Ghosts Are Real, Spirits of the Dead, And They're Not (Just) Devils/Demons

Hot take:
Ghosts are real, as in spirits of the dead, and not (just) devils/demons.

Reasoning:

#1

First, we must dissuade the idea that earth and hell are separate and don't overlap. Why?

We know there are three heavens, sky, space, and the abode of God.

Similarly, there are three hells, sheol/hades, gehenna, tartarus.

We know the first heaven, the sky, intersects earth, so what prevents the first hell from intersecting with earth?

Nothing. We get a clue on what the first hell is, sheol, grave. GRAVE. Graves intersect with earth.

This takes care of man appointed once, the judgment. If hell intersects with earth, then the dead are in judgment.

#2

Bible commands against divination of the dead.

Why would the Bible command against something that doesn't exist, and not say that is the actual reason why not to do it?

It doesn't say divination of the dead is not allowed because it is impossible or that they don't exist. (In fact, the reasoning is the same for commands against horoscope, it says not to look at the stars because the heathen are dismayed at them, not that it doesn't exist)

Also, don't twist this as me saying we should contact ghosts or whatever. Yeah, don't.

#3

The encounter with my namesake Samuel the prophet by Saul and the witch of Endor.

Nowhere in the passage does it actually say it was impossible for Samuel to come up. The reasoning is often convoluted to try to explain away the encounter, like saying it was God who did it (God is not present in the text), or it was a devil impostor (except it gave a prophecy that came true).

#4

Jesus appearing as a resurrected in front of the disciples and them mistaking Him for a spirit, He did not say, "lol, dead spirits don't walk the earth, guys", He said, a spirit does not have flesh and bones. Why didn't' He settle it once and for all?

#5

The testimonies of atheists and other unbelievers in the deathbed. Many instances of atheists and others crying out they are in hell just before death. That is an example of intersection of hell and earth, even if just spiritual.

#6

The reports of ghosts themselves. Ghosts are often reported to be in a loop of suffering. This would make sense if they are in hell while also on earth.

This does not prevent the fact that the devils/demons can disguise themselves as ghosts, they can. But I highly doubt most reported instances are all devils/demons.

The Spirit Case: Cambridge Edition KJV vs PCE 1900 KJV (Matthew Verschuur, Bible Protector)

Which edition of the KJV is correct? I checked most Cambridge edition KJV I could get my hands on, and every one has the word recommendations of Matthew Verschuur EXCEPT these following two verses.

A Standard Pure Cambridge Edition KJV:

Spirit capitalized.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Acts 11:28 KJV

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

1 John 5:8 KJV

Pure Cambridge Edition 1900 (Bible Protector/Matthew Verschuur) KJV:

Spirit now lowercase.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Acts 11:28 KJV

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

1 John 5:8 KJV

Reasoning given for the change:

http://bibleprotector.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=90&sid=d475d5aba668e1060a2b01991c0515de

"1 John 5:6 is talking about two earthly elements, water and blood. The “Spirit” is clearly the Holy Ghost. Thus, the Holy Ghost’s witness in verse 6 about Christ, His record in Heaven in verse 7, must be understood to also link to His outworking in the heart of man (called “spirit”) in verses 8 and 9."

I have to disagree with the above reasoning.

Verse 7 is about the Persons of the Trinity acting as people. Verse 8 are all things, and does not exclude the Spirit capitalized as verse 6 is calls the Holy Spirit an "IT", a THING.

As an additional fact, Holy Ghost is never referred to as an it, only the Spirit. Holy Ghost is referred as "he".

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And IT is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

1 John 5:6 KJV

Verse 9 states it is the witness of God being greater. 

Acts 11, I'm not so sure of. But the PCE 1900 defender is very Pentecostal, so it must be cautioned that they may be rationalizing the text to fit their beliefs.

One possible Acts 11:28 Spirit is capitalized is that all mentions of "by" with "Spirit" in the New Testament are all capitalized, except for the following verse:

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2 Thessalonians 2:2 KJV

This spirit seems to be a false spirit, as it troubled.

Acts 11:28 did come to pass, it says there on the verse:

"which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar."

