“the dead know nothing”
Ecclesiastes 9:5
MODERN DAY
SPIRITUALISM: SATAN’S
GREAT DECEPTION
. What warning did Jesus
give to His disciples
concerning the last days?
Matthew 24:24
“For false christs and false prophets will
rise and show great signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible,
even the elect.
Matthew 24:24
Who is behind these deceiving
spirits and demons?
Revelation 16:13, 14
nd I saw three unclean spirits like frogs
ming out of the mouth of the dragon,
t of the mouth of the beast, and out of
e mouth of the false prophet.
r they are spirits of demons,
rforming signs, which go out
the kings of the earth and of
e whole world, to gather them
the battle of that great day
God Almighty.”
evelation 16:13,14
y religious form that involves contact or
mmunication with the dead is referred to as
ritualism. The dragon, beast, and false prophet
e all involved in the deceptions created by
ritualism. The dragon, which represents
tan (see Revelation 12:9), influences and
es power to the beast and the
se prophet to bring spiritualism
o Christianity.
Will there be false teachers even
among Christian groups?
(2 Peter 2:1)
“But there were also false
prophets among the people,
ven as there will be false teachers
mong you, who will secretly bring
in destructive heresies, even
denying the Lord who bought
them, and bring on themselves
swift destruction.”
2 Peter 2:1
Can ministers professing to be
hristians be Satan’s
epresentatives instead?
Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles,
eceitful workers, transforming
emselves into apostles of Christ.
nd no wonder! For Satan himself
ansforms himself into an
ngel of light. Therefore it is no
eat thing if his ministers
so transform themselves into
inisters of righteousness,
hose end will be
ccording to their works.”
Corinthians 11:13-15
How did Jesus and Paul describe
hese false teachers or ministers?
Matthew 7:15
a. “Beware of false prophets,
ho come to you in sheep’s
othing, but inwardly they
re ravenous wolves.”
atthew 7:15
How did Jesus and Paul describe
se false teachers or ministers?
Matthew 7:15
Acts 20:29,30
b. “For I know this, that
ter my departure savage
olves will come in among you,
ot sparing the flock. Also from
mong yourselves men will rise
p, speaking perverse things,
o draw away the disciples
ter themselves.”
cts 20:29, 30
Margin:
“Speaking
misleading
things.”
speaking misleading things”
“You will not surely die.
6. How convincing is Satan’s work of
deception?
“For false christs and false prophets will rise
and
show great signs and wonders to deceive,
7. Will the deceptions of Satan cause some
to depart from the faith in the latter days?
(1 Timothy 4:1, 2)
ow the Spirit expressly says that in latter
mes some will depart from the faith,
ving heed to deceiving spirits and
ctrines of demons, speaking lies
hypocrisy, having their own
nscience seared with a hot iron.”
Timothy 4:1, 2
. What is one thing the spirits
f demons do to influence and
eceive the people of the world?
Revelation 16:14
“For they are spirits of demons,
performing signs.” Revelation 16:14
. How can we know if a
spirit” is from God or Satan?
John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe
very spirit, but test the spirits,
hether they are of God;
ecause many false prophets
ave gone out into the world.”
John 4:1
est all things; hold fast what is good”
Thessalonians 5:21
0. What definitive test or tests
an we use in determining if a
gn, miracle, or spirit is from God?
1 John 4:2, 3
.a. “By this you know the Spirit of God:
ery spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ
s come in the flesh is of God, and every
irit that does not confess that Jesus Christ
s come in the flesh is not of God.”
John 4:2, 3
What definitive test or tests
we use in determining if a
n, miracle, or spirit is from God?
John 4:2, 3
euteronomy 13:1-4
.b. “If there arises among you a prophet or a
eamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign
a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes
pass, of which he spoke to you, saying,
et us go after other gods' -which you have
t known-'and let us serve them,' you shall
t listen to the words of that prophet
that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD
ur God is testing you to know
hether you love the LORD your God
th all your heart and with all your soul.
u shall walk after the LORD your God
d fear Him, and keep His commandments
d obey His voice, and you shall
rve Him and hold fast to Him.”
uteronomy 13:1-4
What definitive test or tests
we use in determining if a
n, miracle, or spirit is from God?
