The Way of Giving

Yes, Mr. Armstrong was a TRUE minister. He didn't say the desired result and say it has to get to that, because it has to. He showed HOW it will go about. Unlike some, who say that some event will happen, or there has to be someone who has the Authority of an Apostle. It doesn't matter about the Fruits, nor how some event will come about. God's ministers show God's WAY to the desired result. And God doesn't contradict. God is the Same today, yesterday and forever. God doesn't send His Chosen Apostle to speak a message, and then send "another" one to undo, and contradict. Nor does he send a False Apostle. The following is Correct. Mr. Armstrong never set dates. God's ministers won't. Yet there are some who will.

The Plain Truth

Personal from the Editor

May, 1966



PERSECUTORS HAVE CALLED me a "false prophet." Now how would you KNOW whether the accusation is true — or false?

There ARE false prophets today. And they are not a few, but MANY!

The WHOLE WORLD — that is, the world as a whole — is DECEIVED today. The world is deceived about the TRUE VALUES of life — about the things that really count. The world is chasing false goals, false gods. The world has lost its way. It has lost THE WAY to peace, to universal prosperity, to good health, to happiness. The world is in chaos, awaiting the fateful NUCLEAR World War III!

But who ARE the "false prophets"? How would YOU recognize one?

Actually, it probably is not very important to YOU to know whether my persecutors are right or wrong, when they call me dirty names, hurl epithets, resort to innuendo, impute sinister motives, strive to discredit, attempt character assassination. What is important to YOU is whether what you read in The PLAIN TRUTH really IS the truth — whether what you hear over The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast is true — not whether I, as an individual, am true or false.

I think our readers know by now that we always say: "DON'T believe what we say BECAUSE you believe in us." We say "Listen with open mind, without prejudice, then CHECK UP in your own Bible — PROVE whether it is true, and BELIEVE what you find PROVED!" I don't seek to induce people to believe in ME — I seek to lead them to believe in JESUS CHRIST!

But just HOW would you KNOW whether a man is a "false prophet"?

Would YOU know, for sure, how to recognize a false prophet? There is one absolutely SURE WAY to know.

Here it is: You may search the Bible from beginning to end. The false prophets have had ONE THING IN COMMON. They have always put the emphasis on a promised desirable RESULT, while ignoring, rejecting, or opposing GOD'S WAY to that result. They always treat with the EFFECT, not the CAUSE. But the TRUE prophets of God have always put emphasis on the right CAUSE — on God's WAY to the desired blessings.

Let me explain that. Let me make that PLAIN! This magazine deals with making truth PLAIN — understandable!

You may search the Bible from beginning to end. You'll find the true prophets, apostles, ministers of God put first emphasis on the right CAUSE, not the effect. They proclaim THE WAY that leads to peace, happiness, security, and finally, eternal life. In Bible language, this means that God's Word, and God's true prophets and ministers put first emphasis on God's LAW.

And, further, since sin is the transgression of God's law, the true ministers lift up their voices to SHOW THE PEOPLE THEIR SINS (Isaiah 58:1). They call the people to REPENTANCE, reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins, leading those who have been going astray back into the RIGHT WAY of God's Law through God's free grace.

It's just this simple: There is a right WAY that leads to every desired result — blessings now, and eternal life forever. God's Law is merely a defining of THAT WAY. But the whole world has been going astray — going the WRONG WAY. God sends His prophets and ministers to proclaim the RIGHT WAY, to show people that they are going the WRONG WAY, to cause them to turn around and get back on the RIGHT WAY through Jesus Christ by God's free grace. Then the desired result follows. And that's the ONLY way to that desired result!

But the false prophets ignore or oppose God's Law. They encourage people in continuing their WRONG WAY. They ignore or tacitly approve this WRONG WAY. They work for PEACE, for prosperity, for desired GOOD THINGS, while encouraging people to travel the OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM those desired ends!

