Can the Living Talk With the Dead
Apparitions of Mary
video: Messages from Heaven
Luke 1
46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. Luke 1
WHAT IS AN APPARITION?
The word "apparition" comes from the Late Latin word apparitio which means "appearance" or "presence." An apparition refers to the sudden appearance of a supernatural entity which directly manifests itself to a human person or group. Within a Catholic context, it could be the presence or manifestation of any supernatural figure. Catholic scholar Louis Bouyer describes an apparition as "a manifestation of God, angels or the dead (saints or not) appearing under a form that surprises the senses."[3] This revelation to the senses involves seeing, but frequently the other senses as well. Some apparitions -- usually of Mary -- have included the hearing of voices, touching the figure, and even the smelling of specific fragrances.
It seems that people haven’t got a clue about spiritual truth. Many believe that the dead are roaming the earth as spirits or ghosts to help or haunt the living. Dale Earnhart Jr. in his account of his narrow escape from a burning sports car, as his Dad (Dale SR -deceased) pulled him out of the car and led him to safety. The lady I spoke of last week who believes her deceased mother and brother came in her house and rubbed her shoulder comforting her. Others speak of seeing deceased people who haunt the places where they were killed etc. Many use mediums and seances to contact dead loved ones. Shows like Medium, Dead Zone, Crossing Over with John Edward, etc.
I Can the Living talk to the Dead? (USA Today June 20, 2001
In 2000 , 28% of Americans (up from 10% in 1990) believe that People can hear from, or communicate with the dead. Another 26% aren’t sure, but won’t rule it out. Gallap poll
Crossing Over with John Edward -on SCI FI channel - Says he hears dead people.
Maxine Weaver and Tea Bags and Tears.
Ten years after her daughter, Lindy shot herself in the head, She went to a Maryland Psychic Cyndi Wallace. Wallace said Lindy was attempting to talk to her, “Do you remember the tea bags?” Six months after Lindy’s suicide, her mom found a note penned by her that read, “I love you, Mommy.” It was buried in a canister that held tea bags. She said no one but her husband knew about this, so it must be real. She is a faithful Methodist church goer.
II Where are the Dead?
a. Some believe roaming the earth to help loved ones. Dale Earnhart JR , Brian
b. Some believe roaming the earth to haunt enemies, or helping solve their murder so they can
have peace and rest. (King Herod was afraid Jesus was John the Baptist come back to haunt him) God said “Vengence is mine, I will repay.”
Red Headed Pastor p179 Koch Christian Counseling
c. Some believe mediums can contact the spirit world and enable them to speak. Seances
-In reality you are speaking to demons pretending to be your loved one, and they know anything you have said or done on earth, they have been here since creation.
d. The Bible is very clear about where the dead are. Luke 16 Rich man and Lazarus
Eccl. “Body goes back to the dust, but the spirit returns to God who gave it.
19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ’Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 "But Abraham replied, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 "He answered, ’Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 "Abraham replied, ’They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 "’No, father Abraham,’ he said, ’but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 "He said to him, ’If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’" Luke 16
III The Exceptions in the Bible
a. Samuel (1 Samuel 28) Not all believe it was actually Samuel, but it seems like it.
7 Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." "There is one in Endor," they said. 8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name." 9 But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?" 10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, "As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this." 11 Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" "Bring up Samuel," he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" 13 The king said to her, "Don’t be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said, "I see a spirit coming up out of the ground." 14 "What does he look like?" he asked. "An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
1. 15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" "I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do." 16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors--to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines."
20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words.
b. Moses & Elijah talked to Jesus on Mt of Transfiguration
c. Jesus - to Paul on Damascus Road (Acts 9)
d. Angels - appearances not dead appearing -
1. Sometimes appeared as supernatural angels
2. Sometimes appeared as humans (to Abraham Genesis 18) (Entertain angels unaware Hebrews 13?)
3. Apparitions that appear as a person who has died, I conclude, are good or evil angels disguised as the dead person.
IV THE Commands Against Attempting to Contact the Dead
The Bible warns about trying to contact the dead.
Exodus 22:18
"You shall not permit a sorceress to live.Leviticus 19:26
"’Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. "’Do not practice divination or sorcery. Leviticus 19:31
"’Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists (psychics NLT), for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 20:6
"If any among the people are unfaithful by consulting and following mediums or psychics (spiritists NIV), I will turn against them and cut them off from the community. Leviticus 20:27
"’A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.’" Deuteronomy 18:10
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.
Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? (NIV)
8:19
So why are you trying to find out the future by consulting mediums and psychics? Do not listen to their whisperings and mutterings. Can the living find out the future from the dead? Why not ask your God? (NLT)
Conclusion: So from this Bible teaching what is wrong with Mary Apparitions ?
1. Consulting the dead.
Though Mary was a wonderful woman, and Christians honor her as the mother of Jesus, she is dead. She passed from death into heaven. No one can talk to her or communicate with her in any way whatsoever (Deut. 18:10-12).
2. The use of mediums to talk to the dead.
On the 25th of each month, Our Lady appears to the Medjugorje visionary Marija who then goes into a trance which sometimes can last up to 30 minutes. After the apparition leaves, Marija shares the message. Each message is concluded with "I am with you and bless you with my motherly blessing."
3. Appears with baby Jesus - He is no longer a baby.
4. Some of the messages are good - Pray, Repent, turn to God, Follow Jesus
5. Some are contrary to the Bible - Mary bringing peace, defeating the devil, co redemptrix,
Her immaculate heart will triumph, She is always with us,
Glossary
Marian dogma: A truth concerning the Virgin Mary which is proposed by the Catholic church as an article of divine revelation.
pious belief: A belief that is recognized by the church as being in harmony with Catholic teaching.
Immaculate Heart of Mary: A symbol both of Mary’s maternal love for humanity and of her total commitment to God.
Immaculate Conception: The dogma defined in 1854 by Pope Pius IX declaring that the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without the taint of original sin.
Assumption: The dogma defined in 1950 by Pope Pius XII declaring that the Blessed Virgin Mary was bodily assumed into heaven upon her death.
