Vineyard Labourer Bible College

Study 23

SPIRITUALISM

"Spiritualism is a theory that affirms the reality of a nonmaterial or spiritual world. It is also a system of beliefs and practices by which its practitioners try to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Spiritualists believe that the spirit is the essence of an individual and that it survives after the body has died. Contact with spirits is attempted through an individual called a medium. Such communication is attempted at a seance literally, a sitting, from the Latin verb sedere, meaning 'to sit.'" Cromption's 1995 Interactive Encyclopedia article on "Spiritualism."

"SPIRITUALISM, belief that the dead manifest their presence to people, usually through a clairvoyant or medium; also, the doctrine and practices of those people who so believe." Funk And Wagnalls Encyclopedia article on "Spiritualism."

WHAT SAITH THE LORD

1. Did the doctrine of spiritualism exist in ancient times? Leviticus 19:31.

"Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:31.

Note: From the above text we can conclude that spiritualism did exist in ancient times.

2. How will God witness for sorcerers in the judgement? Malachi 3:5.

"And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts." Malachi 3:5.

3. What does He say of the teachings of enchanters and sorcerers? Jeremiah 27:9, 10.

"Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish." Jeremiah 27:9, 10.

4. How does God view enchanters, witches and the like? Deuteronomy 18:9-13.

"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God." Deuteronomy 18:9-13.

5. What was the law concerning witches and those who had familiar spirits? Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27.

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Exodus 22:18.

"A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them." Leviticus 20:27.

6. With what is witchcraft classed by Paul, and what does he say to those who are guilty of such things? Galatians 5:19-21.

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21.

7. Of what did King Saul die for, apart for his transgressions? 1 Chronicles 10:13.

"So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;" 1 Chronicles 10:13.

8. What instruction does the Apostle John give touching this subject? 1 John 4:1.

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1.

9. By what are we to try them? Isaiah 8:20.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.

10. Should we allow ourselves to be influenced by signs or wonders performed by those who would try and lead us away from God and His law? Deuteronomy 13:1-4.

"If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 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. 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." Deuteronomy 13:1-4.

11. How much do the dead know of what is going on? Job 14:20, 21; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Psalms 146:4.

"Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." Job 14:20, 21.

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6.

"His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Psalms 146:4.

12. If the dead know nothing, what spirits are doing the miracles that are attributed to them? Revelation 16:14.

"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." Revelation 16:14.

13. What will be the characteristic of last day apostasies? 1 Timothy 4:1.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" 1 Timothy 4:1.

14. How does Satan deceive the people? 2 Corinthians 11:14.

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14.

15. What role do his agents assume? 2 Corinthians 11:15.

"Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Corinthians 11:15.

16. Will Satan and his agents attempt to counterfeit the second coming, and work signs and wonders to confirm their pretentious claims? Matthew 24:23, 24.

"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." Matthew 24:23, 24.

17. What will be one of the last great signs performed by this means, to fasten men in deception? Revelation 13:13, 14.

"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Revelation 13:13, 14.

18. What kind of work does Satan do just before Christ comes? 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders," 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

19. What warning has been given us through the Apostle Peter? 1 Peter 5:8.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8.

20. Where will all the sorcerers be when the saints are in the city? Revelation 22:14, 15.

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Revelation 22:14, 15.

Commitment:- I believe all witchcraft, sorcery, and divination signs and wonders come from the Devil and his angels, not from those who lie sleeping the their graves.