Doctrinal Paper from the Family International

Article 13 of "The Family's Statement of Faith" states, "We believe that in addition to angelic ministering spirits, God also uses the spirits of departed saints¹ to minister to and deliver messages to His people."

This belief was advanced by David Brandt Berg (1919-1994), the founder of the Family International [the Family], as a truth revealed in the Bible and as a reality he believed God wanted His people to know more about and benefit from. Basing his views on instances recorded in Scripture where departed saints ministered to God's people, David taught that the spirits of godly people who have passed on are sometimes allowed to assist, influence, and communicate with their loved ones and other Christians left behind.

Some theologians have expressed alarm at such a notion. Others have gone so far as to decry any form of "communicating with the dead" (as they term it) as heretical. Our belief on this issue arises from study of the Scriptures and is confirmed by its authority. In this statement we will examine numerous excerpts from David Berg's writings (commonly known as the "MO Letters"), as well as passages from the Bible related to this matter.²

Before delving into the specifics of communicating with those who have passed from this life to the next, an understanding of the Family's beliefs regarding the more general themes of death, the afterlife, and the spiritual realm is essential. As you will see from his writings, David not only taught that life goes on for those who depart from this current earthly existence, but that those who have accepted Christ as their Savior continue to learn, grow, and actively serve God in the heavenly or spiritual realm.

If you think just because people have gone on to be with the Lord that their job is over, we can prove from the Bible that their job is far from complete! According to all we read in the Bible and we've experienced, we have a long way to go, and the spirit world is a heaven-of-a-lot busier than this hell on earth!

Heaven is not the end: It's only the beginning! My idea of Heaven is not floating around on a cloud strumming a harp by some gift of God! That would be my idea of death! Total inactivity, cessation of movement, total rest is total death! And it doesn't seem to be God's idea of Heaven either! His universe is full of movement, and He'll never stop!

All these people who look forward to death as the end are going to get a big surprise! Death from this life is just graduation from this grade. In the spirit you're no longer weighted with the flesh and burdened with the problems of the physical life. You've graduated from this grade of this earthly life. ("Bottles," pars. 18-22)

The Spirit World
The spiritual realm is an eternal, invisible dimension that exists concurrently with the physical world.

When the Bible talks about Heaven and the heavenly, it's usually talking about the world of the spirit; it doesn't necessarily mean some place a thousand miles high or way off somewhere in space.³

Right here you're surrounded with the realm of the spirit and a "cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). This room is full of them-isn't that wonderful? They're observing what we do and enjoying our fellowship, although there's a gulf fixed between, in a sense, and we can't rend that veil except in the spirit. The Lord can show us things and we can take a little peek in. ("Easter," par. 299)

Separation between the Physical and Spiritual Realms
Under normal circumstances a "veil" exists between the spirit world and the earthly plane in which we presently exist. However, God on occasion opens or lifts this veil in order to reveal things or give special assistance to His children.

The apostle Paul explained that our perception of the unseen world is presently somewhat obscured. Paul wrote, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then [when we leave this life, we'll see] face to face: now I know in part; then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).⁴

God wants us to believe in this spiritual work of things unseen, because of what His Word says, and to have faith in Him and Heaven and salvation purely through faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17). If we could see all that is around us in the spirit world, it would be too easy to believe.

We are usually unable to see and hear the sights and sounds of the spirit world unless we need them for some reason on some particular or special occasion, when there is a desperate need to see or to hear something to encourage our faith or to guide us or counsel us or direct us or warn us (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

You'll find in most cases, ghosts, angels, or spirits have not appeared to people unless it was something very drastic. In other words, when nothing else could stop them, when nothing else could get through to them but an audible voice or a personal appearance or touch or feeling. ("Jewels," par. 57)

[The spirits] are to remain unseen and unheard and even unfelt, except in spiritual manifestations, such as dreams and visions and the still small voices with which [they] speak within your mind and heart, so you will continue to depend entirely on [God's] Word and faith in Him without any other proofs except His constant, faithful, never-ending care, provision, and protection. ("Earth," par. 41)

The Great "Cloud of Witnesses"
The 11^th chapter of the New Testament's Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews is an inspiring account of the faith and exploits of many of the most outstanding men and women of God who appear in the Old Testament. Immediately following this listing of heroes and heroines of faith, we are told in the first verse of the next chapter, "Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).

