06/01/10

Deceased Ghosts?

Author: Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

Family members have said God sends the spirit of a deceased family member back to earth when another individual in the same family is dying. Further, anyone who doesn't believe this is not a Christian. I believe it says in the Bible that He sends his angels and or the Holy Spirit to comfort and protect us, but I've never read he sends the spirit of a deceased family member we never knew to be with us. Could you give a reference for that?

Sincerely, P

Dear P,

There is no Biblical reference for the spirit of a dead family member returning when another family member is about to die. Hebrews 9:27-28 declares: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

By the way, despite what many say, according to the Bible, reincarnation is a false dream. No one returns to life and/or to the earth in any form. Once we have departed in death, despite what your relatives say, we are immediately in Heaven or Hell. Family members do not return under any circumstances.

Jesus spoke quite clearly about this issue in Luke 16:27-31 when He told a parable about a poor beggar named, Lazarus, and a rich man who refused to give crumbs to the poor man. Jesus then said that there came a day when they both died and Lazarus went to Heaven (“Abraham’s Lap”) and the rich man went to Hell.

From Hell, the rich man pleated, “I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”

"Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.”

“No, father Abraham,” he said, “but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”

Jesus said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

One Old Testament passage seems to contradict what Jesus taught, but, upon closer investigation, this is not true. 1 Samuel 28:4-22 teaches that a familiar-demonic spirit imitates Samuel’s returning from the dead to condemn King Saul. Saul is terrorized by the Philistine army. For a number of reasons, God failed to respond to Saul’s plea for guidance: Saul “inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her."

Recognize that Saul has now left the realm of the Kingdom of God and entered into the realm of the occult. The damning dangers of the occult world are described and forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:9-16.

Unfortunately, there was a medium available for Saul. "There is one in Endor," replied Saul’s advisers. Saul went in secret, at night, to the medium and said, “Consult a spirit for me and bring up for me the one I name."

Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?"

"Bring up Samuel," he said….

The woman said, "I see a spirit coming up out of the ground."

"What does he look like?" he asked.

"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.

Then, the passage records, “Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.” Does the Bible affirm that it was really Samuel that Saul recognized Samuel? No! Saul was deceived by his association with the occult. Saul is speaking to an entity that the Bible refers to as a “familiar spirit.” A “familiar spirit” is a demonic spirit who imitates a departed loved one. As best I can tell, the long-term belief of your family that a departed loved one is returning is not true. They are encountering a spirit who imitates your loved one with the purpose of seducing them into the devilish and damning world of the occult.

It is easy to see that your family’s belief that a past loved one returns at the death of a family member is a belief engineered from the demonic world. People are Christians because they have received Christ into their lives as Savior and Lord (John 1:12). People are not Christians because they fail to agree with your family. People are not Christians because they fail to receive Christ as Savior and Lord (John 3:16-18).

I believe that your family is deceived by the occult world. They are so confused that they have accepted what the Bible calls the “doctrines of demons”—they are confused about the basic principles of the gospel message.

You are right about what happens during the moments of death. Jesus promised that He Himself would personally ushers us into Heaven’s glory (see John 14:1-6). There is no mention of any escort for those bound for Hell without a Savior. They go to Hell alone.

I hope this helps as you talk over this subject with your family. I have tired to give you some helpful information without sounding harsh and judgmental. May God bless you with insight and wisdom as you love and interact with your family.

Love, Roger