First, the spirit was 'ascending out of the earth.' Those who believe that when you die, your spirit goes up to heaven have to ask themselves, 'why was Samuel's spirit coming up from the earth, rather than down from heaven?' There are some key details that must not be overlooked. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished n evermore will they have a share i n anything done under the sun.' In other words, for sure we know it couldn't be Samuel, because when we die, we 'know nothing.' (For more information on what happens when we die, see our topic on Death). The Bible says, ' For the living know that they will die b ut the dead know nothing, a nd they have no more reward, f or the memory of them is forgotten. Was the spirit conjured up by the medium a genuine agent of God? Was it actually the deceased prophet Samuel - or was it a spirit imposter? Shortly after his visit to the witch, the king was wounded in battle and took his own life rather than being captured by the enemy.

I will cut him off from his people.' The end result of King Saul's quest was tragic. Saul should have known better than to consult with a medium, for God had warned in Leviticus 20:6, 'I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them. What did you see?' And the woman said to Saul, 'I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.' 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.'' (1 Samuel 28:13-14. 'And the king said to her, 'Do not be afraid. Saul then asked the medium to conjure up the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel, to ask his counsel regarding the pending Philistine attack. And he said, вЂњPlease conduct a sГ©ance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.вЂќ (1 Samuel 28:8 NKJV). ' So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him and they came to the woman by night. Saul was in rebellion against God and in desperation sought the services of the spiritist. The armies of Israel were about to be attacked by the Philistines. King Saul of Israel sought counsel from a medium called the Witch of Endor. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.' (Deuteronomy 18:9-12 NIV) Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 'When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. God warned the children of Israel against becoming involved in these practices just prior to their entry into the Promised Land of Canaan.

Spiritists and mediums were common among the pagan peoples of the Bible lands.

Channelers claim that the messages received represent divine wisdom and truth, and have beneficial value for mankind. The spirit guides are said to sometimes wear white robes and often radiate brilliant, golden-white light. Sometimes the medium will have a vision in which he or she sees the spirit in a visible form, manifested in the imagination faculties of the mediumвЂ™s consciousness. It is claimed that the telepathic communications come from highly evolved spirit beings existing in the normally invisible realms of the spirit dimension. Experienced mediums can enter into a trance state whereby the spirit entity takes direct control over the medium's voice, speaking through it in an accent quite distinct from the medium's normal mode of speech. These manifest themselves as a вЂњthought voice,вЂќ which is perceived in the stillness of the mediumвЂ™s mind. This mildly altered state of consciousness enables the channeler to psychically perceive spirit messages. Most modern channelers learn the art through the practice of Eastern meditation. 'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.'Д«rowse: What does the Bible say about ghosts? Modern channelersД¬hanneling is a method of trying to communicate with the spirit world that has existed since antiquity. What does God say about mediumship? It's in the Bible, Leviticus 19:31 NIV. A channeler is a mystic who becomes a channel, or receptive agent, for intelligent communications coming from the spirit world.

Does god have a name