What About Visitations After a Loved One Dies?‏

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

What about people who claim that when their loved one died, they were visited by them? Does God ever allow a deceased believer to say "goodbye"? This poses a particular challenge for a number of reasons: there are a fairly large number of people who say they had this experience; and some of the most vocal opponents of the notion of ghosts do allow for this exception. Also, it arouses intense emotions, especially in those who are earnest Christians, who "swear" it was their mom (fill in blank). Frankly, I was so intimidated by the topic, that I purposely did not mention it in my book! (of course I justified to myself by saying I had enough material as it was!!) For good or ill, I am no longer as reticent to address this issue. In fact, it NEEDS to be addressed.

Let me define what I mean by "visitation". It is not merely a sixth sense or intuition that something bad has happened. That is a distinct phenomenon which I do not know how to explain. I am referring to a visible manifestation...something akin to what we call an apparition.This "person" appears out of the blue, says goodbye, and is gone. Not just odors, sounds, or feelings.  Blinking lights at the time of death,, and similar phenomena, are not what I am analyzing now. I wanted to make sure that was clarified.

First, I have lost alot of loved ones to death. (all grandparents, both parents, and four adult age siblings) The deaths of my bother and sisters were all terribly tragic. So, I do know this issue experientially...at the deepest level imaginable--and beyond.

Second, there is no record in the bible of a recently deceased loved one saying "goodbye" enroute to heaven.Okay, all the references you may be considering do NOT fit the criteria of a recently deceased person's soul coming back to family to comfort them. We saw recently that the Samuel incident was singular and must not be used as data to support anything...other than the reality of divine judgement. I can assure you there are NO examples of this occurring in the bible. We will return to this in #4.

Third, closely related to this, don't you think that if it were a legitimate phenomenon that the bible would have either recorded it or mentioned it in the epistles--when it deals with death and the Intermediate State? The doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17) implies that God has given us all the divine words we need to understand and deal with death. Why would God be silent regarding such a significant issue if it were true? If visitations were part of God's occasional agenda for mankind, surely he would have prepared us.

Fourth, there are hundreds of deaths recorded in the bible and a sizable number of recorded experiences of a person dying (e.g. Jesus, 2 criminals next to Him, Stephen, and numerous others) In Acts 7 we have the poignant account of the stoning death of Stephen, which would seem to be  illustrative of any/all believers death experience. Jesus rises to greet Him, and Stephen cries out--echoing Jesus--"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit....Lord, do not hold this sin against them." (Acts 7:59, 60) I do not know the exact number, but there are quite a few death/dying episodes in the bible, but no recorded "visitations" afterwards. What we actually see happening with Stephen is precisely what Paul taught regarding death and the Intermediate State (Phil. 1:21-23; 2 Cor. 5:8) IMMEDIATE...(no interruptions or pit stops), presence with the Lord after death.

Evidently, all of the apostles but John were murdered, but none "visited" the fledgling church. If ever a visitation might have been helpful, it was then. However, the reality is that it did not happen, and certainly that is a significant.

Actually, some who believe in "visitation" may agree with all I have said thus far, but point to their experience. "Mine was a divine exception...I KNOW it was my husband by "discernment".

Well, did it occur before or after their personal judgement (Heb.9:27)? So, there seems to be some difference as to whether the deceased soul was sent from heaven or stopped at their earthly home enroute to judgement.

