The Bible does not encourage or endorse communicating with the dead. Scripture teaches that the dead are unconscious and awaiting the resurrection. Praying to the dead would be both futile and potentially dangerous. Here’s an overview of what the Bible says about the state of the dead and communicating with the departed:
The dead are unconscious
According to Scripture, when people die they enter an unconscious sleep-like state, awaiting resurrection:
“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6)
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
These verses indicate the dead are unaware and unconscious. They are sleeping and awaiting the resurrection.
The resurrection awaits
Rather than entering heaven or hell immediately at death, Scripture teaches that the dead will be resurrected to face judgment:
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29)
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
The dead await judgment day, when they will be resurrected to face either reward or punishment.
Examples of the dead being unaware
There are examples in the Bible showing that the dead are not conscious in an afterlife:
– King Saul tried to communicate with the deceased prophet Samuel through a medium, and Samuel said to Saul “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” (1 Samuel 28:15). This indicates Samuel was not aware in heaven but unconscious in the grave.
– In Luke 16, Jesus tells a story of a deceased rich man trying to communicate with the dead beggar Lazarus across a great chasm. If the dead were conscious, they could simply communicate directly.
– When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus said Lazarus was “asleep” though the disciples thought he meant natural sleep (John 11:11-14). This figurative language implies the dead are unconscious.
Praying to the dead is ineffective
Since Scripture teaches the dead are asleep and unaware until the resurrection, praying to them would be futile:
“For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?” (Psalm 6:5)
“For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.” (Isaiah 38:18)
Rather than praying to those who cannot hear us, Christians are instructed to offer prayers to God. Prayer is directed to God alone:
“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
“This is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)
Jesus taught his followers to pray to “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9), not deceased loved ones or saints.
Dangers of contacting the dead
Attempting to communicate with the dead can open people up to demonic deception. Scripture warns against the practices of mediums and spiritists who try to contact the dead:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who…practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
King Saul lost his kingdom because he consulted with a medium, which was strictly forbidden (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
When people try to speak with dead loved ones it leaves them vulnerable to demons impersonating the dead. This is a form of occult practice that God forbids.
We remember the dead, but do not pray to them
While Scripture tells us not to pray to the dead, it isn’t wrong to honor their memory:
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)
We can follow positive examples left behind by godly men and women without praying to them. But prayer is reserved for our Heavenly Father alone.
Pray for one another while alive
Rather than attempting vain communication with those who have passed away, Christians are encouraged to pray for fellow believers who are alive:
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
We honor the dead best by imitating their faith while they were alive. Our prayers should be directed to our Father who lives forever, and to our brothers and sisters who need prayer in this life.
Jesus is our intercessor
Praying to saints, angels, or the dead is unnecessary because Christ intercedes for believers before God:
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)
Because Jesus lives forever making intercession, we do not need any other intercessor. Our prayers go directly to God the Father, in Jesus’ name.
Necromancy is forbidden
Consulting the dead is essentially the practice of necromancy, which Scripture strongly warns against:
“There shall not be found among you anyone…who casts a spell, or a medium or a spiritist or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
“Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, his own city…Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” (1 Samuel 28:3, 7)
Saul’s consultation of a medium was an act of rebellion that cost him his kingdom. God hates spiritism because it opens the door to demonic deceit.
Our hope is the resurrection
Rather than vainly trying to speak with the dead, Christians await the fullness of eternal life at the resurrection:
“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” (John 6:39)
At Christ’s return, the dead in him will receive resurrected, immortal bodies to live with him forever. Our hope is in the resurrection, not in necromancy.
We have all we need in God’s Word
The Bible contains all the revelation man needs to be saved and live a godly life:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Scripture thoroughly equips Christians for faith and doctrine. There is no need to seek revelation through mediums or the dead.
In summary
The Bible never encourages praying to the dead or contacting the deceased. Scripture teaches that:
– The dead are asleep and unconscious, awaiting the resurrection
– Attempting to speak with the dead is useless at best and dangerous at worst
– Prayer is directed to God the Father alone
– Jesus is our all-sufficient intercessor
– Necromancy is strictly forbidden
Rather than trying to speak with those who have passed away, our hope is in the resurrection to come at Christ’s return. Christians are to find all the spiritual guidance they need in God’s Word and prayer to him.