So it was a true prophecy, unlike the troublemaking II Thess. 2 spirit.

The deity of certain words is always a main point of contention in many translation debates. 

I'm not say Mr. Verschuur made his own revision, but rather, that this edition is one that fits his beliefs, and thus needs to be contested.

Edit:

I have since changed my beliefs regarding this, and I am more in favor with the lower "s" case for spirit. May or may do an updated blog post. However, some of the reasoning still stands, especially with the Pentecostal belief part.

Edit 2:

My case for the lowercase spirit relies more on the fact that the witness of men verse means these are all parts of man, water (flesh), blood (soul), and spirit. Another is understanding that lowercase spirit refers to the Son when compared to the Father and Holy Ghost. Jesus's spirit being on earth fits the verse.

https://www.purecambridgetext.com/post/2017/09/07/the-seven-spirits-of-carnal-man

" I John 5:8 is not dealing with the Holy Spirit or an inward working of God as verse 6 is in the same passage.  It is not dealing with the Holy Ghost, the third person of the trinity as verse 7 is.  It is discussing the personal spirit of Jesus Christ that was yielded up from an earthen vessel of flesh at the same time that that flesh yielded water and blood.  When the centurion saw those things he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God", Mark 15:39.    The Apostle John had just given a trinity of proofs that Jesus is the Son of God.  It is proven in the inward parts of believers, Verse 6, it is proven in heavenly witness, verse 7, and it is proven by the earthly witnesses.  Scrivener emasculated the whole passage.  

       Every time the personal spirit of Jesus Christ is referred to in the gospels it is a small "s" spirit, Mark 2:8, Mark 8:12, Luke 2:40, Luke 10:21, Luke 23:46, John 11:33, John 13:21.  That is the spirit of I John 5:8 until Scrivener's lead is followed.  The next proof text for the modern day correctors is the Oxford Text.  Oxford is wrong in every other place it differs from the Cambridge.  Look at Joshua 19:2, Nahum 3:16 or Mark 1:12.  Why don't they follow Oxford's lead there?"

However, I must admit, verse 6 having "Spirit" does shake often when one reads the passage again with fresh eyes with the change in mind.

The Playground Game of Charge

This is basically a rock-paper-scissors type game but with different rules and moves. We played it all the time as a child in elementary school. I'm pretty sure we invented it.

The Basic Game:

You move your fist like when you do rock-paper-scissors, and then do a move. However, the moves are different. Moves consists of Charge moves, Attack moves, and Defense moves. You also say the name of the move when doing said move. You win when an attack move "hits" an vulnerable opponent, usually Charging. Same moves usually cancel out each other. If no one wins, repeat until one wins.

Basic Moves:

Charge: Charge. Say "Charge!". Put your arms in a muscle flexing position. This gives you a charge to be able to Shoot a Fireball. You use up one Charge per Fireball, and use  three Charges per Teleport. You may bank on Charges as long you can keep count of them. If both do Fireball, both cancel out.

Shield: Defense. Say "Shield!". Cross your arms in front of you like an X to block a Shot (Fireball). This renders the Shot ineffective. You do not need a Charge to use the Shield. But it is not advisable to Shield infinitely as allowing your opponent to get 3 Charges and Teleport behind you will kill you.

Shot: Attack. You must have a previous unused Charge to use Shot. Say "Shoot!". "Fireball" also works. Put your palms together and extend them out as if making a dragon breathing out a fireball from your hands. A Fireball kills someone who is in Charge.  A Fireball is blocked by Shield. A Fireball does not hit someone who has Teleported behind you. This uses up your previous Charge.

Teleport: Attack. If you have 3 or more Charges, you may use Teleport. Say "Teleport!". Put your index and middle finger like a gun and put it on your forehead. Teleport kills opponents in Charge, Shield, and Shot (as it Teleports behind you). If both Teleport, nothing happens as it is canceled out. This uses up 3 Charges.

The Teleport ensures the game will not go on indefinitely unless both opponents do infinite Shields.

Optional Rules:

Three Lives or Health.

Maximum of 3 (or so) Charges. 

Add more House Rules as you wish.