This WHOLE WORLD is following that pattern. Public acceptance goes right along with a world traveling THE ROAD to sickness and ill health, to boredom and unhappiness, fears and worries, inequality, injustice, heartaches, frustrations, insecurity, poverty, crime, insanity, violence, war, and death.

But God's true servants are not OF this world nor of its ways.

WHY do so many people have tooth decay and cavities? The toothpaste manufacturers compete in advertising and television commercials, each claiming its particular brand means "FEWER CAVITIES. The cavities are the RESULT. They say nothing about the cause, which is a lack of proper food containing certain organic alkaline mineral elements. They say nothing about faulty diet — the CAUSE. They treat only with the RESULT.

The world is full of hospitals. They are over-filled with patients paying the PENALTY of broken physical laws. The hospitals and the doctors ignore the CAUSE, and treat with the RESULT — try to relieve, prevent or remove the PENALTY of broken law!

Notice, now, a few Biblical examples of where God's true prophets put the emphasis, and where the false prophets put it.

After Solomon, son of David, died, the nation Israel rejected Solomon's son Rehoboam as king, and set up Jeroboam instead. Then the tribe of Judah seceded from Israel, in order to have Rehoboam for their king. The tribe of Benjamin went along with Judah. King Jeroboam of Israel immediately set up two golden calves as idols for Israel to worship; rejected the Levites (tribe of Levi) as priests, and put the lowest of the people, whom he could control, into the priesthood. The tribe of Levi then joined Judah, becoming the Kingdom of Judah. They became known as "the Jews."

All succeeding kings of Israel followed in the sins of Jeroboam. One of them, king Ahab, married Jezebel the daughter of the king of Sidon. Jezebel brought with her hundreds of the prophets of Baal the sun-god, introducing Baal worship in Israel.

King Ahab gathered together these false prophets before him, and asked: "Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" And they answered, "Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king" (I Kings 22:6). These false prophets advised the king to go a WRONG WAY, and promised a GOOD RESULT.

But Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was visiting king Ahab, and he asked if there was not a prophet of the ETERNAL that he might consult. Ahab answered, "There is yet one man, Micaiah ... by whom we may enquire of the ETERNAL: but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (verses 7-8). So Ahab called God's prophet, who told him that a lying spirit had spoken falsely in the mouths of these false prophets — and that Ahab would never return alive if he followed their advice (verses 19-23). This prophet advised going THE WAY of the true God — THE WAY of PEACE, and not of attack, aggression and war-making. Ahab went THE WAY of the false prophets — defied God's law — AND WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE!

Through Jeremiah (23rd chapter) God speaks of the false prophets. "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the ETERNAL. Then, speaking of our very generation in this 20th century — just prior to Christ's second coming, of today's drought and upset conditions resulting from misled people going the WRONG WAYS: For the land is full of adulterers; for because of the curse, the land mourneth; and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil" — they are going the WRONG WAY — "and their might is not right. Both prophet and priest are ungodly" — that is, carnal, unconverted, selfish — "even in my house [the churches] I have found their wickedness, says the ETERNAL. Therefore THEIR WAY shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall: for I will bring evil upon them IN THE YEAR of their punishment (that is, in the soon-coming "DAY OF THE LORD" which probably is to last for one year), says the ETERNAL." (Jeremiah 23:1, l0-12. Revised Standard Version.)

Continuing, same chapter: God foresees a horrible thing in those who PROFESS to be His ministers: "... they commit adultery, and walk in lies." Leading churchmen in Britain are now advocating legal and public approval of homosexuality, and calling fornication and adultery "THE NEW MORALITY." Even United States ministers are approving this lying so-called "New Morality." Jeremiah continues: "... they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness;" — that is, they ignore or reject GOD'S WAY, which is His Law. They approve the world's ways contrary to God's ways. They fail to show the people THEIR SINS. They go along with the world. "... they are all of them unto me as S***m, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah" (Jer. 23:14-15). Today, for the first time in all history, leading churchmen are openly approving "so**my" — homosexuality — the most revolting IMMORALITY in violation of God's Law.

