GHOSTS IN THE BIBLE
BY: ARCH PATRIARCH JOHN STANSELL, PH.D.
You have seen them depicted in movies, read stories of their unnerving activities, and have seen television shows and documentaries sensationalizing them. You have probably seen rare photos of them and have likely heard of first-hand ghostly encounters from family members and friends. Perhaps you think you have even seen a ghost yourself. Most Americans believe in life after death. This may be attributed to faith. Our religious backgrounds account for the conviction that some part of our spirit survives the death of the body.
Not only do nearly one in five Americans now believe in ghosts, but also they claim to have seen one, a number that has doubled over the past decade since Ghost Hunters debuted in 2004. That’s according to a 2009 poll by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. (The Pew poll is conservative compared to others inquiring simply about beliefs: 48 percent of Americans believe in ghosts, according to a poll that same year by CBS; 45 percent, according to a poll earlier this year by the Huffington Post.)
But what is a ghost? Although definitions vary, the most common one is that ghosts are the disembodied spirits of dead people that linger on earth. According to tradition, ghosts are invisible but can permit humans to see them. Most professional paranormal investigators and other “experts” on ghosts believe that for some reason these spirits are “stuck” between this plane of existence and the next, often as a result of some tragedy or trauma.
CHRISTIANS AND GHOSTS
Many Christians will say that they have ‘seen a ghost’ or ‘felt a presence’ but they have a hard time fitting those experiences in with their traditional Christianity. So its not an unusual thing for Christians to wonder about this topic.
I do not know why the topic of ghosts never seem to be discussed in churches today. Perhaps most pastors fear the negative effects that these beliefs might have on the Christian faith. Maybe they are unaware of just how widespread these beliefs are. Some Theologians don't take them seriously, since they themselves don’t believe in ghosts and aliens they fail to realize just how many of the "lost" people of the world do - not to mention how many Christians are confused about them. Another possibility is that they are aware of these beliefs but feel unequipped to deal with them.
Of course, either a thing exists or it doesn’t. No amount of belief will cause ghosts to exist if they don’t; nor could personal opinion cause ghosts not to exist if, in fact, they truly do exist. Because a person’s belief in ghosts creates very serious and far-reaching ramifications, it’s a topic that no Christian should ignore.
ARE GHOSTS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE?
If the Bible declares that ghosts are real, then they are real; but if it isn't chapter and verse it is just chatter and worse. So what does the Bible have to say about the existence of ghosts? Let us examine the subject in light of God's Inspired Word.
I. THE GHOST OF SAMUEL THE PROPHET
According to the Old Testament, the concept of a Ghost or disembodies spirit of a deceased person is not only real, it is Scriptural. Turn in your own Bible and read 1 Samuel 28:1-25. Although I prefer using the Authorized King James Version of the Bible, the Contemporary English Version brings out this passage very clearly:
1-3 Samuel had died some time earlier, and people from all over Israel had attended his funeral in his hometown of Ramah.
Meanwhile, Saul had been trying to get rid of everyone who spoke with the spirits of the dead. But one day the Philistines brought their soldiers together to attack Israel.
Achish told David, “Of course, you know that you and your men must fight as part of our Philistine army.”
David answered, “That will give you a chance to see for yourself just how well we can fight!”
“In that case,” Achish said, “you and your men will always be my bodyguards.”
4 The Philistines went to Shunem and set up camp. Saul called the army of Israel together, and they set up their camp in Gilboa. 5 Saul took one look at the Philistine army and started shaking with fear. 6 So he asked the Lord what to do. But the Lord would not answer, either in a dream or by a priest or a prophet. 7 Then Saul told his officers, “Find me a woman who can talk to the spirits of the dead. I’ll go to her and find out what’s going to happen.”
His servants told him, “There’s a woman at Endor who can talk to spirits of the dead.”
8 That night, Saul put on different clothing so nobody would recognize him. Then he and two of his men went to the woman, and asked, “Will you bring up the ghost of someone for us?”
9 The woman said, “Why are you trying to trick me and get me killed? You know King Saul has gotten rid of everyone who talks to the spirits of the dead!”
10 Saul replied, “I swear by the living Lord that nothing will happen to you because of this.”
11 “Who do you want me to bring up?” she asked.
“Bring up the ghost of Samuel,” he answered.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. Then she turned to Saul and said, “You’ve tricked me! You’re the king!”
13 “Don’t be afraid,” Saul replied. “Just tell me what you see.”
She answered, “I see a spirit rising up out of the ground.”
14 “What does it look like?”
“It looks like an old man wearing a robe.”
Saul knew it was Samuel, so he bowed down low.
15 “Why are you bothering me by bringing me up like this?” Samuel asked.
“I’m terribly worried,” Saul answered. “The Philistines are about to attack me. God has turned his back on me and won’t answer any more by prophets or by dreams. What should I do?”
16 Samuel said: If the Lord has turned away from you and is now your enemy, don’t ask me what to do. 17 I’ve already told you: The Lord has sworn to take the kingdom from you and give it to David. And that’s just what he’s doing! 18 When the Lord was angry with the Amalekites, he told you to destroy them, but you didn’t do it. That’s why the Lord is doing this to you. 19 Tomorrow the Lord will let the Philistines defeat Israel’s army, then you and your sons will join me down here in the world of the dead.
20 At once, Saul collapsed and lay stretched out on the floor, terrified at what Samuel had said. He was weak because he had not eaten anything since the day before.
