Austin Bible Church
Is communication with the dead possible? The biblical answer is definitely no! It is not possible to contact the dead. The spirit of departed dead cannot communicate or return to fellowship with living loved ones. There was one exception where God permitted Samuel to come back and tell Saul how he would die the sin unto death. 2 Sam. 12:23; Luke 16:27-31.
““But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”“ (2 Samuel 12:23, NASB)
““And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’““ (Luke 16:27-31, NASB)
Is communication with the dead necessary? The biblical answer is no! Since we have the Word of God, we know what loved ones are doing after death, whether believer or unbeliever.
Is communication with the dead permitted? The biblical answer is again no! God does not condone the seance or necromancy from any angle. Why? Because there are certain things unsaved people can do which brings them into contact with demons which will mislead them with regard to eternal things. In such demonic communication, an engastromouthos or ventriloquist demon is often involved. Lev. 19:31; Lev. 20:26-27; Deut. 18:9-12; 2 Kings 23:24.
“‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31, NASB)
“‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine. ‘Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.’““ (Leviticus 20:26-27, NASB)
“Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.” (2 Kings 23:24, NASB)
With whom do people communicate when in touch with the spirit world? Per Isaiah 8:19, they communicate with ventriloquist demons who mimic the departed dead or control the vocal cords of the living. Isaiah 29:4 refers to demons which control the vocal cords. Fakery can also be involved. Necromancy, fortune tellers, tea leaf readers, hypnotism, and tongues can all be the result of demon possession, fakery, or wide emotional swings. It can run the gamut from one extreme to another.
“When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19, NASB)
“Then you will be brought low; From the earth you will speak, And from the dust where you are prostrate Your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, And your speech will whisper from the dust.” (Isaiah 29:4, NASB)