Prayers on behalf of the dead have no meaning, for nothing can be changed by them. God’s Word shows that the dead no longer have any physical or mental activity (Psalm 146:4, Ecclesiastes 9:5,10). Each person who dies sleeps in his grave in unconsciousness until the resurrection (John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; Job 19:25-26, 14:12-14; John 3:13; Acts 2:29, 34). Clearly, prayers should be for the living while there is still hope of repentance, not for the dead, who can do nothing and because their fate is sealed.
Prayers for the dead are based on the false teaching that man possesses an immortal soul. See: https://theplainword.com/truth-about-death/ and https://theplainword.com/state-of-the-dead-video-presentations/.
Some believe that at death a wicked person’s “immortal” soul is tormented in hell. See: https://theplainword.com/truth-about-hell/ and https://theplainword.com/hell-video-presentations/.
Friends and relatives then pray that the departed “soul” be spared some of its suffering. However, the Bible says that the soul itself can die (Ezekiel 18:4,20); also, compare the last parts of Genesis 2:7,17. The soul is a human being (body and breath). There are absolutely no biblical grounds for the doctrine of the immortality of the soul. In addition, one’s fate is sealed upon death…they will be either raised to eternal life or will be raised to be condemned to the second death.
If fact, those masquerading as those that have died are demons, that is to say fallen angels. Leviticus 19:31 says, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”
The dead are asleep in the grave. God will bring us with him after the resurrection of the righteous dead and translation of the righteous living. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
The end of Saul was when he went to a medium and tried to make contact with the dead. We know this as spiritualism. However, spiritualism goes beyond the use of a medium. Spiritualism was born with Satan in the garden when he told Eve that she “will not surely die”. This was the direct opposite of what God said. So, spiritualism includes any type of contact with the dead (thru mediums, prayer, use of games such as the Ouija board, etc.) or the idea that we have an immortal soul that goes somewhere after death.
1 Samuel 28:6-11 tells us, “6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 8 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. 9 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? 10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.”
1 Chronicles 10:9-14 tells of when Saul practiced necromancy, “9 And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11 And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; 14 And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.”
What does the Bible say?
Since the old Testament sorcery has always been forbidden and it was punishable by death. Christians are to have nothing to do with any type of spiritualism. Many people try to talk to their dead family members, or pray to dead saints, Mary, etc. What they don’t know is that they will be speaking with demons who pose as them. It is extremely dangerous because they are opening up their body/mind to demons.
When someone dies they simply go to the grave and return to dust. The Bible is clear about its position on the dead and those who try to communicate to the dead:
Exodus 22:18 You shall not permit a witch to live.
Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
Galatians 5:19-21, 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Micah 5:12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
The people of Israel were warned, before they entered into the Promised Land, not to imitate the ways of the heathen. The levitical laws forbade any attempted contact with the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10-14, 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchnter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 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. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. 14 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.
Reminders
Ecclesiastes 12:5-9 when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” The spirit that returns to God is the breath of life that He gives. It is not some type of disembodied soul. For an in-depth study see: https://theplainword.com/truth-about-death/ and https://theplainword.com/state-of-the-dead-video-presentations/.
Ecclesiastes 9:4-6, 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
You can’t talk to dead family members. You will really be talking to demons who pose as them.
Hebrews 9:27-28 “And just as it is destined that men die only once, and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and he will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time he will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for him.” Those that are saved are patiently waiting for Him either in the grave or if they are living.
End Time Conditions
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.
The prophets spoke against such practices. Isaiah 8:19-20, 19 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? 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.
There is also the possibility that lying spirits may speak to people. 1 Timothy 4:1, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
The Bible scripture teaches that speaking to the dead in any form is an abomination to God.