SPIRITISM
Do
Spiritualist Mediums really communicate with the spirits of
the dead?
<ANSWER>--Spiritualism is a rapidly growing movement,
numbering several millions of people, among which are some of
the brightest minds of the day. There is no question as to many
of the facts clearly established in the rites and ceremonies
of Spiritism. Many of the phenomena produced, with the aid of
spirit mediums, have been pronounced as beyond all controversy
supernatural. The Bible tells us exactly to what these phenomena
may be attributed. A clear account is given of the fall of some
of the angels from Divine grace because of disobedience. These
are restrained "in chains of darkness" (the darkness
of the night--manifestations can take place only in the dark),
until the judgment time. These demons or fallen angels have
impersonated the dead and represented that they wished to communicate
with their friends through the aid of mediums. Evidently it
is displeasing to the Lord for any of His people to communicate
with these demons. (See `Isa. 8:19,20`). The Superintendent
of one of the largest insane asylums stated recently that fully
one half of the insane patients were obsessed by evil spirits.
"Thou
shalt not suffer a witch to live."--`Exo. 22:18`. From
this expression would we not understand that the writers of
the Scriptures believed in the existence of witches? What is
a witch? (F.C.)
<ANSWER>--Throughout the world today there are thousands
and millions of people who firmly believe in what is known as
"Spiritism." Among those who thus believe are some
of the brightest minds of the day--doctors, lawyers, judges,
professors, etc., a class of people who would not be deceived
by mere sleight-of-hand performances, or by hallucinations.
These know that it is possible to communicate with beings of
the spiritual realm, through the aid of spirit mediums, clairaudiants,
clairvoyants, and the like--the modern wizards and witches.
Few recognize that every one of these spirit beings who thus
communicate with members of the race of mankind are of the demons,
or fallen angels--evil spirits--whose sole aim and purpose is
to deceive the members of the race by impersonating the dead,
and representing that they are the spirits of the departed ones.
The Sacred Writers certainly recognized the existence of the
demons, and of the witches (spirit mediums) of their day.
Please
explain `Isa. 8:19-22`, where the Prophet speaks of "familiar
spirits," and "wizards" that work in the dark.
(A.B.S.)
<ANSWER>--The "familiar spirits" are the demons
that infest earth's atmosphere, and who are busily engaged in
impersonating the dead, representing that they are the spirits
of the departed ones, and thus confusing and deceiving many,
who have not given heed to the instructions of the Scriptures
to the effect that the dead are dead, and will not be alive
or conscious until the awakening time in the resurrection. The
"wizards" are the mediums who act as the agents of
these and mutter and work mysteriously in the dark, in place
of working out in the open where all may be clear and plain.
The powers of righteousness do not have to labor in the dark
and in an underhand way, as they have nothing to conceal. The
"hungry" ones are those who have neglected "the
law and the testimony"--God's Word--and are giving heed
to the doctrines of demons. They are dissatisfied and suffer
the pangs of regret and remorse, because there is nothing to
satisfy their cravings in the direction in which they are seeking
to be enlightened. Theirs is a deplorable condition of darkness
and anguish of mind, as they have neglected the only real source
of comfort and consolation--the Scriptures.
