Real Life Ghost Story:

[TJJJ]

Interesting.

[kristian's_mom]

When I was 16 years old me and my family lived in an apartment complex. Some of the darkest times of our lives happened while we lived there. One building had about 4 apartments downstairs, and 4 upstairs. The walls were paper thin.

We had an old "pleather" couch that was pushed up against the wall where the front door was. That couch made a very loud noise every time you sat down or stood up. One day I came home and tried to open the front door, it was locked and I had forgotten my key, so I knocked. I heard someone get up off the couch, I heard the deadbolt unlock, so I walked in the house.

I heard my Mom yelling from the back of the apartment, "Who is it?" I walked towards her room where she was laying in the bathtub taking a bath. I said, "It's me, you just opened the door for me." She got this strange look on her face and told me that she is the only person here, she was taking a bath and it wasn't her that unlocked the door for me. I just kinda dropped the subject and we didn't talk about it anymore.

There was another time I saw a tall figure walk into a room. I saw it out of the corner of my eye, and as soon as I whipped my head around, nothing was there. It had the shape of a person, yet was completely black like a shadow.

I really do believe a bad spirit inhabited that place, and I also believe it affected my family spiritually while we lived there.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by kristian's_mom

When I was 16 years old me and my family lived in an apartment complex. Some of the darkest times of our lives happened while we lived there. One building had about 4 apartments downstairs, and 4 upstairs. The walls were paper thin.

We had an old "pleather" couch that was pushed up against the wall where the front door was. That couch made a very loud noise every time you sat down or stood up. One day I came home and tried to open the front door, it was locked and I had forgotten my key, so I knocked. I heard someone get up off the couch, I heard the deadbolt unlock, so I walked in the house.

I heard my Mom yelling from the back of the apartment, "Who is it?" I walked towards her room where she was laying in the bathtub taking a bath. I said, "It's me, you just opened the door for me." She got this strange look on her face and told me that she is the only person here, she was taking a bath and it wasn't her that unlocked the door for me. I just kinda dropped the subject and we didn't talk about it anymore.

There was another time I saw a tall figure walk into a room. I saw it out of the corner of my eye, and as soon as I whipped my head around, nothing was there. It had the shape of a person, yet was completely black like a shadow.

I really do believe a bad spirit inhabited that place, and I also believe it affected my family spiritually while we lived there.

I agree it was a demonic spirit. Could have been there from someone that lived there before.

[Aquila]

Personally, I believe in ghosts. I know that it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. But what happens between death and judgment is largely a mystery to most.

I believe that witches really can conjure the dead. God's Law states....

Duet. 18:10-12
10There 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.
11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12For 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.

If there wasn't anything to it I'd think God wouldn't take it so terribly seriously, instead his law would reveal that it's not true. But the way the law addresses the subject, it would appear to be true that withes indeed conjure the dead.

Notice what happens with the witch of Endor...

1 Samuel 28:13
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

When the witch conjured Samuel you'll notice other spirits were ascending out of the earth. This demonstrates that conjuring the dead opens a door way and that often additional spirits break free to roam on the earthly plane.

[SOUNWORTHY]

Originally Posted by kristian's_mom

When I was 16 years old me and my family lived in an apartment complex. Some of the darkest times of our lives happened while we lived there. One building had about 4 apartments downstairs, and 4 upstairs. The walls were paper thin.

We had an old "pleather" couch that was pushed up against the wall where the front door was. That couch made a very loud noise every time you sat down or stood up. One day I came home and tried to open the front door, it was locked and I had forgotten my key, so I knocked. I heard someone get up off the couch, I heard the deadbolt unlock, so I walked in the house.

I heard my Mom yelling from the back of the apartment, "Who is it?" I walked towards her room where she was laying in the bathtub taking a bath. I said, "It's me, you just opened the door for me." She got this strange look on her face and told me that she is the only person here, she was taking a bath and it wasn't her that unlocked the door for me. I just kinda dropped the subject and we didn't talk about it anymore.

There was another time I saw a tall figure walk into a room. I saw it out of the corner of my eye, and as soon as I whipped my head around, nothing was there. It had the shape of a person, yet was completely black like a shadow.

I really do believe a bad spirit inhabited that place, and I also believe it affected my family spiritually while we lived there.

I wouldn't say I believe in ghosts but I do believe in evil spirits and Angels.

