34 . Can Our Dead Speak to Us ?
The ministration of holy angels , as presented in the Scriptures , is a truth most comforting and precious to every follower of Christ . But the Bible teaching upon this point has been obscured and perverted by the errors of popular theology . The doctrine of natural immortality , first borrowed from the pagan philosophy , and in the darkness of the great apostasy incorporated into the Christian faith , has supplanted the truth , so plainly taught in Scripture , that " the dead know not anything ." Multitudes have come to believe that it is spirits of the dead who are the " ministering spirits , sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ." And this notwithstanding the testimony of Scripture to the existence of heavenly angels , and their connection with the history of man , before the death of a human being .
The doctrine of man ' s consciousness in death , especially the belief that spirits of the dead return to minister to the living , has prepared the way for modern spiritualism . If the dead are admitted to the presence of God and holy angels , and privileged with knowledge far exceeding what they before possessed , why should they not return to the earth to enlighten and instruct the living ? If , as taught by popular theologians , spirits of the dead are hovering about their friends on earth , why should they not be permitted to communicate with them , to warn them against evil , or to comfort them in sorrow ? How can those who believe in man ' s consciousness in death reject what comes to them as divine light communicated by glorified spirits ? Here is a channel regarded as sacred , through which Satan works for the accomplishment of his purposes . The fallen angels who do his bidding appear as messengers from the spirit world . While professing to bring the living into communication with the dead , the prince of evil exercises his bewitching influence upon their minds .
He has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends . The counterfeit is perfect ; the familiar look , the words , the tone , are reproduced with marvelous distinctness . Many are comforted with the assurance that their loved ones are enjoying the bliss of heaven , and without suspicion of danger , they give ear " to seducing spirits , and doctrines of devils ." When they have been led to believe that the dead actually return to communicate with them , Satan causes those to appear who went into the grave unprepared . They claim to be happy in heaven and even to occupy exalted positions there , and thus the error is widely taught that no difference is made between the righteous and the wicked . The pretended visitants from the world of spirits sometimes utter cautions and warnings which prove to be correct . Then , as confidence is gained , they present doctrines that directly undermine faith in the Scriptures .
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