Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Do you all believe in or think that people can contact or communicate from beyond the grave? Of course other than Jesus that is.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Nah.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

We believe in a supernatural God. We believe in the immortality of the soul. We believe in angels. We believe in Satan. We believe in demons. We believe on tongues and spiritual gifts including miracles and healing. Why does this seem so far out for some?

Here's a question, if there is no possiblity of communication with the dead... why did God forbid it?

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
10There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.

I was once told that when attempting to contact the dead we open a door into the spiritual world. The righteous dead cannot be contacted. The wicked dead are bound in torments. However, DEMONS may hear and answer the attempt to contact the dead, mimmicking the dead. These are a form of familiar spirit. Also, when attempting to contact the dead these door ways open doors through which demonic spirits might escape the realms of Hell into our realm of reality.

Notice... when the witch at Endor conjured the spirit of Samuel for Saul... look at what transpired:

1 Samuel 28:8-25
King James Version (KJV)
8And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
9And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
10And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
11Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13And 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.

I was told that essentially the witch saw "spirits" (demons) rising up out of the groud as she attempted to contact Saul. I was told that these are the demons and that these essentially escaped the spiritual plane back into our earthly reality to "haunt" or what have you.

Here's something interesting:

Acts 12:14-16
English Standard Version (ESV)
14Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!" 16But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

Did these believers think it was possible for Peter's spirit to return from the dead to warn them or communicate? Also... do the righteous dead exist in an angelic like state?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I think that it is possible because it is happening to me...multiple times throughout the years. At least I feel that it has.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

You into divination? and, do you own a python?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Sometimes I feel my mother's presence. She's been asleep for several years now. Like those who thought that it was Peter's "angel" come to their door (Acts 12:15)... I like to imagine that it might be my mother's angel come to minister to me. I've spoken out loud to her conversationally... but no one talks back. :( I miss her.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

No and no.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

See mine is my mother too. I hear certain songs she told me to live out being played on the wrong channels on the radio, people saying things to me that were exactly word for word things she told me, my daughter talks to her as if she is in the room, as of today she has been gone 4 years. Today someone gave me a gift, again on the anniversary of her death, that was her favorite type of candy stuff and he told me "I don't know why I got them for you but I felt I had to" and I told him they were my Moms fav...he started crying.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I do know some people believe that we essentially become angels upon death. They believe that while, we are not truly angels as the Holy Angels are... we are "as the angels of Heaven". And we often hear of guardian angels. Whose to say if a loving mother desired to be the guardian angel of a beloved son... our loving and tender God wouldn't allow her?

Angels also have a unique ministry beyond merely "guarding us" from dangers and evil spirits. They also minister to us and encourage us through their own prayers and through revealing their own presence, assuring us that we are not alone in our spiritual journey.

Mark 1:13
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Perhaps, for some reason, the Lord as sent her angel to minister to you.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

We do entertain angels unaware too so...

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

It so happens that I watched my first complete episode of Ghost Hunters a couple of days ago. Funniest thing ever! They're walking through the place at night, and whattya know -- they "see" and "hear" things! All the time!

At the end, they play audio recordings of static, and they always here something in it. Hilarious.

But, anyway, no. Once yer dead, yer dead. IMO. :lol

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Timmy, the sadducee. No hope beyond this life is sad, you see...

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I'm not sad. If I stilled believed that some of us get a wonderful eternity and some of us get an unimaginably horrible one, I would be.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Embrace univeralism. Problem solved.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Houston...typical.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

what? :foottap

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

The dead are dead. Thats what makes the resurrection of the dead so all important.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

So... you've staked your beliefs based on what you saw in a television show.

That's brilliant. :smack

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Michael... in your opinion... why do you think God will resurrect the church? Can you elaborate?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

What, doesn't everybody? :lol

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I am not shocked at your answers. I know a lot of people that believe that if it isn't addressed in the Bible then it isn't possible, but I believe there are things that we just will never understand...and this is one of them.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Ah, I thought you were addressing my epistle to Timothy.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I have seen many things as a child that were more like encountering a human than a demon, and as an unbeliever I have encountered devils.

