Thoughts on QOTW – What does the Bible say about Ghosts and Hauntings

Hi Guys n Gals, just a thought on the weekly GQ question on “What does the Bible say about ghosts / hauntings?”
as I read it I thought of the witch at Endor and the spirit of Samuel as an example of the spirit of a dead person revisiting the living world. I know this was an exception allowed by God but wondered if the article should include this rather than say ” If the term means “spirits of people who have died,” the answer is “no.” ” ….even if just to clarify that if God should will it then it is possible as seen in the example of Samuel.
Also what of the appearance of Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration, I know it is possible these were physical manifestations but it is also possible these were spirits given an appearance that would allow the disciples the ability to recognise who they were. any thoughts?

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Rebekah Largent, Ed Chait and 2 others like this.
Tim White Dr. J. V. McGee taught for years that this was not Samuel. It was satanic, and God or His safe keeping would not be involved. However. like Balaam, when the demon opened their mouths and his words were replaced by the pronouncement of God.

November 3 at 8:10am · Like
Tim White However, it would be difficult to argue from that position, since the scripture calls him Samuel. Perhaps the excepting allowed by God is the best avenue.

November 3 at 8:11am · Like
Ed Chait Maybe along the same lines as God allowing Satan in heaven temporarily even though sin cannot enter.

November 3 at 6:09pm · Like
Byron Earnheart This has been a topic I’ve thought a lot about. I don’t know if I am any closer to an answer…but…

We know that Satan is the prince of this world and moves about like a lion. So, he’s not bound up somewhere away from our consciousness. We also know that demon possession can happen (not giving credibility to every case…but Jesus and apostles cast out demons).

That said, I’ve often wondered if “ghost stories” are experiences with lost souls who haven’t entered the final judgement yet.

Again, not saying every spook story is legit…and not even putting forth this hypothesis as fact. I just wonder if lost souls, prior to judgment could (emphasis here…could) come forward as the ghosts we hear about. Would love to know y’all’s thoughts (freely admitting I could be dead wrong…pardon the pun).

November 3 at 10:52pm · Like
Dwight Payne From Luke 24:37-39 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

This one has always baffled me. Maybe something is lost in translation, otherwise Jesus seems to verify the existence of ghosts.

November 4 at 6:28am · Like · 1
Tim White The rich man was in a place of torment awaiting judgment. He could not get out to warn his brothers. If lost soul could haunt before judgment, they would have only one message. “Repent like I didn’t. “

November 4 at 7:26am · Like · 2
Ed Chait “Everything Scripture says about the death of believers indicates that they are immediately ushered consciously into the Lord’s presence. In the words of the Westminster Confession of Faith, “The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies”

Would the souls of nonbelievers be allowed to hang around after death?

November 4 at 9:16am · Like
Sarah Van Baale Tim – that was my thought exactly.

November 4 at 9:44am · Like
Ed Chait don’t people that go to hell continue to sin for eternity? in general,why would they want to warn others?

November 4 at 10:17am · Like
Tim White The only example of one lost and dead wanted to warn. Even the most wicked person is capable of loving family.

November 4 at 10:22am · Like
Ed Chait I think the main point of that one example is to illustrate how horrible hell is, not that those in hell have an agenda to warn others.

November 4 at 11:06am · Like
Joseph Ford Ed, no, those in hell do not “continue to sin for eternity. ” They suffer the punishment for their sins for eternity. Luke 16 shows us that.

November 4 at 11:07am · Like
Ed Chait there is a got questions article that I recently read, if I’m not mistaken that said that those that go to hell sin eternally. I’ll have to see if I can find it.

November 4 at 11:10am · Like
Sarah Van Baale I think you’re thinking of this article:http://www.gotquestions.org/eternal-hell-fair.html But it doesn’t mean that the unsaved are eternally sinning, rather that the sin is eternally before God and deserves an eternal punishment.

How is eternity in hell a fair punishment for sin?

How is eternity in hell a fair punishment for sin? How is it…

GOTQUESTIONS.ORG

November 4 at 11:13am · Like
Ed Chait that’s the one! thanks Sarah, I will reread it

November 4 at 11:47am · Edited · Like
Tim White Here again, the story of Lazarus is not said to be a parable. That Jesus used a proper name can assure us that the story is real and that it was accurately represented by the Eternal One.

November 4 at 11:26am · Like · 1
Ed Chait not arguing that the story isn’t real, but what is the main point of the story?

November 4 at 11:44am · Like
Tim White Part of the central intent of the story is that the suffering includes loss of all comfort, including the ability to warn others.

November 4 at 11:50am · Like · 1
Ed Chait I love being able to discuss these things here.

November 4 at 11:54am · Like
Sarah Van Baale 1) Hell is not a place you want to be – the suffering is extreme. 2) Once you’re there you cannot leave. 3) Every unbeliever has full understanding of who God is once this life is over. 4) We cannot exercise our will once in hell.

As a side note, wasn’t hell prepared for the Devil and his angels? If so, I’m pretty sure there’s no coming and going at a soul’s discretion. In other words, they don’t get to haunt people on earth. However, that doesn’t mean that demons don’t wreak havoc on this world. They aren’t there – yet.

November 4 at 11:54am · Like · 2
Ed Chait OK, I reread the GQ article referenced above and I still come away from it with the clear and distinct idea that the wicked sin eternally. This is the most pertinent paragraph:

“Second, the idea that we cease sinning after death is not taught in the Bible. Are those who go to hell suddenly sinless and perfect? No. Those who go into eternity without Christ will be confirmed in their wickedness. The hard-hearted will be eternally hard-hearted. There will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in hell (Matthew 25:30), but no repentance. Sinners in hell will be given over to their own nature; they will be sin-infected, evil, immoral, and depraved beings for all of eternity, forever unredeemed and unregenerate. The lake of fire will be a place of eternal rebellion against God—even as that rebellion is judged (Revelation 20:14–15; cf. Revelation 16:9, 11). Unsaved people do not only sin for 70, 80, 90, or 100 years. They sin for eternity.”

If the wicked continue in rebellion against God, why would they *generally* have an agenda of desiring to warn people about hell?