Questions

1. Why is it that folks from all belief systems experience this same visitation phenomena, with equal certainty of the person's identity and comfort?  That is seriously problematic....I seriously doubt God is going to allow a hell-bound unbeliever to say "goodbye." This is a particularly significant argument, in my opinion.The only plausible explanation would be demonic mimicry.
2. We must ask this--are demons not capable of mimicking a person immediately after they die? Certainly #1 would seem to be examples of that. I am sorry if this offends anyone, but this issue must be raised.
3. I have been wanting to ask this question for some time....am I the only "demonologist" (not like label) who does NOT have the gift of discernment? According to Rom. 12 and 1 Cor. 12 God sovereignly gives gifts as He pleases for the health of the Body. The gift of discernment (ability to distinguish or sense the presence of demonic--discern between Holy Spirit and unholy spirits) is only given to SOME people.I am convinced that most folks who think they have the gift of discernment, do not have it. Am I saying they are lying? NO!!! Am I saying they are experiencing a demonic counterfeit of it? NO!!! It is a purely psychological phenomenon--the person is sincere, but sincerely wrong. In certain circles everyone is told they must speak in tongues. However, Paul is very clear that only some have that gift as well.Those who "speak in tongues" but do not have the gift, are simply having a psychological experience.

I mention this because of how convinced many Christians are that they were visited by a deceased loved one. But remember that the gift of discernment was not given to discern if a "visitation" has occurred....not given to discern between human and demonic spirits, but between Holy Spirit and unholy spirits. (1 John 4:1-3) This is the touchiest part of the whole discussion--people's experience and their interpretation of it.. Just on an emotional level, it is hard to argue with a sincere Christian who says that they were certain that it was their deceased dad they saw.

4. Have you come to grips with just how filthy and cruelly inventive demons are? Dare I say this...is not the death of a loved one a perfect time for pure evil to seek advantage? We are traumatized and in weakened condition--just what the prowling lion is looking for.They cruelly target abuse victims, and even handicapped children as objects of their hateful oppression.
They have NOT given Satan any "legal rights"...he is supreme opportunist and the death of our loved ones fits that MO. Nothing is beneath them, as far as cruelty goes.

5. Has anybody who has experienced a "visitation" rebuked it in the name of Jesus to see what would happen? Perhaps some have, but usually the confidence level is so high  (sense of love, light, and goodness present) that they are understandably overwhelmed with joy and even worship of God. I say this tenderly,but that wretched Satan can project a heavenly ambiance that would fool even the most experienced, especially while in deep grief.
6. When we allow for "visitations" then we have stepped on a very slippery slope. How long after death is a "visitation" to be allowed? An hour after death? A day? A week" A month? Year anniversary? 10 year anniversary? I have heard stories which expressed all of the above. And how many "visits" are allowable before we should be concerned?
7. The most difficult "visitation" to question is immediately after death and is singular...never repeated.
8. I have devoted my life to understanding death, dying, and the demonic through God's eyes, and the singular significance of this deception of ghosts grows within me each passing day. Would Satan mimic a recently deceased loved one just once? I hope that by now that to ask the question is to answer it. I mentioned the slippery slope above....how many folks who have had this experience, have also had their views toward the notion of ghosts "softened" or made them more "open-minded" to other post-death human appearances? I have seen it happen..... it is certainly not beneath these filthy wretches to do an "angel of light" maneuver at the moment of greatest vulnerability. Is it not a rule that, when we are weakened and emotionally distressed, that demons tend to lurk like vultures?
9. With all the death I have experienced, I have never been visited.
10. God has given us the bible, the Holy Spirit, and loving friends/family to comfort us in times of grief.
11. last, but certainly not least, GOD WANTS US HOME. We cannot be in two places at the same time--in His loving presence in heaven and visiting family here. God wants us home. When we die, like Stephen, we make a bee-line for Jesus.

In conclusion, the argument for visitation is based entirely on experience and our interpretation of it. I wish with all my heart that I could see my brother and sisters again. But knowing what I now know regarding demons, if one of them did appear, I would (while weeping) rebuke them forcefully in the precious and holy name of Jesus.

Do You Believe in Angels?

By Lisa Grace

Recently I was asked in an interview if I believe in angels or the supernatural as the way it appears in my fiction books. 

Yes, I believe in angels. Have I knowingly seen any? No. 

However, I have met some disturbed people that I believe are possessed, and no, the mental health counseling and medication did not help them. 

