5. Spiritism, Demonism, Witchcraft
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:11-14
There are many spirits (not all of which are angels) spoken of in scripture
- Good Angels
- Archangels – Highest ranking angels – Like Michael who commands the angelic army of Heaven.
- Cherabim – Angels who are proclaimers and protectors of God’s glory and holiness – Like Lucifer who was the guardian of the Throne of God.
- Seraphim – Angels who praise and announce the holiness of God – Like Gabriel who announced to Mary the coming birth of Christ.
- Angel Of The Lord – When God appears as an angel – Like one of the 3 men who visited Abraham.
- Fallen Angels – Satan’s
- Thrones & Dominions – Ranks of good and evil angels having dominion over each other.
- Principalities & Powers – Ranks of good and evil angels having dominion over people.
- Wandering Spirits, Lying Spirits, Wicked Spirits.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (ruled by princes who control certain nations on earth), against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (This Age), against spiritual wickedness in high places (The Heavenlies).
- Fallen Angels – Not Satan’s
- Spirits In Prison – A special class of fallen angels (not Satan’s) bound in Tartarus whose sin caused the flood
Gen 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
- Demons
- These are disembodied spirits and not angels who fell with Satan
- Demons belong to the Powers Of Darkness – Satan’s army
- Their central abode is The Bottomless Pit and come forth at the command of Satan or God.
The 5th of 7 Trumpet Judgements
- 1/3 vegetation burned
- 1/3 sea became blood
- 1/3 fresh water poisoned
- 1/3 sun, moon, stars darkened, increased demonic activity
- 1/3 mankind killed
Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Rev 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Rev 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
Rev 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Rev 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
Rev 9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
Rev 9:9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
Rev 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
Rev 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
- Demons have a personality – Jesus talked to them and they answered
Jesus had just crossed Sea Of Galilee and rebuked the sea and wind – “Peace Be Still”
Luk 8:26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
Luk 8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils (multiple demons) long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
Luk 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (They knew their fate – Mat 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?)
Luk 8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
Luk 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
Luk 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep (abussos – The Abyss – The Bottomless Pit).
Luk 8:32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
Luk 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. (Why would they do this? – They don’t die – just the one possessed)
- Demons control the body they possess and can come and go at will – They cause Dumbness, Blindness
Mat 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
Insanity
Luk 8:27 from above – And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils (multiple demons) long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
Suicidal Mania, Personal Injuries
Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Mar 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Mar 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Mar 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
Supernatural Strength
Luk 8:29 from above – (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
Physical Defects & Deformities
Luk 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Luk 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
Luk 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Not to be confused with disease such as epilepsy – scripture clearly differentiates between them
Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Immoral Sensuality
- Nudity, free love, pornography
Luk 8:27 from above – And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils (multiple demons) long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
- Demons (Disembodied Spirits) are not to be confused with Wandering Spirits (Satan’s Fallen Angels)
- Demons seek only evil by their possessing their victims – They take control of the personality of the victim
- Wandering Spirits are not demons – They control externally instead of internally – They are Satan’s Fallen Angels
- Wandering Spirits can see the past and see every act of impurity
- Mediums are not necessarily demon possessed – They are externally controlled by Wandering Spirits as if hypnotised
- What is called Spiritism is really Demonism
- Demons are called Familiar Spirits in Old Testament
- Demons are called Seducing Spirits in New Testament
- Demons are forbidden in scripture
Lev 20:6 And 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.
Lev 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
- Behind all heathen worship is the spirit of demonism
- If we are not worshipping God, we are worshipping Satan
- We cannot worship God and Satan and his evil spirits
- Demons can be cast out by Jesus and those to whom He gives the power
Jesus cast out demons
Mat 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Mat 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
Jesus gave power to His disciples
Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
- Today exorcisms are performed by those called and trained for this ministry – Mostly Catholics but some Protestants
A typical exorcism may follow this sequence of events
- The Presence: The exorcist and his assistants become aware of an alien feeling or entity.
- The Deception: Attempts or actions of the evil spirit appear to be the victim’s. The exorcist’s first job is to break this Pretense and find out whom the demon really is. Gaining the entity’s name is most important.
- Breakpoint: The moment when the Devil’s Pretense finally collapses. This is usually a moment of complete pandemonium. There evolves a scene of panic and confusion, accompanied by a crescendo of abuse, horrible sights, noises, and odors. The Devil then turns on the victim, speaking of the person in the third person instead of as itself.