Optional Moves:

Shieldbreaker: Attack move that uses 2 Charges. Yell "Shieldbreaker"! Kills Shield as well as Charge, but not Teleport. You may do a sword slash move. Two Shieldbreakers cancel out. A Shieldbreaker and Fireball cancel out.

Backstab: Attack move that uses 1 Charge. Defeats only Teleport, but is vulnerable to all other Attack moves, and does not do anything to other Defense and Charge moves. Backstab cancels out Backstab.

Absorb: Defense and Charge move that uses up 3 Charges and absorbs opponent Attack move Charges. A Fireball gives 1 Charge, Teleport 3 Charges, etc. If there are no opponent Attack moves, 3 Charges are drained. (This allows an attack to the next turn).

Super Shield: Like Shield but cancels out Shieldbreaker, and uses up a Charge.

Make up new moves as you wish. Make sure they are balanced.

Why Frank Lodgson's Statement on the NASB is Valid

"I must under God denounce every attachment to the New American Standard Version. I'm afraid I'm in trouble with the Lord...We laid the groundwork; I wrote the format; I helped interview some of the translators; I sat with the translator; I wrote the preface. When you see the preface to the New American Standard, those are my words...it's wrong, it's terribly wrong; it's frightfully wrong...I'm in trouble;...I can no longer ignore these criticisms I am hearing and I can't refute them. The deletions are absolutely frightening...there are so many. The finest leaders that we have today haven't gone into it [new versions of Wescott and Hort's corrupted Greek text] just as I hadn't gone into it...that's how easily one can be deceived...Are we so naive that we do not suspect Satanic deception in all of this?"

- Frank Logsdon

Audio Recording: https://av1611.com/kjbp/articles/logsdon-repudiates-nasb.html

https://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org/dr_frank_logsdon.html

Lockman Foundation Statement:

The Board of Directors of The Lockman Foundation launched the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE translation work in the late 1950’s following the completion of the AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT. Dr. S. Franklin Logsdon was acquainted with Dewey Lockman, president of The Lockman Foundation, prior to Mr. Lockman’s death in 1974. Mr. Logsdon was never a member of the Board of Directors, nor was he an employee of The Lockman Foundation. Mr. Logsdon had no authority to hire employees or translators for the Foundation, to set policy, to vote, to hold office, to incur expenses, etc. He cannot be considered “co-founder” of the NASB, nor part of The Lockman Foundation, nor part of the NASB translation team, nor did he write the forward of the NASB. According to our records, he was present at board meetings on two occasions — once to hear a travel report; and once to deliver an “inspirational thought.”

Mr. Logsdon last wrote to Mr. Lockman in fall of 1973 that he was moving to Florida. Mr. Lockman replied that he was surprised and saddened by his decision to leave the area. Mr. Lockman passed away in January of 1974, and no further correspondence was exchanged between Frank Logsdon and The Lockman Foundation. He resided in Florida until his passing some years ago.

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 (NASB)

The assumption here is that Lodgson's statements have no validity as he was not part of the board of directors, which means he had no official capacity at all.

But as someone who is very used to not working with "official capacity", I find this statement ridiculous. A lot of times there are influencers and leaders who for some reason or another are not part of the official list of people involved, sometimes because they want no credit or other valid reasons, but sometimes with sinister agendas, yet wield massive influence, even sometimes the most influence, over a project. An unofficial or undocumented capacity does not mean no capacity at all.

Notice the Lockman Foundation does not directly contradict Lodgson's statements of interviewing translators, rather he just did not have the official capacity to hire or incur expenses.

Now, I find it interesting the statement does not say he did not write the preface, just the forward. The preface is signed "Editorial Board, The Lockman Foundation". Who wrote it then? And could have Mr. Lodgson ghost written it? 

My aim at this post is not to prove Lodgson's statement true, just valid, even in light of the Lockman foundation statement. And it is valid. 

Science Fiction And Fantasy "Tropes" In The Bible

These are not meant to be exact identical references of the trope, though some arguably are, but rather the essence of each trope.

Advanced Ancient Precursor Race:
Pre-Flood world

Artificial Intelligence and Super AI:
Revelation 13:15
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”

Singularity and Hive Mind:
Revelation 17:13
"12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast."

