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A Deeper Popularity Of Necromancy We're all probably familiar with the term whispered by the child star of "Sixth Sense": "I see dead people." The phrase is enough to make one cringe if one realizes what life and death are all about according to God's word. But, the "hope" expressed in those four little words is now being promoted on a wider basis as the seeking hearts of those "left behind" want to know what happened to those who have passed on, and worry about unresolved issues between them. John Edwards is the host of a show called "Crossing Over" on the CBS television network. His most telling attribute is sincerity and gentleness. Psychically, he is a mediator between the living and the dead. The show centers around Edwards being the medium between people in the audience and those who have "crossed over." How popular is he? According to what I've read on the web, he's no longer taking appointments and there is a three year waiting period to get one. In Australia, he is so popular that it's difficult to find his books and almost impossible to purchase his tapes. In the late sixties, as a child in Long Island, New York, Edwards would "know" things about relatives who died even before his birth, and he also had out-of-the-body experiences. These experiences were supported by his family and his abilities were considered to be "a gift." Lydia Clar, another psychic who had her abilites from childhood, was the first to point out and encourage Edwards concerning his gift during a "reading." Edwards' popularity has grown through his appearances on popular talks shows, including many times on Larry King, and also on shows such as Leeza, Sally, Entertainment Tonight, Roseanne, and several others. In the 90s, he was often a guest on radio talk shows, doing readings for callers. Success in the past few years has increased the demand for his books, which often made the New York Times Best Seller's list. Books he has published are "Crossing Over," "One Last Time," "What If God Were The Sun (a novel)," "Developing Your Own Psychic Powers," "Unleashing Your Psychic Potential," and "Understanding Your Angels And Meeting Your Guides." He now has television shows in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. The underlying foundation of Edwards' show is the reconciliation of relationships, "making peace" with those who have passed on, by bringing forgiveness from those who have crossed over to the hearts of those who have been left behind. The overall message is this: that there is life after death, and those who have "gone before" now dwell in a peaceful place and are happy and at peace. On September 16, 2002, a new television series of this same nature, titled "Beyond With James Van Praagh," will premiere on CBS. Van Praagh, the psychic medium around whom the show will revolve, also has a three year waiting list for personal readings. He has three Best Sellers on the New York Times best-selling list: "Talking to Heaven," "Reaching to Heaven," and "Healing Grief." His series was nationally promoted through appearances by Van Praagh himself and TV star Ted Danson on the Larry King show, and through a miniseries that just ended starring Danson titled "Living With The Dead." The title is intriguing; it is not "Talking To The Dead," but "Living With The Dead." The title means what it says: some of the dead are still here and they want to communicate with the living through mediums and "gifted" individuals. Van Praagh's series "Beyond" will delve into explaining people's paranormal experiences and attempt to resolve differences between the living and the dead. Part of the show will deal with open criminal investigations and searches for missing persons. He will also have readings with celebrities to communicate with those who have "passed on," and will host a number of experts in the field of paranormal experiences. Are the dead gathering in television studios to communicate with the living? Are these psychics hearing and feeling and seeing the presence of the dead supposedly still here in the earthly realm? Why are all the messages "received" completely positive? In every message, the dead are grateful for one's prayers, they forgive everything, they are at rest and peaceful, everything is all right, and they remain with and comfort those "left behind." They reflect the philosophy of the psychics themselves: there is no death, only life. But that's not a true message; it's only what people want to hear, and they are flocking by the millions to hear it. Sceptics have proposed that these channelers use various techniques such as "Fishing" and "Guessing." The psychic asks questions or makes suggestions, and reminds his followers that the message often comes in fragments, or he doesn't quite understand what the dead are trying to relate, or he misunderstood what is being relayed. Then the follower makes his own connections with these fragments, and "gets" the message. A third technique is called "Cold Reading." It is a manipulation of the mind to get the seeker to think a certain way, making it appear that the psychic really does have a message from a dead relative. Cold Reading consists of the art of intertwining suggestion, flattery and humor to get the person thinking in the right direction. What these techniques feed on is the tremendous desire in the seeker to hear from someone on the "other side." It is the psychic's part to make enough sense out of the fragmented receptions to satisfy the heart of the seeker. This process is continued until satisfaction is brought to fruition, while the "misses" are forgotten and the "hits" and "facts" bring relief to the seeker - extend the popularity of the psychic. The other source of such "power to know" about the seeker and the dead, and where the need for reconciliation lies, is demonic powers. Aspects of Edwards' and Van Praagh's "gifts" strongly indicate that these men do have special knowledge from a source outside themselves. For instance, even when he was young, Edwards experienced out-of-the-body experiences and knew things about dead relatives he never knew. And if there was any truth to Danson's portrayal of Van Praagh in the miniseries, one would have to conclude that the demonic truly does enter the picture. This area of spiritual encounter is the most dangerous, since these men also teach others to communicate with the "other realm." Biblically, we know that communication with the dead is possible because of the Lord's command against the abomination of making contact with them:
