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different thing. Then there is the case of Saul (see 2 above). He clearly spoke with Samuel. Some have said it was only an evil spirit impersonating Samuel. However, even a casual reading of the passage shows that this must be wrong. Would Scripture say it was Samuel when it really wasn't ? Others who can see clearly from this passage that Samuel was brought up from the dead, take the view that this case was unique and we cannot draw the conclusion from it that the dead can be consulted in a general way. Put another way, God allowed Samuel to be brought up as a special thing and the shock of the woman when she saw Samuel is brought forward as evidence of this (1 Samuel 28:12). However, Scripture does not say that the case was unique and the fact that Saul asked for Samuel to be brought up shows that he, at least, thought it not impossible to do so (1 Samuel 28:8-11). Then there is the passage in Isaiah 8:19/20 (see 3 above). It is clear from this that the prophet denigrates the practice of the living going to the dead. What can the dead do to help the living ? They are in a helpless position themselves: "Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet [thee] at thy coming... All of them shall answer and say unto thee, Art thou also become powerless as we" (Isaiah 14:9/10).

What we learn from these passages is that consulting the dead is to be eschewed. Nothing is to be gained by it and ultimately it will be to our loss. The dead are presented normally as being in Sheol (the unseen place). The fact that Revelation 20:13 speaks of death as distinct from Hades (Sheol) may point to the fact that all the dead may not be in Hades, for instance, those who have just died. Some, so it is said, understand that the soul does not go away into Sheol immediately. Perhaps it is because of this that persons sometimes can be resuscitated and their souls return to their bodies shortly after they have apparently died.

April 2000