John 4:2, 3
euteronomy 13:1-4
saiah 8:19,20
.c. “And when they say to you, "Seek those
ho are mediums and wizards, who whisper
d mutter," should not a people seek their
d? Should they seek the dead on behalf of
e living? To the law and to the
stimony! If they do not speak
cording to this word, it is because
ere is no light in them.”
aiah 8:19,20
Revelation 19:10
The testimony of Jesus …..
….. is the spirit of prophecy
“the dead know nothing”
Ecclesiastes 9:5
1. Who did Saul seek when he wanted to
eak with the prophet Samuel,
ho was already dead?
Samuel 28:7, 8)
en Saul said to his servants, "Find me a
oman who is a medium, that I may go to
r and inquire of her." And his servants
id to him, "In fact, there is a
oman who is a medium at En Dor."
Saul disguised himself and
t on other clothes, and he went,
d two men with him; and they
me to the woman by night.
nd he said, "Please conduct
séance for me, and bring
for me the one I shall
me to you."
Samuel 28:7,8
12. Was the witch, or spirit
medium, able to produce a
likeness of Samuel?
1 Samuel 28:11-14
“Then the woman said, ‘Whom shall I bring u
for you?’ And he said, ‘Bring up Samuel for me
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out
with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to
Saul, saying, ‘Why have you deceived me? Fo
you are Saul!’ And the king said to her, ‘Do no
be afraid. What did you see?’ And the woman
said to Saul, ‘I saw a spirit ascending out of
the earth.’ So he said to her, ‘What is his
form?’ And she said, ‘An old man is coming up
and he is covered with a mantle.’ And Saul
perceived that it was Samuel,
and he stooped with his face to the ground
and bowed down.”
1 Samuel 28:11-14
“The coming of the lawless one is according
to the working of Satan, with all power, sign
and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous
deception among those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth, tha
they might be saved. And for this reason Go
will send them strong delusion, that they
should believe the lie, that they all may be
condemned who did not believe the truth bu
had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
3. What is one of the deceptive
octrines of demons?
nswer:
hat we can
ommunicate with the dead.
4. What happened to Saul as
result of his unfaithfulness
to the Lord in consulting
the spirit medium?
(1 Chronicles 10:13)
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness
hich he had committed against
e LORD, because he did not
eep the word of the LORD, and
so because he consulted a
edium for guidance.”
Chronicles 10:13
5. What will be the end of those
ho are deceived by the signs
nd miracles of the dragon,
east, and false prophet?
Revelation 19:20)
hen the beast was captured, and with
m the false prophet who worked signs
his presence, by which he deceived
ose who received the mark of the beast
d those who worshiped his image.
hese two were cast alive into the
ke of fire burning with brimstone.”
evelation 19:20
16. How can we avoid
eing deceived by Satan?
a. 2 Timothy 2:15
6.3. “Be diligent to present
ourself approved to God,
worker who does not need
o be ashamed, rightly dividing
he word of truth.”
Timothy 2:15
“Study to show thyself
approved unto God.”
“Thus saith the Lord.”
16. How can we avoid
eing deceived by Satan?
a.2 Timothy 2:15
b. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
. b. “And that from childhood you have
own the Holy Scriptures, which are
le to make you wise for salvation
rough faith which is in Christ
sus. All Scripture is given by
spiration of God, and is
ofitable for doctrine, for
proof, for correction, for
struction in righteousness,
at the man of God may be
mplete, thoroughly equipped
r every good work.”
Timothy 3:15-17
“The person who turns to mediums and
familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with
them, I will set My face against that person
and cut him off from his people.”
“If they say to you,
‘Look, He is in the desert!’
do not go out.”
Will you determine to “test the spirits
by God’s law and His prophetic Word
to insure that you will not be
deceived by Satan?
 16 mode (1)

16 mode (1)

  • 6.
    “the dead knownothing” Ecclesiastes 9:5
  • 7.
  • 8.
    . What warningdid Jesus give to His disciples concerning the last days? Matthew 24:24
  • 9.
    “For false christsand false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24
  • 10.
    Who is behindthese deceiving spirits and demons? Revelation 16:13, 14
  • 11.
    nd I sawthree unclean spirits like frogs ming out of the mouth of the dragon, t of the mouth of the beast, and out of e mouth of the false prophet. r they are spirits of demons, rforming signs, which go out the kings of the earth and of e whole world, to gather them the battle of that great day God Almighty.” evelation 16:13,14
  • 12.
    y religious formthat involves contact or mmunication with the dead is referred to as ritualism. The dragon, beast, and false prophet e all involved in the deceptions created by ritualism. The dragon, which represents tan (see Revelation 12:9), influences and es power to the beast and the se prophet to bring spiritualism o Christianity.
