Listen to this articleEvery now and then you will hear of people who speak of having a dream or vision of talking to Abraham, Paul, Enoch or any other of the biblical saints. Some just see these saints and others even receive advice. Considering that the bible warns us against seeking the dead, is there a biblical explanation that justifies encountering these saints today?
The answer is Yes.
Firstly I would like to state clearly that I do not believe in worshipping saints, living or dead, and I do not believe in praying to them or having them as our mediators. I believe according to 1 Timothy 2:5 that “There is only one God and one mediator between man and God, the man Jesus Christ.”
Now lets go into the scriptures and see in what way, the saints who are no longer with us, can appear today..
The bible is very clear that we must not seek the dead on behalf of the living.
Isaiah 8:19 (BBE)
19 And when they say to you, Make request for us to those who have control of spirits, and to those wise in secret arts, who make hollow bird-like sounds; is it not right for a people to make request to their gods, to make request for the living to the dead?
The Lord also says…
Jeremiah 27:9 (NET)
So do not listen to your prophets or to those who claim to predict the future by divination, by dreams, by consulting the dead, or by practicing magic. They keep telling you, ‘You do not need to be subject to the king of Babylon.’
And he says this again…
Deuteronomy 18:11-13 (BBE)
11 Or anyone using secret force on people, or putting questions to a spirit, or having secret knowledge, or going to the dead for directions.
12 For all who do such things are disgusting to the Lord; and because of these disgusting things the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
God is very clear about how he detests those who go to consult the dead for advice. These are very strong warnings that should be taken seriously as we move on.
However, as with everything in the bible, we need to get the full council of scripture regarding this topic. The bible presents us with a few more scenarios and gives us more insight to the subject.
There are 5 biblical examples I will use as we learn more about encountering saints.
EXAMPLE 1: THE SAINTS SEEN IN JERUSALEM
When Jesus resurrected from the dead, he did not come back alone. He brought with him the saints who had died.
Matthew 27:52-53 (NET)
52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised.
53 They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
This is unbelievable. Many old testament saints who had died, came back to life after the resurrection of Jesus. These saints went to Jerusalem and revealed themselves to some people. They were witnesses of the resurrection. Imagine. A fellow brother comes running to the apostles and says, “I just saw Abraham in my house. He came and we talked”
How do you respond to that?
Some probably saw Noah. Others may have seen Joseph. Another may have seen Abel. The book of hebrews gives us a list of saints who were heroes of the faith and says they could not be perfected without us. They were perfected at the cross.
Now. I don’t believe that those saints went back into the graves. They are with Christ.
LESSON
Just as God saw it fit to reveal the saints to a number of people who were in Jerusalem. He can see it fit to reveal those same saints to believers today. Those saints were seen as a testimony of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. They are living testimonies and an assurance that we too shall be resurrected just as they were.
By God’s grace, just as they appeared in Jerusalem, they can continue to appear to believers all over the world, and their appearances are a revelation of the power of Christ.
It is true!
Demons can pretend to be Abraham and come to introduce all sorts of heresies. The devil is a copy-cat and he has false teachers, false apostles, false Christs, false angels and false saints.
Our duty is not to fear but to test by the word and distinguish between the false teachers and the true, the false prophets and the true, the false angels and the true, the false christ and the true, the false saints and the true.
EXAMPLE 2: 24 ELDERS
This one is not direct but I will share anyway. John the apostle is taken to heaven and around the throne he sees 24 elders sitting on 24 thrones.
Imagine how heretical that must have sounded to some. However, these Elders make a shocking confession. Read this…
Revelation 5:9-10 (KJV)
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Here is another version.
Revelation 5:9-10 (WEB)
9 They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
10 and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on the earth.”
The 24 elders are saying that they were bought by the blood of Jesus and redeemed from the earth, out of different nations and that they were going to reign as kings on earth.
They are infact saying they are human beings who were redeemed. In other words, they are 24 saints.
You can think about that for a moment.
The KJV is a direct translation. Paraphrase translations change that statement because it seems to not make sense.
ANYWAY
Something interesting happens after a short while. One of the 24 elders comes to talk to John concerning the multitudes of the nations that comes out of the tribulation.
JOHN IS TAUGHT BY THE HEAVENLY ELDER
Revelation 7:13-17 (NET)
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These dressed in long white robes – who are they and where have they come from?”
14 So I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!
Why is he getting a teaching from one of these elders. Why not just hear directly from the Holy Spirit? Well, that is how the Holy Spirit works. He sometimes teaches you through others.
Remember that this elder says he is one of the people that was bought by the blood of Jesus and redeemed from the earth.
LESSON
Now imagine.
A brother comes to you today and says, I saw one of the saints in heaven, and he told me this and that, what would you say to him?
