Summary: The Bible says we wrestle against demons (Ephesians 6:12) that are fallen angels, Revelation 12:7. Many believers are unsuspecting because of false teaching that when we die we go to heaven, but the Bible teaches “the dead know not anything,” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and there will be a resurrection.; 1Thess 4:16. Going to a places where contact with the dead is made is as dangerous as Eve talking to the devil at the tree in Genesis 3.
The teaching that man is conscious in death, and the belief that spirits of the dead return to minister to the living, has prepared the way for modern spiritualism. If the dead are admitted to heaven and privileged with knowledge beyond what they possessed in this life, why should they not return to the earth to enlighten and instruct us?
Popular religionists teach that spirits of the dead hover over their friends on earth, so why shouldn't they be permitted to communicate with them, to warn them against evil, or to comfort them, especially in bereavement? How can those who believe in man's consciousness in death reject what comes to them as divine light communicated by glorified spirits?
Here is a channel through which Satan works for the accomplishment of his purposes. The fallen angels brought to view in Revelation 12:7-9 do his bidding and appear as messengers from the spirit world. While professing to bring the living into communication with the dead, the prince of evil exercises a bewitching influence upon their minds.
He has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends. The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look, the words, the tone, are reproduced with amazing accuracy. Anyone would be comforted with the assurance that their loved ones are enjoying the bliss of heaven, and without suspicion of danger, they listen "to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."
Once led to believe the dead actually return to communicate with them, Satan also causes infidels and unbelievers to appear as also in heaven, happy and even occupying exalted positions there. Thus the error is widely taught that there's no difference between the righteous and the wicked, so it doesn't matter how we live.
The pretended visitors from the spirit world sometimes utter cautions and warnings that prove correct. Then, as confidence is gained, they present teachings that directly undermine faith in the Bible. With an appearance of deep interest in the well-being of their friends on earth, they insinuate the most dangerous errors.
The fact that they state some truths, and are able at times to foretell future events, gives to their statements an appearance of reliability; and their false teachings are accepted by the multitudes as readily as if they were the most sacred truths of the Bible.
The law of God is set aside, the Spirit of grace despised, the blood of the covenant counted an unholy thing. The spirits deny the deity of Christ and place even the Creator on a level with themselves. Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God.
Many of the false teachings came from the medieval church that found financial benefit from teaching consciousness in death and praying a dead loved one out of purgatory and preying upon fears of eternal torment. For a better understanding of these issues and more in the conflict between good and evil, the reader may appreciate the information in The Great Controversy, readable online at http://www.whiteestate.org/books/gc/gc29.html
Dr. Richard Ruhling is a retired physician whose primary website is http://RichardRuhling.com and he recommends the best book on health & happiness that he has found at http://ChooseABetterDestiny.com