Spiritism may be defined as being an experience in which a person knowingly or unknowingly worships, seeks information from, or becomes the medium or instrument of an evil spirit (evil angel). In the context of this lesson, spiritism encompasses activities such as:

1. SORCERY:

The use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining

2. NECROMANCY:

Conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future or influencing the course of events.

3. WITCHCRAFT:

The practice of magic.

4. SATANISM:

The worship of Satan.

5. VOODOO:

A form of religion based on belief in witchcraft and magical rites.

6. ASTROLOGY:

The study of the supposed influence of the stars on human affairs; the reading of horoscopes.

7. DIVINATION:

Fortune telling.

8. GLOSSOLALIA:

The unintelligible babblings that are currently claiming to be a gift of the Holy Spirit.

A close examination of the claims of these spiritist outlets will soon reveal, in the final analysis, they invariably set aside the Laws of God in favor of ‘awe-inspiring manifestations’ that pose as truth: manifestations which are, in reality, the unclean output of lying demons. Spiritism is, without a doubt, an abomination to the God of Israel and is classified in the Scriptures with idolatry, whoredom and bestiality (sexual intercourse between a human being and a beast). Spiritism is the most deceptive of all evils and because of its spectacular demonstrations will in the last days - “almost deceive the very elect.”

A Spiritual ‘Litmus Test’

Isaiah 8:

20: To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

If it fails this infallible ‘litmus test,’ then that group's supernatural activities - be they ever so wonderful and attractive - are nothing more than the camouflaged products of one or more devils. In other words, all wonder-working leaders who oppose the commandments of Yahweh are preachers of darkness.

A Voice In The Wilderness - USA takes this opportunity to warn all students to beware of spiritist deception, especially when so called ‘miracle-workers’ are about. Satan is even now making massive inroads into current Christian thinking under the guise of the various Spiritualist and Charismatic movements and his main instruments are miracle working evangelists! Scores of ‘mighty miracles’ are currently being done, supposedly under the banner of Truth.

We say it again:
BEWARE!

1. Spiritism in every form is strictly forbidden in the Holy Scriptures. Sorcerers were found in Egypt, Assyria (Nahum 3: 4), Babylonia (Isaiah 47: 9, Daniel 2: 2) and other heathen lands, but were forbidden in Israel.
   (Leviticus 17: 7, Leviticus 19: 31, Deuteronomy 18: 9-12)

2. Willful disobedience of Yahweh’s commandments is a grievous sin and is punishable with DEATH! People grow bold because the Most High appears to be withholding His judgments; but He will punish evildoers just as surely as night follows day. This is specified in His law and amplified by His prophets.
   (Exodus 22: 18-20, Micah 5: 12, Malachi 3: 5, 1 Chronicles 10: 13-14, Revelation 21: 8)

3. The dead are unable to communicate with the living and are in fact asleep in their graves awaiting the resurrection. See
   Lesson 16. The beings who speak in seances (spiritualist meetings), are therefore, not the dead, but are evil angels posing as departed loved ones. The dead, according to the Scriptures, are ‘asleep in their graves’ and are unable to communicate with the living,
   (Job 7:9-10, Ecclesiastes 9:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

4. Evil spirits invariably rely on miracles and supernatural demonstrations to carry through their deceptions. The Savior warned this would be the case in the last days. How true his words have proved to be. Miracle-workers are to be found in all the world's religions. There is no shortage of them. But, a miracle is not a reliable sign of truth. The only reliable sign of truth is:

   Isaiah 8:

   20:To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

   In other words, if a preacher's message is not in line with Yahweh’s Law and if it contradicts the testimony (teachings) of the Holy Bible, then that preacher must not be taken seriously - no matter how many miracles he/she is able to perform and no matter how charming an individual he/she may happen to be.
   (Matthew 24: 24, Mark 13: 21-22, 2 Thessalonians 2: 8-9, Revelation 16: 13-14, Revelation 19: 20)

5. Evil spirits are not slow to acknowledge Jesus Christ is the “Holy One of God.” So a confession of this kind from the lips of a miracle-worker is not evidence he/she is working under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
   (Mark 3: 11, Luke 4: 33-34, Acts 16: 16-17)

6. Satan and his agents are able - and indeed are scheduled - in the last days to pose as the ministers of truth and righteousness. Indeed, Satan's greatest deceptions will come from ‘within the Christian church.’ The Bible plainly tells us false prophets and ministers of darkness will abound in the last days. Oh, how subtle and how dangerous are Satan’s tactics!
   (Matthew 24: 24, 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15)

7. Those who willfully reject Yahweh's commandments and the plain statements of the Bible prophets, lay themselves open to the deceptions of ‘lying spirits’ speaking through human mediums.
   (1 Kings 22: 21-23, 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12)

8. It is a fact, many professing Christians who are currently doing ‘miracles in the Name of Jesus’ will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven, simply because of their blatant disobedience. They are referred to in the Scriptures as ‘workers of iniquity.’ That is they are ‘blatant sinners,’ ‘law-breakers.’ It is difficult if not impossible to exaggerate the effects of their deception or the fearsome measure of their punishment.
   (Matthew 7: 21-23, Luke 13: 24-30)

9. The power of deception will be so great just prior to Christ's return that entire nations will be taken in by ‘sorcery, devil worship’ and ‘miracle-working false prophets.’ We are told in Yahweh's Word, all nations will be deceived in this way:

   Revelation 18:

   23: By thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

   Try to comprehend the staggering extent of such a deception. How will it be accomplished? How will it end? Notice how all these errors are classified under the term sorcery.

   “By thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”

   Can you dear reader say with absolute assurance, your beliefs are founded on Yahweh's Word - the Holy Bible? Do you believe what you believe ‘because the Bible says so?’ Is your faith in God in line with what His Word teaches? Or are you like millions of deluded souls blindly accepting the erroneous doctrines of devils? Doctrines which have little or no foundation in truth and which are absolutely obnoxious to the Most High (1 Timothy 4: 1).

10. According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit is only given to those who obey the Almighty God. Persistent sinners are certainly not channels of His Holy Spirit. The main purpose of salvation, the Scriptures tell us, we may be saved from sin (disobedience) and death; and we may live holy and righteous (obedient) lives to the glory of God.

    That is why Jesus Christ came to this earth in the first place, and that is what the Bible teaches. Sorcerers will not inherit eternal life. Instead they will perish in the lake of fire along with multitudes of persistent sinners who refuse to repent and give up their sinful ways.
    (Acts 5: 32, 1 Peter 1: 2, Romans 8: 3-5, Psalm 51: 10-13, Revelation 21: 6-7)

A Voice In The Wilderness - USA
www.avitw-usa.org