The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

II. Multiple Terms for Variants of Spiritualism

As just noted, in Bible times “necromancy,” sorcery,” “witchcraft” (kashaph), “wizardry,” “magic,” “soothsayer,” and “familiar spirits” were common terms for the sternly forbidden occult practices that sought to infiltrate the Jewish church and commonwealth. It is therefore essential for us to understand what was involved in this entire overlapping series, that we may identify their modern counterparts, and understand God’s undeviating attitude toward each and all, and thus avoid their defiling and abominating influences. CFF2 1156.3

1. “NECROMANCY” — AN ABOMINATION VISITED WITH DEATH

“Necromancy,” or consulting with the “dead,” periodically plagued the Jewish church of old. It was the same as consulting with “familiar spirits.” And because of their evil influence and the reliance of some upon the “spirits,” witchcraft and wizardry were sternly proscribed in Old Testament times as a form of necromancy or divination. Here are Inspiration’s solemn prohibitions and forewarned penalties under the theocracy of Israel: CFF2 1156.4

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them” (Leviticus 19:31). CFF2 1157.1

“The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people” (Leviticus 20:6). CFF2 1157.2

“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death” (Leviticus 20:27). CFF2 1157.3

The peril must have been profound. And dire punishment is spelled out even more explicitly in Deuteronomy 18, where they are castigated as “abominations“: CFF2 1157.4

“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” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). CFF2 1157.5

Later, in the time of the prophet Isaiah, the same charge and appeal was given: CFF2 1157.6

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep [margin, “chirp”], and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” (Isaiah 8:19). CFF2 1157.7

This will be noted later. CFF2 1157.8

2. “WITCH”—SORCERER HAVING “FAMILIAR SPIRIT.”

In Old Testament times a witch ⁵ was either masculine or feminine. This usage continued on into the Christian Era, up to the thirteenth century. Since then this term has been used more and more to denote a woman who had a compact with the devil, or with evil spirits, by whose aid she cast spells or did exploits. But in Old Testament times the “witch” (as in Exodus 22:18 and Deuteronomy 18:10) was a “sorcerer,” practicing the occult art of secret communication with the “spirit” world. Thus the “witch of En-dor,” in 1 Samuel 28, was “a woman that hath a familiar spirit,” who could ailegedly command a departed spirit to return and answer questions. She was likewise called a necromancer. This too will be noted separately. CFF2 1157.9

3. “WIZARD”—ALLEGED CONSULTER WITH “SPIRITS” OF DEAD

A wizard was reputed to have supernatural knowledge gained from pretended ability to consult with the “spirits” of the dead (Isaiah 8:19). The wizard chirped and muttered in simulation of the voice of the “spirit.” The term wizard, it should be noted, is not used alone but in connection with those that have “familiar spirits,” because he belonged to the same class of questioners of the dead. God expressly “abominated” those who practiced this demonic art (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10). And, as noted, in the Hebrew theocracy the offense of wizardry was likewise punished with death (Leviticus 20:27). The LXX renders it “enchanter,” used thirty-one times in the Old Testament, and refers to the practice of Spiritualism, as it is called today. CFF2 1158.1

4. HAVING “FAMILIAR SPIRITS” INVOLVED DEATH PENALTY

In Bible times those who had “familiar spirits,” or companion spirits, were “spirit mediums,” or “necromancers.” The “familiar spirit” impersonated the dead and claimed to put the living in communication with the spirits of the departed. The Hebrew word ‘ob indicated a hollow sound, which the Septuagint renders “ventriloquist”—the power of producing sounds that might represent the voice of the dead. The Mosaic law similarly carried the death penalty for anyone exercising such powers (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:11, 12). The classic example is the visit of King Saul to the witch of Endor, in 1 Samuel 28:7-16, discussed in the next section. But Saul died for his transgression in asking counsel of a familiar spirit instead of inquiring of the Lord (1 Chronicles 10:13, 14). CFF2 1158.2

5. “MAGIC”—SECRET ART OF THE OCCULT SCIENCES

Magic, in Bible times, was the secret art of the magician, sorcerer, enchanter, wizard, or witch. Through certain rites and formulas forces were believed available to the performer of magic that enabled him to harm or to benefit. These preternatural powers were gained from the study of the occult sciences, in connivance with evil spirits. As noted, such evil arts were deeply entrenched in Egypt and Babylonia (Genesis 41:8; Exodus 7:11; Daniel 1:20; Daniel 2:2), countries with which ancient Israel had close connections and by which she was influenced. The Mosaic law similarly condemned such magical practices under pain of death (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). In New Testament times sorcerers, or magicians, were similarly spread over the whole Greco-Roman world (Acts 8:9-13; Acts 13:6-8). And they constituted a similarly grave peril to the Christian Church and appeared throughout the Christian Era. CFF2 1159.1

6. “SORCERER”—ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION IN LAKE OF FIRE

Finally, a sorcerer was one who professed to possess supernatural power, or knowledge, gained through the connivance of evil spirits. As seen, sorcerers were active in Egypt (Exodus 7:11), Assyria (Nahum 3:4), and Babylon (Isaiah 47:9; Daniel 2:2), and had penetrated Israel (2 Kings 9:22). But they were rigidly forbidden (Exodus 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:10-12), with warnings against their deceptions (Jeremiah 27:9), and their punishment was foretold (Micah 5:12; Malachi 3:5; Revelation 21:8). The term sorcerer is sometimes rendered “witch” and “witchcraft.” It is ever to be remembered that God classifies sorcery with the vilest of sins (Galatians 5:20, R.S.V.), and warns of ultimate destruction in the lake of fire for those who practice it (Revelation 21:8). This too has appeared in all ages. CFF2 1159.2

Such was the seriousness of trafficking with this whole series of forbidden practices in Bible times. ⁶ Now let us turn to the episode of Saul and the witch of Endor. CFF2 1159.3