Awesome Truths and Amazing Facts
Richard Vaughn

Today: Are the Dead Really Dead? Part 3
Last week we clearly showed from God’s Word that the dead are in an unconscious state. Today we will show that those who believe the dead are alive become easy targets for Satan’s deceptions. The lie Satan told Eve was that “Ye shalt not surely die.” Gen. 3:4. Contradicting what God stated in Gen. 2:17. The question is WHY did the devil lie to Eve about death? The subject is more important than many think. It is one of the cornerstones of Satan’s kingdom. He has worked many powerful deceptive miracles for thousands of years through people who claim to receive their power from spirits of the dead. Examples: Magicians of Egypt Ex. 7:11; The witch at Endor 1 Samuel 28:3-5; Sorcerers in Daniel 2:2; A certain damsel in Acts 16:16-18. We are warned in Revelation 18:23 that Satan will again use sorcery to deceive the world. “…for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” Dear reader sorcery is a supernatural agency that claims to receive its power from the spirits of the dead. Have nothing to do with fortune-tellers, psychics and mediums, for they are plugged into the occult of Satan. Christians sorely displease God with such fraternization. Satan and his angels can appear as a deceased loved one, looking like and talking like that deceased individual. And with that deception they can deceive the person who actually talked to who they thought was a loved one. They can actually appear as apostles or apparent angels of God. 1 Corinthians 11:13,14 “…transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Question: Do devils really work miracles? Again we turn to God’s word for the truth. Revelation 16:14 “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles…” Jesus even warned in Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Yes they do work miracles, incredibly convincing miracles, Revelation 13:13,14 “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do…”
Satan will even impersonate Christ Himself and there will be a universal feeling that it is really Jesus leading out in a fantastic worldwide revival. The entire emphasis will be so spiritual and so supernatural that only God’s elect will not be deceived.
Question: Why will God’s elect not be deceived? Acts 17:11 “…they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” And in Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” The time is coming when no Christian will be able to trust their senses. For over six thousand years Satan has been making a study of mankind and no person with a finite mind is any match for his tricks. Here we are living in the last sliver of time, with probation soon to end, just as it did in Noah’s day. People are busy, and caught up in so many diversions, that they no longer have time to read God’s Word. Our only safety is in diligent Bible study and a correct understanding of God’s Word. People will know from their earnest study of His book that the dead are dead, not alive. Therefore, God’s people will reject all miracle workers and teachers who claim to receive special “light” or work miracles by contacting the dead. And God’s people will reject as dangerous and false, all teachings that claim the dead are alive in any form anywhere.
In Moses’ day God showed how He regarded those who claimed to be able to contact the dead (familiar spirits). Leviticus 20:27 “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones”.
Will the righteous people who are raised in the resurrection ever die again? Luke 20:35,36 “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead,… Neither can they die any more.” And in Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Half the people on earth believe in reincarnation. But on the basis of what we have already read, God’s Word puts that lie to eternal sleep. Next week we will answer thought questions on this most important subject. 
Next Week: “Today: Are the Dead Really Dead? Part 4”