  • 13.
    Will there befalse teachers even among Christian groups? (2 Peter 2:1)
  • 14.
    “But there werealso false prophets among the people, ven as there will be false teachers mong you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1
  • 15.
    Can ministers professingto be hristians be Satan’s epresentatives instead? Corinthians 11:13-15
  • 16.
    For such arefalse apostles, eceitful workers, transforming emselves into apostles of Christ. nd no wonder! For Satan himself ansforms himself into an ngel of light. Therefore it is no eat thing if his ministers so transform themselves into inisters of righteousness, hose end will be ccording to their works.” Corinthians 11:13-15
  • 17.
    How did Jesusand Paul describe hese false teachers or ministers? Matthew 7:15
  • 18.
    a. “Beware offalse prophets, ho come to you in sheep’s othing, but inwardly they re ravenous wolves.” atthew 7:15
  • 23.
    How did Jesusand Paul describe se false teachers or ministers? Matthew 7:15 Acts 20:29,30
  • 24.
    b. “For Iknow this, that ter my departure savage olves will come in among you, ot sparing the flock. Also from mong yourselves men will rise p, speaking perverse things, o draw away the disciples ter themselves.” cts 20:29, 30
  • 25.
  • 26.
  • 27.
    6. How convincingis Satan’s work of deception?
  • 28.
    “For false christsand false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive,
  • 30.
    7. Will thedeceptions of Satan cause some to depart from the faith in the latter days? (1 Timothy 4:1, 2)
  • 31.
    ow the Spiritexpressly says that in latter mes some will depart from the faith, ving heed to deceiving spirits and ctrines of demons, speaking lies hypocrisy, having their own nscience seared with a hot iron.” Timothy 4:1, 2
  • 32.
    . What isone thing the spirits f demons do to influence and eceive the people of the world? Revelation 16:14
  • 33.
    “For they arespirits of demons, performing signs.” Revelation 16:14
  • 35.
    . How canwe know if a spirit” is from God or Satan? John 4:1
  • 36.
    Beloved, do notbelieve very spirit, but test the spirits, hether they are of God; ecause many false prophets ave gone out into the world.” John 4:1 est all things; hold fast what is good” Thessalonians 5:21
  • 37.
    0. What definitivetest or tests an we use in determining if a gn, miracle, or spirit is from God? 1 John 4:2, 3
  • 38.
    .a. “By thisyou know the Spirit of God: ery spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ s come in the flesh is of God, and every irit that does not confess that Jesus Christ s come in the flesh is not of God.” John 4:2, 3
  • 40.
    What definitive testor tests we use in determining if a n, miracle, or spirit is from God? John 4:2, 3 euteronomy 13:1-4
  • 41.
    .b. “If therearises among you a prophet or a eamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, et us go after other gods' -which you have t known-'and let us serve them,' you shall t listen to the words of that prophet that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD ur God is testing you to know hether you love the LORD your God th all your heart and with all your soul. u shall walk after the LORD your God d fear Him, and keep His commandments d obey His voice, and you shall rve Him and hold fast to Him.” uteronomy 13:1-4
  • 44.
    What definitive testor tests we use in determining if a n, miracle, or spirit is from God? John 4:2, 3 euteronomy 13:1-4 saiah 8:19,20
  • 45.
    .c. “And whenthey say to you, "Seek those ho are mediums and wizards, who whisper d mutter," should not a people seek their d? Should they seek the dead on behalf of e living? To the law and to the stimony! If they do not speak cording to this word, it is because ere is no light in them.” aiah 8:19,20
  • 46.
    Revelation 19:10 The testimonyof Jesus ….. ….. is the spirit of prophecy
  • 49.
    “the dead knownothing” Ecclesiastes 9:5
  • 50.
    1. Who didSaul seek when he wanted to eak with the prophet Samuel, ho was already dead? Samuel 28:7, 8)
  • 51.
    en Saul saidto his servants, "Find me a oman who is a medium, that I may go to r and inquire of her." And his servants id to him, "In fact, there is a oman who is a medium at En Dor." Saul disguised himself and t on other clothes, and he went, d two men with him; and they me to the woman by night. nd he said, "Please conduct séance for me, and bring for me the one I shall me to you." Samuel 28:7,8
  • 52.