IMO, the explanation of ghosts is nothing more than residual energy that people leave behind, and not the spirit of the person himself.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

If it is residual energy that is what the definition of a spirit is pretty much.

I have encoutered things the my mother has "done" for our family from days after her death until years after. I am not sure what I am seeing, but I believe that it is her and I don't think anyone can change my mind.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I don’t buy into the candle thing at all. Nothing in the Bible on it. However, I have lit a prayer candle and said a prayer before. Something calming about it. Something that allows me to focus. But I don’t think there is any inherent “power” or unique ability in the practice. It would be more like a “custom” than a mystical practice.

As for reincarnation… I’ll play “devil’s advocate” here to stimulate discussion.

The Jews have an ancient belief called Gilgul. It is the “rolling of the soul”. This belief is that essentially God may have a divine calling or purpose on one’s life. Should they die before completing it, or should it take more than one lifetime to complete, God will “transmigrate” the soul into another life. This ancient Jewish belief stated that in the event of incomplete callings, one had only three chances. They do believe that after death there is a “judgment”. However, they believe that the outcome of this judgment may be to return.

Now, their concept of returning is interesting. They essentially believe that the returning soul “piggy backs” (if you will) another living soul and will remain in that state until the divine calling is complete. So, the memories, attitudes, and impulses of the “piggy backing” soul are often seen in the living soul they have returned with. So one might indeed have memories from a “past life”… and yes… the soul of that person resides in them. However, they are not the same soul per se. The “soul” is essentially considered the “mind” or psyche. Being born in another body with new developmental memories and identity is what causes this distinction. However, they are of the same spirit.

Also, God may send a soul back after judgment to experience a temporal torment or trial to atone for a sin. Once atoned for, the transmigrated soul may depart and enter eternity in peace.
Many of these beliefs go way back before Christ. And some believe that the Bible mentions them in passing, without elaborating on them. One example is this statement made by Christ’s disciples:

John 9:1-2
{9:1} And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was
blind from [his] birth. {9:2} And his disciples asked him,
saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he
was born blind?

Notice their line of reasoning. They want to know if the man may have sinned so… that he was born blind. Now…how can one sin prior to birth??? Why would they even ask such a question if it wasn’t a distinct possibility in their minds that the man may have sinned against God in another life prior to birth. Of course, Jesus states that he wasn’t born blind on account of any sin, but rather that the glory of God might be seen in his healing. But the issue remains… Jesus DIDN’T rebuke their line of logic, He left it open to still possibly apply to others.

Perhaps the strongest example of this seen in the Bible is regarding what God said about Elijah way back in the book of Malachi:

Malachi 4:5
{4:5} Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

This is long after Elijah’s death. However, God states, “I will send you Elijah”. God didn’t say, “I will send one like unto Elijah”. Literally, one would have to admit that God promised to actually send… Elijah himself. There is evidence that the Jews took this to mean exactly that…God would send Elijah himself, not another.

Now… fast forward at least 400 years. And we read prior to John the Baptist’s birth…

Luke 1:13-17
{1:13} But the angel said unto him, Fear not,
Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth
shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
{1:14} And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many
shall rejoice at his birth. {1:15} For he shall be great in the
sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong
drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from
his mother’s womb. {1:16} And many of the children of
Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. {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.

Here the angel tells Zacharias that John will “go before him in the spirit and power of Elias”. Now, remember, in Gilgul a soul essentially “piggy backs” a new born soul. So, if this is an example of Gilgul, John isn’t just going to minister with similar anointing and style as Elijah… John will indeed minister in the very “spirit and power of Elias”, literally. That would make John the Baptist… Elijah himself reincarnated in accordance to the will of God, to accomplish his divine calling and purpose.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

CONTINUED...

Evidence that the Jews understood Malachi to be stating that Elijah would literally return can be found in the questions asked by the Pharisees and the disciples:

John 1:19-21
]{1:19} And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art
thou? {1:20} And he confessed, and denied not; but
confessed, I am not the Christ. {1:21} And they asked him,
What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou
that prophet? And he answered, No.

