The Sin of Witchcraft

ISAIAH 8:19, 20: "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

I. At what time does this warning have its proper application?

This admonition is found in a prophecy that pertains to the Gospel dispensation. For the preceding verse which reads, "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion," is quoted in Heb. 2:13, and applied to Christ and the New Testament church. Thus we read, verses 11-14 "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil."

And it is worthy of notice that in verse 16, which reads, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples," the term disciples is used, which is the common designation in the New Testament of a follower of Jesus, though it is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament. The force of this expression, as pointing us to New Testament times, is seen in the fact that he who uses this term, "my disciples," is evidently our Lord Jesus Christ.

A further proof that this passage relates to the New Testament dispensation is found in the fact that the "stone of stumbling" and the "rock of offense " of verse 14, which reads, "And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense," is our divine Redeemer. For thus the New Testament applies this verse, which it blends in quotation with Isa. 28:16, giving the language of both in one. Thus:—

Rom. 9:33 : "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of offense, and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."

1 Pet. 2:7, 8: "Unto you therefore which believe He is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed."

Another evidence that this prophecy of Isaiah pertains to the gospel dispensation is found in the fact that the next verse, which says that many shall "stumble and fall and be broken," is applied in the text last quoted, or in their connection, to those who reject Christ. Thus, Paul says of those who stumble at Christ crucified, Rom. 9:32, "They stumbled at that stumbling-stone."

It thus appears that the admonition of Isa. 8:19, 20, belongs to the New Testament dispensation. A further study of the connection will establish the fact that it was designed especially for the last days of this dispensation, when the disciples of Christ are waiting upon the Lord and looking for him. For the prophet, who personates in this chapter, sometimes the Lord, and sometimes his people, says, in verse 17, "I will wait upon the Lord [Douay Bible, "for the Lord"] that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him." The New Testament church was commanded not to look for that event till the Roman Antichrist should have his predicted period of exaltation. 2 Thess. 2. But when the tribulation of those days should expire, the Saviour promised that the signs of his second advent should begin to be seen, and the saints were then to look and wait for their returning Lord.

Thus we are instructed:—

Matt. 24:32, 33: "Now learn a parable of the figtree: When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."

Luke 21:25-31: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, THEN look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand."

Luke 12:35, 36: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately."

Zeph. 3:8: "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy."

Heb 9:28: "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Isa. 25:9: "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

The prophecy of Isa. 8:17-22, in which the waiting position of the church is designated, has reference therefore to that period immediately preceding the advent of the Saviour. He has proved a stone of stumbling to worldly professors, whether his first or second advent be considered. And it is from this class that he hides his face.

Another clue to the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy is found in the work which it assigns the church: "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." Verse 16. We know that the man of sin was to oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, and to think to change times and laws. Dan. 7:25; 2 Thess. 2. And we know that the law of God and the precepts of Christ have been wickedly mangled by the great Antichristian power. We know also that it is the work of the third angel of Rev. 14, in the period of the saints' patience, to raise up a people that shall keep all the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And we know also that the remnant of the church in the end of this dispensation is to be warred upon by the dragon because they keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 12:17. This work of binding up the testimony and sealing the law among the disciples of Christ, is the very work of the third angel. This law and testimony thus restored to the people of God is that to which they are to appeal in their final conflict with the familiar spirits. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Verse 20.

We cannot doubt, therefore, that the admonition of Isaiah 8:19, 20, respecting the familiar spirits, pertains to the time in which we now live, when the unclean spirits are making preparation for the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Rev. 16.

And when the prophet says of them that seek to familiar spirits, "They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry; and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward," Isa. 8:21, he fitly describes the famine predicted in the following passage:—

Amos 8:11, 12: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it."

And when Isaiah adds: "And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness," verse 22, he speaks of their dreadful anguish in the battle of the great day, and of their final destruction in outer darkness. Jude 13.