The Witch of Endor
We have already noted that the fallen angels at the time
of the Deluge were barred from further materialization. Since then they
have sought otherwise to influence humanity. Few would communicate with
them if they knew their real character; hence they represent themselves as
being our dead friends and relatives. As such they attempt to communicate
with the living through "mediums," who are deceived, else they
would not serve as "mediums" for demons.--Isaiah
8:19;Deuteronomy 18:9-12.
In olden times these mediums were called witches,
wizards, necromancers. They had "familiar spirits," or were
familiar with the spirits who were disobedient in the days of Noah.
God had forewarned Israel against these evil spirits and
their mediums. He said that no such mediums should be permitted to live in
the land of Israel. They might operate amongst nations not under Divine
care, but God's representative, Saul, was commanded to put to death all
such.
When King Saul got out of fellowship with God, who
refused further communications, he turned for advice to a witch at Endor,
and asked her to awaken Samuel the Prophet, who meantime had died. The
evil spirits impersonated Samuel easily enough, and the witch gave the
King messages in his name, whereas Samuel was dead and could not give or
receive messages. King Saul saw nothing; he merely received an answer from
the witch, who said she saw and heard Samuel.
The evil spirits have some way of knowing much
respecting the future. But anybody under the circumstances might have
known the fate to expect for Saul and his army. The King himself knew what
to expect. It was this that troubled him and led him to seek the witch,
contrary to the Divine command. It is not for a moment supposable that God
and Samuel, having refused to communicate with the King, would change and
permit a witch, condemned by the Divine Law, to overrule the matter.--1
Chronicles 10:13,14.