Further, same chapter: "Thus saith the ETERNAL of Hosts, Hearken NOT unto the words of the prophets that preach unto you: they make you vain:" — that is, they flatter, approve, encourage vanity — "they speak a vision of their own heart, and NOT out of the mouth of the ETERNAL. They say unto them that despise me, The Eternal hath said, Ye shall have peace;" — they promise a GOOD RESULT, while approving a WRONG WAY. Or, to quote from the Revised Standard Version: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets [preachers] who prophesy [preach] to you, filling you with VAIN HOPES; they speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the ETERNAL. They say continually to those who despise the Word of the ETERNAL, 'It shall be well with you'; and to every one who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, 'No evil shall come upon you.'" That is, go THE WRONG WAY, and there will be no penalty — no evil RESULT. They promise a good result for a wrong cause.

This 23rd chapter of Jeremiah is a prophecy about conditions in OUR TIME, NOW shortly before Christ's return as KING of kings to rule the whole earth. Notice, in verse 20: "... in the LATTER DAYS, ye shall consider it perfectly."

Continuing: God says, "I have not sent these prophets [preachers], yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they preached. But IF they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words [the words of the Bible], then they should have turned them FROM their EVIL WAYS, and FROM the evil of their DOINGS" (verses 21-22). Again, "... he that hath my Word, let him speak my Word FAITHFULLY says God (verse 28).

God's Word instructs in THE WAY of God. God's Law is GOD'S WAY. The preachers and self-appointed ministers who profess to be the ministers of Jesus Christ — who tell you God's Law is "done away" — who "work together for PEACE while condoning the WAY of transgression — THEY, SAYS YOUR GOD — are the false prophets! And they are the MANY, not the few! A deceived and misled world needs to WAKE UP!

King Ahab accused the prophet Elijah of harming Israel. He said, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" Elijah answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the ETERNAL, and thou hast followed Baalim" (I Kings 18:17-18).

They persecuted and killed the true prophets. Then they persecuted and killed the greatest Prophet of all — Jesus Christ. AND WHY? Because they proclaimed God's truth faithfully. Because they showed the people THEIR SINS.

WHY do they accuse ME? Simply because I, my son Garner Ted Armstrong, and this whole WORK OF GOD PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD FAITHFULLY — because we DO cry aloud and lift up our voices, and SHOW THE PEOPLE THEIR SINS! The false ministers MUST either accuse us of THEIR guilt, or stand branded by the very WORD OF GOD as false ministers! So they accuse!

From beginning to end, your BIBLE puts the emphasis on OBEDIENCE to GOD'S WAY of life — the WAY to peace, happiness, and eternal life as God's gift.

As soon as God created the first man on earth, "The Eternal God COMMANDED the man, saying ..." (Genesis 2:16). But what happened? Satan came along. The man DISOBEYED God's Command. He specifically disobeyed FOUR of the Ten Commandments. He obeyed Satan, and thus had another god before the true God. He dishonored his only Parent, God his Creator. He COVETED what was not his, and he STOLE what belonged to God and was specially forbidden him. RESULT? Curses, sorrow, suffering, and DEATH (Gen. 3:17-19). He followed the WRONG WAY, and it produced a WRONG RESULT!

Humanity degenerated, until in less than 2,000 years only ONE man was righteous, going the RIGHT WAY, obeying God, and that was Noah (Gen. 6:9). If any other had been obedient, he would have been SAVED in the ark. God spared Noah's wife, sons and their wives because of Noah's obedience.

In two generations after the flood, Ni**od "emancipated" the people from God's government — God's Laws — God's WAY. Then, seven generations later, once again there was ONE MAN on earth who OBEYED God. BECAUSE of this faithful OBEDIENCE, God gave Abraham the PROMISES on which all the national wealth and prosperity of the United States and the British Commonwealth nations were based — as well as the PROMISES on which the spiritual SALVATION for YOU and the whole world rest.

