What is the bibles stance on ghosts, as well as the Jews and Jesus? :feedback TR No such thing in Bible :negative: This is my opinion: I think if we see ghosts, these are demonic entities but I guess that wasn't really your question. was it? Have you seen anything Tender Reed? Who do you call? 🙂 When Jesus walked on the water the disciples at first thought Jesus was a ghost (Mark 6:49). Didn't they think the same when Peter was released from prison? It seemed to be a commonly held belief. In some reading it also seems that the Jewish rabbis have much to say about ghosts & demons & angels, as well as most cultures in the middle East. Whether referred to as ghost or spirit, there seem to be an acknowledgement of something paranormal. I was just curious if anyone has done any study on the subject, or have any doctrinal insights, and why Christ never seemed to address this issue. TR Question: "What does the Bible say about ghosts / hauntings?" Answer: Is there such a thing as ghosts? The answer to this question depends on what precisely is meant by the term “ghosts.” If the term means “spirit beings,” the answer is a qualified “yes.” If the term means “spirits of people who have died,” the answer is “no.” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are spirit beings, both good and evil. But the Bible negates the idea that the spirits of deceased human beings can remain on earth and “haunt” the living. Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” That is what happens to a person’s soul-spirit after death—judgment. The result of this judgment is heaven for the believer (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23) and hell for the unbeliever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-24). There is no in-between. There is no possibility of remaining on earth in spirit form as a “ghost.” If there are such things as ghosts, according to the Bible, they absolutely cannot be the disembodied spirits of deceased human beings. The Bible teaches very clearly that there are indeed spirit beings who can connect with and appear in our physical world. The Bible identifies these beings as angels and demons. Angels are spirit beings who are faithful in serving God. Angels are righteous, good, and holy. Demons are fallen angels, angels who rebelled against God. Demons are evil, deceptive, and destructive. According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, demons masquerade as “angels of light” and as “servants of righteousness.” Appearing as a “ghost” and impersonating a deceased human being definitely seem to be within the power and abilities that demons possess. The closest biblical example of a “haunting” is found in Mark 5:1-20. A legion of demons possessed a man and used the man to haunt a graveyard. There were no ghosts involved. It was a case of a normal person being controlled by demons to terrorize the people of that area. Demons only seek to “kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10). They will do anything within their power to deceive people, to lead people away from God. This is very likely the explanation of “ghostly” activity today. Whether it is called a ghost, a ghoul, or a poltergeist, if there is genuine evil spiritual activity occurring, it is the work of demons. What about instances in which “ghosts” act in “positive” ways? What about psychics who claim to summon the deceased and gain true and useful information from them? Again, it is crucial to remember that the goal of demons is to deceive. If the result is that people trust in a psychic instead of God, a demon will be more than willing to reveal true information. Even good and true information, if from a source with evil motives, can be used to mislead, corrupt, and destroy. Interest in the paranormal is becoming increasingly common. There are individuals and businesses that claim to be “ghost-hunters,” who for a price will rid your home of ghosts. Psychics, séances, tarot cards, and mediums are increasingly considered normal. Human beings are innately aware of the spiritual world. Sadly, instead of seeking the truth about the spirit world by communing with God and studying His Word, many people allow themselves to be led astray by the spirit world. The demons surely laugh at the spiritual mass-deception that exists in the world today. Recommended Resource: The Truth Behind Ghosts, Mediums, and Psychic Phenomena by Ron Rhodes More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! How should a Christian respond to evidence of paranormal activity? Got Questions: Oops ... I misunderstood the question ... I thought you were looking for how some of the religious Jews acted towards the Holy Spirit ... When Jesus was doing miracles ... a group of Pharisees accused Him of getting His power from Beelzebul (the prince of demons). Jesus rebuke them and said they committed the unpardonable or unforgivable sin because they denied He was God and slandered the Holy Spirit. Those Pharisees were automatically doomed to hell because they lacked the faith to believe Jesus was God and died in their sins because the Holy Spirit wasn’t upon them any longer to convict them. I just read a article on rapture ready about : kabbalah: I know nothing at all about this practice, but the article link the practice to, reincarnation, meditation, speaking to the dead and channeling, as well as astrology. I restate I know nothing of, kabbalah but thought you might get some information about your question there. Seems according to this article lots of rabbis are using this practice. https://www.raptureready.com/2019/03/12/kabbalah-new-age-ac-deception-israel-geri-ungurean/ I haven't seen any, and have always believed they are deceiving spirits. Was just wondering what the Jewish understanding was. Thanks for info site. TR
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