The Afterlife and the Bible's View on Spirits

The Bible provides a clear view of the afterlife that does not include the dead walking among us. According to Ecclesiastes 9:5, 'the dead know nothing', and the hope for believers lies in the resurrection at the end of time (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). As for spiritual manifestations, the Bible instructs us to 'test the spirits' (1 John 4:1), acknowledging the need for discernment. While it speaks of demons as fallen angels who oppose God (Mark 5:1-20), it does not equate these entities with the concept of ghosts. Thus, believers are encouraged to focus on the living and to invest in relationships and treasures that have eternal significance (Matthew 6:19-21; Colossians 3:1-4), and to equip themselves with the armor of faith as depicted in Ephesians 6.