And God confirmed and RE-promised these greatest of all PROMISES to Abraham's son Isaac, "BECAUSE that Abraham OBEYED my voice, and kept my charge, MY COMMANDMENTS, my statutes, and MY LAWS (Gen. 26:5).

The whole test of the nation Israel was one of OBEDIENCE — of being willing to live God's WAY — the WAY to peace, happiness, wealth, and all good things. To them, God said, "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven images ... Ye shall keep MY Sabbaths, ... IF ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and DO THEM, then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase ... and I will give you PEACE ... (Lev. 26:1-6). These material blessings, individual and national, would follow. It was a matter of CAUSE and EFFECT. A matter of A WAY that produced the desired RESULT. The people of Israel wanted the RESULT, but, later, they REBELLED against going THE WAY of that desired result.

Jesus Christ came teaching GOD'S WAY. He said, THINK NOT that I am come to destroy the law ..." — so the whole world thinks He DID come to destroy it! The whole world rebels. It defiantly goes the opposite WAY. Then tries to eliminate the penalty. That's why this world is SICK and in CHAOS! Jesus magnified God's Law — enlarged upon it. Jesus said "... fear him which is able to DESTROY both SOUL and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). So the false prophets teach, and the world believes, the soul CANNOT be destroyed, but will burn forever in "hell."

One came and asked Jesus: "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus told him what to DO — KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS, naming specifically half of them (Matthew 19:16-19). So the false ministers teach, and the people believe, we must NOT "keep the Commandments." Again, Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Mat. 7:21). So the false prophets say that if you DO God's will, as expressed in His Law, you will be under a CURSE and go to hell.

The apostle Paul taught the Gentiles that God's "Law is HOLY, and the commandment holy, and just, and GOOD," and that "the Law is SPIRITUAL" (Romans 7:12, 14). The false ministers teach that the Law is harsh, contrary to our best interests, and a yoke of bo***ge. Thus they lead the people into SIN! Paul taught Gentiles "For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but THE DOERS of the Law shall be justified" (Romans 2:13). So the false leaders teach, and the people believe, that THE DOERS of the Law are under a curse of damnation. Paul said, "Do we then MAKE VOID THE LAW through faith? God forbid: yea, we ESTABLISH THE LAW." (Rom. 3:31). So the blind leaders of the blind say, we DO make the Law of God VOID by faith — we do NOT establish it we ABOLISH it!

And on and on it goes.

Not long ago, two great leaders of the world sat together in conference in the Presidential suite of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. One was the leader of the world's most powerful and prosperous nation. The other a great world-acclaimed religious leader. They talked about working together FOR PEACE. But neither teaches the world THE WAY, and THE ONLY WAY to world PEACE! They seek to PREVENT the natural RESULT, or PENALTY, of a world going the WRONG WAY — a world in REBELLION against God and His LAWS OF PEACE. That result is present strife, war, violence, and threat of war. They work for a right RESULT, while tacitly APPROVING this world's (Satan's) WAY, which destroys peace and produces violence and war! War is simply THE PENALTY of broken LAW. When will the "great" statesmen and religious leaders wake up to that fact?

Yes, this world treats the RESULT, seeks to relieve or abolish THE PENALTY of broken LAW, while continuing to transgress Law and produce more penalties.

But the Laws of God are INEXORABLE! You break God's Laws, and they will BREAK YOU! What is SIN? Sin is the transgression of LAW. When Christ comes in all POWER and GLORY, to RULE ALL NATIONS with divine WORLD GOVERNMENT, He will FORCE this world to be HAPPY — to have PEACE — to become universally prosperous. Yes, it will require divine power and FORCE TO COMPEL a hostile world, rebellious against Authority and right Law, to find peace, happiness, joy — and ETERNAL LIFE.