Notice something here. The Pharisees asked point blank, “Are you Elijah?” Now, John answers “I am not.” But remember, in Gilgul the soul piggy backs another. The conscious mind of John born of Elizabeth was not necessarily Elijah, but Elijah’s spirit was present in him. As with most cases of reincarnation, people do not consciously know of anything that causes them to think they may be reincarnated until past memories come pushing forward from the soul within. John’s answer is typical of this condition.

We also read in Matthew:

Matthew 11:12-15
{11:12} And from the days of John the
Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,
and the violent take it by force. {11:13} For all the prophets
and the law prophesied until John. {11:14} And if ye will
receive [it,] this is Elias, which was for to come. {11:15}
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Here, Jesus states that “if ye will receive it”, that means that what Jesus is about to tell them will challenge their understanding and perhaps even their theology. Jesus continues, “THIS IS ELIAS”. Meaning that this very same John the Baptist indeed was Elijah. God literally sent Elijah back as He promised in Malachi.

Also consider the question from the disciples…

Matthew 17:10
{17:10} And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say
the scribes that Elias must first come?

Clearly the disciples understood the scribes to teach that Elijah would literally return as God promised in Malachi. Christ’s answers the question as to if Elijah had indeed literally come:

Matthew 17:11-13
{17:11} And Jesus
answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come,
and restore all things. {17:12} 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. {17:13} Then the disciples
understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

I know that the traditional position in mainstream Christianity to denounce all forms, and any possibility, of reincarnation. However, the verse in Malachi is clear. God promised to actually send Elijah, not “one like unto Elijah”. If God didn’t literally send Elijah back in John the Baptist (as Christ revealed)… the very wording of Malachi would make God a liar. And we know that’s impossible. So… while it may be a very mysterious and even troubling teaching… we know of at least one case in which a soul was indeed reincarnated.

For me, the case appears to be so strong… I’m willing to admit that perhaps there is more going on in the spiritual realms than I really know about or understand. I’ll not say that it’s impossible for reincarnation to take place. What I will say is that IF IT DOES HAPPEN, it’s obviously a case in which God desired to send a soul back to earth for a specific reason in accordance to His own divine will. Considering Elijah and John the Baptist… I can’t tie God’s hands on this issue. However, I deny the Hindu notion that all souls are automatically reincarnated. Should there be a case of reincarnation… there is a divine calling or specific reason for it. And… I believe that it’s rare; else we’d see more examples in Scripture.


---------------------

As for men becoming angels. Jesus did say,

Matthew 22:30
{22:30} For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage,
but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Now, most believe that this is speaking of the resurrection as it relates to the final state of glorification. Others believe that the term “resurrection” can cover both the moment when the soul ascends into Heaven and the moment the soul is united with a risen and glorified body during Christ’s Second Advent. Of course, a lot of full Preterists take the term “resurrection” in the purely spiritual sense. But the point is… in Christ’s eyes we shall be “like the angels of God in heaven”.

Also, we see that when Peter was in jail and scheduled to be executed the next day, an angel released him and Peter proceeded to go to Rhoda’s house. Here’s a brief description of the encounter:

Acts 12:11-16
{12:11} And
when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a
surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered
me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation
of the people of the Jews. {12:12} And when he had
considered [the thing,] he came to the house of Mary the
mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many
were gathered together praying. {12:13} And as Peter
knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken,
named Rhoda. {12:14} And when she knew Peter’s voice,
she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told
how Peter stood before the gate. {12:15} And they said unto
her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was
even so. Then said they, It is his angel. {12:16} But Peter
continued knocking: and when they had opened [the door,]
and saw him, they were astonished.

I know, I know, there is a lot of speculation that the term “his angel”, indicating “Peter’s angel”, supposedly means that legends have it that one’s guardian angel is somehow a look alike. But I think a more natural reading would imply that they indeed thought Peter’s deceased spirit had come. In ancient times… that would have been a terrible omen of doom.

