Ghosts...Spirits Are In The Bible
I write this to show the religious that yes, the bible does contain ghosts, or "spirits." I feel it necessary to
correct the mis-thinking that 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 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 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 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 they 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 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.
Copyright 2003 JesusReligion.Com
I write this to show the religious that yes, the bible does contain ghosts, or "spirits." I feel it necessary to
correct the mis-thinking that 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 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 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 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 they 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 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.
Copyright 2003 JesusReligion.Com
GHOSTS IN CHRISTIANITY