; 1 Cor 15:51-54; Col 3:4; 1 Thes 4:13-17; 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 20:1-10.)

There are several stories in the Bible that many Christians have been taught “prove” that we go to heaven as soon as we die. Lets take a look at one of the more popular ones.

WORLD’S FIRST SEANCE WITH THE WITCH OF ENDOR

The Philistine army moved into Shunem, set up its camp, and made ready to attack Israel. His mood far from optimistic, King Saul positioned Israel’s army on nearby Mount Gilboa. In the past, the assurance of God’s presence had enabled Saul to lead Israel against its foes fearlessly. But he had turned from serving the Lord, and when the apostate king had tried to contact God about the outcome of the impending battle, God had refused to communicate with him. The ominous fear of the unknown morrow weighed heavily upon Saul. If only Samuel were here. But Samuel was dead and could no longer counsel him. Or could he?

Locating a medium who had escaped his earlier witch hunts, the tall king stooped to inquiring through her about the outcome of the next day’s battle. He requested:

“Bring up Samuel for me.”

During the seance the medium “‘saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.’” (1 Sam 28:13) This spirit, that the witch thought was a god, informed the apostate king that not only would Israel lose the war,but that he and his sons would be killed in that battle the very next day. (see 1 Samuel 28). The prediction came true. But was it really Samuel’s spirit that made the prediction? How could a medium, condemned by God, or an apostate king have power over the spirit of Samuel-God’s prophet? And where did Samuel come from-why did his spirit arise “out of the earth” if its true that we go to heaven as soon as we die?

What had death brought to Samuel? If it wasn’t Samuel’s spirit that spoke to Saul, who or what was it? If we believe that one goes straight to heaven as soon as we die, then we are left with no way to prove from scripture of what sort the spirit is that we are engaging with. I have had Christians who have read Strobel’s book, for example, and they just told me

“Oh I would know if it was an evil spirit!”

But exactly HOW would they know? Intuition? Really?

Let us see some more of what the Bible teaches on the subject of death, communication with the dead, and the resurrection

HARMONY THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES

Many honest Christians who have not studied the complete teaching of the Bible on death have been unaware that death is a sleep until the resurrection. They have assumed that various passages support the idea that the spirit or soul has a conscious existence after death. Careful study reveals that the consistent teaching of the Bible is that death causes the cessation of consciousness. In Eden we read from the book of Genesis how that mankind does not “have a soul,” but rather, we are a soul.

The Bible says that God breathed into the first pair and ONLY THEN did they “become a living soul.” (Gen 2:7)

See Rest Of Message in SPIRITUALISM AND THE CHURCH PART TWO