I wouldn't call it a bad spirit if it opened the door for me when I was locked out. Some would say that was their guardian Angel. Several years ago we were staying at my mother-in-laws house in Pana, Illinois. I saw an image behind me when I was looking in the mirror combing my hair in an upstairs bedroom. I thought my wife had walked behind me and I started talking to her. When she didn't answer I looked around and she wasn't there. I went down stairs and she was having a cup of coffee with her mother in the dining room. That didn't scare me, in fact I had a warm feeling when it happened. I'm not sure that God doesn't allow us to see our Guardian Angels sometimes.

My mom was living with us shortly before she passed away. On day as I walked by her room she asked me to come in. She said " You're going to think I'm crazy but I saw a tall young man standing at the foot of my bed. He didn't say anything but just stood there looking at me then disappeared".

There are evil spirits also. An old UPC pastor lived in a house in Herron, Illinois where the Shelton gang was active. Cabinet doors wouldn't stay shut and dishes would even fly out of the cabinets, it was very violent if I remember the story right. He finally cast the demon out of the place.

There is a pretty English Tutor house in my town on the corner of Pershing Ave, and Acasia st. that no one will live in very long because strange things happen. There was an article in the paper about it about a year ago. People have reported a woman looking out an attic window. Problem is it is a the window is covered on the inside. There is something about the house on Utube under most haunted house in Stockton.

[deadeye]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Personally, I believe in ghosts. I know that it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. But what happens between death and judgment is largely a mystery to most.

I believe that witches really can conjure the dead. God's Law states....

Duet. 18:10-12
10There 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.
11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12For 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.

If there wasn't anything to it I'd think God wouldn't take it so terribly seriously, instead his law would reveal that it's not true. But the way the law addresses the subject, it would appear to be true that withes indeed conjure the dead.

Notice what happens with the witch of Endor...

1 Samuel 28:13
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

When the witch conjured Samuel you'll notice other spirits were ascending out of the earth. This demonstrates that conjuring the dead opens a door way and that often additional spirits break free to roam on the earthly plane.

Interesting....but not conclusive.....you have to read a WHOLE lot into the Scripture to come to that conclusion.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by deadeye

Interesting....but not conclusive.....you have to read a WHOLE lot into the Scripture to come to that conclusion.

I agree. The human spirits/ghosts of the dead don't hang around on the earth. They either lift up their eyes in hell or are with the Lord. Familiar spirits can take on the appearances of those who have passed on. When confronted with a spirit of the someone who has died, try calling on the name of Jesus Christ in faith and see what those spirits do. My guess is that spirit will show its true colors/form.

I'm not sure why God allowed Samuel to come back up from paradise to talk to Saul.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by deadeye

Interesting....but not conclusive.....you have to read a WHOLE lot into the Scripture to come to that conclusion.

You propose that it's not conclusive. I think it's pretty clear. When the witch of Endor conjured Samuel other spirits arose also. It opened a gateway. This is why locations where occult activity has been present are often full of reported sightings of "ghosts", demons, and unclean spirits.

Also, you have to take into consideration that some things are known by additional personal experience in the area.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I agree. The human spirits/ghosts of the dead don't hang around on the earth.

I disagree. When my mother died her spirit lingered with us for overnight. Here's what happened...

When my mother had a massive heart attack they sent her to Ross Heart Hospital where she later died. We were gathered around her bedside when we let her go and I led the family in prayer. She wanted to see my son's first birthday on July 9th more than anything. She had her heart attack on the 4th and the night we decided that we had to let her go was the 7th. She was partially conscious - she could squeeze my hand softly and she cried as I led us in prayer. I prayed that angels would comfort her as she passed and I also prayed that she be permitted to spend the evening with my son who was at a babysitters while we were at the hospital. As we prayed we lost her. The next morning we were in the hotel room reflecting and suddenly everyone stopped talking. It was like we could feel her walk into the room. My grandmother said, "Do you feel that?" I said, "Yes, it's feels like mom." We sat quietly for maybe 30 seconds and suddenly there was a knock on the door. It was my wife's aunt Marta and her husband Terry, the couple that kept Noah overnight while we were at the hospital. After the normal greeting and conversation they left and we were getting ready to go. My aunt Lois who was in the room with us before they arrived for the moment of silence asked, "Do you think Joyce actually spent the evening with Noah before moving on and that's what we felt?" I answered, "I do."

It is also important to note that people with near death experiences often linger for a time without encountering any "light" or "experiences". The ancient Jews believed that the spirits of the dead often linger for at least 3 days after death and this is why it is so significant to the Jewish mind that Christ was in the grave for three days.

They either lift up their eyes in hell or are with the Lord.

