MEMORY VERSE: ‘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?’ Isaiah 8:19.
LESSON AIM: To study what the Bible says about those who try to communicate with the dead.
Compiler’s note: Necromancy is defined as the supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to predict the future.
‘It is fondly supposed that heathen superstitions have disappeared before the civilisation of the twentieth century. But the word of God and the stern testimony of facts declare that sorcery is practised in this age as verily as in the days of the old-time magicians. The ancient system of magic is, in reality, the same as what is now known as modern spiritualism. Satan is finding access to thousands of minds by presenting himself under the guise of departed friends. The Scriptures declare that “the dead know not anything.” Ecclesiastes 9:5. Their thoughts, their love, their hatred, have perished. The dead do not hold communion with the living. But true to his early cunning, Satan employs this device in order to gain control of minds.’ Acts of the Apostles, page 289.
1. In the eyes of God, with what things is necromancy linked and how does God regard this practice? Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
NOTE: ‘“Necromancy,” or consulting with the “dead,” periodically plagued the Jewish church of old. It was the same as consulting with “familiar spirits.” And because of their evil influence and the reliance of some upon the “spirits,” witchcraft and wizardry were sternly proscribed in Old Testament times as a form of necromancy or divination. Here are Inspiration’s solemn prohibitions and forewarned penalties under the theocracy of Israel: “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them” (Leviticus 19:31). “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” (Leviticus 20:6).”A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death” (Leviticus 20:27). The peril must have been profound. And dire punishment is spelled out even more explicitly in Deuteronomy 18, where they are castigated as “abominations”.’ L. E. Froom: The Conditionalist Faith of our Fathers, volume 2, page 1157.
2. How does the Bible make clear those who practise necromancy cannot be in touch with the spirits of the dead? Ecclesiastes 9:5-6.
NOTE: ‘The doctrine of man’s consciousness in death, especially the belief that spirits of the dead return to minister to the living, has prepared the way for modern spiritualism. If the dead are admitted to the presence of God and holy angels, and privileged with knowledge far exceeding what they before possessed, why should they not return to the earth to enlighten and instruct the living? If, as taught by popular theologians, spirits of the dead are hovering about their friends on earth, why should they not be permitted to communicate with them, to warn them against evil, or to comfort them in sorrow? How can those who believe in man’s consciousness in death reject what comes to them as divine light communicated by glorified spirits? Here is a channel regarded as sacred, through which Satan works for the accomplishment of his purposes. The fallen angels who do his bidding appear as messengers from the spirit world. While professing to bring the living into communication with the dead, the prince of evil exercises his bewitching influence upon their minds.’ Great Controversy, page 551.