Do I believe events could happen the way they do in my books? Yes and no. It’s a work of fiction and as such, many incidences are over the top. I believe in today’s modern world the supernatural one does prefer to remain hidden. It’s easier to operate when people don’t believe it exists. I believe all “ghosts” are demonic manifestations leading people away from truth. 

If a being, (no matter how beautiful as Satan can appear as an angel of light) contradicts the Holy Scriptures, it is evil and sent to lull people into believing a false view of the afterlife to their detriment. The devil is recruiting for his army through deception. 

Your best defense? Know your scriptures. Understand the supernatural world and its goals. Put on the armor of Christ and be prepared for spiritual warfare.

NOTE: This is a rerun blog from Lisa Grace as she is currently on vacation.

Observations on the State of the Paranormal Community – Part 2: The Investigations

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Continued from Observations on the State of the Paranormal Community - Part 1

With the New Year I feel compelled to ask: what is the state of the paranormal community?Before I respond, let me say that I consider myself part of the paranormal community (though I prefer to call it supernatural), and I care for these folks. I am not an outsider throwing rocks; rather I am inside trying, in my weak and stumbling way, to change people’s minds through reasoned persuasion. ..praying that honest seekers for truth will listen.

I whittled it down to two issues—what is happening to the investigators and what is happening regarding theinvestigations. In this section we will deal with the latter…my analysis of the investigators is in Part!

Are investigations yielding accurate identification of the underlying cause of the paranormal activity? With the currentmethodologies being used, are they able to identify spirit entities? Are they helping the client with their investigations and recommendations? (Note that Q.1 & 3 are inextricably bound together) Those are the main issues I wish to explore.

I have stated before that the paranormal community is a plausibility structure—a sociological term denoting a group which provides a safe environment to assume certain beliefs are plausible, which outsiders may consider implausible. For example, it is easy to believe in trapped human spirits when around those who are like-minded. However, it can also lead to an uncritical acceptance of basic assumptions deeply held within the paranormal community. In fact, within a plausibility structure, any questioning of basic assumptions may be met with resistance. May I suggest that there is nothing wrong, and everything right, about a particular group like the paranormal community (or a church) that makes people feel safe in their quest for truth? However, when basic assumptions regarding ghost theory become “off-limits” to scrutiny, then that discourages honest seeking of truth. That is when a plausibility structure becomes a hindrance, and not a help, in discovering the truth. It certainly is not scientific, inductive reasoning.

                                                                                                                                                                              

Recently, I read a thread on Facebook which was discussing Josh Gates and the Destination Truthcrew in which they were returning to a “haunted” forest where their camera man had been violently thrown during the first investigation. The main issue they were debating was what kind of spirit had tossed the camera man? After some discussion, the person who started the thread (who leads an investigative group) stated, “I think they were elementals (a form of nature spirit) which that group had provoked too harshly…but we will never know definitively until we die.” (Italics added)  

 

BINGO!  Identity agnosticism—not just with this situation, but we are UNABLE TO DEFINITIVELY IDENTIFY ANY SPIRIT BEINGS!  I applaud her honesty, but there are many who will disagree and say that they are able to definitively identify the spirit beings they encounter. As I hope to show, their optimism is inconsistent with their presuppositions. ;

Why? Because (and this is key) identification of supernatural entities is not a paranormal, intuitive, or scientific issue, but a theological issue. As a Christian, this should be a given, but let me buttress my point.

All the latest scientific instrumentation can only document/verify a supernatural presence, but it CANNOT classify them (more below).

This identity agnosticism is a consequence of choosing speculation as the intellectual starting point for studying the supernatural instead of revelation. SPECULATION VERSUS REVELATION   When it comes to studying the supernatural, there are only two options for our source of truth—the vain, autonomous (not subject to God’s law) speculation of man, or the humble reliance on revelation (the bible). The monolithic consensus in the paranormal community is speculation; man, along with instruments and subjective feelings, can determine whether a being is demonic or not, human or not, intelligent or not, benign or not, positive or not, and so on. In other words, man is the measure of all things paranormal…that is not a neutral mindset—it is a religion of pride in opposition to God’s revealed truth ( Prov.1:7)

Remember that the success or failure of all investigations, and whether we help or hurt people, hinges on accurate identification of the spirit beings causing the problems. Can a medical doctor help someone if they misdiagnose the identity of the disease?

