Was the prophet Samuel resurrected by a witch?

Question

Samuel 1.28:4

The Philistinians gathered and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul and the Israelis made camp at Gilboa. When Saul spotted the Philistine army, he was frightened and terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her."
"There is one in Endor," they said.
So Saul disguised himself, and at night he and two men went to the witch. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."
But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the witches and sorcerers from the land. Is this some form of entrapment?"
Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."
Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?"
"Bring up the prophet Samuel," he said.

It seems highly unlikely that everyone who has ever lived besides Jesus is still "asleep" in their graves. Because in Jesus's own life, Peter and a few of the Apostles witnessed the prophets Moses and either Ezekiel or Elijah (can't remember which) descend from the sky, rather than ascend from the Earth, to have some sort of conference with Jesus up on Mt. Zion.

Answer 1

ABSOLUTELY NOT THE BIBLE CLEARLY SAYS THE DEAD ARE DEAD UNCONSCIOUS ECC 9:5-10 and Ezekiel 18 :4 what the witch conjured up was a demon pretending to be samuel not samuel himself as he was dead

Answer 2

That wasn't a raising from the dead as the spirit of Samuel was in the comfort side of Hell at the time (all who went to that sector of Hell are nowadays in Heaven thanks to the crucifixion of Jesus).

But anyways normally in a medium contact, either a Demon appears pretending to be the dead, or the Medium will have an impersonator pretend to be the dead.

However this was the only time in History when God allowed an actual dead person to appear and it was Samuel who had told Saul before, you will never see me again until the day you die.

And the prophesy came true

Answer 3

This is a difficult passage. By the reaction of the witch, I would say that God did allow Samuel to rise up to prophesy Saul's demise. The apparition would not have been able to prophesy were it not the real deal.

I actually won a writing contest for a play I wrote based on this event. One of the judges was Frank E. Peretti of "This Present Darkness" fame.

Answer 4

I know this is late but gorbalizer's answer is right. They are all asleep. The three people the disciples saw were Moses and Elijah (fun note: Enoch could've shown up too).

These people are exceptions. Moses died and then the archangel Michael went and collected his body and brought him to heaven and Enoch and Elijah never died, God just took them (isn't that totally cool by the way!)

Another proof is when Jesus was dying and dead saints were resurrected and came out of their tombs and then in revelation it says the dead shall rise first at Christ's second coming. If people were already in heaven there would be no reason for them to come out of tombs or graves.

"And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." 2 Kings 2:11 (Elijah went directly to heaven)

"And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Genesis 5:24 (Enoch never died)

"So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day." Dueteronomy 34: 5-6
"But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke you.” Jude1:9 (It seems Moses died and was buried by God, but then resurrected, and there seems to be some debate (on the devil's part) on who Moses rightfully belonged to)

"The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." Mathew 27: 52-53 (when Christ was being crucified, saints came out of their tombs, not out of the heaven)

"Because the Lord Himself shall come down from Heaven with a commanding shout of an archangel's voice, and with God's trumpet. And the dead in Christ will rise again first." 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (the dead in Christ shall rise at Christ's second coming)

John 11:11-14 (Jesus says Lazarus was "asleep" and He was going to awaken him)

There are probably more verses, but I've already made this too long. Sorry :( I just didn't want to leave anything important out.

Oh and back to your original question. Read that verse again, the witch herself was surprised that "Samuel" was there....she obviously wasn't expecting that to happen.

And lastly, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 There are things the devil can't do, but makes it seem like he can, in order to deceive and confuse us.

Again, sorry for the long answer :(

Answer 5

NO, the wicked angels were having a field day with Saul.
Remember when it said that when God's spirit left him the wicked spirits tormented him? That was still part of that tormenting thing. Samuel was still dead and awaiting a resurrection. John 5:28 We are going to see our dead loved ones come back in a resurrection but now all of them are resting in the grave. Including Samuel.
Samuel refused to talk to him when he was alive, why would God allow his spirit to return to talk to him after his death?

Answer 6

No, God simply sent Samuel to the witch to prophecy to Saul. This is not of the witch's power nor is it God giving approval to such things. In fact if you read the whole passage in context you will see that God does not approve of witch craft.

Answer 7

keep reading the "familiar spirit" was the disembodied spirit of the fallen angels who PRETEND to be whoever that witch is calling up. it's not the person.

Answer 8

yes, it was an error by Saul - not approved of by god at all.

this is a piece of the bible that affirms things like witchcraft.

Answer 9

with what gorbalizer said. hes rite

Answer 10

wicked demones dust you are dust you will be luv dad