Of course no one can EARN eternal life. That comes by God's grace, as His free GIFT. But God has laid down conditions: REPENTANCE, and FAITH!

Yes, you can tell, if you want to, WHO are the false prophets! "
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Those in contradiction are sinning. We need to REPENT and get back on Track!

Hear what God says!!

We Must acknowledge the Apostle.

[37] If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
[38] But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

(I Corinthians 14:37-38 [KJV])

And to Acknowledge the Apostle and what he wrote TO THE END!

For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; (II Corinthians 1:13 [KJV])

Just because the Apostle is not here in the flesh, what Jesus Christ has instructed through him applies.

[1] For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea(THE SAME MESSAGE AND INSTRUCTION APPLIES to us NOW and to the Laodicean Era Later), and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
[2] That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
[3] In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
[4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
[5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
[6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
[7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
[9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

(Colossians 2:1-9 [KJV])

[21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
[22] Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
[23] Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
[24] Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
[25] And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
[26] These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
[27] But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
[28] And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
[29] If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

(I John 2:21-29 [KJV])

There a literature being read by many, are we one of them? Do we have these books of Magic, dragons, and occult flavor in it? Are we interested in such things? Beware, It's a door The Devil has a key to. What did the first century Christian do concerning the books of Magic and sorcery and such?

Acts 19:18-20
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19 Many of them also which used curious arts(strongs G4020) brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Strong's Dictionary
G4021
Original: περίεργος
Transliteration: periergos
Phonetic: per-ee'-er-gos

Thayer Definition:

busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters
especially busy about other folks' affairs, a busybody
of things: impertinent and superfluous
of magic arts
(Interestingly, this includes frivolous literature that does not build up Right Character, nor educates you. But most importantly, it includes literature of magic, dragons, and witches, wizards, sorcery etc etc. are we indulging in witchcraft? If we are letting that in our minds and homes, Satan has a key to your home! A key inside to your family. And once we give it to Satan the Devil, is it God's? Repent, and turn from your ways. )

Spiritism Fraud... or Fact?
By Herbert W Armstrong
Good News Magazine, August 1984

Can men actually communicate with departed spirits? What about the witch of Endor? What does the Bible say of spiritism?Is there anything to spiritism?

Granted, there is trickery and deception. Houdini, one of the greatest trick artists of modern times, exposed numerous frauds. So also have Thurston, Walsh, Gearson and many another. Some leading spiritists have been convicted of plain dishonesty or common fraud and imprisoned.
Yet not all spiritism is fraud or sleight of hand!
When all the frauds, the tricks, the deceptions are carefully and scientifically sifted out, there remains something to be accounted for — some real SUPERNATURAL EVENTS that cannot be explained away!

Wicked spirits in control

Whether or not human beings like to admit it, the Bible plainly teaches that supernatural powers control and operate this world. The apostle Paul was inspired to write that human beings must struggle "against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places" (Ephesians 6:12, Authorized Version, marginal reading).
Jesus Christ never contested Satan's claim that all the nations of the world were his. Said Satan: "All this authority" — the control of the nations–"I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours" (Luke 4:6-7).
Little wonder, then, that spiritism should be manifest in a world controlled and operated by wicked spirits in high places!
Modern spiritism had its birth at Hydesville, N.Y., in 1848. It began with the famous Rochester knockings heard by the Fox sisters. Now, spiritism has obtained millions of followers. It is a RELIGION masquerading under the name of Christianity.
Spiritism is based on the devil's first recorded lie! The devil has continued to deceive millions into believing that the dead can talk with the living!