- The Voice: Also a sign the Breakpoint, the Voice (of the demon) becomes “inordinately disturbing and humanly distressing babble.” The demon’s voices must be silenced for the exorcism to proceed.
- The Clash: As the Voices die out there is both a spiritual and physical pressure. The demon has collided with the “will of the Kingdom.” The exorcist is now in direct battle with the demon, urging the entity to reveal more information about itself so it can be controlled. As previously mentioned, there is a connection between the entity and the victim’s resident. The entity wants a place to be in, or it must return to Hell. An existence out of Hell is what the Devil or demon is fighting for.
- Expulsion: In the supreme triumph of God’s will, the demon or spirit leaves in the name of Jesus. All present feel the Presence dissipates, occasionally with receding noises and voices. The victim may remember the ordeal or may not recall anything that has happened.
Scripture warns of the revival of Spiritism
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit (Holy Spirit) speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron (brand of the devil);
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry (some say celibacy, others free love), and commanding to abstain from meats (some live on bread & water, some think a vegetable diet renders the body more susceptible to spirits), which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables (nonscriptural teachings), and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
- It is interesting that most witches and mediums are women
- Satan tempted Eve before Adam
The Spirit Of Samuel – Saul and the “Witch of Endor”
- Purpose of this account
- To expose the fraudulency of Spiritism
- To show how God punishes the “Sin Of Witchcraft”
- Background
- Saul was 1st king of Israel – He was annointed by Samuel
- Saul had sinned by not following Samuels instruction about offering sacrifices and was continually disobedient
- Saul had tried to kill David over his fits of jealously
- David had already been chosen by God to replace Saul
Samuel has already died - Saul had previously put away all those with Familiar Spirits and those who were Wizards from out of the land
- Saul is afraid and troubled because the Philistines have come in great number and pitched in Shunem (It was a Shunnemite woman who warmed David as he was dying)
- Saul has inquired of The Lord but God won’t answer him or the prophets
- Saul has decided to consult a Medium, a woman under the control of a Familiar Spirit
1Sa 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
1Sa 28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
1Sa 28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
1Sa 28:6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
1Sa 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
1Sa 28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
1Sa 28:9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
1Sa 28:10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
1Sa 28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
1Sa 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice (she did not expect to see a spirit – proving the fraudulency): and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul (this was disclosed by the Familiar Spirit – God brought up Samuel, not the spirit – they might impersonate them but they can’t bring them up).
1Sa 28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods (Elohim – Not plural – can also mean a celestial spirit or angel in Hebrew) ascending out of the earth. (from Sheol)
1Sa 28:14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. (Once God produced Samuel, the woman and her Familiar Spirit were not longer involved – this is the only instance in all the scriptures of such a communication with the dead – Samuel was not re-embodied)
1Sa 28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
1Sa 28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
1Sa 28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
1Sa 28:18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
1Sa 28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me (not in paradise but Hell within Sheol): the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
1Sa 28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
1Sa 28:21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
1Sa 28:22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
1Sa 28:23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
1Sa 28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
1Sa 28:25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
- Saul died for his transgression in consulting a Familiar Spirit
1Ch 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
1Ch 10:14 And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
Lazarus and The Rich Man
- Purpose of this account
- To show that there is a separation between Paradise and Hell
- To give us a glimpse of what the Spirit World is like
- Background
- A rich man dies and goes to hell
- Lazarus, a righteous man, dies and goes to paradise
Luk 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell (Sheol – this must be before Christ since Hell and Paradise are in the same area) he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them (spirits of the dead cannot go back to the world nor be called up by Mediums – only God could have sent Samuel’s spirit back to Saul).
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (Jesus).
Warning: Don’t attempt to do do these things on your own
To tamper with Spiritism, Quija Boards, Tarrot Cards, etc. is to put yourself on Satan’s playing field and open yourself to invasion and possession by Demons or control of Evil Spirits under Satan’s command.
What are Demons and where did they come from?
Let’s review what we have discussed about Demons so far
- These are disembodied spirits looking for a living human to possess.
- They belong to the Powers Of Darkness – Satan’s army.
- Their central abode is The Bottomless Pit and they come forth at the command of Satan or God.
- They possess their victims and control them internally exposing their own personality.
- They come and go at will – they can possess more than one person and more than one can possess the same person.
- These are not the Fallen Angels that fell with Satan who are called Wandering Spirits.
There are 2 popular beliefs as to where these Demons came from
- These are the Fallen Angels that were Sons Of God who chose wives from the Daughters Of Men.
- These are dis-embodied spirits from the pre-Adamite world.
We will discuss where these demons came from next week.