“where Bible writers fears to tread, the Roman Catholic church is unwise to rush in.”
I suppose we could easily replace “Roman Catholic church” in that sentence to any one or any group, if indeed we are to acknowledge “Sola Scriptura” in matters of faith.

Other than that, although I am still finding hard to think that it was really Samuel that was invoked, your explanation on those verses makes a whole lot of sense to me. Whether Samuel was really present then and there or not, one thing clear to me is that the word of God was present through that unlikely mean, and was effective.

Bummer.
I was under the assumption that to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. [2 Corinthians 5:8]
Would people in the presence of Christ be able to sleep? [I know the disciples did pre-cross, resurrection and Pentecost, but after?]

Greg,

That first paragraph of mine was more of a passing comment, as to remind myself (and others I suppose) to be careful when dealing with issues like this one. We’re all susceptible to the error of making hard lines on the issues that the Bible does not.

Nevertheless, I don’t think thinking about this issue is always pointless. Although the Bible doesn’t give us a crystal clear picture of what happens during the time of death and the time of Lord’s return, nevertheless, it does address it to some degree. It is the Biblically-thorough thinking that will help guard us from making such errors like Roman Catholics, or some other “evangelicals” who have made up their minds up on this issue too strongly one way or the other.