So… I DON’T believe that it’s possible that we literally “become angels” after death. However, I do see that it is possible that we become “as the angels of God in heaven”. Now, what all that entails? Again, I’m willing to admit that I believe more is going on in the spiritual than we realize and only the spiritually discerning can know the half of it.

Here’s something I’ve noticed among myself and many others who have lost parents. There are times when we “feel” our parent’s presence. And there are times when a series of events unfolds during those moments that are so strikingly like a parent trying to assure us that they are there, that it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Who’s to say… what would prevent God from allowing “the angel of a person’s parent” to encourage or minister to them? There have been too many moments when I’ve had to just say to myself, “I’d almost swear that mom is in this room right now.” Who is to say that she wasn’t???

Just some free thinkin’ here guys. I’ve played a little “devil’s advocate” on the subject. Of course, if any of the above has any truth to it… it would take God to reveal it in light of our dogma and traditions on these subjects. Let me know your thoughts. God bless ya!

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I was taught that man is comprised of body (material), soul (psyche/mind), and spirit (breath, or lifeforce). It's like hardware, software, and electricity.

Is it possible that upon death a person's body (material) is burried (or cremated)... the soul (psyche/mind) goes to either Heaven or Hell... and the spirit (lifeforce) may dissipate or perhaps even... linger?

Me too.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

IDK wot to say. I believe that JTB was Elijah, but I never really thought of it as reincarnation until now.

There was an old woman in the church who said that many times when she felt lonely, she would feel her deceased husbands presence in the room.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Aquila,

As per the John 9 story:

It is possible that the Jews might have had a reasoning about someone being able to sin before they were born. But we also know that the Jews did NOT know all about the workings of God.

For example, the saduccees did not believe in ressurrection, while the pharisees did. So I would say instead of trying to go with what the Jews "believed" based on their limited knowledge of God, let's stick to the bible where it says it's appointed to man to die once.

As per the Elijah scenario, I can see what you're saying. However, we have to recognize that Elijah NEVER experience death. So, considering the fact that Elijah did NOT die, then we can't really call it re-incarnation.

But in the end, this is just speculative:


Rom 11
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Elijah did not die?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

2 Kings 2
1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
3And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
4And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
6And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;


Speaking of John the Baptist being Elijah, Elisha actually had a DOUBLE PORTION of Elijah's spirit.

So, I would think of these things as anointing. IOW, a double portion of the anointing upon Elijah fell on Elisha

The anointing upon Elijah (to restore) the people back to God fell on John the baptist.

Comparing John to Elijah

1 Kings 18
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

Mal 4
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

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.

Maybe this should be a new thread, but how did John turn the hearts of the Fathers to the children? Did John turn the hearts of the children to the fathers too although then angel did not mention that as part of John's minsitry?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Thing is, the word used for "heaven" is better translated as sky.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Very true. In fact some rabbinical speculations indicate that they believed that a soul can sin in the womb. However, I don’t know if there is any biblical precedent for sinning in the womb. However, the ancient Jewish tradition of Gilgul could be said to have biblical reference. The whole promise of God to send Elijah, and Christ’s affirmation that John was Elijah. So, really… one could argue that the Bible confirms something similar to the Jewish notion of Gilgul.

Ah… but let’s look at how tradition “can” cloud our understanding. The Bible states that it is appointed unto men to die once… and then the judgment. Now… the Bible doesn’t elaborate on the nature of one’s judgment after death. We conclude from contextual clues that there is a judgment after death in which one’s soul is either permitted into the presence of the Lord… or is confined to Hell. Ultimately all souls, rather in Heaven or Hell, are awaiting resurrection for a FINAL JUDGMENT. Now… who’s to say that when being judged the only options are Heaven or Hell? What if God chooses to “send one back”? You see, we have these religious notions and we make statements like the Bible rules out reincarnation because it’s appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. But we don’t consider the results of that judgment. God could judge that one must return by divine call… or return as a judgment.

