Does the Bible Support a Belief in Ghosts?

According to a YouGov study in 2021, 41 percent of Americans believe in ghosts.

Therefore, it is hardly surprising that ghost stories dominate television and movies. Their popularity yields high financial returns for the industry. This is a troubling trend as these films and reality shows implicitly endorse the idea of conversing with the dead—reprehensible practice condemned in the Bible. 

What Is a Ghost?

Ghosts are believed to be the souls or spirits of dead people manifesting themselves to individuals capable of sensing their presence. The word ghost in Greek does not mean demon but phantasma, meaning “the disembodied spirit of a dead person.”

Are Ghosts Real?

As Christians, we recognize that beyond the physical world in which we live, there exists a realm not visible to the eye, the realm of the spirit. 

Ghosts do exist. However, whether they are angels from God, ghosts of our departed loved ones, or evil spirits masquerading as ghosts remains a subject of debate.

Comfort for the Bereaved

Christian families who’ve lost loved ones would recount receiving dream visitations from the deceased to say their final goodbyes. In the aftermath of a loss, such a final appearance of the departed provides comfort and solace for those in mourning. 

Many Christians, however, are critical of other believers for acknowledging the final visitation or sighting of their departed relatives. This is not at all surprising. It makes sense for Christians to adopt a critical view of this issue. The Bible explicitly instructs us not to commune with the dead. I completely agree with their stance. However, I would like to provide a slightly different perspective based on personal experience.

Having experienced similar encounters with loved ones who passed on, I was conflicted about whether to acknowledge or shun such visits. Without a doubt, those final goodbyes brought me comfort and peace while in the throes of agonizing grief.

Although I am familiar with the verse in  2 Corinthians 11:14, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,” I still grapple with the assumption that my dearly departed who came to say their last goodbye were actually demons.

So, in my attempt to justify such visitations, I asserted that the verse directly pertains to false preachers and pastors, not to dead relatives, because this is precisely the group of individuals referred to in the verse.

A Different Perspective on Ghosts

Dr. Michael Heiser, an American theologian with the same dissenting perspective on ghosts, came to my attention.

Note: Dr. Michael Heiser is an American Old Testament scholar and Christian author. His area of expertise and study focuses primarily on the Bible's depiction of the spiritual realm and the relevance of such interpretations in the modern world. 

He believes that ghosts are not demons but are a “disembodied spirit of a dead person.”

He supported his belief with the incident where Jesus walked on water in front of His apostles in Matthew 14:26.

Dr. Michael Heiser said:

"Seeing Jesus walking on water, the disciples were terrified. As they stood in horror, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” The Greek word for “ghost” here is phantasma. Using a Greek-English dictionary or Strong's number search will reveal that this is not the Greek word for "demon" in the New Testament. The disciples had a category for "the disembodied spirit of a dead person” (a ghost). They didn’t just think in demonic terms.”

Thoughts on the Matter:

Having heard many stories of people leaving their bodies on the verge of death, seeing their own souls as they floated in mid-air,  shouldn't our dead relatives be able to experience the same? Upon exiting their bodies, these people who had near-death experiences were not transformed into demons. In fact, once they were resuscitated and revived, their faith in God grew. Many became more faithful and devoted to God than they had ever been in the past.              

House Haunted by Ghosts?

There is a widely held view that ghosts haunt the houses they once inhabited because they have unresolved issues to settle.

There is no truth to this notion, as the following verse affirms:

“And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7 ESV)

Therefore, the spirits that haunt houses are demonic entities, not the ghosts of those who once lived there.

My Personal Encounter with a Deceased Loved One

When I was 12 years old, my grandfather passed away from a serious illness. I remember crying a bucket of tears during the funeral. But the night following the burial, while deep in sleep, I suddenly found myself awake. Whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell. Everything was so real. 

I saw my grandfather standing outside, staring back at me. Next to him was a young boy happily dribbling a ball. I did not have a single ounce of fear. There was a sense of calm and peace as I watched the scene unfold before my eyes. 

The very next day, I told my grief-stricken grandma about my dream. Delighted and curious, she asked me to describe the boy I saw with Grandpa. I told her the child looked familiar to me [but could not figure out at the time who he was]. He appeared to be between the ages of five and six and wore a white shirt and blue shorts. He was also sporting the same haircut as that of a military soldier.

Hearing my description of the boy, my grandma's face lit up. Even though her eyes were visibly moistened with tears, her smiling face radiated joy as she gazed at me in awe. 

It was my young cousin, Aldwin, who died from an appendix infection at the young age of six. My relatives said he was painfully shy and a loner. In the corner, he would play alone while our cousins gathered happily nearby. For that reason, my grandpa often played ball with him to keep him entertained. 

I was around seven when he died. In retrospect, I recall seeing him in passing, once in a while, during family gatherings. But I never had the chance to interact with him. The two of us have reclusive personalities. He was just as aloof as I was.

In light of my grief, my grandfather must have shown himself to reassure me that he is in a better place and is not alone. He's in the company of a beloved and adored grandson.

A Word of Caution: Should We Communicate With Our Dead Loved Ones?

Even though I don't consider the ghosts of dead relatives to be demons, that doesn't mean I advocate conversing with them. The Bible is clear on this matter:

“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:31 ESV)

"And when they say to you, 'Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,' should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn." (Isaiah 8:19-20 ESV)

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." (Deuteronomy 18:10-11, NIV) 

We are forbidden from communing with the dead. When they appear to us, they would not talk. They would just let you understand that they're okay and move on. They would not linger any longer than necessary. Otherwise, they are not the actual ghosts of departed loved ones but demonic creatures bent on deceiving and harming you.

Does the Bible Support a Belief in Ghosts?

The Bible indicates the reality of ghosts in its pages. Even the apostles mentioned the term “phantasma,” which means ghost in English.

However, we are commanded not to interact with ghosts of our loved ones, even in dreams.

Final Thoughts

For those who found solace in seeing the presence of their recently deceased relatives in their dreams, there’s nothing to fear. Welcome that final goodbye without attempting to commune with them. Otherwise, the enemy may exploit your vulnerability. He may tempt you to commune with the dead, causing you to fall into sin and disobey God's commands.

And as we mourn the loss of a loved one, we can take comfort in knowing that we will be reunited with them one day.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 NKJV)

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