    12. Was thewitch, or spirit medium, able to produce a likeness of Samuel? 1 Samuel 28:11-14
  • 53.
    “Then the womansaid, ‘Whom shall I bring u for you?’ And he said, ‘Bring up Samuel for me When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, ‘Why have you deceived me? Fo you are Saul!’ And the king said to her, ‘Do no be afraid. What did you see?’ And the woman said to Saul, ‘I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.’ So he said to her, ‘What is his form?’ And she said, ‘An old man is coming up and he is covered with a mantle.’ And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.” 1 Samuel 28:11-14
  • 56.
    “The coming ofthe lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, sign and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, tha they might be saved. And for this reason Go will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth bu had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
  • 57.
    3. What isone of the deceptive octrines of demons? nswer: hat we can ommunicate with the dead.
  • 60.
    4. What happenedto Saul as result of his unfaithfulness to the Lord in consulting the spirit medium? (1 Chronicles 10:13)
  • 61.
    So Saul diedfor his unfaithfulness hich he had committed against e LORD, because he did not eep the word of the LORD, and so because he consulted a edium for guidance.” Chronicles 10:13
  • 62.
    5. What willbe the end of those ho are deceived by the signs nd miracles of the dragon, east, and false prophet? Revelation 19:20)
  • 63.
    hen the beastwas captured, and with m the false prophet who worked signs his presence, by which he deceived ose who received the mark of the beast d those who worshiped his image. hese two were cast alive into the ke of fire burning with brimstone.” evelation 19:20
  • 64.
    16. How canwe avoid eing deceived by Satan? a. 2 Timothy 2:15
  • 65.
    6.3. “Be diligentto present ourself approved to God, worker who does not need o be ashamed, rightly dividing he word of truth.” Timothy 2:15
  • 66.
    “Study to showthyself approved unto God.” “Thus saith the Lord.”
  • 67.
    16. How canwe avoid eing deceived by Satan? a.2 Timothy 2:15 b. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
  • 68.
    . b. “Andthat from childhood you have own the Holy Scriptures, which are le to make you wise for salvation rough faith which is in Christ sus. All Scripture is given by spiration of God, and is ofitable for doctrine, for proof, for correction, for struction in righteousness, at the man of God may be mplete, thoroughly equipped r every good work.” Timothy 3:15-17
  • 73.
    “The person whoturns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.”
  • 74.
    “If they sayto you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out.”
  • 77.
    Will you determineto “test the spirits by God’s law and His prophetic Word to insure that you will not be deceived by Satan?

Editor's Notes

  • #2 Note to presenter: this presentation has the Bible texts on the screen.
  • #3 One of my dearest friends, who grew up in Tanzania, Africa, told me a story about lights coming down the hillside at night. As the people would watch the lights getting closer and closer, they expected to see someone carrying a lamp or torch. But instead, when the lights came close enough, they could see that there was no one carrying the light. It was the light of a spirit being, or demon.
  • #4 In the culture of Africa this phenomenon is not unusual. People who believe in witch doctors and spirit gods do not react to this kind of incident like we would.
  • #5 In America we would immediately say, “That is obviously a demon, or spiritualism. Satan knows that most of us would not be fooled by or attracted to this kind of thing. So he comes to us in the guise of Christianity.
  • #6 He has done this by convincing much of the Christian world that the spirits of the dead go to heaven and can watch over us and communicate with us.
  • #7 But the Bible is clear that the dead are asleep (John 11:11-14), they do not praise God as those in heaven would (Psalm 115:17), (click to fly in text) and they have no knowledge or part in anything done on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6). (See the study guide – Beyond the Grave: What Happens When You Die?) Instead, the Bible makes it clear that any so-called communication with the dead is not from God, but from Satan.
  • #8 Our subject tonight is - Modern Day Spiritualism: Satan’s Great Deception
  • #9 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #10 Read slide
  • #11 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #12 Read slide
  • #13 Read slide
  • #14 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #15 Read slide
  • #16 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #17 Read slide
  • #18 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #19 Read slide
  • #20 When a sheep sees a wolf it recognizes danger immediately. But it is not afraid of another sheep.
  • #21 So we as Christians easily recognize the false teachings of groups that do not profess Christ.
  • #22 But when one who claims Christ teaches error it is much more difficult to discern.
