“Do you ask your friends to pray for you? Intercessory prayer is asking your friends known to be in heaven (i.e., saints) to pray for you.”
Intercessions are made by living believers.
There is no example in the Bible of anyone who is dead making intercession for anyone else. Nor is there any example of anyone praying to the dead for the living.
Isaiah 8:19-20
And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Thank you for your reply. You certainly know your bible.
Perhaps you are not familiar with Luke 16:19-31?
Also, what about in Revelation, when John sees that “the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Rev. 5:8). Here it is obvious that the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth.
I think that is a pretty solid biblical foundation, don’t you think?
But please, do not equate intercessory Catholic prayer with necromancy. They are certainly NOT the same.