Regarding this passage of Scripture, David wrote:

The original [manuscript of the New Testament] was not divided into chapters, so you've got to keep in mind the chapter before this in order to know what "great cloud of witnesses" he's talking about.-All the saints⁵ who have already gone on to be with the Lord! And they're not only watching us, they're praying for us! ("Race," par. 2)

Immediately after having listed [those in] God's great Hall of Fame and many of the great saints already gone to be with the Lord, [St. Paul] says: "Seeing therefore we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses!" ("Greatest," par. 38)

Think how wonderful it is that there are millions up there, all watching and praying for you, and lots of them coming down to help you! This is really where the action is! This is where the big test is going on. Once you get over there, well, there is more in store for you, but this is the primary test.-This is what the whole universe is watching, the big game! ("Race," pars. 3-4)

A striking example of this "cloud" of spiritual helpers that encompasses God's children is found in the Old Testament story of when the prophet Elisha awoke one morning to find that the king of Syria had sent "a great army" to capture him. Upon seeing thousands of enemy soldiers surrounding the city in which they dwelt, Elisha's servant panicked, until the Lord removed the veil between the spiritual and physical realms and opened his eyes to behold the far more powerful heavenly host that was at that same moment surrounding them:

And when the servant of the man of God [Elisha] was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17)

Another reference to many of these heavenly "witnesses" can be found in the following Scripture passage, where a roll is called of the inhabitants of God's great Heavenly City, New Jerusalem:

But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant. (Hebrews 12:22-24)

"Ministering Spirits"
The good spirits who compose at least part of the "cloud of witnesses" around God's children are not merely witnessing or observing our activities, but they are assigned by the Lord to actively assist and minister to those of us who are still alive here on earth.

He's got millions of angels and billions of good, saved spirits, holy spirits, holy ghosts! Every departed saint that's gone to be with the Lord-including those still working down here-is a holy ghost! ("Millennial," par. 24)

Apparently they are on assignment. They don't just drift around in space with no place to go, nothing to do, and not knowing what their specific duties are. They're all so busy! There are a lot of places where they're working, not only in this world but in the world of the spirit. ("More Ghosts," pars. 21, 39)

Look how that perpetuates the wisdom and the talents and the gifts that God has given each individual! Those marvelous talents and abilities are not lost and gone forever way off in some heavenly places. They [are used to] continue to minister. ("Ghosts," pars. 25-26)

These departed saints are obviously still extremely active agents or angels of God, messengers. ("Saints," par. 3)

God's Great "Lending Library" of Departed Saints
David envisioned these ministering spirits as a vast array of gifted personalities from all ages whom the Lord calls on and assigns to assist His children as special needs arise.

It's like a lending library of God's saints who are, you might say, arranged on heavenly shelves, and you can just pull down any one you need any time-or the Librarian can. God's the Librarian. He can hand you any one that you need at any time.

We've got the benefit now of such a tremendous collection of departed saints, men of God, great men of wisdom, administrators, kings, prophets, psalmists, and what have you! Look what a collection God's got by this time!-Of all these that have gone on to be with Him! Why, He's got people available for anything you want to know, for anything that needs to be done. ("Ghosts," pars. 66-67)

We have at our disposal the wisdom of the ages and the sages, the wisdom of all the kings and all the prophets that have ever lived. All those that have ever lived are at our disposal. What a great company!

What a great cloud of witnesses! ("More Ghosts," pars. 6-7)

The Gift of Prophecy
When the Lord speaks and gives a message through one of His followers, such inspired utterances are referred to as prophecy. Throughout the Bible the Lord spoke to His people this way, inspiring His prophets to give His words and messages to those for whom they were intended. However, it's important to understand how the biblical usage of the word "prophecy" (and its derivatives) differs from its most commonly associated modern meaning.

In its article on the role played by the biblical prophets, The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia says, "The prophets were first of all forthtellers and spokesmen for God. All who act in the capacity of proclaiming the Word of God are His spokesmen. It is in this sense that the New Testament believer may prophesy when directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit."

The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words adds,

The basic word for "prophet" in the Old Testament is nabi, which means "spokesman" or "speaker." Essentially a prophet is a person authorized to speak for another, as Moses and the Old Testament prophets were authorized to speak for God. God called individuals from every walk of life to bring His message to His people. Nor was the message of the prophets primarily predictive. God's messengers spoke whatever word was needed by the Lord's people at their moment in history.

"To prophesy" did not necessarily mean to predict the future, although this was not ruled out. But "to prophesy" meant simply to receive and then deliver a message from Heaven. It could come directly from the Lord and be Jesus Himself speaking, or it could be given indirectly through a spiritual messenger.

