Ghosts: Friends or Demons?
Are the dead really dead?
What possesses a skeptical, educated Western society to hanker after ghosts
and spirits?
The same kids who grew up on "Casper the Friendly Ghost" identify
with "Sam" (Patrick
Swayze), the hero yuppie ghost. A celebrity like Shirley MacLaine has elevated
the pursuit of
connecting with the spirits of the dead from side-door parlors to a very sophisticated
level. The
going rate for any respectable "channeler" runs in the thousands of
dollars.
Why are people so anxious to communicate with the spirit world of the dead?
First of all, one
would naturally long to communicate with a deceased loved one for many reasons...
In the ad
lines of the recent movie, "Always," now available in video cassette,
"They couldn't hear him.
They couldn't see him. But he was there when they needed him. Even after he
was gone." But is
a human longing a basis for a legitimate hope for reaching the dead? Another
reason for
expecting to communicate would be because most people have only a vague understanding
of
what death really means.
Only truth really satisfies-and comforts. The origin of death traces back to
the Garden of Eden...
the first man... and sin. God linked Adam's continuance of life on earth on
simple obedience.
However, "In the day that thou eatest of the tree, thou shalt surely die."
Satan, using the serpent,
contradicted this stipulation, saying, "Thou shalt not surely die."
When Adam did sin and did die,
Satan-being the "father of lies" that he is-perpetuated his lie in
every generation and to every
people: "You don't really die. You only seem to die. You are more alive
than ever when you
die!" The Egyptians believed it. Socrates and Plato taught it. And, unfortunately,
many Christians
adopted it.
Just how dead are the dead? And is there any precious hope for any life after
death? When God
created Adam, "Man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7 After God had
infused the "breath of
life" in the body He prepared, Adam himself was "made a living soul."
But sinning plunged the
soul itself into death. Ezekiel 18:4 The breath of life is not the soul. The
breath of life is the life
energy from God which causes a body to live. Take away this life spirit and
the soul dies. True,
Adam "died spiritually" in that his fellowship was cut off immediately
in that first 24-hour day.
But Adam also immediately began physically to die ("Dying thou shalt die").
And he did die
literally within God's 1,000-year day. I Peter 3:8
But even as God pronounced the grim death sentence on Adam, a ray of hope pierced
this
judgment. "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head..."
A fatal blow would fall on
the great tempter, Satan. Later this "seed" was identified as the
"seed of Abraham." Genesis
22:17 Christians are heirs to this promise as part of the seed which will bless
all families of the
earth. Galatians 3:29 They are with Christ, the "firstfruits of them that
have slept." I Corinthians
15:20 Then, during Christ's presence ("parousia," Greek), his 1,000-year
reign with the church,
all the families of the earth will be the "afterfruits" in the resurrection
of the dead.
So the legitimate hope for reaching the dead will be in the resurrection in
the "last day." John
11:24 If man possessed an immortal soul, he would not need a resurrection. To
say mortal man
is inherently immortal in some way is to disregard our need for Jesus Christ
who is our life and
resurrection!
Communications with the Dead?
If then, it is impossible for the dead to communicate, what accounts for the
apparent
communication with the dead? Aside from frauds, too many convincing experiences
suggesting
extra-human contact have occurred.
The Bible verifies the existence of positive spirit beings called angels. But
they have their
counterpart. The Mosaic Law soundly rejects any meddling with spiritism. Deuteronomy
18:10,11 The four Gospel accounts of Jesus' life have no less than forty-two
references to
negative spirit beings, fallen angels, called "demons." Where did
these demons come from?
The account of Genesis 6 reveals that certain angels violated God's law of keeping
their own
spirit nature separate from man's human nature. These angels who "left
their own habitation,"
(Jude 6, I Peter 3:20) took wives of the women of earth. Although not destroyed
in the flood,
they were constrained in a condition where they could not return to heaven,
nor could they
materialize any more on earth. This state, called "tartaroo" (Greek,
see Footnote), was to be
endured until the Judgment Day.
In the meantime, these fallen angels or demons have been limited to working
through willing
human channels. They have operated through the bodies of these, instead of bodies
of their own.
Such "mediums," or human channels were in the past known as "fetishes,"
"shaman," "wizards,"
"witches," "necromancers," "medicine men." In
dark seances they endeavored to gain control of
people's minds and bodies. Not able to materialize in bodies of their own making,
they tried to
possess the bodies and minds of others. When this happens a fate as terrible
as drug addiction
occurs. The individual enters a slavery to demons. They have misrepresented
God. They have
misrepresented God's plan. They have misrepresented the dead. By claiming to
be the dead
speaking, they have promulgated Satan's lie in Eden,
"Thou shalt not surely die."
The record shows that the restraints that have been placed upon the fallen angels
have a time
limit-"unto the judgment of the great day." As we now see about us
the evidences of the
climactic events of the "Day of the Lord," it should not surprise
any that the chains of restraint on
those evil spirits are gradually being loosened. The upsurge of activity of
the fallen angels in the
form of newly acceptable channeling sessions, devil worship, and spiritist inspired
movies and
music is part of the result of the relaxing of the "chains" of restraint.
There is no question that
Satan and his legions are more energetic than ever to do all the mischief they
can.
Despite the clear warnings of Scripture regarding the occult, many Christians
subject themselves
and their families to be entertained by demon inspired themes. Much seems so
harmless.
Kindergarten children are taught, as part of a rigorous school curriculum, the
friendly side of
ghosts and witches. A proper understanding of the seriousness of the negative
spirit world
demands a healthy distance.
While speaking of the Lord's return, the Apostle Paul (II Thessalonians 2:8-12)
says that
although the Lord will consume Satan with the "brightness of his presence"
(epiphania of his
parousia), Satan will very energetically work deceptions "with all power
and signs and lying
wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." So strong a delusion
will it be that if it
were possible it would deceive even the true saints of God-those who would "believe
a lie,"
because they receive not the "love of the truth."
Demons are by no means our friends. But yes, we will see our friends and loved
ones again-in
the resurrection. Then too, know ye not that the saints "shall judge the
angels?" Perhaps some of
the fallen angels will have learned their lesson and conformed to God's will.
But those who used
their greater liberty to wreck havoc on man will be destroyed in the second
death. Revelation
20:10
Fotenote: Tartaroo-The Word tartaroo, used by Peter, very closely resembles
tartarus, a
word used in Grecian mythology as the name for a dark abyss or prison. But tartaroo
seems to
refer more to an act than to a place. The fall of the angles who sinned was
from honor and
dignity, into dishonor and condemnation, and the thought seems to be-"God
spared not the
angels who sinned, but degraded them, and delivered them into chains of darkness."
The Christian is admonished to especially put on the "whole armour of God"
in the "evil day" that
we live in today. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high
places." Ephesians 6:ll-13
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