Evidence for our faith: I aint ‘fraid of no Zombies

No Ghosts, Zombies, or Draculas: The Bible’s Rejection of Wandering Spirits and Unfinished Tasks

The Bible, throughout both Old and New Testaments, offers no support for the chilling tales of disembodied spirits, zombies, demons, or Dracula-like undead haunting the earth or lingering to complete unfinished business. Pop culture, from gothic novels to Hollywood horror, profit on such fears, but Scripture is clear: human work, including obeying the gospel, must be done in life, and death leaves no room for wandering souls or monstrous transformations. The complete absence of evidence for these ideas calms our fears of death with the urgency of living faithfully now.

The Bible consistently teaches that our work, including spiritual obedience, is confined to this life. Ecclesiastes 9:10 in the Old Testament urges, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” This verse shuts the door on the idea of ghosts lingering to finish unresolved tasks. The New Testament echoes this urgency, particularly in obeying the gospel. In 2Corinthians 6:2, Paul writes, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” There’s no biblical hint of posthumous chances to complete spiritual work or haunt the earth as spirits to punish the living. Ghostly tales of unresolved business are purely fictional, not rooted in Scripture.

The notion of humans becoming zombies or undead creatures like Dracula also finds no place in the Bible. Dark tales of vampires rising from graves or mindless corpses are absent from both Testaments. Instead, Scripture portrays death as final for human endeavors, under God’s authority. Psalm 146:4 states, “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” This leaves no room for undead transformations. The language of the Bible never states, hints, nor has examples of humans becoming cursed, vampiric beings. The Bible’s silence on such horrors confirms they are literary inventions, not divine truth. There is one biblical account of a deceased man wishing someone could go back to warn his family, but they could not (Luke 16:19-31). If haunting to complete unfinished business was possible, that would have been a great time for Jesus to tell us about it.

Likewise, the idea of humans becoming demons lacks evidence. The New Testament distinguishes demons as separate spiritual entities, not transformed human souls (demon possession was limited to the time of Christ to demonstrate His deity and power, and to affirm the authority of the apostolic age in the first century). Scripture never suggests that people risk becoming demonic after death. What are called “demons” in the Bible are known to be fallen angels, distinct from humans, who followed Satan in his rebellion against God (e.g., Rev 12:9; Luke 10:18).

The Bible’s clear message is that life is the time to obey the gospel and complete our work, with no provision for ghosts, zombies, or Draculas. Death ends our work on earth, but God’s word holds no terrors if we obey the gospel and live faithfully starting today.

Agape

PS; this also means that we shouldn’t wait until death or the judgment to find out if we’re saved. We can know from God’s word today. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;” (2Cor 5:10-11a)

Is Demon Possession Possible today?

is demon possession possible

Folks today believe in the demonic possession of a person. They have this belief because of the many passages in scripture where people are possessed. [Matthew 9:32-33; 12:22; 17:18; Mark 5:1-20; 7:26-30; Luke 4:33-36; Luke 22:3; Acts 16:16-18]

The teachers of this doctrine explain demon possession today by saying that a person “allows” the demon to enter them by rejecting God’s word, allowing your heart to be ruled by habitual sin, inviting Satan [or one of his angels] to enter.

They also teach that a “true Christian” can never be possessed, because they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, [2Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; 1Corinthians 6:19], saying that the Spirit of God would not share residence with a demon.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

It is true that demon possession occurred in the OT [seldom, if at all], in the Gospels and in the first century church, but the question is; Can demon possession happen today?

First, it should be noted, that not every association with Satan qualifies as demon possession. For example, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” [John 8:44]. He was not speaking as if the devil gave birth to them, rather their actions indicated they were following Satan’s teaching.

Second, concerning demons, we are told: There are being called “angels” [Psa. 8:5; Heb. 2:7, 9] which are higher in nature than humans. Not knowing when, some of these angels fell / sinned [2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6]. These fallen angels seem to be the same angels as the devil’s angels [Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:7, 9]. These may be called, “demons” [Luke 11:15], “evil spirits” [Acts 19:12-13], “unclean spirits” [Matthew 10:1], or Satan’s angels [Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:7, 9].

Third, the bible teaches that evil spirits and demons would depart. In Zechariah 13:2, referring to the age of the Messiah, God promises; “… I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.” This is fulfilled in the Gospels as the disciples were able to cast out demons and Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” [Luke 10:18-20]. This shows the weakening power of Satan and his angels.

Finally, in the New Testament, there are two references to the binding of fallen / sinful angels. “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;” [2Peter 2:4]. And in Jude 1:6 “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.” These are bound, awaiting the judgment.

Sound Doctrine provides comfort

I’ve shown these things to folks and some have gotten very upset with the idea that demon possession is no longer possible. What a strange reaction. The truth should provide us with much comfort, it does me. Imagine living a life where the possession of your person is possible.

Movies like “Damien” and the “The Exorcist” have generated fear, in the hearts of men, that it is possible to be possessed, but I find comfort in the Scriptures of God, clearly teaching that we should never fear Satan and his angels.

One final note, some people say, “The devil made me do it” when referring to some sin they’ve done. No sir, he did not. God teaches us in the book of James, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” [James 1:14-15]. We can follow the teaching of Satan, but we are accountable for the sins we commit. I don’t need Satan to help me to sin, I’m doing a fine job all on my own.

— Spencer