The literal word [for "prophesy"] in the Greek means "to forthtell," not always foretell. Prophets do a lot of foretelling, a lot of forecasting, a lot of predicting, that's true under the inspiration of God's Spirit. But the literal meaning means "to forthtell the Words of God," to simply give God's Word, whatever it may be, whenever it may be, at any time, at any place, to any people, whenever it is God's will. ("Crucifixion," par. 17)

In both the Old and New Testaments, God tells us that in the days prior to Jesus' Second Coming, a period known in Scripture as the "Time of the End," or the "Last Days," that He is going to pour out His Spirit in a special way, anointing many of His servants to prophesy. He says:

And it shall come to pass in the Last Days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18, as referring to Joel 2:28-29)

When we ask the Lord to fill us with His Holy Spirit, we can then receive what the Bible calls the "gifts of the Spirit." These are special spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit to strengthen and assist us in many different ways. The gift of prophecy is included among the nine categories of gifts listed in the New Testament's First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians:

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

The Bible also tells us that the gift of prophecy in particular should be desired and sought after by God's people. We are encouraged to desire this spiritual gift, and to let God speak to us and through us via prophecy.

Follow after charity [love], and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. I would that ye all spake with tongues [another spiritual gift, usually manifested during prayer, when someone speaks in a language he or she does not know], but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the Church may receive edifying. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5, 39)

Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)

David embraced this scriptural advice and frequently stressed to the Family the importance of hearing from the Lord via prophecy and direct revelation

Prophecy, of course, is a very important gift. In fact, Paul practically puts it at the top of the list in the 14th chapter [of 1 Corinthians]. He said, "I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied." ("Chinese," par. 33)

His Word tells us, "Covet earnestly the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31). The most common gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 12: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, other tongues, and interpretation. These are all gifts from a loving heavenly Father to His simple little children to help communicate understanding of Himself and His will, a mere sample of glorious realities to come! ("New Life," par. 29)

Prophecy is a special gift of the Spirit, one of the nine gifts of the Spirit. ("New Year's," par. 128)

Many of David's inspirational Letters dwelt on the subject of the gift of prophecy, as he encouraged Family members to make personal contact with God in order to receive messages of instruction, guidance, or encouragement directly from Him fresh every day:

The Lord wants you to draw on the Word-not only the recorded Word, but the living Word [prophecy]. Hearing from the Lord is our spiritual nourishment-and you've got to be able to hear from the Lord!

The power is always on, the message is always there. God's Spirit is like a broadcasting station, broadcasting all the time. All you have to do is throw the switch and tune in.

You have to have the vacuum and sincerely open your mouth and He'll fill it! ("Faith," pars. 9, 1, 14)

Channels for God's Communications
Realizing that those who receive spiritual messages, visions, and revelations are commonly viewed not as "prophets" but rather "channels" or "mediums" by much of the world, David once told a group of Family members who were about to pray and hear from the Lord in prophecy, "In the world's way of describing things, you're all mystics because you believe in the mystical, the supernatural, the spiritual. [So in that sense] we're all mystics; we're all mediums!" ("First Chance," par. 21).

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a "medium" is "a person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension." So in a sense, anyone who communicates with "agents of another dimension," which would include anyone with the gift of prophecy, could be considered a medium. David took this a step further when he wrote, "Everyone who has Jesus in their heart is a medium-someone whom a [good] spiritual power can possess and use to communicate things which normally under their own power they could not do!" (MOP 957)

"Adding to the Book"?
Due to a traditional misinterpretation of a verse in the last chapter of the Bible's final book, the Revelation of Saint John, a number of churches believe that God stopped speaking directly to His people almost 2,000 years ago when this last book of the New Testament was completed. The verse in question says, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18).

We do not take this to mean that God was never going to speak to His people again. We believe that this verse simply states that the Lord didn't want people adding to the prophecies given in the book of Revelation. Many other passages in the New Testament, including a number of those quoted above, make it clear that the gift of prophecy was encouraged and utilized by the early Christians. In fact, Jesus Himself told His religious enemies, "Wherefore, behold, I [will] send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city" (Matthew 23:34).

