No, the dead cannot communicate with us. There is no scripture in the Bible that tells us the dead can communicate at all. On the contrary, Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 says, “the dead know nothing. …They no longer play a part in anything here on earth” (New Living Translation). Genesis 3:19 says upon dying, we “return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
But is it our body that returns to the ground and not our souls? Do our souls go to heaven? Contrary to popular belief, there is NO scripture that tells us we have an immortal soul that goes to heaven (or any other place). On the contrary, Genesis 2:7 explains that God formed man of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul (or living being). People do not HAVE souls, they ARE souls – a combination of our physical body and the breath of life.
What about those who consult a medium and say they communicated with a dead loved one in some manner? Or there may have been a “feeling” a deceased loved one was near. But since the dead know nothing and really are dead, how would such feelings occur? Unfortunately, we can be tricked by the fallen angels, otherwise known as demons.
Revelation 12:9 and 2 Peter 2:4 let us know that God expelled Satan and the angels that sinned from heaven to the earth’s atmosphere. These angels can and do deceive people.
What does God think about mediums or witches, who act as though they communicate with the dead? Leviticus 20:27 (ESV) reads, “A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death.”
Deuteronomy 18:10-12, “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who consults the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God is going to drive them out before you.” As God finds these things detestable, we understand He would never bless any type of spiritism.
Some people wonder about the Bible account of Saul visiting the witch of Endor in order to talk with God’s prophet Samuel (then deceased). 1 Samuel 28 narrates how the Philistines were amassing their army to fight Israel. Saul was terrified. “He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.” (verse 6) When the LORD didn’t communicate with Saul, Saul should have submitted to the LORD’s silence. But instead, Saul decided to go to a medium in Endor. The story continues to say the obedient prophet Samuel appeared during the seance!? What? Did God change His mind about mediums? Did God send Samuel to talk with Saul through a witch? No. A disobedient angel acted as Samuel and simply quoted what Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 15:23. It was that fallen angel who believed Israel would fall to the Philistines.
Over the years people have said that they have experienced communicating with deceased loved ones. Experts have researched this phenomenon and have suggested that our minds can be deceived by the power of suggestion: what we expect influences our behavior, for better or worse. Our expectations set us up to get to the outcome we expect. Once we anticipate a specific outcome will occur, our subsequent thoughts and behaviors will actually help to bring that outcome to fruition. But it’s not just a deliberate suggestion that influences our thought and behaviors – suggestions that are not deliberate can have the same effects. Grief and loneliness can play tricks with our minds, making us desperately desire to communicate with deceased loved ones, and open to the suggestion that this is possible. We must be very careful what we wish for.
In conclusion, the Bible tells us the soul is the union of the body and the breath of life. When the body dies, the soul ceases. No dead person can communicate with the living. God tells us He abhors it when the fallen angels support this type of deception.
Additional Resources:
Christian Questions
Episode #1201: “Can the Dead Communicate With Us?”
Examining after-death communications in the light of Scripture
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
Episode #1148: “Ghosts, Reincarnation and Humanity – What’s Real? (Part I)”
Examining the biblical feasibility of ghosts being disembodied souls
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
Booklet (PDF): Fortune Tellers and the Spirit World
For children, parents and Bible class teachers:
Animated Video: “Why should we avoid fortune telling, witchcraft and Ouija boards?”
