19. Question: Are there ghosts on earth?

Answer: No. People must reject the truth of the Word of God to believe in ghosts. Most people define a ghost as a person's spirit that leaves the body when the body dies and then the person's spirit remains on earth and can be occasionally seen by humans. The Bible clearly states that when a person dies their spirit immediately goes to God to be judged. Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 2:10, 1 John 4:17. If the person has been born again, knows Jesus in a personal relationship as Savior, Lord God and Friend, the person is welcomed into heaven to remain in heaven eternally. Matthew 25:31-46. The person who has rejected Jesus as Savior, Lord God and Friend chose to be eternally separated from God in a place Jesus called hell. Matthew 25:31-46; Matthew 23:33; John 5:23; John 8:24. Persons are unable to leave heaven or hell once they die.

The spirits or ghosts that people see on earth are:

A. a figment of their imagination; or

B. a demonic angel that appears to look like someone they knew; or

C. an angel from the Lord. Matthew 17:18; Matthew 28:1-8.

There are only two occasions in the Bible that the Lord allowed the spirits of the prophets to return to earth for special purposes. 1 Samuel 11:8-20; Matthew 17:1-8.