On numerous occasions David addressed the incongruity between this popular misinterpretation and what the Bible actually says:

The Church was to continue beyond this book [the Bible], which closed its doors about 90 A.D. with the final natural death of dear old John the Apostle, the Revelator. But he was not the last prophet of God! Because God's Word says that in the Church there are to be prophets and there are to be those who have the gift of prophecy. ("David-Daniel," pars. 13-14)

God has spoken since then! God has added words since then to tell us things! And down through the ages, after this book was written, after John, God still had many prophets and prophetesses who continued to prophesy and speak with tongues and interpretation and prophecies throughout the whole 2,000 years of Church history since the days of John and since this book was finished! God's prophets and prophetesses have been continuing to prophesy in these Last Days according to the Word of God, throughout the Church of Jesus Christ, throughout the Family of God, throughout all Christendom, all those that love Jesus, all Christians everywhere, millions of them! ("Kingdom," par. 43)

Just as He spoke to His prophets thousands of years ago, giving them revelations and information that God's people then needed for their day, so He is still alive and speaking today, giving His Words and revelations to guide His children now! He says, "I am the Lord, I change not!" (Malachi 3:6). ("Prophet," pars. 6-7)

God's Agents in Prophecy
David found through his study of the Bible, as well as his personal experience, that when the Lord gives messages to His prophets or prophetesses, He frequently does so via a spiritual agent, either an angel or departed saint.

I know from personal experience that some of these revelations do come in this fashion [through angels and departed spirits]. And why not? They did in the Bible in several cases where angelic messengers were sent to convey a message to some prophet of God, or a man or woman of God, even occasionally the angel or spirit of some former man of God, such as Samuel, Moses, Elijah, etc. Search the Scriptures and see if these things be so! ("Snowman," par. 37)

In almost every case of the [biblical] prophets there was some spiritual agent or an angel or someone helping him most of the time. Time and again when the prophets revealed something, they said the angel of the Lord or someone else was there showing them. So it must have been the angel who was communicating those visions, and the prophet was able to see what God was showing the angel to show to the prophet to pass on to the people.⁶ ("More Ghosts," 60)

Biblical Appearances of Departed Saints
There are numerous instances recorded in Scripture where spiritual encounters and communications with angels or departed saints clearly took place. Scriptural evidence of God using the spirits of departed saints to communicate with those still living on earth is found in the account of the spirits of the departed prophets, Moses and Elijah, appearing and conferring with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration; the appearance of the departed prophet Samuel's spirit to King Saul; and Saint John's account in the book of Revelation of his conversation with a heavenly messenger sent by God to reveal to him mysteries of the future.

Saint John's Revelations
One of the most striking examples in the New Testament of departed saints or "holy ghosts" ministering to a living Christian can be found in the mysterious book of Revelation, written down by the apostle John, who is often referred to as John the Revelator. In chapter 19, after receiving a glorious revelation of the future from a heavenly being, John writes,

And he saith unto me, "Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God." And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, "See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:9-10)

A similar passage from chapter 22 says,

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, "See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God." (Revelation 22:8-9)

Although in Revelation 22 John refers to this spiritual being as an "angel," note that the messenger tells him, "I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets." The word "angel" here is translated from the Greek aggelos, which Strong's Greek/Hebrew Dictionary renders "a messenger, by implication, a pastor." It is also noteworthy that Strong's defines the word "fellowservant" (Greek: sundoulos) as "a co-slave, i.e., servitor or ministrant of the same master." This word "fellowservant" appears in eight other places in the New Testament, each time referring to human laborers or ministers, not angels.

David also commented regarding this:

Who was revealing a lot of things to John when he was [taken in spirit to] Heaven? He thought it was an angel; he fell down and worshipped him, and what did the guy say? "I'm one of your fellowservants the prophets! I'm just another prophet, don't worship me! I'm just explaining it to you; that's all, because you don't understand yet. But I've already been told and I know and I understand and I'm telling you about it!" ("Judgments," par.93)

The book of Revelation contains a number of other passages where Saint John records messages he heard from departed saints. For example, in chapter six, John writes,

I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6:9-11)

It is interesting that in this passage John sees and hears the so-called "dead," and identifies these "souls" as "fellowservants" and "brethren"-the same terms applied to the messenger that he fell down to worship in the previously quoted text. It's also noteworthy that these spirits who had already left this life still expressed concern about "them that dwell on the earth."

