The Spirit World.
I believe there are progressions in learning and the undoing of error (sin) in our belief systems. The condition of one's soul would dicatate which spirit world or heaven, that person finds their own existence in. As the soul progresses on it's journey unto perfection. The spirit world it is able to live within changes, as well. This is not to say that we are not already perfect, because I believe we are all perfect in God. However, as long as we believe otherwise, there are false beliefs which must be eradicated. Didn't Christ say we are to be holy as He (God) is holy? Each level would be a place of learning, light and love.
I believe the beauty that is found within most of the spirit world to be unimaginable. I see all progressing unto perfection, because we are all one. Will all progress beyound and become as angels? I do not know. When Jesus stated that some would become as angels in heaven, there is a truth to be understood concerning angels. I believe angels to most likely be humans who ascended spiritually. The word "angel" means "messenger". I believe they have the desire and task of speaking to all of us to assist in our ascension through the spirit world. This would explain "Jacob's Ladder" as "angels" who ascend (first), then descend (to assist other in their ascension). Therefore, it would be possible for those who have ascended into higher realms of heaven, to descend to help those in need. The learning process in all realms is that of love. Learning to love all and experience the oneness of all of creation.
According to people who have a near death experience and visited the spirit world, there are different things may first take place. Usually a tunnel of light is experienced (and spirit guides - angels may be present to help eliminate the fear of crossing over), and the person will find themselves in a "life review " this is for learning purposes and is sometimes called "The Judgement". This is not for punishment, but is really a reflection of what a person focused on in the earthly life. If it is painful, it is due to the person's own mind bringing condemnation upon thier own self. After this, the soul will naturally gravitate to its place of habitation in the spirit world, based upon its condition. Some believe this to be due to the level of vibration: the higher the vibration, the more love within the person- the lower the vibration, the worse the condition and habitation into darkness or what some call "the void" or "abyss". This is why some enter right into heaven and others directly into hell. Again, hell and heaven are not geographical places, but states or conditions of the mind. The Kingdom of God is within us now, and what we have built in the here and now, will be experienced in the afterlife. This is why Jesus said store up "treasure in heaven".
Descriptions of the heaven lies in the spirit world are simply breath taking and seem to be of pattern similar to earth's natural environments. Time does not exist there. So many near deaths experiences have been described like a life-time of events, yet at the same time the person felt like they had only been gone for a minute or so. Hell, on the other hand, is described as darkness with like souls gathering together amongst strange creaters, ect.- again with no time. Thus, hell can be experienced for ages or moments based upon each individual's choice. The hell can be ascended up and out of when one learns the lessons needed for their own spiritual growth. There is no eternal punishment, for God is love and wishes all to be save form their own worng choices. Reincaration is a choice for those who have not yet realized their oneness with God whom dwells within all and all dwells within. The journey of life seems to be a lesson to teach people to learn to meet with God within their own being, to follow the spirit within and not the ego of self indulgence and pleasure, to love all give all and heal all. When the realization of the kingdom of God is within all is undrestood, reincarnation is no longer necessary and the cycle ends. Reincarnation is known as the spiritual resurrection,and the resurrection of the body is known as being born of the spirit. When one starts to leave religion and become spiritual by seeking God or spirit (love) within, this is what many call being"enlightened", " born -again".
Reaching "nirvana" or attaing "gnosis. The truth can only befound in this place where peace dwells and love is experienced. Jesus true message was not to look out wardly for spiritual enlightenment, but to look to the God within, for the "Kindom of God is with in you". So, what is the purpose of this physical world in which we now fined ourselves living within? I feel it is used to bring us into the realization of "self". It is for lessons in learning. Think back to your earliest memory. Somehow, I can not help but feel I have always existed in some way, but there came a point when I became awear of my individualty or became "conscious" of my existance. certainly I believe we are all part of the whole, but are subject to it's force, like a river and it's contents flowing to a predetermined, final destination. Yes, I see "self" as important and not something to be done away with. We must come to the knowledge of our own power creative power within the whole and the laws that operate within the whole.
If I "mis-think" and thus, "mis-create", there is a self-imposed price to be paid. Some call this "Karma", or "an eye for an eye". While I do not see that price to be un-ending punishment, I do see it as necessary and of my own creation. That is the law of God. Attack and be attacked. Can one truly attack anything other than one's own self? Life is like a mirror which refelects back to the one who stands before it. Either I see love, joy and peace through giving the same, or I see fear, condemnation and guilt, through giving the same, my final destination, no matter which chioce I make, cannot be altered except in the amount of time I choose for the things of suffering to endure. When the things of suffering no longer exist in me, then only eternal love, joy and peace remain.
I believe the journey then must still continue. That journey in the spirit world will never end, but be joyous in ever - learning and ever-knowing more. The more progression is made upward in the spirit world, the more like our heavenly Father we become, possessing and ever - increasing in love, immortality, and wisdom, progressing through the spirit world in oneness, joy and peace. Some say there are ten heavens, but just maybe they are infinite.
