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Beyond the Normal Not Afraid of Ghosts

Ezekiel 37:1-6


 

How does the Bible deal with ghosts

OT – no use of the word "ghost" as rendered in Hebrew

1 Samuel 28:3,11-19 – Saul has Samuel conjured from the dead and has a conversation (eloihim)

NT – 2 separate occasions "ghost" is mentioned

Jesus walking on the water is considered a ghost (phantasm) (Mt14:26; Mk 6:49)

Luke 24:37,39 – Jesus appears and refers to a pneuma not having flesh and blood

What are ghosts?

Most people define ghosts as the spirit or soul or essence of a person how most times is dead

Mark 12:30 – love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, strength

Matt 10:30 – the body that can be destroyed but not the soul

Gen 35:18 – soul departs at death

There is an understanding from OT and NT that soul is the breath of life

Gen 2:7 – the breath given to man

Life is not just physical being

Thought and feeling are experienced separate of physical

Spirit and soul are not "felt" but it is part of us

When physical life ends we believe that only the physical ends

Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually we continue

2 Corinthians 4:16

As a definition of ghost

A demon/angel is not a ghost – demon/angels are a creation of their own

A ghost may be a demon/angel due to the nature of tempt/message

If a ghost is a soul released by death we have to ask why it isn't at rest


 

Dealing with ghosts

Death is a time of rest for the soul

Final judgment is to happen at God's chosen time

Until then death is a time of rest/waiting until then

What is behind ghostly encounters

Explained by natural/environmental explanations

Emotional connection

Natural/environmental

Intelligent

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