Satan Impersonates Samuel

And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. —1 Samuel 28:14

Saul’s questions, together with the woman’s replies, are in themselves evidence that he did not see the apparition himself. . . . When she described the apparition, Saul ‘perceived that it was Samuel.’” “When Samuel was living, Saul had despised his counsel and had resented his reproofs. But now, in the hour of his distress and calamity, he felt that the prophet’s guidance was his only hope, and in order to communicate with Heaven’s ambassador he vainly had recourse to the messenger of hell!” “When Saul inquired for Samuel, the Lord did not cause Samuel to appear to Saul. He saw nothing. Satan was not allowed to disturb the rest of Samuel in the grave, and bring him up in reality to the witch of Endor. God does not give Satan power to resurrect the dead. . . . Satan knew Samuel well, and he knew how to represent him before the witch of Endor, and to utter correctly the fate of Saul and his sons.” “That supernatural appearance was produced solely by the power of Satan. He could as easily assume the form of Samuel as he could assume that of an angel of light, when he tempted Christ in the wilderness.” This episode is filled with contradictions. If, as many today believe, the spirits of the good go to heaven and the evil to hell, why would Saul ask the witch to “bring me up Samuel” (1 Samuel 28:11; emphasis added)? Why did he not ask for Samuel to be brought down? And Samuel would have asked, “Why have you brought me down?” Instead, “Samuel” asks, “Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?” (v. 15; emphasis added) “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect” (Mark 13:22).