Counsel #3 — Speaking With The Dead

Picture: Counsel #3 — Speaking With The DeadCFL 21.1

Many people believe that communication with the dead is God’s way of giving comfort and guidance. In fact, the dead “know not anything” (see Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6) and the communication is actually with evil spirits, not with the spirits of departed loved ones. These evil spirits are evil angels, messengers of Satan. Communication with them is a form of demon worship.^{[17]https://www.adventist.org/death-and-resurrection/can-the-dead-speak-to-us/}CFL 21.2

In the near future, Satan and his angels will impersonate the dead and bring messages supposedly from heaven to loved ones that misinterpret and contradict Scripture.CFL 21.3

“There shall not be found among you.... one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD.” Deuteronomy 18:12 NKJVCFL 21.4

“The Hebrews were expressly forbidden to engage in any manner in pretended communication with the dead. God closed this door effectually when He said: ‘The dead know not anything…. Neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.’” Ellen White in Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 685CFL 21.5

Reflect: What are some of God’s promises you can claim to overcome your fear of the future?CFL 21.6