Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Spiritism in Bible Times

Did this belief exist in ancient times? BR-ASI9 364.1

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31. (See also 1 Chronicles 10:13, 14.) BR-ASI9 364.2

How does God regard sorcerers? BR-ASI9 364.3

“And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers.” Malachi 3:5. BR-ASI9 364.4

What does He say of the teachings of enchanters and sorcerers? BR-ASI9 364.5

“Therefore hearken not ye to . . . your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, . . . for they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land.” Jeremiah 27:9, 10. BR-ASI9 364.6

Before their entrance into Canaan, what instruction did Moses give Israel concerning these things? BR-ASI9 364.7

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 18:10-13. BR-ASI9 364.8

Note.—Whoever consults or has to do with mediums or any who profess to receive instruction or communications from the spirits of the dead, disregards this plain instruction, and places himself upon the enemy’s ground. Ever since Satan told that first lie in Eden, when he denied that death would be the result of sin, in the very face of death itself, he, working upon man’s natural dread of death and upon his distress at the thought of being separated from loved ones, has been endeavoring to persuade men to believe that the dead are not dead, and that men do not die. Idolatry, heathenism, Spiritualism, occultism, and the whole brood of false isms of this kind, it will be noticed, deal very largely with death. This, of itself, indicates their origin, and should be a warning to all to let them alone—to have nothing whatever to do with them. They are from beneath, and not from above. However promising or pleasing they may be at first, they are downward and destructive in their tendency, and ultimately lead away from God, into unbelief of His word and into sin. BR-ASI9 365.1

Under the theocracy of Israel, what was the law concerning witches and those who had familiar spirits? BR-ASI9 366.1

“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Exodus 22:18. “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death.” Leviticus 20:27. BR-ASI9 366.2

With what is witchcraft classed by Paul, and what does he say to those who are guilty of such things? BR-ASI9 366.3

“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies. . . . I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:20-23. BR-ASI9 366.4