1 Samuel 28: Was the witch of Endor really able to summon spirits.....?

The witch seemed surprised and terrified that Samuel actually came.
Reminds me of the movie “Ghost”, where the medium (obviously a scam artist) is terrified when she made “contact”.

Do you believe she was able to summon spirits, or was this a one time event allowed by God for Saul?

Does this have any bearing on our understanding of heaven or state of our spirits after death?

 

God used this "witch" whom Saul was enquiring from about Samuel, to condemn him. There is no reason to doubt the Bible account that Samuel appeared to Saul, which God allowed to happen, in a very special event.The Bible says that NOTHING is too difficult or impossible for The Lord God Almighty!

 

That is my assessment as well.

Does this event tell us anything about our spirits after death?

peace to you

 

The witch was not surprised to see 'Samuel.' She was terrified when it was revealed to her that her customer was Saul, who had banished witches from Israel and imposed the death penalty for her art.

And it wasn't Samuel, it was a demon.

 

no. all human "spirits" are the "life" in us, which at death goes back to God. “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). It is the "soul" (the real you/I), that after death either so to heaven to be with the Lord, or to hell.

 

That could be true. Who revealed to her that Saul was her customer? Why do you think it was a demon and not Samuel? The text says it was Samuel.

peace to you

 

Some people like to read their theology into the Bible's Words

 

Brother, say it isn’t so! How would you know anything about that!!!!

peace to you

 

The Bible says that it was Samuel and some say that it was a demon. What think ye?

 

I think the God allowed the real Samuel to appear this one time!

 

I do not think so. But see Luke 20:37-38. And the physical killing of the body does not kill one's soul, Matthew 10:28.

 

I believe God sent Samuel.

 

Indeed for the purpose of damning Saul. A unique event

 

Which shows to us that God is not bound by even His own law, as it was plain that those who traffic in such things must die, but he allowed this one time event!

 

I agree, it was a one time special event!

 

God's laws are not for Him but us

 

yes, as in example of David, as the Law stated he must die for his sins, but grace even more abounded towards him!

 

So the LORD wasn't answering Saul through hallowed means, yet when Saul goes to commune with devils, the LORD says, "OK, just this one time I'll be moved by the abominable arts of witchcraft necromancy"?

I think you should know the Lord better than that.

Do you think Jephthah burned his daughter on the altar? That God accepted the abominable practice of Molech 'just this one time' to teach Jephthah a lesson?

 

The text says it was Samuel. Convince me from scripture it wasn’t.

As I said, I don’t think the woman had any real power to commune with the dead. That is why she was terrified when Samuel appeared.

As others have stated, God sent Samuel to talk to Saul. Notice Samuel asked Saul (not the woman) why he had disturbed him?

Peace to you