Remember also what we have said over and over; all of the various means by which investigations seek spirit communication are actually making the condition worse for the client. Just from that one point, we can deduce that investigations are doing more harm than good.

Since demons can mimic virtually anything or anyone (angel of light principle, 2 Cor. 11:14), and rule the psychic airwaves, then it is impossible to construct a set of accurate criteria that will definitively classify these beings into certain categories; psychics and mediums are puppets in the hands of the dark psychic masters. This includes the ability to project into you a sense of positive energy and human goodness—which regularly fools the most sensitive of people. However, how many times have I heard a professing Christian say, “I sense that this entity is positive.” A thousand times NO! The angel of light principle includes the ability to project any ambiance they so desire, including the sensation that all evil has left, or that pure evil is sweet and holy; or project into the medium’s and psychic’s minds a whole string of false data and images. Why are Christians using psychics and mediums anyway, when we saw last time how strongly the bible condemns their activity?

We must subordinate our sensations—all of our subjective states, including claims of discernment-- to the word of God.  It seems to me that most Christians who believe in trapped spirits do so primarily on the persuasiveness and intensity of sensations they feel regarding particular entity/entities. Subjective feelings are just feelings, and are subject to demonic influence—subjective states are trumped by God’s explicit commands (Deut.18:9-14). We need to operate with the conviction of Sola Scriptura. Scripture alone has come under attack in a thousand different ways in the neo-gnostic milieu in which we live. When I was in seminary a woman was asked why she was pursuing the pastorate when she knew the bible forbade women from doing so. Her answer was instructive: she affirmed the authority of the bible, but said she had an inner call from God which trumped what the bible said! The Holy Spirit, who inspired the bible and also calls people to ministry, does not speak out of both sides of His mouth.

Consider my Christian Facebook friend who made the elemental observation, but added the proviso that we won’t know for sure until we die. Why was she admitting identity agnosticism? I am not sure, but my hunch is that she is well aware of the fact that there is no way to haul that entity into the lab and scientifically analyze it. However, that is true of all supernatural entities—even the most rigorous investigation is miles away from approximating the testing procedures used in scientific experiments in the natural realm. The scientific method is inadequate when it comes to definitively identifying entities in the supernatural realm. A moment’s communion with common sense should reveal that science is INCAPABLE of classifying supernatural spirits.

Our three questions were: 1.Are investigations accurately identifying the beings causing the problems? 2. Are they able to with current methodology? 3. And are the investigations helping people? We have demonstrated that the paranormal community is habitually misdiagnosing the spiritual disease, and that they are unable to correctly diagnose with current investigative assumptions. Therefore…Based on 1 & 2, then we must sadly conclude that the vast majority of investigations are not helping people. Furthermore, investigations generally hurt people—both temporally and eternally. Sincewe always misdiagnose when we introduce trapped spirits or residuals (or other unbiblical categories of beings), then how can we give wise counsel at the reveal? How can we give sound advice when we do not have a clue as to what is “haunting” the house? What?! Peacefully co-exist with pure evil that is bent on our destruction? At least before the investigation, the client felt a legitimate concern—but when given false assurance from us, the guard is let down, and the demonic is often unwittingly embraced.  In 2013, the current condition of both investigators and investigations is sobering, and it is getting worse every day. Paranormal investigations are probably the main vehicle through which the evil genius is releasing and amassing his infernal army for the final assault. Please do not retreat into the cozy confines of a plausibility structure—have the courage and compassion to think through these basic assumptions for yourself.  We owe it to God and to the client to let the truth prevail…or the lawsuits will begin in earnest because of our gross negligence. Sola scriptura and soli deo Gloria!