what about people who say they can talk to the dead or see the dead?

[Chuckt]

Well, in my opinion...I don't see why God would need to give someone the ability to be able to do that.
We are to pray to Him for the answers we seek. If we were to talk to something else that would mean a disconnection from the Lord.
In saying that I do believe that some have the ability to speak to demons. Yes they can tell you things and it's not something I would be getting into at all. Satan will use anything he can to take your eyes away from the Lord.

Usually you have to have (Dad i.e. God) behind you and I'm sure that if I saw one, my instinct would be to get out of there.

1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Let's not misunderstand this people. This area involves the occult and it is forbidden and people who play with this stuff usually end up getting hurt.

 

[Ultimatum77]

1. Where do the verses say that the witch summoned a familiar spirit? And didn't Samuel in this story, prophesy accurately on the behalf of the Lord to Saul? How could a familiar spirit do that? It seems like this is a made-up explanation being inserted into the text.

2. Hell as we think of it refers to gehenna/the lake of fire... which is where things go after judgement. 'Death and Hades' are even cast in, they are the former holding places of the dead. So either the judgement is an ongoing event happening -right now- with all the prerequisites already having happened, or it hasn't happened yet and no one is in hell. With that said, death and hades were considered torturous for some people even if they weren't the lake of fire.

Lol it's right in the Bible 1 Samuel 28:7

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

My belief is that the familiar spirit empersonated Samuel b/c demons can mimic people's voices and personalities as they have knowledge of every person on the Earth (especially sins to trap that person) just as God knows every person on Earth. Only demons use this knowledge to deceive and lead people to sin. Modern psychics talk to demons that impersonate dead people...once the soul dies it can only go to heaven/hell it cannot wander the Earth....why would "gods" ascend out of the earth? That sounds like demons coming out of hell/abyss to me....

As for the hell question....I believe that a person's soul will either go to heaven or hell once they die for judgement but the FINAL judgement of all time In Revelation is when they will come back to Earth and take up their mortal body form again which will be transformed to an eternal body and they will spend eternity in heaven or hell..

1 Thess 4 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first


If they are dead in Christ their soul is already in Heaven, even though their mortal bodies are not with them in Heaven, they will come with Christ when He returns to "retrieve" their mortal bodies and have them resurrected (just as Christ's physical body was resurrected on the 3rd day) and transformed into immortal, sinless, diseaseless, perfected bodies to take with us to heaven (and maybe hell for unbelievers ....though I think their bodies won't be perfect due to rejecting Christ imo)

 

[Yet]

Necromancy: communicating with the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10-11. there shall not be found among you ....a necromancer.

Tens of thousands of Christians swoon after Benny Hinn who has prayed to the dead Kathryn Kuhlman at her gravesite for the anointing while he lifts their wallets. Is it any wonder why I can't reach but a handful of Christians with the true gospel, Christ, and Spirit?

Catholics pray to the dead also.

 

[Ultimatum77]

Necromancy: communicating with the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10-11. there shall not be found among you ....a necromancer.

Tens of thousands of Christians swoon after Benny Hinn who has prayed to the dead Kathryn Kuhlman at her gravesite for the anointing while he lifts their wallets. Is it any wonder why I can't reach but a handful of Christians with the true gospel, Christ, and Spirit?

Catholics pray to the dead also.

I agree Benny Hinn is not of God, He was banned from coming to India b/c it was rumored he came to some hindu sages to learn how to "mesmerize" people....after Christians found out about it they revoked their invitation to him for a crusade....also his teachings/works betray him.....he growls, has been abusive to his wife and kids, he says the Holy Spirit only likes bells not drums? <- unbiblical also it is known that occult/false religions always use bells to do seances/call evil spirits they also use drums but bells have more power to their rituals....he had an affair with paula white....yea some "man of God" his white coat is a scam he is full of darkness and as was mentioned he prays at kathryn kuhlman tomb and also kuhlman was a similar person like BH full of darkness and creepy....his so called miracles have been found to be paid off plants in the crowd...whereas true people coming to ask for prayer on stage are "screened out"....he is a disgrace and is probably going to hell for mocking God and deceiving believers....

 

[sharkwhales]

Lol it's right in the Bible 1 Samuel 28:7

My belief is that the familiar spirit empersonated Samuel b/c demons can mimic people's voices and personalities as they have knowledge of every person on the Earth (especially sins to trap that person) just as God knows every person on Earth. Only demons use this knowledge to deceive and lead people to sin.

I looked up the original wording in 1 samuel 28. In verse 7 there is no reference to a familiar spirit, there is only 'ishshah ba'alah, meaning sorcerer woman. in verse 8 there is also no reference to a familiar spirit, just the word qacam, meaning divination. In verse 9 there is such a reference, but it is the only one I could find. It seems like the translation you quoted, inserts familiar spirit twice, and I have to wonder if this was done to support a doctrinal position that it was not Samuel that was called up.

In any case, if this is a familiar spirit, why didn't it deceive saul and lead him to sin? There is no verse explicitly saying 'this was not the real Samuel, this was a familiar spirit.' However there are the words of Samuel in this passage:

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

In what way does this prophecy diverge from the will and truth of God, since you claim it was a prophecy given by a familiar spirit?

As for verse 13, gods ascending out of the earth, it's the same term as used in Psalm 82:6 which jesus quotes in John 10. It makes sense if they were considered to be in sheol/hades, which was a holding place for the dead, some awaiting Christ and others not.