Dead Men Tell No Tales: End-Time Deceptions

 Dead Men Tell No Tales

“End-Time Deceptions”

 

December 10, 2022

Larry R Evans

 

Introduction

 

The phrase “Dead men tell no tales” was once a common pirate phrase that meant when someone was dead, they could no longer communicate.  In other words, it was the best way to silence someone from telling what they knew. For the pirates, it was the standard excuse for leaving no survivors. Such is not the case for many today.  The belief that the dead can speak to the living is widely accepted. The supernatural and the mystical are featured in books, TV shows, and movies as if they were a common belief and experience.  The Bible does not deny that the supernatural exists, but it does present explicit warnings about deceptive spirits who are at work to deceive and harm. Deception comes in many forms.  The Apostle Paul warned the Galatians of deceptions in his day when he wrote,

Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!—Galatians 1:7-9

To the Thessalonians Paul spoke of “the secret power of lawlessness” that was “already at work “(2 Thess. 1:7). He spoke of deceptions using “signs and wonders that serve the lie” to deceive those who “are perishing” (VSS. 9 and 10). 

 

John, speaking from a vision when exiled on Patmos, wrote

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. – Revelation 12:9

Peter also warns,

Be alert and of a sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1Peter 5:8

Deceptions

 

This week’s study alerts us to specific deceptions designed to confuse and lead away from the gospel and truth as revealed in God’s word.

 

1.     Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute.  It may refer to any kind of trance or trance-like state in which a person transcends the normal. It is often given a religious spiritual meaning.

 

2. Near-Death Experiences are occurrences in which a person comes very close to dying and has memories of a spiritual experience (such as meeting dead friends and family members or seeing a white light) when death was near. It is typically described as an out-of-body experience or a vision of a tunnel of light. When positive it can include a variety of sensations such as detachment from the body, feelings of levitation, total serenity, security, warmth, and the presence of a light.

 

3.    In Reincarnation in most beliefs, the soul is seen as immortal and the only thing that becomes perishable is the body. Upon death, the soul becomes transmigrated into a new infant (or animal) to live again. 

 

4.   Necromancy is the practice of communicating with the dead, especially to predict the future.

 

5.    Personations of the dead and other appearances can be in the form of a deceased family member, a friend, or anyone.

 

6.   'Postmaterial Person/PMP · A foundation is creating technology that will allow us to contact the deceased “via texts, phone calls, and video conferencing.   The claim is that when humans die they simply retain consciousness, identity, and core aspects of their previous physical form.

 

7.     AI/Artificial Intelligence is being developed by MIT to help those grieving the death of loved ones to communicate with them.

 

We’ve seen counsel by Paul, John, and Peter.  Note this comment by Ellen White,

Nearly all forms of ancient sorcery and witchcraft were founded upon a belief in communion with the dead. Those who practiced the arts of necromancy claimed to have intercourse with departed spirits, and to obtain through them a knowledge of future events. This custom of consulting the dead is referred to in the prophecy of Isaiah: “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?” Isaiah 8:19. –Patriarchs and Prophets, 684.

 

Spiritual beings sometimes appear to persons in the form of their deceased friends, and relate incidents connected with their lives and perform acts that they performed while living. In this way they lead men to believe that their dead friends are angels, hovering over them and communicating with them. Those who thus assume to be the spirits of the departed are regarded with a certain idolatry, and with many their word has greater weight than the word of God. --Patriarchs and Prophets, 684

 

The Armor of God: Our Defense

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12

We need not fear if our confidence is in the Lord. He has the power to deliver. We must, however, identify where our struggle is and with whom—two different issues. The struggle is not in doing but in yielding to God and secondly, putting our faith in him and not in our abilities, intelligence, or ingenuity. This is a cosmic battle that calls for a different kind of strategy. Satan works through many tactics to overcome God’s people. Paul names 7 military-type devices for engagement.  Four times Paul uses the word “stand” (Eph. 6:11, 13, 14) to emphasize that we are to stand in Christ. To do so, he explains what composes the armor of God.

 

1.     The waist is girded with readiness. (v.14)

2.    The belt of truth (v.14)

3.    The breastplate of righteousness (v.14)

4.    The feet with readiness (v.15)

5.    The shield of faith (v.16) 

6.    The helmet of salvation (v.17)

 

The one device for attack is:

 

7.     The sword of the Spirit (v.17)

In our spiritual battle, we hold with one hand the shield of faith and with the other the sword of the Spirit. It is the Spirit who makes the word effective in the human heart. Faith and the word of God are inseparable because faith comes from hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17).

 

The last device in our defense and our attack during this cosmic battle is prayer.  It is invisible and untouchable by the enemy. It puts us in touch with our supreme military leader, Jesus who empowers us with His power (Eph. 6:10) made possible by His sacrifice for us.

 

The Death of One Brings Hope and Life

 

We began by drawing attention to the title of our study, “Dead Men Tell No Tales”. Biblically that is true . . . well almost true.  Let me explain with a story.

 

We are all guilty of sin and sin is like a prison. Some see death as a prison and try to escape from it. Some see sin and death as masters. They have locked all of us behind bars. Without the hope provided by forgiveness through Jesus, no reincarnation or some well-meaning person praying to a saint will provide the freedom we want. Max Lucado shared the following,

 

Near the city of Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil is a remarkable facility. Twenty years ago the Brazilian government turned a prison over to two Christians. The institution was renamed Humaita, and the plan was to run it on Christian principles. Except for two full-time staff, all the work is done by inmates. Families outside the prison adopt an inmate to work with during and after his term.  Chuck Colson visited the prison and made this report. 

 

“When I visited Humaita I found the inmates smiling—particularly the murderer who held the keys, opened the gates, and let me in. Whenever I walked, I saw men at peace. I saw clean living areas, and people working industriously The walls were decorated with Biblical sayings from Psalms and Proverbs. .  .  . My guide escorted me to the notorious prison cell once used for torture. Today, he told me, that block houses only a single inmate. As we reached the end of a long concrete corridor and he put the key in the lock, he paused and asked, ‘are you sure you want to go in?’

‘Of course,’ I replied impatiently, ‘I’ve been in isolation cells all over the world’ Slowly he swung open the massive door, and I saw the prisoner in that punishment cell: a crucifix, beautifully carved by the Humaita inmates—the prisoner Jesus, hanging on a cross.

‘He’s doing time for the rest of us,’ my guide said softly. 

 

Yes, there are deceptions. Satan is like an angry lion waiting to devour us. We are guilty as charged but Jesus offers the one hope for us and we must make that decision not when we are in the grave, not by relying on someone to set us free but rather by the only One who can fulfill the promise of eternal life. That person is Jesus and He still says, 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”—Matt. 11:28-30

No need to fall for any deception. Those who have put their trust in  Jesus think of death not as a prison but as a place to wait for Jesus to come.

For the Lord, himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. –1Thess. 4:16-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

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