1. A Biblical look at ghosts, spirits, poltergeists, ghouls, phantoms, haunting, and exorcism

2. Focus Definitions of what are:Definitions of what are: –ghosts –spirits –poltergeists –ghouls –phantoms –hauntings –exorcisms What the Bible says: –about the death state –about the soul –about the devil –about demons –about the Holy Ghost –about angels –About fairy’s & sprites –about phantoms –about exorcism Conclusions as we go along

3. Definitions Ghosts – the soul of a dead personGhosts – the soul of a dead person Spirits - A supernatural being, as:Spirits - A supernatural being, as: a.An angel or a demon. b.A fairy or sprite. Poltergeists –A ghost that manifests itself by noises, rappings, and the creation of disorder. Ghouls - An evil spirit or demon believed to plunder graves and feed on corpses

4. Definitions PhantomsPhantoms a.Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality b.An image that appears only in the mind; an illusion. HauntingsHauntings A visit from a ghost or other supernatural being. Exorcisms - the rite of driving out the Devil and his demons from possessed persons or buildings

5. The Death State Man is unconscious, knows nothing, and is as though he had never lived Ecclesiastes 9:5-10Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 Psalms 6:4-5; Psalm 146:3-4Psalms 6:4-5; Psalm 146:3-4 Isaiah 38:18-19Isaiah 38:18-19

6. The Death State His body corrupts Psalm 49:9-14Psalm 49:9-14 Psalm 30:9Psalm 30:9 Psalm 88:10-12Psalm 88:10-12 John 11:39John 11:39

7. What the Bible says about the Soul Joshua 10:28 -Joshua 10:28 - “ the king destroyed … and all the souls that were therein;” Judges 16:16 – “soulJudges 16:16 – “soul was vexed unto death;” Job 7:15 – “My soul chooseth … death rather than my life” Ezekiel 18:20 – “the soul that sinneth it shall die”

8. What the Bible says about demons Only found in NT - Gk “daimon”Only found in NT - Gk “daimon” Matt 12:22 Possessed with a devil / demon Blind + Dumb Mark 5:1-5 A man with an unclean spirit Insanity / Schizophrenia Mark 9:17-27 Hath a dumb spirit Epilepsy Luke 13:11-17 Spirit of infirmity Arthritis Matt 17:15-18 A demon Lunatic

9. What the Bible says about the Devil The Devil is not a monster tempting man to rebel against GodThe Devil is not a monster tempting man to rebel against God The Devil is Sin manifest in individuals and organisationsThe Devil is Sin manifest in individuals and organisations The subject of the Devil & Satan is regularly dealt with from our platformsThe subject of the Devil & Satan is regularly dealt with from our platforms James 1:13-15James 1:13-15 God punishes man with death for his sin, where is the righteousness of God, if he punishes innocent men?God punishes man with death for his sin, where is the righteousness of God, if he punishes innocent men?

10. The Holy Ghost / Spirit Holy = Set apart, specialHoly = Set apart, special Spirit = the power or energy of GodSpirit = the power or energy of God Acts 1:8 – God’s Special powerActs 1:8 – God’s Special power Luke 24:49 – Power promised to ApostlesLuke 24:49 – Power promised to Apostles Acts 2:4 – Power given to ApostlesActs 2:4 – Power given to Apostles 2 Peter 1:20-21- Inspiration2 Peter 1:20-21- Inspiration

11. What the Bible says about visits from angels Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” - Cp. Abraham - Genesis 18

12. What the Bible says about fairy’s & sprites “tiny beings in human form, depicted as clever, mischievous, and possessing magical powers” Part of mythology Deuteronomy 18: 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13. Conclusions Dead people don’t know anything, they are not in heaven or hell, they are in the dust of the earthDead people don’t know anything, they are not in heaven or hell, they are in the dust of the earth The Soul is not something separate from the bodyThe Soul is not something separate from the body Ghosts are not the souls of dead peopleGhosts are not the souls of dead people The Holy Ghost is a Bible description of the Power of God, not evidence that Ghosts are spirit beingsThe Holy Ghost is a Bible description of the Power of God, not evidence that Ghosts are spirit beings You could be visited by an angel but not by a demon, fairy or sprite as these are part of mythologyYou could be visited by an angel but not by a demon, fairy or sprite as these are part of mythology

14. So what are Ghosts? I'm operating under the assumption that what we call "ghosts" are a true phenomenaI'm operating under the assumption that what we call "ghosts" are a true phenomena My personal theories about ghosts:- Residual psychic energy left behind due to great psychological trauma or stress a person may have suffered during their lifetime or final moment. A "window in time." Perhaps what people see sometimes is a replay of events that took place in the past, a loop in time as it were. Theoretically it is possible. Additional dimensions TIME is the 4th GRAVITY is the 5th dimension ELECTRICITY is the 6th dimension, MAGNETISM is the 7th dimension... 13 dimensions in string theory which we hardly know exist, let alone understand Seeing visions of angels. The Bible teaches that they are working amongst us. I'm not saying any one of these theories is correct, it may be a combination of all these or perhaps a completely different one.