Ghosts and the Bible
I write this to show the christian religious that yes, the bible
does contain ghosts, or "spirits." I feel it necessary to
correct the mis-thinking that the traditional, christian
religion has created by stating, "ghosts are
impossible...because when one dies, they are either in heaven or
hell." This is incorrect. First of all, heaven is simply the
realm of spirit; and hell is the state of a mind bound by fear
created through mis-thinking. Religious, christian doctrines
create much of the fear that places people in a self-created
hell or prison of the mind. Secondly, ghosts are possible
because the spirit realm and physical realm co-exist; yet are on
different planes. Thirdly, some ghosts may not be people on the
other side; they could be residual energy or thoughts left over
from traumatic or emotional past events. The christian bible is
full of "paranormal" activity...why not ghosts?
Ghosts and spirits are one in the same - they are people on the
other side of the grave...in the afterlife, if you will. They
are common in scripture, if you look for them mentioned within
the christian bible. One of the first verses that most are aware
of is in I Samuel 28:15, where Saul has a medium, "call up" the
prophet Samuel from the other side of the grave:
"And Samuel saith to Saul, Why hast thou troubled me, to bring
me up?"
Most christians will bury their heads and come up with an excuse
for this scripture that God allowed this for one occasion. Or
fundamentalists (traditional christians) may say this wasn't a
ghost but Samuel was resurrected back to life. Or they may even
say that this wasn't Samuel at all, but a deception from the
woman - a trick. Yet, the scripture is very clear that this was
Samuel; and as Samuel had died and crossed over to the other
side...that would make him a spirit or ghost. This passage
should also plainly show that mediums can have contact with
people on the other side. This medium, whom Saul used, saw many
people on the other side, when she was calling up Samuel. One
should also note in this verse, that Samuel had maintained his
form of an old man wearing a mantel, just like many documented
ghost sightings of apparitions, report the ghost to be dressed
in "period dress" from their own time era, here on earth.
Moving into the christian new testament, we see Jesus having
"appeared" to many after his resurrection. To "appear" indicates
the idea of manifesting from the invisible to the visible, just
as a spirit or ghost might manifest, from the spirit to the
physical realm. It is interesting to note that he "appeared" to
Simon (Luke 24:34); and he "appeared" to Mary Magdalene (Mark
16:9). Jesus "appeared" to two of his followers in a different
form that was not recognizable to them. What? I mean they had a
conversation with him and still didn't recognize Jesus
physically! Yes, the scripture says:
Mark 16:12, "...to two of them, as they are going into a field,
walking, he was manifested in another form."
He also "appeared" to the eleven disciples and stood in the
midst of them during their conversation (Luke 24:36). Can you
imagine that? He manifested right before their eyes from the
realm of spirit. But what is interesting to note is Jesus'
statement concerning their fear of him "appearing" right before
their eyes:
Luke 24:39 "...handle me and see, because a spirit does not have
flesh and bones, as you see me having."
Well, at first blush, one might argue, hey, Jesus wasn't a
spirit or ghost because he had flesh and bone. I would have to
agree, but I might add that Jesus still was "appearing" like a
ghost or spirit might do. Does flesh and bone "appear" out of
thin air? However, the biggest point might be missed if one does
not consider Jesus' statement further, about not being a spirit
or ghost...he was in effect stating that spirits (ghosts) do
exist, but that he was not like them!
This common belief in ghosts is found in another new testament
passage, as well. You may remember Jesus walking on the water
towards his disciples who were in a boat on the sea. The verse
in Matthew 14:26 states:
"and the disciples having seen him walking upon the sea, were
troubled saying, 'It is an apparition,' and from the fear they
cried out."
Apparitions were obviously believed to exist and even by the
followers of Jesus who were learning rapidly about the spirit
realm from him. Other people obviously believed in ghosts during
Jesus' time on earth, because they "appeared" in the city of
Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection:
Matthew 27:52-53, "and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of
the saints who have fallen asleep, arose; and having come forth
out of the tombs after Jesus' rising, they went into the holy
city and appeared to many."
The writer of Hebrews, (probably the apostle Paul) mentions the
fact of spirits being all around us, in Hebrews 12:1,
"Therefore, we also having so great a cloud of witnesses set
around us."
This to me, is confirmation of the spirit and physical realms
co-existing with one another, but on different planes. It is a
spiritual truth, that what exists here on earth, must first
exist in the spirit realm; for spirit is the life-giving force
behind all. And that spirit is God. God is life. The bible
proclaims in the Lord's prayer,
"On earth (physical realm), as it is (first) in heaven (the
realm of spirit)."
But there is one last bible passage I wish to share that many
overlook that proves the manifestation of spirits from the
spirit realm into this physical world. That verse can be found
in Mark 9:4, in the famous Mount of Transfiguration passage:
"and there appeared to them, Elijah with Moses, and they were
talking with Jesus."
Wow! This passage not only proves that spirits can manifest
here, but it shows a very important spiritual truth, as well.
Jesus spoke with people on the other side of the grave.
Therefore, those on the other side of the grave can speak to us!
The religious will try and explain this passage away; but the
fact remains, it is not only possible for ghosts to exist, but
Jesus, who is to be our example, shows us some spirits
communicate with us! Why did Jesus choose only to reveal this
truth to James, John and Peter? To us, this truth has been
spoken against by traditional christian doctrine for years. Yet,
Jesus felt it important enough to reveal to these three
disciples what was really going on "behind the scenes." Jesus
seemed to understand quite a lot about what was going on "behind
the veil" of this physical world. Perhaps, we should follow his
example and not fear ghosts; but seek to understand the truth of
the spirit realm.