I have no doubt that this occurs for many. But I want to mention that the text regarding the rich man and Lazarus doesn't elaborate on any time that may have elapsed. We assume a lot either way.

Please note, most don't realize this but Jonah died in the whale's belly. His spirit saw the bottoms of the ocean and didn't go straight to Heaven or Hell.

Familiar spirits can take on the appearances of those who have passed on.

Can you show any biblical support for this notion?

A "familiar spirit" is essentially a demon spirit that mediums, witches, and spiritualists contact that aids them with contacting the dead, gaining knowledge, etc. They are often called "spirit guides" today. We don't read in Scripture that these ever appeared in ways that imitate the dead. In fact imitating the dead wouldn't accomplish their role. Ancient literature and writings illustrate that familiar spirits pretend to be angels or actually reveal themselves as demons.

When confronted with a spirit of the someone who has died, try calling on the name of Jesus Christ in faith and see what those spirits do. My guess is that spirit will show its true colors/form.

I've experienced something akin to this. There was a couple who lived in a house that they believed was "haunted". They often saw a man walk through the house and heard noises. There times when they heard something whispering "Pray for me." in the master bedroom. As it turns out a man who molested his children died in that house. I was a lay minister and assisted one of our care group leaders with visiting the house. When we prayed and called the name of Jesus feelings of rage and fear raced through the house and the lights dimmed. He decided to pray that God comfort this soul and help it move on to it's eternity. As we prayed the feelings of rage and fear subsided and the lights returned to normal. This couple never had any fearful encounters again. You see, he was very irreligious and feared death. We helped him find his way to the other side and of course he moved on to his reward, whatever that may be.

I've also been with the pastor when casting out unclean spirits. This are an interesting lot. These are not "demons" in the classical sense. They are quite stupid and often act illogically. They act more like mentally disturbed spirits than intelligent diabolical devils. It's my understanding that these are spirits of the Nephilim, the offspring between early mankind and the Bene-ha-Elohim. Being half demon and half human their souls are in a state of limbo. You see it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. These, being "demonic" in origin, didn't face judgment at any point after death. The "angels that sinned" with mankind were bound in chains of darkness... these unclean spirits, not being "angels" (demons, i.e. fallen angels), were left to roam the spiritual planes that intersect with our world. These, once having had bodies, desire to live again and inflict pain and entice people into sin so that they can "live again" and live out their lusts. When manifest, it's not uncommon for them to appear in animal or partially animal forms. Although these spirits are partially human and partially demon, they are classified as in a sub category under demons due to their origin and nature.

When dealing with Demons or Devils I've discovered that these are very intelligent and are often scheming. These hold sway over entire regions and communities on earth. They are behind most false religions and again, I can't over emphasize how intelligent these are. They often appear as bright angels of light at first...but when their real nature is revealed they are like living darkness that reflect their previous angelic natures.

Angels themselves are awesome. I normally can't see them when looking straight at them. I can see them on occasion out of the corner of my eyes in my peripheral vision. They often appear to me as pillars of light that move quietly. You'll notice that on occasion they appear in the Bible with very bestial qualities like wings, claws, feathers, the heads of lions, etc. When an angel reveals itself in all their glory they are fearsome and bright. Imagine being in the same room with an ancient creature that is man-like, but is also a "creature" with qualities of a beast and/or bird of prey. They too are highly intelligent and are mostly benevolent. They often bring great peace and appear in a human like form...but when they unleash their true nature it's terrifying. You feel as though they are about to rip you limb form limb... like being in the cage with a staring lion. Remember, these live for worship and the destruction of anything that offends Jehovah. Encountering an angel in this fashion can be very troubling.

I'm not sure why God allowed Samuel to come back up from paradise to talk to Saul.

Many don't. Here's my understanding and experience. God gave mankind spiritual authority over creation. This authority extends into the realms of the spiritual. If a human being is spiritually inclined and focused they can conjure the dead and even conjure demons or angels.

It seems that within the past couple generations we've had ministers who aren't very adept in dealing with the spiritual. In addition they've become influenced by skeptics and discount much of what's really going on in the spiritual planes we intersect with on a daily basis.

Those are my thoughts and experiences. God bless.

[OnTheFritz]

There's a new film out right now called Paranormal Activity that casts a very realistic light on the presence of evil spirits. It was actually made a few years ago for about $10K, but is just now seeing the light of day. Most of the footage is shot from a handheld video camera sitting on a tripod in a bedroom at night. It focuses on the presence of an evil spirit that has been following this girl her whole life. Of course it's meant for entertainment and shock, etc. But I can't help but think that a film like this might scare a few people into a church