SPIRIT POSSESSION.
I believe we are finding what many call "demons" are in fact what many people have termed as shadow ghost (dark shadows). A shadow ghost is often seen out of one's peripheral vision. They are earth bound, dis-embodied people, who have not moved on into the light, their loved ones and life-review (all of which is part of a "cleansing" process). darkness does not necessarily mean a ghost is "bad", darkness (as Jesus also spoke of) is indicative of a lack of understanding, ignorance,being lost, and of course negativity. Some "dark" spirits can be very negative and troublesome, but so can some of the people around us that have bodies. We believe that some ghost (people) have learned that they can co-inhabit another person's body. The is called, spirit possession, but it would be better to term it "ghost possession". Ghost have been found to posses poeple for several reasons, by accident, to assist the one whom they have possessed, to continue experiencing physical addictions, attachments to earthly possessions or loved ones, trauma - not even understanding they have died (because they are still alive), or even to menace or harm another seemingly "the fun of it".
We must consider that bindings between people and ghosts might be strong, and that the exorcised ghosts may come back and possess these people again. The patient must work at not letting the ghost back in. Emotional bindings between people and ghost are like rubber bands that draw the ghost back into the patient's body. Those emotional currents must be removed by the patient. That's why, in some cases, the patient also requires my psychotherapy. Hell exists only in there minds - there is no such place in the non-material world - but the mind makes it true for them. That kind of psychoterapy takes time, and is rarely easy, as some ghost are completely unawear of their situation - especially when they died under tragic or traumatic circumstances.
Wanda Pratnicka, author of Possessed by Ghost: Exorcism in the 21 cenury. Wanda's experiences parallel what Jesus taught about demons (spirits) leaving a person's body and then returning. When an unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, I will return into my house from whence I come out, and when he comes back, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished. Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more bad in natured than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last (state) of that man is worse than the first....Matthew 12:43-45.
What can we learn from all of this? Ghost are simply people who need assistance in moving beyond the prison that their own mind has created - assistance not unlike what a psychologist might do to help a person who is still in their own body. We are told in 1 Peter 3:19 that Jesus "preached to spirits in prison". If people were condemned to hell eternally, he would never have sought to help them. We, too, need to help those who are trapped in the pirson of there own mind, by counseling these "unclean spirits" to.
1. Not be afraid to move on with their lives - for better things await them.
2. Understand that their bodies have died, though they are still alive in the present time.
3. Not fear eternal punishment ( in hell ), for it does not exist.
4. Meet loved ones who await them, by turning toward the light and experiencing peace, joy and love ( which they most definitely need ).
Loved ones - spirits await these lost people and need our help to assist them in moving beyound being earthbound. Maybe it takes asistance from both planes to help some of te departed.
Edith Fiore, a noted psychologist and author of the book (The Unquiet Dead), has worked with patients for twenty years whom she at first thought had multiple personalities or even past lives. She soon discovered there were more then one person or spirit within the body of some of her patients. Edith learned to explain to the possessing spirit that they need to move on, that loved ones were awaiting and the promise of light, love and peace. The ghost possessing the body of another would learn through her that their life journey could continue if they headed unto he light and loved ones. She never encountered a demon in twenty years of work and is a highly regarded author and authority on ghost possession.
Perhaps two accounts of Jesus in the bible give us important keys to understanding the spirit world. Jesus stated to Nathanael, "You shall see angels ascending and descending and upon the son of man", and we are told that James, Peter and John witnessed Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah from the other side. Perhaps, Jesus was showing us that the angels ascending and descending represented two - way communication between spirit and the physical worlds taking place, and that the pulling back of the veil (so to speak) revealed Moses and Elijah or disembodied spirits in the light speaking to us. Just maybe Jesus true mission was to free the earth bound spirits (just like Peter mentioned he did with those from the time of the flood) and assist them in moving on with their lives by heading into the light (spirit realm).
Jesus spoke of not keeping the light hid, but let it shine unto others. Witnesses saw the physical manifestation of the true ministry Jesus was doing in the unseen realm. he was freeing the unseen captives, while freeing those bound by them in the physical. All of this was demonstrated in power when he spoke with the possessing demon or demons, and had them leave the person who was possessed. Upon removed of the ghost(or ghosts) that was co-inhabiting another's body, the rightful owner of the body would be instantly transformed - freed from whatever physical and mental abnormalities were present prior to the exorcism ( for lack of a better word ).
I believe our understanding of possession has to come into the light of this truth. People want to continue to chase " demons", because they are unable to wrap their minds around the truth of ghost possession. Religion has done more damage by creating fear and falsehoods in people. Paranormal investigators and "demonologists" need to quite chasing ghost for fun and fame, and begin to seek to understand how to help those bound on the other side of the grave.
