Ghosts and the Bible

I write this to show the christian religious that yes, the bible does
contain ghosts, or "spirits." I feel it necessary to correct the
mis-thinking that the traditional, christian religion has created by
stating, "ghosts are impossible…because when one dies, they are either
in heaven or hell." This is incorrect. First of all, heaven is simply
the realm of spirit; and hell is the state of a mind bound by fear
created through mis-thinking.
Religious, christian doctrines create much of the fear that places
people in a self-created hell or prison of the mind. Secondly, ghosts
are possible because the spirit realm and physical realm co-exist; yet
are on different planes.

Thirdly, some ghosts may not be people on the
other side; they could be residual energy or thoughts left over from
traumatic or emotional past events. The christian bible is full of
"paranormal" activity…why not ghosts?
Ghosts and spirits are one in the same - they are people on the other
side of the grave…in the afterlife, if you will. They are common in
scripture, if you look for them mentioned within the christian bible.
One of the first verses that most are aware of is in I Samuel 28:15,
where Saul has a medium, "call up" the prophet Samuel from the other
side of the grave:

"And Samuel saith to Saul, Why hast thou troubled me, to bring me up?"
Most christians will bury their heads and come up with an excuse for
this scripture that God allowed this for one occasion. Or
fundamentalists (traditional christians) may say this wasn't a ghost but
Samuel was resurrected back to life. Or they may even say that this
wasn't Samuel at all, but a deception from the woman - a trick. Yet, the
scripture is very clear that this was Samuel; and as Samuel had died and
crossed over to the other side…that would make him a spirit or ghost.
This passage should also plainly show that mediums can have contact with
people on the other side. This medium, whom Saul used, saw many people
on the other side, when she was calling up Samuel. One should also note
in this verse, that Samuel had maintained his form of an old man wearing
a mantel, just like many documented ghost sightings of apparitions,
report the ghost to be dressed in "period dress" from their own time
era, here on earth.

Moving into the christian new testament, we see Jesus having "appeared"
to many after his resurrection. To "appear" indicates the idea of
manifesting from the invisible to the visible, just as a spirit or ghost
might manifest, from the spirit to the physical realm. It is interesting
to note that he "appeared" to Simon (Luke 24:34); and he "appeared" to
Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9). Jesus "appeared" to two of his followers in
a different form that was not recognizable to them. What? I mean they
had a conversation with him and still didn't recognize Jesus physically!
Yes, the scripture says:
Mark 16:12, "…to two of them, as they are going into a field, walking,
he was manifested in another form."

He also "appeared" to the eleven disciples and stood in the midst of
them during their conversation (Luke 24:36). Can you imagine that? He
manifested right before their eyes from the realm of spirit. But what is
interesting to note is Jesus' statement concerning their fear of him
"appearing" right before their eyes:
Luke 24:39 "…handle me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh
and bones, as you see me having."

Well, at first blush, one might argue, hey, Jesus wasn't a spirit or
ghost because he had flesh and bone. I would have to agree, but I might
add that Jesus still was "appearing" like a ghost or spirit might do.
Does flesh and bone "appear" out of thin air? However, the biggest point
might be missed if one does not consider Jesus' statement further, about
not being a spirit or ghost…he was in effect stating that spirits
(ghosts) do exist, but that he was not like them!
This common belief in ghosts is found in another new testament passage,
as well. You may remember Jesus walking on the water towards his
disciples who were in a boat on the sea. The verse in Matthew 14:26
states:
"and the disciples having seen him walking upon the sea, were troubled
saying, 'It is an apparition,' and from the fear they cried out."

Apparitions were obviously believed to exist and even by the followers
of Jesus who were learning rapidly about the spirit realm from him.
Other people obviously believed in ghosts during Jesus' time on earth,
because they "appeared" in the city of Jerusalem after Jesus'
resurrection:

Matthew 27:52-53, "and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the
saints who have fallen asleep, arose; and having come forth out of the
tombs after Jesus' rising, they went into the holy city and appeared to
many."
The writer of Hebrews, (probably the apostle Paul) mentions the fact of
spirits being all around us, in Hebrews 12:1,
"Therefore, we also having so great a cloud of witnesses set around us."

This to me, is confirmation of the spirit and physical realms
co-existing with one another, but on different planes. It is a spiritual
truth, that what exists here on earth, must first exist in the spirit
realm; for spirit is the life-giving force behind all. And that spirit
is God. God is life. The bible proclaims in the Lord's prayer,
"On earth (physical realm), as it is (first) in heaven (the realm of
spirit)."

But there is one last bible passage I wish to share that many overlook
that proves the manifestation of spirits from the spirit realm into this
physical world. That verse can be found in Mark 9:4, in the famous Mount
of Transfiguration passage:
"and there appeared to them, Elijah with Moses, and they were talking
with Jesus."
Wow! This passage not only proves that spirits can manifest here, but it
shows a very important spiritual truth, as well. Jesus spoke with people
on the other side of the grave.

Therefore, those on the other side of the grave can speak to us! The
religious will try and explain this passage away; but the fact remains,
it is not only possible for ghosts to exist, but Jesus, who is to be our
example, shows us some spirits communicate with us!

Why did Jesus choose only to reveal this truth to James, John and Peter?
To us, this truth has been spoken against by traditional christian
doctrine for years. Yet, Jesus felt it important enough to reveal to
these three disciples what was really going on "behind the scenes."
Jesus seemed to understand quite a lot about what was going on "behind
the veil" of this physical world. Perhaps, we should follow his example
and not fear ghosts; but seek to understand the truth of the spirit
realm.