You would say, ‘Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, focus on Christ’
We need to understand what that means… ‘FOCUS ON CHRIST’
It was Christ that led John into that vision, and it was the Holy Spirit that took him to that elder saint. This is also testified in the fact that, John first saw this Elder bowing before Christ, submitting to the authority of Christ and confessing that Christ was above all.
Then when the elder now comes to teach him, his message glorifies Christ at the end. Thats how we test.
If you go to heaven and meet a saint like John did. He must acknowledge that Christ is Lord and his message must ultimately bring glory to Christ.
Let us not shun our brethren out of fear. John himself was shut out of some churches…
3 John 1:9-10 (NET)
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.
10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!
EXAMPLE 3 – THE PROPHET ANGEL
At the end of all the revelation experience, John tries to worship the angel who had shown him all the visions, thinking it was Christ. (Thats a teaching of another day)
However. This angel reveals something about himself. Something startling. He was one of John’s brethren, one of the prophets and one who was to keep the sayings of the bible.
Listen.
Revelation 22:8-9 (KJV)
8 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.
9 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.
He says it again in another way…
Revelation 19:10 (KJV) 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.
I will leave this one here but he is effectively telling John that he is one of the prophets. The word brethren is used to describe human believers.
EXAMPLE 4 – THE DEAD PROPHET
This example is controversial and some people may not receive it. However, the reason why I gave so many examples is because you will at least find two or three that reach out to you.
When Samuel died. Saul went to a witch inorder to speak and see Samuel. This was a great evil that God had condemned. However, God is sovereign and all powerful.
Though God does not approve of those who consult the dead, when Saul went there, God indeed brought back Samuel to speak to Saul, and through Samuel God then judged Saul.
Here is the scripture.
1 Samuel 28:12-13 (NET)
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What have you seen?” The woman replied to Saul, “I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!”
The one telling this story is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit says… the woman saw Samuel, this means the woman saw Samuel.
When Samuel spoke, his words were consistent with the word of God.
1 Samuel 28:15-19 (NET)
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul replied, “I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me – not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do.”
16 Samuel said, “Why are you asking me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy?
17 The Lord has done exactly as I prophesied! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David!
18 Since you did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this thing to you today.
19 The Lord will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”
The Holy Spirit records a conversation between Saul and a saint. God does not approve of witches and he does not approve of people who actively go to seek the dead.
EXAMPLE 5: Moses and Elijah
Jesus said that he was the resurrection and the life. One of the first examples he gives is that he leads 3 of his apostles to a mountain where he shows them the saints of old.
Matthew 17:1-3 (NET)
1 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain.
2 And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
3 Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him.
Peter James and John were the first to receive an experience of the saints. Moses was a saint who had died. Elijah is a saint who went to heaven just like Enoch. The reason why dead Moses could now be brought back to be seen by the apostles is because Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
The bible says Jesus was talking to these guys about the cross.
Luke 9:30-31 (NET)
30 Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him.
31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem.
LESSON
Should Peter, James and John have said to Jesus, “Why are you showing us Moses who died?”
Jesus is the life. He can bring to you whoever he wants. He has the keys of death and hades.
Revelation 1:18 (NET)… I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!
Imagine if you were in Jerusalem later. Peter then comes and says, do you know that last year God led me to a mountain and Moses and Elijah appeared physically and I saw and heard them talking. What would you have said to Peter?
Would you say, this saint business is of the devil?
No.
We know that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14 (NET)
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
However, he can not hide who he is. You will always see him from his words.
THEY LIVE BEFORE HIM
When Jesus came. He came as the Son of God. He says this when he comes to Lazaras’ grave…
John 11:23-27 (BBE)
23 Jesus said to her, Your brother will come to life again.
24 Martha said to him, I am certain that he will come to life again when all come back from the dead at the last day.
25 Jesus said to her, I am myself that day and that life; he who has faith in me will have life even if he is dead;
26 And no one who is living and has faith in me will ever see death. Is this your faith?
27 She said to him, Yes, Lord: my faith is that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.
This is a powerful attribute of our Lord.
Martha rightly believed in the resurrection of all saints at the very last day of judgement. But Jesus says, No. I am the resurrection, I am the life. The one who believes in Jesus never dies.
Look at what Jesus had said to his apostles.
John 11:11 (NET)
After he said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there to awaken him.”
This does not apply to New Testament saints only. Even Old Testament saints are considered to be alive. When he had been asked concerning the resurrection by the Sadducees, Jesus makes a similar arguments concerning the saints of old.
Luke 20:37-38 (NET)
37 But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.”
God is not the God of the dead. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are considered alive before God.
This is where I end for now. Amen.
