Realm of Empires: World of Complex, Rewarding Fun
There is increasing fascination with the spirit realm. Is it possible to communicate with persons living outside the material realm? In fact, for the most part, it is possible. We will qualify that statement, but it is possible. For one thing, communication with God is not only possible, it is essential. At Romans 12:9-12 we read,
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked, cling to what is good. In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another take the lead. Do not loiter at YOUR1 business. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah. Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer.”2
Notice that Christians are to persevere in prayer. They are to keep at it, not forsaking communication with God.
Well, what about talking to other spirits in the heavenly realm? Can we pray to them or communicate with them in some fashion? Certainly we could try, but note what Psalm 68:1, 2 says,
“For you there is praise—silence—, O God, in Zion; And to you the vow will be paid. O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come.”
The expression, “Hearer of prayer” is attached to no one other than God himself, Jehovah. To pray to others would be fruitless. They cannot hear prayer.
Well, prayer aside, is it possible to talk with spirits in any fashion at all? Yes, it is possible. But it is definitely not advisable. Consider the case of King Saul.
Saul was Israel’s first God-appointed King. He was humble and he was faithful at first, but later, he changed. Eventually he became disapproved by God and he was to be removed as King. The prophet Samuel was directed to approach Saul. The Inspired Word says, at 1 Samuel 15:4-6,
“Then Saul said to Samuel: “I have sinned; for I have overstepped the order of Jehovah and your words, because I feared the people and so obeyed their voice. And now, please, pardon my sin and return with me that I may prostrate myself to Jehovah.” But Samuel said to Saul: “I shall not return with you, for you have rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah rejects you from continuing as king over Israel.”"
Samuel would leave Saul and never have communication with him again, as verse 35 informs us,
“And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, because Samuel had gone into mourning for Saul.”
Well, what does this have to do with trying to communicate – perhaps through special channels – with the spirit world? Consider events at a later date that involved Saul.
Saul knew that God’s law forbade involvement with spiritism – the effort to contact the spirit realm, outside of prayer to God. Leviticus 20:6 reads,
“‘As for the soul who turns himself to the spirit mediums and the professional foretellers of events so as to have immoral intercourse with them, I shall certainly set my face against that soul and cut him off from among his people.’”
So Saul sinned very greatly when he did what he did mentioned at 1 Samuel 28:7-14,
“Finally Saul said to his servants: “Seek for me a woman who is a mistress of spirit mediumship, and I will go to her and consult her.” Then his servants said to him: “Look! There is a woman who is a mistress of spirit mediumship in En-dor.”
So Saul disguised himself and clothed himself with other garments and went, he and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. He now said: “Employ divination, please, for me by spirit mediumship and bring up for me the one whom I shall designate to you.” However, the woman said to him: “Here you yourself well know what Saul did, how he cut off the spirit mediums and the professional foretellers of events from the land. Why, then, are you acting like a trapper against my soul to have me put to death?” Immediately Saul swore to her by Jehovah, saying: “As Jehovah is alive, guilt for error will not befall you in this matter!” At this the woman said: “Whom shall I bring up for you?” To this he said: “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw “Samuel” she began crying out at the top of her voice; and the woman went on to say to Saul: “Why did you trick me, when you yourself are Saul?” But the king said to her: “Do not be afraid, but what did you see?” And the woman went on to say to Saul: “A god I saw coming up out of the earth.” At once he said to her: “What is his form?” to which she said: “It is an old man coming up, and he has himself covered with a sleeveless coat.” At that Saul recognized that it was “Samuel,” and he proceeded to bow low with his face to the earth and to prostrate himself.”
Recall that God’s word said (as listed earlier in this article) that Samuel talked no more with Saul. Yet this account on the surface seems to indicate the two did speak. Since Spiritism is a sin worthy of cutting off (the death penalty) do you believe the “Samuel” listed here was really God’s prophet Samuel? It was not. Who else could it be, then, but one of the wicked spirit demons masquerading as Samuel?
The demons and their leader the Devil, wish to mislead all mankind. See 2 Corinthians 4:4 for proof of that fact. So if any voice claims to be a deceased family member, or an angel in heaven, you now know where that voice really originates from.3
To answer the questions posed in the title of this article, then, namely – Is it advisable to communicate with the spirit realm?- it is always appropriate to approach God in prayer, as He is the Hearer of Prayer. However, He is the only one who hears such valid communication. All other forms of communication, whatever form they may take, are not appropriate and may constitute the disapproved practice of Spiritism. In addition, such communications may eventually lead you to demon harassment.
1 All capitals refers to the word “your” being plural in number.
2 All scriptures in this article are taken from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
3 In some instances, a medical condition may exist causing a person to hear voices. If that is the case, appropriate assistance.