In chapter seven, John describes more astounding sights and sounds he partook of during a spiritual trip to Heaven:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?" And I [John] said unto him, "Sir, thou knowest." And he said to me, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9,13-14)

Here John beholds an innumerable multitude of people in Heaven, and he then carries on a two-way conversation with one of them, an "elder,"⁷ who clearly appears to be a departed saint. In chapter five, verse nine, these same "elders" proclaim to Jesus, "Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation," showing that indeed these elders are departed brethren, or saints.

Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration
Another outstanding appearance of two very renowned departed saints is recounted in three of the four Gospels, in the description of Moses and Elijah's meeting with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. These two prophets had left this life hundreds of years earlier, but held what was no doubt an important conference with the Lord shortly before He died for the sins of the world.

[Jesus] took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias⁸: Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:" not knowing what he said (Luke 9:28-33).

These two former prophets, Moses and Elijah, had departed from this life many centuries previously, yet God sent them to counsel and confer with His Son! So God can and does use His human servants who have already passed on from this life to minister to and help those of us who are still here! (Treasures 640)

The John the Baptist / Elijah Connection
Another mysterious but revealing example of behind-the-scenes spiritual assistance from former prophets and ministers of God concerns the herald and forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist. Before John was even conceived, an angel appeared to his aged father, a Jewish priest named Zachariah ("Zacharias" in the KJV), startling him with the announcement that he and his barren wife would have a son named John, who would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah:

But the angel [Gabriel] said unto him, "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he [John] shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:13-17)⁹

Some 30 years after John's birth, Jesus told a large crowd something even more astounding about John the Baptist:

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, "But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.' Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 11:7-15)

Later, in the same Gospel, Jesus sheds more light on this mystery:

And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?" And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them." Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10-13)

The Scriptures show that the angel Gabriel said John would accomplish his mission "in the spirit and power of Elijah," and we also have Jesus saying that John was Elijah. How could a prophet in the first century A.D. be operating in the spirit and power of a prophet from the ninth century B.C.? And what did Jesus mean when He said, "If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah?" Is this a case of reincarnation, where John literally was Elijah? Clearly not. For when the Jewish religious leaders specifically asked John if he was Elijah the prophet, he replied that he was not. "And they [priests sent by the Jewish elders in Jerusalem] asked him [John], 'What then? Art thou Elias?' And he saith, 'I am not'" (John 1:21).

David explained this seeming contradiction of Scriptures like this:

John the Baptist was predicted as "Elijah which was for to come" (Matthew 11:14), that he would have the spirit and power of Elijah, and now we understand that he actually had the spirit and power of Elijah himself! ("Prophecies," par. 2)

John himself denied being Elijah, personally (John 1:19-21). But Jesus is trying to show people the operations of the spirit, and that is, John was operating under the influence, obviously, in the spirit and the power of Elijah, in doing what he did in preparing their hearts in those days before Jesus' first coming. ("Birthday," par. 45)

Saul and the Witch at Endor?Calling Up the Departed Prophet Samuel

In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, we find an account of the disgraced king of Israel, Saul, seeking posthumous counsel from the prophet Samuel, who had died some years earlier. Saul sought after Samuel via the forbidden means of a necromancer, a medium who dealt with familiar spirits.¹⁰ Although Saul had lost God's blessing due to his many disobediences, the Lord allowed Samuel to actually appear from the dead and deliver His somber final message to the backslidden king, who was to meet his death the following day.

Then said Saul unto his servants, "Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her."

And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor."

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, "I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee."

And the woman said unto him, "Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?"

And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, "As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing."

Then said the woman, "Whom shall I bring up unto thee?"

And he said, "Bring me up Samuel."

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, "Why hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul."

And the king said unto her, "Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?"

And the woman said unto Saul, "I saw gods ascending out of the earth."

And he said unto her, "What form is he of?"

And she said, "An old man cometh 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 himself.

And Samuel said to Saul, "Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?"

And Saul answered, "I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do."

Then said Samuel, "Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines." (1 Samuel 28:7-19)

This strange account of a disobedient king using a medium to hear from a deceased prophet has generated a good deal of debate among Bible scholars and theologians, particularly those who claim that the spirits of the departed have no dealings with those who are still alive. However, it is clear from the above passage that the prophet Samuel did indeed speak to Saul from beyond the grave.

The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says,

Modern orthodox commentators are almost unanimous in the opinion that the departed prophet did really appear and announce the coming destruction of Saul and his army. They hold, however, that Samuel was brought up not by the magical arts of the witch, but through a miracle wrought by the omnipotence of God.

