Understanding Spiritualism and the Deception of Immortality

1. SPIRITUALISM EXPOSED SPIRITUALISM EXPOSED Lesson 10 for June 8, 2024 Lesson 10 for June 8, 2024

3. The first lie the devil told us was: The first lie the devil told us was: “You will not die” (Gen. “You will not die” (Gen. 3:4). And we believed it! 3:4). And we believed it! Almost all of humanity has believed Almost all of humanity has believed – – and continues to believe and continues to believe – – that we have an immortal soul or, in some way, some an immortal soul or, in some way, some conscious part of our being survives conscious part of our being survives death. death. that we have The Bible, on the contrary, is clear The Bible, on the contrary, is clear and emphatic: “The soul that sins will and emphatic: “The soul that sins will die” (Ez. 18:20). The cosmic conflict die” (Ez. 18:20). The cosmic conflict revolves around a key question: Who are revolves around a key question: Who are you going to believe, the devil or God? you going to believe, the devil or God? Spiritualism and death: Spiritualism and death: An immortal soul. An immortal soul. Death in the Old Testament. Death in the Old Testament. Death in the New Testament. Death in the New Testament. Spiritualism in the last days: Spiritualism in the last days: Signs and wonders. Signs and wonders. The objective of The objective of spiritualism. spiritualism.

5. “As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return.” (Job 7:9 NIV) In general, it is believed In general, it is believed that the human being has a that the human being has a double nature: body and double nature: body and spirit (or soul). It is spirit (or soul). It is believed that these two parts believed that these two parts can live independently. can live independently. BODY BODY But the Bible teaches that we are made up of three But the Bible teaches that we are made up of three “parts”: “spirit, soul, and body” (1Thes. 5:23). It “parts”: “spirit, soul, and body” (1Thes. 5:23). It also teaches that these parts are interdependent. also teaches that these parts are interdependent. Genesis 2:7 teaches us that God creates a body, Genesis 2:7 teaches us that God creates a body, infuses it with life (spirit), and becomes a living infuses it with life (spirit), and becomes a living being (“being,” in Hebrew, is being (“being,” in Hebrew, is nefesh The soul is, therefore, the union of the body and the The soul is, therefore, the union of the body and the spirit. We do not have a soul, we ARE a soul. spirit. We do not have a soul, we ARE a soul. SPIRIT SPIRIT nefesh = “soul”). = “soul”). SOUL SOUL When the breath of life leaves us, we cease to exist. When the breath of life leaves us, we cease to exist. No part of our being has conscious existence after No part of our being has conscious existence after death. The body dies, the spirit (the life force) death. The body dies, the spirit (the life force) returns to its Giver, and the soul, the product of the returns to its Giver, and the soul, the product of the union of body and spirit, ceases to exist ( union of body and spirit, ceases to exist ( Eccl 12:1 12:1- -7; Ezek. 18:20; Job 7 :7 7; Ezek. 18:20; Job 7 :7- -9). Eccl . . 9).

6. “As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return” (Job 7:9 NIV ) Since sin entered our world, Satan has Since sin entered our world, Satan has used people who have sought to used people who have sought to communicate with the dead and gain from communicate with the dead and gain from them special knowledge of the present or them special knowledge of the present or the future. the future. These types of people, who also use other means such as These types of people, who also use other means such as incantations, magic or astrology, are currently known as incantations, magic or astrology, are currently known as spiritualists. spiritualists. The Bible teaches that “anyone who practices The Bible teaches that “anyone who practices these customs will become abominable to the these customs will become abominable to the LORD” ( Deut. 18:10 LORD” ( Deut. 18:10- -12 this crime was death ( Lev. 20:27). this crime was death ( Lev. 20:27). “ “When someone tells you to consult mediums and When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn they have no light of dawn” (Is. 8:19 12 NIV NIV). The penalty for ). The penalty for ” (Is. 8:19- -20 20 NIV NIV). ).

7. “It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence” (Psalm 115:17) Although no one says at a funeral “our relative is Although no one says at a funeral “our relative is traveling directly to hell,” many confessions teach that, traveling directly to hell,” many confessions teach that, upon death, the “good” ascend directly to Heaven to be with upon death, the “good” ascend directly to Heaven to be with Jesus, and the “bad” are punished or simply wander. But Jesus, and the “bad” are punished or simply wander. But what does the Bible teach about this? what does the Bible teach about this? Can we praise God after dying? Can we praise God after dying? • Psalm 115:17 Psalm 115:17 Do those who die know what happens to their family or Do those who die know what happens to their family or friends? friends? • Job 14:21 Job 14:21 Can the dead interact with the living? Can the dead interact with the living? • Ecclesiastes 9:6 Ecclesiastes 9:6 Can we continue thinking after dying? Can we continue thinking after dying? • Ecclesiastes 9:5 Ecclesiastes 9:5 Will we be able to carry out any type of activity Will we be able to carry out any type of activity after death? after death? • Ecclesiastes 9:10 Ecclesiastes 9:10 The Old Testament teaches that The Old Testament teaches that death is a dream. Sleep to wake up death is a dream. Sleep to wake up only when God calls us back to life only when God calls us back to life (1 Kings 2:10; 14:20; Dan. 12:13). (1 Kings 2:10; 14:20; Dan. 12:13).

8. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up” (John 11:11) The New Testament teaches, like the Old, The New Testament teaches, like the Old, that death is a sleep from which only that death is a sleep from which only Jesus can awaken us Jesus can awaken us (Jn. 11:11 (Jn. 11:11- -14; Jn. 5:28 14; Jn. 5:28- -29). When writing to the Thessalonians, Paul spoke When writing to the Thessalonians, Paul spoke to them about “those who sleep,” that is, to them about “those who sleep,” that is, those who had already died, and told them those who had already died, and told them that they would be resurrected to go with that they would be resurrected to go with Jesus at his Second Coming (1Thes. 4:13 Jesus at his Second Coming (1Thes. 4:13- -18). If Paul had believed that believers go If Paul had believed that believers go directly to Jesus when they die, he would directly to Jesus when they die, he would have told them that instead of what he told have told them that instead of what he told them. them. 29). 18). When speaking of the dead, Paul says that they will When speaking of the dead, Paul says that they will be made alive “at his coming,” and not before (1Co. be made alive “at his coming,” and not before (1Co. 15:22 15:22- -24). He also tells us that “not all of us 24). He also tells us that “not all of us will sleep.” The living will be transformed in a will sleep.” The living will be transformed in a moment, but the dead will rise already transformed moment, but the dead will rise already transformed (1Co. 15:51 (1Co. 15:51- -52). 52). Without resurrection, there is no salvation (1Co. Without resurrection, there is no salvation (1Co. 15:13 15:13- -18). It will be in the resurrection when we 18). It will be in the resurrection when we will receive our inheritance, and we must therefore will receive our inheritance, and we must therefore wait for that moment (1P. 1:3 wait for that moment (1P. 1:3- -5). The resurrection is key to being with Jesus. The resurrection is key to being with Jesus. 5).

10. or false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Mark 13:22) Spiritualism is a movement led directly by Satan, and its Spiritualism is a movement led directly by Satan, and its foundation is the immortality of the soul. Its followers foundation is the immortality of the soul. Its followers believe they can communicate with the dead, and claim to believe they can communicate with the dead, and claim to receive supernatural powers from them. receive supernatural powers from them. Although they are limited by God now, the time Although they are limited by God now, the time will come when He will allow them to perform will come when He will allow them to perform irrefutable miracles that will amaze those who irrefutable miracles that will amaze those who behold them behold them (Mk. 13:22; 2Thes. 2:9; Rev. 7:1 ; 13:13 (Mk. 13:22; 2Thes. 2:9; Rev. 7:1 ; 13:13- -14 ). After seeing the complete After seeing the complete restoration of a terminally restoration of a terminally ill person; a vehicle stopped ill person; a vehicle stopped dead so as not to run over us; dead so as not to run over us; or our dear mother, now or our dear mother, now deceased, speaking to us deceased, speaking to us tenderly before our very tenderly before our very eyes... will we not believe eyes... will we not believe the one who performs such the one who performs such wonders? We will not be able wonders? We will not be able to trust our senses or our to trust our senses or our 14 ). Only security in what we Only security in what we know of God's Word, and know of God's Word, and complete trust in Jesus, complete trust in Jesus, will allow us to resist will allow us to resist the last temptations of the last temptations of the enemy (Is. 8:20; Eph. the enemy (Is. 8:20; Eph. 6:13). 6:13).

11. Satan's intention is to win the war Satan's intention is to win the war against God, overthrow His government, against God, overthrow His government, and occupy His throne and occupy His throne (Isa. 14:13 (Isa. 14:13- -14). To do this, he will use 14). To do this, he will use any strategy to win over everyone, any strategy to win over everyone, starting with the political powers that starting with the political powers that govern us (Rev. 16:12 govern us (Rev. 16:12- -14). of deception, Satan himself will of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ” personate Christ” (EGW “The Great Controversy”, (EGW “The Great Controversy”, Chapter 39 p. 625.) Chapter 39 p. 625.) “ “As the crowning act in the great drama As the crowning act in the great drama 14). But it will be at that moment when Jesus But it will be at that moment when Jesus will put an end to the story (Rev. 16:15). will put an end to the story (Rev. 16:15). Satan is a defeated enemy. Defeated by Satan is a defeated enemy. Defeated by Christ, and defeated by those who cling to Christ, and defeated by those who cling to His blood (1Jn. 2:14; 4:3 His blood (1Jn. 2:14; 4:3- -4; Rev. 3:21; 5:5; 12:11). 5:5; 12:11). spiritualist deceptions is: “they obey the spiritualist deceptions is: “they obey the commandments of God and remain faithful to commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus” (Rev. 14:12 Jesus” (Rev. 14:12 NIV NIV). ). 4; Rev. 3:21; The distinctive sign of those who confront The distinctive sign of those who confront

12. “I saw that the saints must have a thorough understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved relatives or friends, who will declare to them unscriptural doctrines. They will do all in their power to excite sympathy and will work miracles before them to confirm what they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these spirits with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils." EGW (Early writings, p. 262) EGW (Early writings, p. 262)