The dead cannot talk with the living

Notice what Jesus said about the dead: "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves WILL HEAR His voice and come forth … to the resurrection" (John 5:28-29).
The dead cannot communicate with the living!
But the DEVIL must perpetuate his lie! He must make it appear that the dead can communicate with the living. That is why the manifestations of spiritism exist–to perpetuate a lie!
Spiritism is a work of DARKNESS! Paul warns us, "Have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of DARKNESS, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:11).
Millions of dollars have been filched from unthinking people who have lost loved ones and who have sought to contact them in the DARKNESS of spiritist seances. GOD'S blessings come without price. But it costs money to fellowship spiritism's DARKNESS!
Extorting money from innocent victims on behalf of the dead is a RACKET ALMOST 6,000 YEARS OLD! The racket is controlled by Satan the devil. Spiritism, however, is not its only form. This racket even manifests itself in powerful denominations. Sorrowing relatives are asked to pay to relieve their loved ones from suffering supposedly occurring on the other side of death!

Two kinds of angels

Since not all spiritism is trickery, and since the dead CANNOT communicate with the living, then what power causes the phenomena of spiritism?
Remember that this world is controlled by SUPERNATURAL SPIRIT POWERS. Satan is called the ruler of this world in three distinct scriptures–John 12:31, 14:30 and 16:11. He is the god of this age whom the world worships in ignorance! Paul said, "The god of this world [or "age"] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (II Corinthians 4:4, AV).
The Bible reveals that there are only two classes of spirit beings created by God. Man is NOT spirit. He is mortal flesh. Paul wrote of man, "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (I Corinthians 15:53).
Here are the two classes of spirits:
1) Obedient angels of God. Paul wrote: "But to which of the angels has He ever said: 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool'? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:13-14). Obedient angels are spirits sent to minister to mortal, fleshly human beings who are heirs to salvation–heirs to immortality!
2) Demons or fallen angels, subject to the princely authority of Satan the devil. Satan is the "ruler of the demons" (Mark 3:22). We read of Satan and his angels in Revelation 12:9, AV: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." The apostle Peter wrote of them: "For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment" (II Peter 2:4).
The two classes of created spirit beings are both angels. The only difference is that one class is obedient, the other class DISOBEDIENT.
The spirits manifesting themselves through spiritism are of the second class–WICKED spirits.

Cause of demon possession

The demons manifest their powers in various ways — sometimes in the darkness of spiritist seances, sometimes through possessing the mental and physical attributes of human beings. This latter form is often termed demon possession. There are several interesting cases recorded in the Bible. Turn to Acts 16:16-18 and notice one example:
"Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortunetelling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, 'These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit,'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And he came out that very hour."
Notice that evil spirits can possess the mental and vocal faculties of human beings. They impersonate or pretend that they are human beings. They often manifest their powers in connection with religion to deceive innocent victims or to bring reproach upon the name of God by their misconduct, as in the example of Acts 16.
In other instances they utilize human faculties in a violent manner. Institutions for the insane are filled with helpless human beings possessed with spirits of violence. Notice the example found in Matthew 8:28-32:
"When He [Jesus] had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, 'What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?' Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, 'If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.' And He said to them, 'Go.' So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water."
Here is an example of the power of evil spirits–the very evil spirits impersonating lost loved ones in spiritist seances.
God condemned spiritism centuries ago. Here are His words: "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, AV).
A familiar spirit is a particular spirit who associates itself with a spiritist medium, who is usually a woman. A familiar spirit is often called a guide because it guides or controls the seance for the medium. A wizard is a male human being who acts as an instrument of wicked spirits.
In this verse in Leviticus, God warns His people not to attribute divine power to women or men who act as slaves of evil spirits, not to regard what they say. We are to regard what God says and to attribute power to HIM! He is the Eternal your God!