The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia adds,

In this instance God sovereignly permitted the actual spirit of Samuel to speak in order to deliver a solemn rebuke to the apostate king. Normally the alleged [familiar] spirit would speak somewhat favorably; in this unique case the inquirer [Saul] was condemned to die on the morrow.

David had the following to say about this passage:

There was a witch in Endor, a fortune-teller, or a spiritualistic medium. Saul sought this witch for information regarding the results of the impending battle. He came to her late one night. He wanted to know whether he was going to win the battle or not.

Why did he have to go to the witch at Endor? He was out of touch with God! He couldn't get through to the Lord anymore, and dear old Samuel, the prophet that he used to go to for advice, was dead. Too often [Saul] failed to seek advice, and when he failed to seek advice from God, God eventually left him! Now when he wanted advice, he had to get it from the Devil instead!-A very sad, sad picture of poor Saul!

Saul requested that she bring forth the spirit of Samuel, which according to God's Word, she is said to have done. Maybe she didn't have too much to do with it! The Lord had something to do with it! According to the Bible story, she seemed to be almost as surprised as Saul was that Samuel actually showed up!

The spirits of the departed ones are anything but dead or sleeping! This was actually Samuel's spirit, and he was voicing the Words of God when he told Saul these things. This is no fairy tale: This is the spirit of a departed dead person being called back to talk!

Samuel had to return from Paradise to revisit the earth here and give Saul this message. He didn't particularly like the idea either, from what he said: "Why disquietest thou me?" (1 Samuel 28:15). "I've been in this beautiful place of Paradise and I have to come back to this awful world of yours, and have to talk to you one more time! After all the times that you wouldn't listen to me before; now after I'm dead, you want to listen to me!" He had compassion on him, though, and he came back! ("Training," pars. 34-35)

What about the Bible's Warnings against "Familiar Spirits"?
Being an avid reader and student of the Bible all his life, David was well aware of the scriptural injunction against communicating with "familiar spirits." He firmly agreed with all such biblical admonitions. Indeed, the Bible texts against dealing with evil spirits are somber, and not to be dismissed lightly. Here are the most commonly quoted passages where God Himself warns against this practice:

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:31)

When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that useth divination, or an observer of times, 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. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:19-20)

God clearly wants His people to seek and follow Him and His divine guidance, not the mutterings and utterings of anyone whose spiritual powers, gifts, or message are at variance with the teachings of His Word. To commune with evil familiar spirits such as those invoked by witches, wizards, sorcerers, etc., is extremely hazardous to one's spiritual well-being. The arch-deceiver Satan can appear as "an angel of light," which is why God's Word exhorts us to "try [test] the spirits" (1 John 4:1). Any spirit which is not of God is to be resisted and rebuked in Jesus' name. As God's Word says, "Neither give place to the Devil" (Ephesians 4:27), and "Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

We respectfully believe and heed the Bible's warnings against dealings with evil familiar spirits, witchcraft, and sorcery. However, we do not subscribe to the belief that these passages mean that any communication with the spirits of those who have left this life is strictly forbidden by God. Such an interpretation makes no allowance for good spirits, the spirits of those who loved the Lord in this life and have gone on to be with Him in the next.

If the living are forbidden any and all contact with the "dead," then what about the examples in the Bible where living saints encountered and communicated with saints who had left this life? Similarly, if one believes that God's rule is "no contact" between those in the physical realm and those in the spiritual, then what about the innumerable individuals who sincerely claim to have seen, heard, or otherwise sensed the presence of a loved one who has passed on from this life? To dismiss all such encounters as either fraudulent or demonic goes against reason and the nature of God and the operations of His spiritual world as revealed in the Bible.

In January 1996 David's wife, Maria, prayed and asked the Lord for clarification on the above Old Testament verses, particularly in light of varying interpretations regarding "communing with the dead." The following words of instruction in prophecy, received at that time, helped clarify the issue considerably:

The word that I [Jesus] spoke in old times was true, for I did not wish for My children to seek out those with familiar spirits, because they were not of Me. Even today I do not wish for My children to seek out those who have familiar spirits, for they are not of Me; they are a counterfeit of the truth.

Just because I warned My people not to go to those who had a familiar spirit does not mean that I will not allow those that have passed over to This Side to speak to My children, to speak of Me. For did I not stand on the mount and confer with the "dead"? Was I not transfigured? Did I not speak with those [Moses and Elijah] who had gone on before? But I say to you, I did not commune with the dead, for these were alive, alive in the spirit!