The techniques of today's necromancers have changed considerably from those in the past. In fact, one might say violent changes have been made to the Black Art of calling up the spirits of the dead. Nowadays, all one needs is a television camera and an audience, but it was not so in the days of old. If you choose to, you may read about tne convoluted rituals necessary to call up the dead in the days of yore at http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/bos195.htm - the dead have certainly become tame in our modern age. The linked article is taken from the 1960 reprint of AN ENCLYCLOPAEDIA OF OCCULTISM by Lewis Spence, University Books, Hyde Park, New York. First published in 1920, it is considered to be one of the best sources on the subject. Donning's International Encyclopdic Psychic Dictionary says of Necromancy, "(Latin necromantia, 'divination by corpses') (Tibet, Greece, Arabia, Old Testament Bible) to perceive PSYCHIC INFORMATION with the help of the ETHERIC WORLD INTELLIGENCE for guidance, protection, and prophecy; used for professional, public and private purposes." Modern "Christianity" also supports necromancy through purported dreams and visions, such as that related concerning benny Hinn (see http://www.pfo.org/bhnecro.htm ). The Catholic system has long approved the communication between the living and dead through prayer to saints, especially to "Mary" through her statues and other paraphenalia, who then sometimes appear or manifest signs and wonders and healings. Many of the Catholic devotions came from spirits posing as "Jesus" to promote new medals or scapulars or statues. Necromancy is alive and with us today, and is increasing as the man-in-the-street sees it as a plausable source of answers to life and the hereafer. But God has spoken clearly: "There shall not be found among you any one that . . . useth . . . a Necromancer" (Deut 18:10-11). Why? Simply because "all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD" (v. 12). God's words says such practices are an abomination to Him. In both testaments, we have been warned of such practices that try to make God's word irrelevant for today. Surely there is mediation between living men and other living men when problems arise, but the modern necromancers are mediators between the living and the dead. In the spiritual realm, there is only one true Mediator, and He is Mediator between living men and God:
They are places. When men die, they go to either one place or the other. They do not remain to roam the earth, but wait in either place until the final judgment. What they have done in the body is finalized by death. Whether their spirit is in heaven or hell, there is no coming back to comfort or forgive those "left behind." Only Jesus came down from heaven, and that in the flesh. He died for all men that they might believe on Him and be saved from their unforgiveness, that they might comfort others in this life as they have been comforted, and that, in believing in Christ, they would know everything is "all right" hetween man and God. Deceptions are rampant today, and more of them are entering the public arena with great power. These deceptions attempt to discredit the word of God by proposing that another message and another spirit have answers that bring peace to the soul. For the last decade, the movie business has promoted the idea that the restless spirits of the dead are roaming the earth seeking peace so they can go on to the "other side." Now cable television is serving up a constant menu of such things. They wouldn't televise such programs if they were not accepted and watched and sanctioned by the viewing public. If half of these stories and events and experiences are true, it can only mean we are experiencing a flood of demonic spirits pulling the wool over the eyes of a hungry-for-answers public that results in men placing their hopes in yet another false gospel. The false, the lie, is soooooo public now and has been so beautified as to draw millions of followers. Deception is reaching its peak and it is going to have great consequences in the future. In the world, the catalysts for peace and unity are forgiveness and reconciliation in the natural realm. Governments promote forgiveness and reconciliation on a large scale, and so does the pope. But that is between those living on earth. Add to that a supposed reconciliation and peace between the dead and the living, and one wonders what it may lead to. One thought is that it could lead to a wider acceptance of and communication with an anti-christian spiritual hierarchy that wants to give us guidance on how to reconcile the world, eliminate hindrances, and bring the long-desired unity and peace for which the world now intensly strives. It is quite possible that the acceptance of the practices of the modern necromancers could easily evolve into this deeper communication with ungodly spirits. Scripture indicates that such practices will be widespread at the end of the age. What all of this should bring forth in us is the power of Paul's words, and his intensity towards sharing with the world the life we have in God:
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