Spiritism condemned in Bible

Again, notice God's condemnation of spiritism in Deuteronomy 18:9-12, AV:
"When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 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 [the gentiles] out from before thee."
Spiritism is an ABOMINATION to God. He drove out the gentiles in the days of Joshua for permitting spiritism.
And the same punishment is coming upon our nations for permitting spiritism and its kindred arts to flourish!
Notice that God condemns the witch, a woman who pretends to contact the "spirit" of a beloved one who has recently died — and a consulter of familiar spirits, usually a woman who contacts a particular spirit for information–and a wizard and a necromancer, one who professes to predict the future by the art of communicating with the dead.
These are all forms of spiritism. All these forms are condemned by God Almighty. Spiritism is evil. It is a direct instrumentality of the DEVIL. Because it is so evil, God condemns those who practice spiritism and those who seek to contact the dead in its seances!
God means business. It is a question of following spiritism and rejecting eternal life or of rejecting spiritism and obeying God in order to receive eternal life.
Spiritism perpetuates the devil's lie that the dead are not really dead. God says we must come to HIM to OBTAIN eternal life: "For the wages of sin is DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Spiritism is condemned as one of the products of human carnality–as a fruit of the flesh. Paul wrote: "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; OF WHICH I TELL YOU BEFOREHAND, JUST AS I ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD" (Galatians 5:19-21).

Saul's experience with a witch

One of the most noted portions of Scripture–yet one of the least understood–is the case of Saul and the witch at Endor. This story is found in I Samuel 28. Notice verse 3 of this chapter: "Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and BURIED HIM IN RAMAH, in his own city." Notice that Samuel was dead and buried. He was not alive.
Continuing: "And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land. Then the Philistines gathered together … when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord DID NOT ANSWER HIM, either by dreams or by Urim [through the high priest] or by the prophets" (verses 3-6).
God would not listen to Saul. Saul had been disobedient. Samuel had been inspired to tell Saul, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft" (I Samuel 15:23).
What did Saul do? "Then Saul said to his servants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.' And his servants said to him, 'In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at Endor' " (I Samuel 28:7).
Remember that Samuel was buried in Ramah, located in the territory belonging to the tribe of Ephraim (I Samuel 1:1, 19). But the Philistines and Saul were now near Lake Galilee, in Mount Gilboa, near Endor, about 50 miles from the place in which Samuel was buried.
The night before the battle "Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, 'Please conduct a seance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you' " (I Samuel 28:8).
Saul sinned by seeking a witch. If God would not answer Saul by a prophet because of Saul's disobedience in government administration, how much more would God refuse to answer Saul by a prophet when Saul sought to a witch! Remember that Samuel was a prophet(Acts 13:20) and a judge (I Samuel 7:6, 15-17). And God would not use a prophet to answer Saul!
In other words, God would not use Samuel the prophet to answer Saul; neither would God use any other means, for that matter. God absolutely refused to listen to Saul because of his rebellious attitude.
But notice what happened: "Then the woman said, 'Whom shall I bring up for you?' " (I Samuel 28:11). Notice that the woman spirit medium claimed to contact the dead by supernaturally bringing them up from the grave through the familiar spirit. This form was practiced in times past when the people believed that the dead were in their graves. Today spirit mediums have the familiar spirit produce a voice from the air, because it is commonly believed today that the dead are not in their graves but somewhere else!
Saul replied to the woman, "Bring up Samuel for me."

The spirit masquerades as Samuel

Instead of the familiar spirit appearing first, and then the visionary form of a dead person, the woman saw first a form that looked exactly like Samuel!
"When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, 'Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!' And the king said to her, 'Do not be afraid. What did you see?' " (I Samuel 28:12-13).
Notice that the familiar spirit did not manifest itself first at Saul's seance. Instead, the familiar spirit produced the form of Samuel that ONLY THE WOMAN SAW! Saul did not see it! He asked the woman what she saw!
"And the woman said to Saul, 'I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.' " This is an incorrect translation. The word translated "spirit" is elohim in the Hebrew. It can mean either the true God, pagan gods or judges. In Exodus 22:8-9, the Hebrew word elohim is translated judges. In I Samuel 28:13, the verse should have been translated, "I saw a judge ascending out of the earth." This is proved by what follows: "So he said to her, 'What is his form?' And she said, 'An old man is coming 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 down" (verse 14).

