HOLY GHOST! IS IT A CHRISTIAN PHENOMENON?
This phrase HOLY GHOST is commonly used by some Christians to be synonymous to the HOLY SPIRIT. It should be noted that the phrase Holy Ghost is only found in King James Version or Authorised Version of the Holy Bible. All other versions refer to it as Holy Spirit. There is also the belief that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is a person. In fact there are those who have the belief that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead or Trinity. Yet, others belief that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit of today is God, the Father, Jehovah (Yahweh) of the Old Testament and at the same time Jesus Christ of the New Testament. For the reason of these beliefs it is common to hear some call in their prayers “Holy Ghost----fire” or Holy Ghost fire pursue them or pursue you or Holy Ghost burn them, burn them and so on.
However, a scrutiny of these divergent beliefs against the background of the Holy Bible (the Oracle of God) present quite clearly that they are bogus, imaginary, fictitious and cannot be substantiated at all.
First, it is necessary to appreciate how the words in the phrase Holy Ghost originated. The word “holy” simply mean pure, clean, undefiled, sanctified or sanctity, chastity or inviolate. The word “Holy” as a noun is the name of God Almighty, the Father of all things, Jehovah the Originator of all things. (Isaiah 57:15) He is infinite in holiness and lives from everlasting to everlasting. Anything holy emanates from God Almighty and for the fact He is holy He requires all His Children to be holy. It is written: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” - 1st Peter 1:15, 16; see also Lev.11:44; 19:2; 1st Thess.4:7.
Studies indicate that the word “ghost” in English is derived from a German root word “ghuest” meaning ‘the spirit of a dead person that appears to a living person’; which some generally refer to as Spirit. Therefore, by the above definitions it follows that Holy Ghost means “a pure, clean, sanctified, undefiled spirit of a dead person that appears to a living person. Where in the Holy Bible can someone cite to prove or support that God sends the spirit of a dead person to talk to a living person?
Some cite the case of the witch of Endor whom King Saul of Israel went to consult to bring dead Samuel to talk to him.(1st Samuel 28:7-25) But reading through the passages we find that it was not Samuel the witch saw but gods. She told Saul out of fear that she saw Samuel but when Saul told her not to be afraid, she said she saw gods and we are told that when has recognized Saul she now said she saw and old man coming covered with mantle. Then, we were told that Saul perceived it was Samuel the witch saw. It is written: “then said the woman, whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, why hast thou deceive me? For thou art Saul. And 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. and he said unto her, what form is he of? And she said, an old man cometh up; and he his covered with a mantle, and Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stoop with his face to the ground, and bow himself.” – 1st Samuel 28:12-14.
By the way does God now speak to his people through witches and wizards? The answer is NO. Deuteronomy 15:10-15 makes it clear that God abhors witches and wizards. In ancient times, God spoke to His people through the Prophets but in this age of the end of the world He speaks by His only begotten Son Jesus Christ whom He has appointed heir of God’s Kingdom. For it is written: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” – Hebrews 1:1, 2.
If it is true that it was Samuel the witch of Endor saw the Holy Scriptures is unambiguous that it is Satan, the Devil and his wicked angels or demons that can transform themselves to be like any creature dead or alive, even as Prophet Samuel or as angels of light in other to deceive. For example, it was the Devil that appeared like the serpent to deceive Eve to violate God’s law in the Garden of Eden. (Gen.3:1-5, 13) Read what St. Paul wrote concerning this attitude of the Devil, “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.” – 2ndCor.11:1-4, 13-16.
That some people have claimed to have seen a dead person appear to them has been the general belief of many nations, even among the natural Jews before the first advent of Jesus Christ on Earth and Christianity. Thus, it was no surprise that the eleven apostles of Jesus Christ (who then have not received the anointing) could not believe the testimonies of Mary Magdalene, the other women and that of Cleopas and Simon that Jesus had resurrected. So when eventually Jesus Christ appeared unto them they thought that it was his spirit or ghost. However, Christ made them to understand that he has arisen from the dead and was alive; that he is the one speaking with them. For it is written: “It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not…. And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, what manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him…. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another; did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And