So the theory of Gilgul (Jewish reincarnation) doesn’t contradict the notion that men are to die and face judgment. It just offers an additional possibility regarding the results of said judgment.

Some scholars would disagree. We know that after Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind that fifty men searched for him and couldn’t find him (2 Kings 2:17). However, we also read that several years AFTER Elijah’s whirlwind experience a scolding letter was written and sent to Jehoram… from Elijah! (2 Chronicles 21:12-15) In the writings of Josephus we read that in the first century Elijah wasn’t believed to have been “taken to heaven”, but rather to have been taken away into occultation to allow for the rise of Elisha. In Josephus work, Antiquities of the Jews 9, 5:2, Josephus states that Elijah was still upon the earth in the time of Jehoram: "For he was yet upon the earth", thereby refuting any notion that Elijah was taken away to not face death.

At any rate the point still stands. God promised to actually send Elijah in Malachi. If John wasn’t literally Elijah, God’s Word wasn’t fulfilled in John. The Bible is either true or it isn’t.

It is speculative. However, I believe enough “biblical” evidence leaves the door open to more possibilities than traditional Christian religion is willing to recognize. So my jury is out. It is quite provocative. You’ve heard of “forbidden archeology”? Well… things of this nature are akin to being “forbidden theology”. Something so deeply mysterious religion seeks to avoid it. A long time ago my first pastor made a statement in the middle of a sermon. He stated that there are truths that are so mysterious, and beyond our traditions, that should God reveal them to you… they should never be preached; but rather they should be used in counsel or applied in the appropriate moment. What if there are truths that would rock the foundations of traditional Christian theology? We assume we understand the afterlife and the supernatural, but our models are very rigid and partial. What if the afterlife and the things concerning the spiritual realm are far more dynamic than we could ever imagine? Sure, religion and it’s pretty little clean model of things might be enough for the spiritual babe. But what about when one becomes spiritually mature and begins to walk in the spirit where angels fear to tread? These subjects may be in this realm.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Remember... God said,

Malachi 4:5
{4:5} Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Now... did God actually send "Elijah the prophet" in John the Baptist in accordance to His Word? This is very, very important. Because if God didn't literally send "Elijah the prophet" as He promised, but instead heaped Elijah's anointing on John... we have a problem. God didn't do what He said He'd do. That would imply that God lied, or at the very least, broke His promise. The Jewish understood God to have promised to literally send Elijah back to them. That's clear in their traditions, the questions asked by the Pharisees and the disciples. And Christ's statements affirm that John is the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy. Why do we refuse to believe the Bible's own testimony on this? John had to be Elijah... or the promise of God in Scripture is broken.

In my mind, there is no way around it. John was Elijah. I don't care if one believes that Elijah was glorified and taken to Heaven in a whirlwind, or if they believe Elijah was merely taken into hiding to allow for the rise of Elisha... John was Elijah or the Word of God is compromised. Jesus clearly understood the challenge of accepting this. However, Jesus affirms that it is true:

Matthew 11:12-15
{11:12} And from the days of John the
Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,
and the violent take it by force. {11:13} For all the prophets
and the law prophesied until John. {11:14} And if ye will
receive [it,] this is Elias, which was for to come. {11:15}
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

If we will receive it. That is a powerful and provocative statement. It might challenge traditional dogmas... but... will we receive it?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

John did preach repentance. Would that not emphasize family reconciliation?

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Hey guys... I goofed. I responded about reincarnation in the wrong thread. lol Sorry!

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

This is exactly what I believe and perfectly explains why so many haunts seem to be "unintelligent", like a recording being played over and over again or IF intelligent are very weak in nature -not the Hollywood version of people being flung across rooms or levitated while furniture spins in circles.

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

I don’t know if there is any biblical precedent for sinning in the womb

I so hate this "born a sinner" yack. God Himself says one becomes a sinner "from early in your youth."

Re: Speaking from beyond the grave...
 

Well, emphasizing that although Elijah's spirit is obviously reincarnated, you wouldn't have found him espousing it as a doctrine; and he probably was not conscious of his prior life, or anything?