Are ghosts real?  And if they are real, are they the spirits of dead people? This is a repost from last Halloween.

Yes, ghosts are real. No, they are not dead people’s spirits roaming the earth.

Luke 16:16-26 makes the answer to the second question clearer than anything I could say:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with soresand longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

This scripture tells me that the dead do not have contact with the living. When those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior die, their spirits go to be with Jesus in Paradise that day. Hallelujah! Just like the thief on the cross who accepted Him in his final minutes.

Luke 23:42-43, “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’’

When Jesus returns at the end of this age, we’ll leave paradise and enter our eternal home of glory, Heaven.

For the people who do not accept Jesus as their personal Savior, they’ll go to Hades, (Luke 16:16-26) a place of temporary torment where people go in waiting until the time of the Great White Throne of Judgment at the end of this age (Revelation 20:11-15). Then they’ll be sent to their eternal home in the Lake of Fire, Hell.

When people die they can’t come back to earth in ghost form and inhabit earth.  We are either in Paradise or Hades until Christ returns. Then, as the Bible tells us in;

I Thessalonians 4:16, Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout…and those who have died in Christ will rise first. Then those in Christ who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord!”

But are there ghosts then? Yes. They are evil deceiving spirits (demons). The Bible forbids us to attempt to contact the spirits of dead people. Evil spirits pretend to be spirits of the dead you would be contacting!  They’re fallen angels, demons, evil spirits—or ghosts if you want to call them that.

He warns us explicitly not to have any part of evil spirits and demons activities; they are liars and deceive many.

Any ghost encounters people have are usually evils spirits, fallen angels, or demons directed by the father of lies himself—Satan. But let me assure you they are never ever a dead person’s spirit.  Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light to confuse people and make them think he is innocent.

We are not to play around with ghosts—demonic powers. They are no playing matter. God forbids us to do so for our protection. The verse below makes it clear that evil powers are definitely real, but we are to put on the armor of God who is much greater!

Ephesians 6:10-20Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—  and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Read yesterday’s post for more on this subject http://sharonglasgow.com/2012/10/sorcery-mediums-and-witchcraft/.