Question:
Can the dead come back and visit the living?
Answer:
The plots of many scary movies have surrounded the
issue raised within this question. The belief that the dead can come
back to visit the living has captivated people for many ages. Yet, the
Christian’s beliefs should be supported by God’s Word.
The book of Ecclesiastes clearly informs us about the destination of
man’s body and spirit after death. The body of man, that which was
originally made from dust, will return to dust (Genesis 2:7;
Ecclesiastes 12:7). The spirit and soul of man, that which God breathed
into man at the beginning, will return to God who gave it (Genesis 1:27;
2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Hebrews 9:27 unequivocally informs us, “...it is appointed for men to
die once, but after this the judgment…” So, indeed, we all will die.
Then, our souls will await the final judgment of both the living and
dead. John 5:28,29 says, “... the hour is coming in which all who are
in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done
good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the
resurrection of condemnation.”
Paul describes that judgment day saying, “...the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and
with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we
who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the
Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). So, when the Lord returns, the
living will immediately follow the dead to the judgment. The righteous
will “always be with the Lord.”
Before that day, the Bible indicates we will not be permitted to
communicate with the departed spirits of the dead. The Spirit-led King
David realized this fact quite well. When his child died he said,
“Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return
to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).
In Luke 16, Jesus reveals a situation in Hades between two men—the rich
man and Lazarus. After the rich man realizes his perilous situation, he
wants to find a way to warn his remaining family members. He realizes he
would not be allowed to go, so he asks if Lazarus, in the comfort of
Abraham’s bosom, can go.
The rich man says, “I beg you therefore, father, that you would send
him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify
to them, lest they also come to this place of torment” (Luke
16:27-28).
Abraham responds, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them” (Luke 16:29).
The rich man uses a most persuasive attempt saying, “No, father
Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent”
(16:30).
Abraham says, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither
will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (16:31).
Our lost loved ones may be in our memories, imagination and in our
dreams but God does not permit the departed spirits to return to this
earth by their own will. May we all do what we can while we still can do
it.
February 2006