A deception

Notice that Saul still did NOT see anyone! He only perceived by reasoning from what the woman said that the form the woman saw was that of Samuel!
Here we have a perfect illustration of the impersonation of human beings by evil spirits. The familiar spirit produced an illusion that only the woman saw. To her the illusion was that of a judge rising out of the earth. Remember that Samuel was actually buried about 50 miles away, not at Endor where the seance was occurring! Samuel was not resurrected. The whole thing was a SUPERNATURAL FRAUD! While impersonating Samuel, the spirit spoke to King Saul thus: "Now Samuel said to Saul, 'Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?' " Notice the lying spirit. Satan lied to Eve in a similar manner.
"And Saul answered, 'I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and GOD HAS DEPARTED FROM ME AND DOES NOT ANSWER ME ANYMORE, NEITHER BY PROPHETS NOR BY DREAMS. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.' "
The spirit continued to impersonate Samuel by reprimanding Saul for all his evil deeds. Finally the spirit concluded by saying: "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines" (verse 19).
How did the spirit know what was to happen? Because God often makes His plans known to evil spirits! Notice I Kings 22:22-23 and II Chronicles 18:21-22. God permitted "lying spirits" to know His plans.
God rules over all. But He has allowed Satan and his demons to control and influence this entire world. The familiar spirit of the witch at Endor must have known that God would deliver Saul that next day. So it told Saul what would happen in order that its impersonation of Samuel might seem real!

Saul's punishment

Now read what happened to Saul because he inquired about the future from a spirit medium: "So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse" (I Chronicles 10:13-14).
That is exactly how serious God regards spiritism! He took the life of Saul for seeking information at a seance!
In His revelation to John, Jesus warns us of the growing influence of wicked spirits. The control of these wicked spirits, described in Revelation 16:13-16, will lead to ARMAGEDDON!
TODAY we are warned, "Do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God" (I John 4:1). We need to prove whether spirits are good or evil.
Notice what Isaiah wrote: "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:19-20).

Evil spirits pretend to bring light

The spirits who masquerade as human beings at spiritist seances pretend to bring LIGHT and knowledge.
Here is what Paul wrote of them: "For such [ministers who pretend to serve Jesus Christ] are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! FOR SATAN HIMSELF TRANSFORMS HIMSELF INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" (II Corinthians 11:13-15).
James tells us what to do when the influence of wicked spirits is present: "Therefore submit to God. RESIST THE DEVIL and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
You must not obey the devil by yielding to his temptations. Instead, ask God for help. Refuse to yield to satanic influence. Submit to God's correction. Let Him guide you.
The most important chapter in all the Bible relating to our combat with evil spirits is found in Ephesians 6, beginning with verse 10. Here is what we read:
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in high places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand … stand therefore, having girded your waist with TRUTH"–Jesus said the truth shall make us free (John 8:32). God's Word — the Bible–is truth. We need to understand it.
Continuing in Ephesians 6:14: "Having put on the breastplate of righteousness"–righteousness is defined as keeping all God's commandments (Psalm 119:172). "And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace"–we must all work, that the good news of the Kingdom of God may reach the whole world.
"Above all, taking the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" — absolute trust in God for deliverance despite all obstacles–"and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of God"–use the Bible to know what to do and what to resist. The Word of God is the only sword that can vanquish evil spirits, and that can help you overcome sin and produce self-mastery!
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints"–don't slack off in praying, don't become negligent.
PRAY with perseverance, not only for yourself, but for all those whom God has called (Ephesians 6:15-18).
We are all in this battle together! It is a titanic struggle.
Our eternal life depends upon whether we overcome the temptations of the devil and submit to the rule, the AUTHORITY, of God over our lives. It is high time we recognized the evil powers that manifest themselves through spiritism!