When I walked the earth, did I not say that I had many things to say unto you but you were not able to bear them yet? The time now is right for you to speak of these things. For there is so much counterfeit in the world today that I wish to reveal the true. ("Familiar")

In this prophecy the Lord makes it clear that His admonitions against seeking out those with familiar spirits hold as true today as ever. But He adds that those who have passed into the next life to be with Him are not barred from ministering to and communicating with His children who remain on earth, just as Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Those who are now with the Lord are anything but "dead," but are enjoying a far better life than they did in their previous earthly life. As the apostle Paul said, "To depart [from this life] and be with Christ is far better" (Philippians 1:23). When speaking of saints who had passed on from this life, Jesus said of His Father, "He is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him" (Luke 20:38).

"Try the Spirits"
The question arises, how can we be sure that the spiritual entities we are in touch with are good spirits? We know that Satan is an arch-deceiver, sometimes appearing as an "angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15), so how can we be absolutely sure that we are not communing with evil spirits, but that we are in fact in touch with one of God's good ministering spirits?

God has given us a clear means of discerning spirits. Saint John tells us,

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

These verses make it clear that there are many spirits that are "of God." And it gives us a criterion with which to gauge whether a spirit is of God or not: "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God."

Another means to test a message received from a spiritual source is whether it is in accordance with God's written Word, which is the standard by which we measure truth and error. David wrote:

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20). Remember that not all voices are of God and you must "try the spirits" to make sure that what you're hearing is of the Lord. If it is not according to His Word, these things are not of the Lord. ("Laborer," par. 6)

Be sure that direct revelation does not counteract nor contradict, but is in line with the Word of God! You have to measure it! Try the spirits! Make sure it is according to His Word, direct revelation from God Himself. ("Seven Ways," par. 41)

True prophecy won't teach anything contrary, but it sure can fill in a lot of gaps! The Bible is still going to be the standard of measurement. ("Monster," par. 20)

Another means of "trying the spirits" has to do with the "fruit" or effect that results from the message received by the prophet who is communicating with the spirit. If it has come from God, it will bear good fruit, good results. When teaching His followers about how to discern between true and false prophets, Jesus said:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

Conclusion
David wrote:

Thank God, He's not a silent God who shut up when the Bible was finished 2,000 years ago! He's a living God, a talking God, and He still speaks and has been speaking ever since then-talking to His people and His prophets and His children down through the ages, ever since the days of Jesus and His apostles and the Early Church. ("David-Daniel," par. 3)

The age-old means of God's heavenly communication with all of His people has always been by oral and mental messages and dreams and visions and heavenly pictures and messages and thoughts, projected directly by His spirits and His angelic messengers. ("Heavenly," par. 30)

He still has prophets today, His messenger boys, who relay to the people what the Lord has said and shown to them. And just as the Bible prophets received dreams and visions, revelations, and thrilling messages from the Lord and His angels and ministering spirits, so His prophets today do the same! ("Prophet," par. 8)

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If you have not yet personally experienced God's power and heavenly presence in your own life, you can receive Him and His free gift of eternal life by simply asking His Son, Jesus, into your life. He loves you and says, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to you" (Revelation 3:20).

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Footnotes:
¹ Believers who die and pass on to the spirit world or, as it is often referred to, Heaven.

² David Berg's writings are quoted extensively because they are the basis of the Family's understanding and interpretation of Scripture.

³ However, there are numerous references throughout the Bible to the heavenly city, New Jerusalem, the supernatural city of God that He has prepared for His people, which will come down from God after the Millennium to settle on the earth, as described in Revelation chapters 21 and 22.

⁴ All Scripture quoted is from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise specified.

⁵ The word "saint" is used in the New Testament for those who believed in and followed Jesus. Nelson's Bible Dictionary describes saints as "people who have been separated from the world and consecrated to the worship and service of God."

⁶ See Ezekiel 40:1-4; Daniel 7:16; 8:15; 9:21-23; 10:all; 12:5-7; Zechariah 1:9; 2:3; Matthew 1:20; 2:13; Luke 1:11-20; Revelation 1:1; 19:10; 22:8-9.

⁷ Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words says, "The word 'elder' is nowhere applied to angels."

⁸ Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Elijah."

⁹ The angel's message to Zachariah showed that John (the Baptist) would fulfill a prophecy received by the prophet Malachi some 400 years earlier: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:5-6). The prophet Elijah's earthly ministry ended in the ninth century B.C., but God told Malachi that Elijah would be sent to this world again, before the "day of the Lord," and that he would accomplish all of these things that we just read the angel Gabriel told Zachariah that his son John would do. The key to understanding this passage is the angel's promise that John would perform his ministry in the spirit and power of Elijah.