We could take this literally to an extent that one mind here is talking about a singular hive mind.

We know the churches are of to be of one mind:

1 Corinthians 2:16
"16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ."

Philippians 2:2

"2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." 

1Corinthians 12

"24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

 

Since today our churches are not of one mind perfectly except when the Spirit intervenes, a more perfect one mindedness will come in the future.

Omega Point (Universe Singularity):
1 Corinthians 15:28
"28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."

Apocalypse and Post-Apocalypse: 
Revelation, duh?

Ascension to Energy Beings:
The Rapture
1 Corinthians 15
"50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."

Human-Alien Hybrids:
Nephilim

Genesis 6:2-4
"2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Human-Animal Hybrids (Mermaids, Centaurs, etc.):
Genesis 6:11-12
"11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth."

Jude
"6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

Implying all flesh, not just humans, were subject to angelic reproduction. And hence why Noah had to get an Ark for animals.

Insectoid Invaders (Starship Troopers, Zerg, Tyrranid):
Revelation 9:7-10
"7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months."


Metallic Megapolis:
New Jerusalem
Revelation 21

Reincarnation:
Luke 1:17
“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Matthew 17:12-13
“12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”

If we are body, soul, spirit, and John the Baptist is in the spirit of Elias/Elijah, then that can be reincarnation to some degree.

Space Travel:
Obadiah 4 "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord."

A possible reference to Apollo 11 ("The Eagle Has Landed"). And a reason why space colonization before the end is not realized by humanity, God is literally against it.

Space Empires and Space Colonization:
New Jerusalem
Revelation 21
"2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

Revelation 22
"2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Deuteronomy 4:19 “And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.”
God has divided all the stars for each of the Gentiles nations, implying there will be a space empire.

Holy Terra:
Hosea 2:23
“And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.”
Deuteronomy 32:8 “When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.”
 
Israel will become a planetary priesthood.

Space War:
Revelation 12:7
"7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,"

Star Gods:

Job 38:7

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Revelation 12:4

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

Supersoldiers/Superheroes:
Joel 2 (whole chapter)
"4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief."

Context is Tribulation.

Revelation 19:14 "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

Implying that the saints of God will perform feats of superheroism at the end of time.

Teleportation:
Acts 8
"39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea."

Time Travel:
Revelation 1:10
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"

Notice the same mode of transportation, the Spirit, is used in Acts 8 for the Teleportation trope.

UFOs and Alien Encounters:
Ezekiel 1 (whole chapter)
"16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went."


This is one of the reasons that Christianity believes that UFOs and alien encounters are demonic in nature, as the Bible records a similar angelic encounter.


Zombies and Immortality Science Gone Wrong:
Revelation 9:6 “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”

Not counting resurrections as they do not fit the zombie archetype of the undead, such as Lazarus or Jesus Christ.

Wormholes:
2 Samuel 22:10-12
"10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies."

What Comparing English Translations To Original Languages Actually Means

When people say they compare English translations to original languages:
1. They still have to depend on uninspired Hebrew/Greek to English lexicons and dictionaries by someone else, and they all contradict
2. A translation is literally someone else who already has compared the original languages to its current language, like, are you sure you're knowledgeable enough than those people who already have done it?
3. In the end, comparing basically just results in your personal translation of the text

The LXX Septuagint Doesn't Exist, But The Greek Pentateuch Does

A quick rundown of LXX Septuagint "evidence":

Here are all actual evidence we have of the Septuagint, in a neat timeline:
Aristobulus, assumed to be a high priest, but actually a Jewish Greek philosopher 110 BC
Philo of Alexandria 50 AD inspired by Aristobolus only says 5 books were translated
Josephus 93AD recounts the translation by Philo's words
Origen 250 AD
Eusebius 260AD apparently quotes Aristobulus, but only mentions that only 5 first books of the Bible was translated to Greek
Oldest copies we have of Letter of Aristeas in its modern form 11th-15th century AD name drops Aristobolus, and it is not clear that it mentions only 5 books, but it is a known forgery and hoax as it messes up historical events.

So what we see is while the Septuagint does not exist, the first five books of Moses probably were.