SERMONETTE # 7 24 April 1985 First Church of Computer Science "The Road to Endor" PART I Many have traveled the road to Endor. This is the road of no return. Metaphorically speaking "Endor" means participation in the occult arts of magic. The name Endor is mentioned in the bible. It was a village where a spirit medium or "witch" resided. Peasants and kings came to consult with this woman who could fortell the future and conduct seances, in the hope of getting a "reading" or "speaking to the dead" (necromancy). She was a good woman and obviousely a sincere believer in her practices which she considered a gift of the gods. An account is given of her in a meeting with the King of Isreal (King Saul)(I SAM 28:7-25). She was not faking the phenomenon that is mentioned in the bible passages. She actually did summon the dead prophet Samuel. The result of the seance fortold the death of the king and his sons. The medium knew that the worshipers of Jehovah were forbidded to partake in these services and she was certain she would be killed as an example to any others who would practice her arts, these supposed works of Satan and his demons. Johoveh God knew that the occult or "dark mysteries" were very dangerous and unless one was fully informed, it would be hazardous to one's health both mentally and physically. This was why he definitely forbade the chosen people to dabble in the occult that would do irreparable damamge via the "Road to Endor"(DEUT 18:9-13). An example is the ouija board in which vile messages have "come through" to the circle working the mechanism. This indicates that the energy behind the planchetta is of a demonic nature whether a subconcious projection of the lower ego of the sitters is the source or whether it is a demon emanation outside the circle. These spirits have manifested in many unexplaned phenomena as: markings of the skin or walls, usually comprised of mystical symbols containing blood, and includes bleeding from wounds that do not exist (stigmata). In psychiatry this is labeled auto-hypnotic hysterics. In spiritist circles there are manifestations of "rappings", "materializations", "trance-voice possesions", "a flourecent substance of vapor called ectoplasm emitted from the medium. The medium is seated in trance in a corner behind a curtain called a "cabinet". This cabinet is secured by guards to prevent any abrupt shock. This substance, ectoplasm, can take the form of persons either living or dead, which includes saints or indians which are usually refered to as guides or as in the bible, familiar spirits. There are teleportations and levitations of persons or objects to the confoundment of men of science. All this besides the phenomenon of the "taking on of conditions" of the physical and mental ills of other. These are other manifestations of a endless catagory: Clair Gustience - clear smelling, Clair Audience - clear hearing, Clair Voyance -clear seeing, DeJa Vu - past recall, Psychometry -information from objects, Tele-kenesis - moving objects from a distance, Telepathy - reading feelings from a distance, Apportation - teleporting objects, Teleportation - teleporting the body, Astro Projection - out of body experience, Spirit Photography - images of spirits on undeveloped paper, Automatic Writeing - writeing under trance. Some of the less sophisticated variety are witch craft, UFO-ology, numerology, astrology, mesmerism, phrenology, chirography, and card reading. In a short word they can all be summed us as ESP. So obviously this could lead to extreme physical and mental deterioration to both the mediums, who excert tremendous energy in producing the phenomena, plus the draw on the sitters who are called "batteries". They are a necessary part of the dispersion of energy directed to the medium to bring forth the phenomena of the seance. This is usually accomplished only under subdued red lighting. The medeium puts her whole life in the hands of a familiar spirit who is the equivalent of a "high soul" that has access to the world beyond or the astro heaven world, where the so called dead reside. These dead ones can communicate to the living and give comfort and important information to ther loved ones and the sitters in the circle. This is the explanation of the modern Endor. It usually ends up like King Saul, in death. The warning writing is on the wall. Satan, the great deceiver, comes as a glorious "angel of light" and is it any wonder that his ministers also appear as ministers of God. Many exorcisms are nothing more than "Satan casting out Satan" which leads to the ultimate deception that he is indeed the minsiter of God. Jesus warned us that even the elect whould be deceived if possible by the craftiness of the ancient serpent that he identifies as the master deceiver Lucifer ("angel of light"), the protective angel of the Garden of Enden who rebelled againt his creator Jehovah God in the beginning. Jesus speaking of this rebel tells us he a liar and the father of all lies. He was a murderer from the beginning and never was of the truth (II COR 11:14-15, REV 12:19, JOH 8:44 Although there is much fraud involved in most spiritist groups, some are legitimate and cannot be denied or explained by men of science who have observed and tested them thoroughly. The great excape artist Houdini in his search for truth exposed many fakers, but he himself admitted to the reality of paranormal phenomena. Sir William Crooks an electornics genius definitely witnessed unbelievable levitation by a meduim friend named D.D. Home. he seemingly contradicted all natural laws of gravity. In broad day light in front of witnesses, including Crooks, he floated out the window of a high office building and then floated back in. There were no strings attached. Was this of God or of the Devil? To be continued. AFFIRMATION: I will be on guard against all pyschic phenomena that does not conform to the Word of God, the Holy Bible, which is the only safe road that leads to life, instead of death. PASTOR : Michael A. Tanous COPYRIGHT (c) 1985 by Michael A. Tanous