¹⁰ "Familiar spirit" is an expression occurring 16 times in the King James Version of the Bible, referring to a spirit of divination or to its medium or conjurer, translated from the Hebrew word ob.

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Works Cited
"Angel." Strong's Greek/Hebrew Dictionary. 1997.

Berg, David. "Dad's Birthday 1993!" Good News, Feb. 1993.

---. "Chinese Demon!-Spirit Gifts and Problems, The." Good News, Apr. 1975.

---. "David-Daniel!" Good News, Apr. 1981.

---. "David Prophecies!-Of the Bible, The." Good News, Sep. 1983.

---. "David's Training and Exile!, Chapter 20, 'The Bible in Pictures.'" Good News, 1962.

---. "Easter Story, The." Good News, Apr. 1980.

---. "Faith," Good News, May 1971.

---. "Grandpa Goes to Earth!" Good News, Dec. 1985.

---. "Greatest of These Is-Love!-Not Pride, The." Good News, 1969.

---. "Heavenly Re-Education!" Good News, Aug. 1986.

---. Heaven's Children. Bangkok: World Services, 1987.

---. "Heaven's Children Jewels!" Good News, Jan. 1986.

---. "Holy Ghosts!" Good News, Jan. 1974.

---. "Judgments, The." Good News, Apr. 1985.

---. "Letter to a Laborer." Good News, Jan. 1975.

---. "Message of the Crucifixion, The." Good News, Apr. 1984.

---. "Millennial Encouragement!" Good News, Jan. 1985.

---. "Monster, The." Good News, Jul. 1972.

---. "More Holy Ghosts!" Good News, Jan. 1974.

---. "New Life!-New Love!" Good News, June 1978.

---. "New Year's Prayers!-Basic Bible and Endtime Review!" Good News, Jan. 1985.

---. "Old Bottles!" Good News, Jul. 1973.

---. "Only a First Chance!" Good News, Feb. 1985.

---. "Prophet, The." Good News, 1985.

---. "Run the Race!-A Bible Study on Hebrews 12:1!" Good News, May 1978.

---. "Salvation in the Spirit World!" Good News, Apr. 1983.

---. "Satan's Saints!-Vs. the Third World!" Good News, Feb. 1983.

---. "Seven Ways to Know God's Will, The." Good News, 1968.

---. "Snowman." Good News, Jan. 1972.

---. "Supernatural Portugal!" Good News, Jul. 1977.

---. "Talisman, The." Good News, Jan. 1979.

---. "Thy Kingdom Come!-Part 31 'The Garden of Eden Series.'" Good News, May 1981.

David, Maria. "Prophecy Regarding Familiar Spirits." Good News, Jan. 1996.

"Elder." Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. 1996.

Family, The. Family's Statement of Faith, The. Bangkok: World Services, 2003.

---. Love Charter, The. Bangkok: World Services, 1995.

---. Treasures. Bangkok: World Services, 1987.

MOP, The. 2 vols. Madrid: Closas-Orcoyen, S.L., 1984.

Pfeiffer, Charles F., and Everett F. Harrison. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962.

Pfieffer, Charles F., et al. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, The. Chicago: Moody Press, 1975.

"Prophet." Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, The. 1985.

"Saint." Nelson's Bible Dictionary, The. 2nd ed. 1995.

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What Is the Family International?
The Family International (formerly known as the Children of God) is a fellowship of Christian communities with members in over 100 countries. Our current membership numbers about 8,500 full-time members and 7,000 associates.

The Family has four main objectives:

1. To share with others the life-giving message of love, hope, and salvation found in God's Word, conveying the joys of knowing Jesus as a personal Savior.

2. To ensure that each of our children receives a godly upbringing in the best possible environment we can provide.

3. To produce and distribute a wide selection of devotional, inspirational, and educational materials.

4. To actively assist the needy through producing and performing inspirational, dramatic, and musical benefits; serving as volunteers in disaster relief; and seeking ways to provide comfort and material assistance for the disadvantaged.

* * *

If you have any questions or comments, we invite you to contact us at one of the following addresses:

Web site: www.thefamily.org

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Call in the USA at:
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("Communicating with Heavenly Messengers" was first published May 1996, and updated January 2004.)
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Copyright © 2004 by The Family International