Each year at Halloween, ghostly images appear everywhere. You can spot them on lawns and rooftops, inside malls and department stores, and at parties. Why is that? Our modern Halloween traditions are based on the ancient notion of real ghosts. These ghosts are said to be the spirits of dead people who return to haunt the living.  

Is that possible? 

Halloween traditions began centuries ago among the Celtic peoples who migrated to Britain and surrounding areas. According to tradition, on the night of October 31, the spirits of dead people crossed over from the Other Side to bother the living. To protect themselves, country folks would lay samples of their newly harvested crops beside their doors as peace offerings. These foods were considered “treats” for the disembodied, contributing to today’s trick–or–treat practice. People hoped the ghosts would take the food and leave them alone.  

A similar holiday in Mexico is called the Day of the Dead. From October 31 to November 2, Mexicans pray for their dead friends and relatives. They visit cemeteries and leave gifts on graves such as food, candles, incense, or pictures of the person buried there. Behind this tradition is the idea that the ghosts of the dead still think, talk, and assist the living.  

What Happens at Death? 

Many different ideas are floating around today about what happens when people take their last breath. Some believe a soul either soars straight to heaven or descends into hell. Some believe it flies into a holding place called purgatory, or effortlessly slips into the spirit world. Some believe the soul goes nowhere at all—the entire person is just plain dead, resting in a grave, without thought or feelings.  

The Holy Bible clears up the confusion, and its message may surprise you. Take a look:  

The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence (Psalm 115:17). 

His [a person who dies] breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish (Psalm 146:4 KJV, italics added). 

The dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5, italics added).  

[David prayed] Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death (Psalm 13:3, italics added).  

These verses teach that a dead person knows absolutely nothing. The dead have no thoughts and lie silent in the grave, having entered “the sleep of death.” Based on these clear Bible teachings, the common beliefs about ghosts are impossible. A person’s soul, spirit, or ghost can’t consciously exit a body. It can’t float around in the atmosphere, visit Paris or Los Angeles, and then communicate with the living—not on Halloween, the Day of the Dead, or at any other time. 

Mediums on TV 

Wait a minute! you may be thinking. I know that the ghosts of dead people can speak to the living, because I have friends who have talked to real spirits! Perhaps you do. Or maybe you’ve seen a psychic medium receive messages from the dead relatives of a studio audience member. Some of these seminars are broadcast live on TV before millions of viewers. What about that? Before delving deeper, notice what the Bible says about dead people returning to communicate with the living. 

As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, 

So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. 

He shall never return to his house, 

Nor shall his place know him anymore. 

(Job 7:9,10). 

This passage teaches that a person “who goes down to the grave does not come up.” So, spirit communication with the deceased is impossible. But critical clarification is in order. God’s Book does teach that ghosts are real and that spirit communication does take place. Look closely: “There shall not be found among you anyone… who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, italics added).  

Real mediums who communicate with real spirits do exist. Yet the Bible urges us to steer clear of them, just like the Titanic should have avoided that deadly iceberg.  

Why? Is God trying to prevent us from finding comfort? Does He not want us to receive guidance from dead relatives who wish to help us? Not at all. His reason is simple. He wants to protect us from malicious, invisible entities that can look like, talk like, and act like the deceased.  

Who are these entities? 

Spirits of Demons 

Get ready for a shock. The last book of the Bible lifts the veil for us. “For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…. called… Armageddon” (Revelation 16:14–16, italics added).  

Here the Bible warns us about the tricky activity of “spirits of demons” right before the battle of Armageddon. Demons are fallen angels. They rebelled against their loving Creator and were kicked out of heaven with their leader, Lucifer (Revelation 12:7-9). They now inhabit the invisible world. Their goal is to deceive us and lead us away from God and Bible truth. 

Here’s another sober thought. One of the most diabolical ways evil angels deceive people is by appearing as a ghost. Who is more trustworthy than someone’s long-lost Aunt Sue or Grandpa Bill?—or perhaps some famous dead person? This is one method wicked spirits use to dupe the living into receiving false instruction. This isn’t trick–or–treat, but a deadly delusion.   

Hope Beyond the Cemetery? 

So if the dead are really dead, is there hope beyond the cemetery? Yes, there is. Our hope is centered in one Man whose name is Jesus Christ. Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus saw our desperate plight. He realized that sinning against God is the root cause of human suffering and death on planet Earth (Genesis 3). He knew that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But because He didn’t want us to die forever, He made the supreme sacrifice of love. 

Outside Jerusalem, on a cruel cross, Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified to pay the price for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). After triumphantly shouting, “It is finished,” He died (John 19:30). Three days later, He rose from the dead (see Matthew 28:1-7).  

In conclusion, the Bible teaches that the dead enter an unconscious state of soul sleep until they are resurrected (John 5:28,29; 11:11-14; Acts 2:29,34). This means that it’s impossible for a still-conscious soul to exit a body and float around as a ghost. The Bible also urges us to avoid all forms of communication with real fallen angels who can easily impersonate the deceased on Halloween, or at any other time. 

Now you know the inside scoop about lying ghosts.  

You’ve also been introduced to Jesus, your Savior. 

He invites you to discover His love, forgiveness, and truth today. 

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Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. All other Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.