  • #23 Therefore Jesus warned us to “watch and pray.”
  • #24 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #25 Read slide
  • #26 The margin in verse 30 says “speaking misleading things.” Satan’s work has always been to mislead and deceive.
  • #27 His first lie, or deception was to Eve, and it involved the doctrine of the state of man in death. (click to dissolve in verse) He said, “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3: 4)
  • #28 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #29 Read slide
  • #30 If the elect, or those who are closest to Christ, can almost be deceived, what does that say about those who may be on the edge, just hanging on by their fingertips?
  • #31 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #32 Read slide
  • #33 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #34 Read slide
  • #35 People today are into the spectacular – the sensational. Religion is no exception! We must be very careful when we see modern day miracles. Healings, predictions of the future and other miraculous events are not enough evidence to prove that the work is from God. One miracle manifestation is known as the “Marian Apparitions.” Thousands of people claim to have seen the Virgin Mary come in spirit form and communicate messages from heaven.
  • #36 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #37 Read slide (after reading Bible verse, click to dissolve in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, then read it)
  • #38 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #39 Read slide
  • #40 The first test of a spirit is its teaching regarding Jesus Christ coming “in the flesh.” This involves the doctrine of Jesus as our Savior. Any person or organization who does not teach that Jesus came to this earth as a man and died to save us is not from God.
  • #41 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #42 Read slide
  • #43 If someone can do great miracles, healings, or even predict future events, but their teachings lead away from the Bible, the Word of God, then we know that they are not working for God, but are in fact a minister of Satan. Signs and miracles alone are not enough evidence to prove a prophet or teacher is from God.
  • #44 Pharaoh’s magicians duplicated some of the things that Moses and Aaron did, but they were not from God. See Exodus chapter 7.
  • #45 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #46 Read slide
  • #47 Revelation 19:10 says that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
  • #48 The Bible teaches us that we should not listen to the words of one who does not support the law of God
  • #49 or the testimony, His prophetic Word.
  • #50 It clearly indicates that we should not be engaged in any communication that involves contact with the dead. (click to bring in the text) Remember, “the dead know nothing.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
  • #51 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #52 Read slide
  • #53 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #54 Read slide
  • #55 It is interesting to note that the spirit of Samuel did not come down from heaven,
  • #56 but up from the earth. King Saul knew that witches and spirit mediums who claimed to speak with the dead were from Satan. For that reason he had driven them out of Israel. But when he lost his connection with God he placed himself under the deception of Satan. Through the apostle Paul the warning against rejecting truth is given for us today.
  • #57 Read slide
  • #58 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #59 The Bible is clear that the dead are asleep; they have no knowledge or ability to take any part in what is happening on earth. See Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Isaiah 38:18, 19; Psalm 115:17 and the study guide “Beyond the Grave: What Happens When You Die?”
  • #60 Ecclesiastes chapter 9 indicates that those who die cannot have any part in anything that is done under the sun. That would mean that even though the Bible says they are sleeping in the grave if the dead were in heaven, they could not contact someone on earth in any way because the dead do not have a part in anything done under the sun.
  • #61 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #62 Read slide
  • #63 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #64 Read slide
  • #65 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #66 Read slide
  • #67 “Be diligent” indicates that there is work to do. The KJV says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” (click to dissolve in the text) Jesus met the Devil with “Thus saith the Lord.” The only way we can determine what is from God and what is from Satan is to study the Bible and know its doctrine.
  • #68 Read question then advance slide for Bible answer on the screen.
  • #69 Read slide
  • #70 It is essential that we study and know the Scriptures in order to be ready or “equipped” to fight the works of Satan.
  • #71 The Bible is clear that there can be no communication with the dead, because they have no conscious being.
  • #72 They are asleep in the grave until Jesus calls them to come forth.
  • #73 Any communication with “spirits” of the dead can only be from Satan. Jesus warned us to have nothing to do with anything involving spirit mediums or false teachings.
  • #74 He instructed ancient Israel that “the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.”
  • #75 To His disciples, speaking of false christs and false prophets, He said, “if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out.”
  • #76 Paul describes a group of professed Christians who will have a form of godliness, but they deny God’s power. He says “from such turn away.”
  • #77 Our only safety is to stay in the Word of God and away from the “doctrines of demons.”
  • #78 Read appeal question on slide
  • #79 Use this slide for your appeal