Was asked about a person seein' an alledged "dead" relative who showed up in his room.

We've actually been witnessing to and praying for Tom. We love him. Off the cuff... I responded to Jim who asked about Tom (who said he saw this. Not the real names here). I think the Bible remains silent on that issue about dead relatives popping up in a room. Samuel allegedly appeared to King Saul with his witch-friend at a town called Endor. Most pastors have no clue about if that was really Samuel that Saul saw ..even though Saul called him Samuel. The result of this so called visit from Samuel caused tremendous fear instead of peace for Saul and he was in clear disobedience in going to the witch for the reason that he did.
 
I also said.. perhaps the person who saw this had a mere dream while sleeping ..or that perhaps came from God ..or from a spicy dinner or whatever. Maybe this came from those meds that are causing Tom to have illusions. Perhaps it was a familar Spirit (a demon) who knew the family history and habits of Tom and his relative.

 

But what does God, through His Scripture, say about visions and appearances of the dead to the living? Should we spend time talking with the dead? I say no and we shouldn't pray to them if they alledgedly show up or not because there is only one mediator between man and God and that is Christ Jesus.

 

Here is where the Israelites were warned against this kinda thing, even though they multiple times turned away from God in this very negative way. God warned...

 

"When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 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 who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so" (Deut. 18:9-14).

 

Saul, started out pretty well from all outward appearances. He even expelled mediums and spiritists from the land, but then he went and violated God's word by consulting a medium/witch (1 Sam. 28:3-25). He was in fear and his end was tragic (1 Sam. 31:1-6), but Israel ended up getting a better king in David. knowgod.org