“Let no one be found among you who . . . engages in witchcraft Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12

The angels who were disobedient before the flood were not permitted to live on earth like men anymore. Nor were they allowed back into their former home in heaven.

Their punishment for being disobedient was to be restricted to the area around the earth. There they could invisibly influence those human beings who would allow themselves to be “used” by them. Those who were so used are called mediums and they work with the angels of Satan to deceive other humans. It is wise to stay away from them. Moses had warned the Israelites to drive all wizards and witches out of the lands they conquered or put them to death.

The Philistines gathered to battle King Saul’s army and the frightened king knew he could not win, but he hoped he could find help. There had been a time when God had guided him, but now he had sinned against God so he could not expect a blessing from that source. In desperation, Saul turned to a witch at Endor to contact the dead Samuel for advice. 1 Samuel 28:3-25

Because Samuel was dead and could not actually respond to the witch, evil spirits or fallen angels impersonated him. They gave the witch information she used to convince Saul she had really seen and spoken to Samuel.

She told Saul his army would lose the battle the next day and he and his sons would be killed. When the battle did take place, Saul and three of his sons were killed (including David’s close friend, Jonathan), but one son, Ish-bosheth, survived, reigned as king over Israel for two years, and was killed by two of his captains. 2 Samuel 2:10; 4:5-7.

Fallen angels work with Satan to continue the lie Satan told Eve in the garden: “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Although mediums claim they receive information from those who have died, the Bible assures us that “the dead know nothing.” Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10

The witch at Endor used evil spirits to impersonate dead Samuel.