Have you ever seen a ghost?

Or an appearance of a
loved one?
Do you believe in crystal balls?

What is Spiritualism defined to be?

“A belief in the frequent communication of
intelligence from the world of spirits, by means of
physical phenomena, commonly manifested through a
person of special susceptibility, called a medium.

“The very central truth of Spiritualism is the power

and possibility of spirit return, under certain
conditions, to communicate with those in the material
form.” -- N. F. Ravlin, Spiritualist lecturer, of
California.

Did this doctrine exist in ancient time?

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither
seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the
Lord your God.” Lev.19:31.
“The phenomenal aspect of modern Spiritualism
reproduces all essential principals of the magic,
witchcraft, and sorcery of the past. The same powers
are involved, the same intelligences are operating.”
-- T. T. Morse, in ‘Practical Occultism.’ P.85.

How does God regard sorcerers?

“And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will
be a swift witness against the sorcerers.” Mal.3:5.

What does he call the sorcerers?

“Therefore hearken not ye to . . . your enchanters,
nor to your sorcerers; . . . for they prophecy a lie unto
you to remove you far from your land.” Jer.27:9,10.

What was the ancient law concerning witches, and

those who had familiar spirits?
“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or
that is a wizard shall surely be put to death.”
Lev.20:27; Deut.18:10-12; Ex.22:18.

With what is witchcraft classed by Paul?

“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies . . . I have also told
you in time past, that they which do such things shall
not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal.5:20-23.

What should one do if asked to inquire of a familiar

spirit?
‘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?” Isa.8:19.

Is it possible to test every Spirit?

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God.” lJohn 4:1.

Should we have any confidence in signs or wonders

presented by those who would try to lead us away
from God?
“And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof
he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other
gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve
them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that
prophet, or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your
God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deut.13:2,3.
What course should one pursue under these
circumstances?
“Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him,
and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and
ye shall serve him and cleave unto him.” Verse 4.
That is, no one should have nothing to do with such
work; but rather cling to the word of God.

We are directed to the ‘law and unto the testimony,’

by which to try these spirits that assert to be voices
from the dead. After one dies, how much does he
know of what is going on among men?
“Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him
away. His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not;
and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of
them.” Job 14:20,21.

Does he know anything, or have any memory?

“For the living know that they shall die; but the dead
know not anything, neither have they any more a
reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”
Eccl.9:5.

What does the wise man add, that forever precludes

the idea that the dead come back to earth to
communicate with the living?
“Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is
now perished; neither have they any more a portion
forever in anything that is done under the sun.”
verse 6.

Then when miracles are performed by spirits

purporting to be those of our dead friends, to what
may we attribute them?
“For they are 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 the great
day of God Almighty.” Rev.16:14.
What will be the characteristic of ‘last day’ apostasies
from the faith?
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the later
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” 1Tim.4;1.

How will Satan deceive the people?

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into
an angel of light.” 2Cor.11:14.

What roll will his agents assume before the end?

“Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteosness” Verse
15. Satan’s ministers are all the fallen angels which
were cast out of heaven with him.

Will Satan try to counterfeit the coming of Christ, by

signs and wonders?
“Then if any man shall say unto you Lo, here is Christ,
or there, believe it not. For there shall arise false
Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible,
they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt.24:123,24.

After these signs and wonders are shown, what is

immediately to take place?
“The Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming;
even him whose coming is after the working of Satan
with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with
all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish.” 2Thess.2:8-10.

What will those say then, who have maintained their

love for the truth?
“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, THIS is our God,
we have waited for Him, and he will save us: we have
waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His
salvation.” Isa.25:9.

Taken from: Bible Readings For The Home

Circle, pp.215-217.

All are still in their dusty beds.