http://www.gty.org/Resources/Print/Blog/B121018
(To be sure, Phil Johnson is not consistent in talking about being faithful to Scripture, since he affirms the non-Scriptural, fanciful-imaginary pretrib teaching.)
The people believing things such as Heaven is for Real (a direct contradiction of Scripture) are the ones who will also be duped by the Antichrist, since they do not possess the correct methodological standards to do so. Make NO bones about it folks, the deception during the great tribulation will be so incredibly strong. I just do not think we grasp how deceptive it will be. Indeed, Jesus says so strong that it could deceive even the elect if possible: “For false messiahs and false prophets [many who will be making similar claims as this four-year-old boy in Heaven is for Real] will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand” (Matt 24:24–25).
This is not about the cessationist/continuationist debate. I am concerned about the lack of discernment when teaching directly contradicts Scripture. In addition I am concerned when believers are not content with what God has revealed in Scripture about heaven, so they are drawn to tantalizing story-visions.
In this podcast, John Piper argues against such books from Isaiah 8:19 (And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?)
God’s beef with necromancy is that it belittles the sufficiency of his communication. Why would you inquire of the dead to find out what you want to know instead of inquiring of me? And if they say: Well, I have inquired of you and you didn’t tell me what I want to know. He would say: Well, that is your problem. I have told you what you need to know. You don’t need to know about such and such if I haven’t told you. And, in fact, if you go trying to inquire about such and such that I haven’t told you, you are dishonoring me. So that is the nature of the argument. And, therefore, I think the prohibition of séances and necromancy applies to this kind of thing and people ought to stop writing those books.