21 The woman came over to Saul, and when she saw that he was completely terrified, she said, “Your Majesty, I listened to you and risked my life to do what you asked. 22 Now please listen to me. Let me get you a little something to eat. It will give you strength for your walk back to camp.”
23 “No, I won’t eat!”
But his officers and the woman kept on urging Saul, until he finally agreed. He got up off the floor and sat on the bed. 24 Right away the woman killed a calf that she had been fattening up. She cooked part of the meat and baked some thin bread. 25 Then she served the food to Saul and his officers, who ate and left before daylight.
[Contemporary English Version (CEV); Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society]
Notice first of all that the BIBLE clearly declares that King Saul had been trying to get rid of everyone who spoke with the spirits of the dead. If ghosts do not exist then why does the Bible give us this information? Following this line of thinking let me also point out that Deuteronomy 18:11 forbids God's people from trying to make contact with the dead. If such were not possible then why would the Bible warn against it.? Therefore, even though I believe that ghosts are real, we should not try to make contact with the dead through séances, Ouija Boards, etc. But this does prove the existence of ghosts in the Bible.
Second, please note from the above passage of Scripture that the Witch of Endor did indeed make contact with the spirit, or the ghost, of Samuel. The Bible clearly states that this is the Ghost of the Prophet Samuel. Nowhere in the text does it state that he is otherwise. The spirit is the disembodied essence of the man, and he is recognizable. He is ‘brought up’ from the earth by the Witch of Endor, brought from the grave to their presence.So here we have Bible proof that ghosts are real.
II. JESUS WALKING ON THE WATER
The New Testament also teaches that a Ghost or disembodies spirit of a deceased person is not only real, it is Scriptural. Almost everyone has read, or at least has heard about, the story of Jesus walking on water; and if you ever went to Sunday School as a child I am sure you additionally heard about Peter attempting to do the same and failing. This tale of trust and faith has been used for millennia to teach and encourage Christians. But just before the text talks about Peter’s attempt to come to Jesus on the water the text tells us something unusual:
"And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit [ghost]; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:25-27).
The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost. And they were afraid. Now if ghostly apparitions are all demonic presences as some Christians report, why were the disciples afraid? Just a few chapters earlier Jesus had demonstrated how to exorcise evil spirits and then commissioned the disciples to go all over the land and do so. (Matthew 8:28-34, Matthew 10:1-4) Although not implicit in the text it would seem that they should have had some personal experience in exorcism by themselves. So why were they afraid? Because they believed in Ghosts-the disembodied spirits of the dead who still roam the earth. And not only that, Jesus did not rebuke them for thinking he was a Ghost, instead He just calmed them down and let them know it was Him. If the concept of a disembodied spirit is so unbiblical why did Jesus let his disciples believe such things exist without correction?
III. GHOSTS AND INTERFAITH CHURCHES
Many of those who belong to the Interfaith Community follow more along with New Age, and/or, Pagan beliefs, although there is a large following of those who call themselves Interfaith Christians [your author falls into this category]. We definitely believe in the existence of ghosts. There is just too much evidence proving that they are real. A honest heart cannot deny the proof.
IV. GHOSTS AND DEMONS
There is much proof in the world today that ghosts really exist, and many have been caught on video. We have given Bible proof that ghosts are real. But some Theologians teach that all ghosts are demonic spirits. Is this true? Absolutely not. A ghost is a human being who has passed out of the physical body, usually in a traumatic state and is not aware usually of his true condition. We are all spirits encased in a physical body. At the time of passing, our spirit body continues into the next dimension. A ghost, on the other hand, due to trauma, is stuck in our physical world and needs to be released to go on. Demonic spirits are not departed human spirits.
It must be pointed out however that we are now living in the time that the Apostle Paul warned us about in the Bible when he wrote: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). We must continually be on guard against spiritual deception.
When a loved one or a close friend dies, it is only natural to miss that individual. Some people will desire to talk to a departed soul and will sadly attend a séance in an effort to communicate with their deceased loved one or friend. Others will try to contact their relatives and friends through Ouija Boards and other occult means. Most people don’t understand how dangerous it can be trying to contact the dead. This is especially true when it comes to using Ouija Boards and séances as instruments of contacting them, as both are known to open portals [doorways] through which demonic spirits will come through and take over your home; and if you aren’t prepared spiritually they can even possess you.
God strongly warns against, and forbids, the practice of trying to contact the dead. Demonic spirits can simulate the dead person and fool the gullible person who is trying to contact their dead loved ones. This is a very serious and extremely dangerous thing to happen. These spirits will lie and tell people what they want to hear at first. But their real scheme is to possess the person who opened up the portal they came through, and to take over that person’s spirit and home. I therefore warn all my readers to never try contacting the dead through Ouija Boards, séances, or any other means, as the Bible clearly forbids any and all means of trying to contact the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11).
These demonic spirits that steal the identities of departed people are very dangerous. They desire to harm and to destroy people, pets and homes. Demons hate humans and desire to possess us, torment us, and to eventually completely destroy us physically, mentally and spiritually. They can hit, bite and scratch humans and animals. They have been known to crawl into beds with people and smother them, and even to sexually assault women. They can cause all kinds of sickness and diseases, as well as total insanity. Their only goals are to steal your joy, peace and sanity, to completely destroy you and your family, and to eventually kill you (John 10:10).
IN CONCLUSION
There is much proof today, including photos and videos, that ghosts are very real. A honest study of the Bible, instead of traditional beliefs, also proves that ghosts are real.