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68 covered with a mantle." The Scriptures then say, "Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself’ (verses 9-14). Was this really Samuel? Some teach that this wasn't really Samuel, but a demon cloaked as Samuel -- a Satanic illusion or "ghost." God was not answering Saul at all (I Sam.28:6), but in this instance, apparently he permitted the spirit of Samuel to meet with Saul. Why do I say this? Because the Scripture goes on, explaining, plainly, “And Samuel said to Saul, why have you disquieted me, to bring me up?” (v.15). Saul told him that God wasn’t answering his prayers, so we read, further, “Then said SAMUEL, Wherefore then dost thou ask of ME, seeing the LORD is departed from thee?” (v.16). Samuel then told Saul that he would perish at the hands of the Philistines. And in verse 20 we read, “Then Saul fell straightway all along the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of SAMUEL... .” The Scripture states unequivocally, three times, that it really was Samuel who appeared to the witch and who conversed with king Saul. Obviously, therefore God allowed this to happen. How could it be, since the dead are dead, until the resurrection? The answer involves a proper understanding of the “spirit within man.” Write for our free articles, “Is There Really Life After Death?”, “What Is the Spirit in Man?”, and “Saul and the Witch of Endor.” Here was a clear case where a witch, or dealer in sorcery, was given the power to bring back Samuel on this occasion, because God allowed it to happen, to teach Saul a lesson. Similarly, even the ancient false prophet Balaam had the Holy Spirit come upon him and compel him to prophecy the truth about Israel (see Numbers 22-24). Having a degree of spiritual truth and understanding, clearly, does not validate the message or method of a medium or "witch." Nor does the ability to "know" the occult, or ancient history, or even the future. Such knowledge is clearly available to those who wish to consult lying spirits and the demonic world, which God condemns as an abomination. God says: "Regard not them that have familiar spirits [e.g.. Jeane Dixon, Ruth Montgomery, Edgar Cayce, who mix truth with error, which is a poisonous brew], neither seek after wizards, to be DEFILED BY THEM: I am the Lord" (Lev.19:31). "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exo.22:18). The word for "witch" in Hebrew is kashaph and means "to whisper a wo mo spell, i.e.., to enchant or practice magic," "sorcerer," "witch." God commands, moreover, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, OR THAT USETH DIVINATION, or an observer of times (astrological "signs"), or an enchanter, or a WITCH, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an ABOMINATION unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth DRIVE THEM OUT from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect [upright, sincere] with the Lord thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto OBSERVERS OF TIMES, and unto DIVINERS: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do" (WN 2-8 10210 1 AN (Deut.18:10-14). End-Time Satanic Counterfeits