'Ghosts Are Not Spirits of Dead Humans': Author Reports Bible Points Toward 'Deceiving Evil Spirits'

Christian author and filmmaker Derrick Warfel argues that ghosts are not the spirits of deceased people but deceptive supernatural beings. In an interview with The Christian Post, he described ghosts as 'deceiving evil spirits or demons', explaining his interpretation of biblical teachings about death and the afterlife.

Warfel's position forms part of a broader argument in his book, UFOs and God: Revealing Deception and Truth Behind the Supernatural, Invisible War. He contends that UFO encounters involve fallen supernatural powers rather than extraterrestrial beings. The book connects this argument to Ephesians 6:12, a biblical passage concerning spiritual forces.

His claims address two subjects that continue to attract public interest: alleged encounters with ghosts and questions about unidentified flying objects. However, his explanation is a theological interpretation, not an independently established account of either phenomenon.

For Christians, the question also raises a distinction between what Scripture explicitly states and how different traditions interpret particular passages. Warfel maintains that the dead do not remain on Earth waiting to move into an afterlife. He argues that apparent encounters with deceased people can instead be understood as spiritual deception.

The details of Warfel's position were reported by The Christian Post on Friday, 9 October 2026, in an interview by reporter Ian M. Giatti. The report also examined Warfel's interpretation of the biblical account of King Saul and the medium at Endor, alongside polling on American beliefs about paranormal phenomena.

Why Derrick Warfel Says Ghosts Are Demons in Disguise

Warfel argues that biblical teaching does not support the idea that deceased people wander among the living. He told The Christian Post that ghosts are 'deceiving evil spirits or demons', rather than human spirits unable to reach Heaven or Hell.

He refers to Luke 16 when explaining his understanding of the afterlife. In his interpretation, the passage supports a distinction between the destinations of the righteous and unrighteous dead. He also refers to Revelation 20 when discussing judgement and the lake of fire.

Warfel believes that alleged ghost encounters involve evil spirits impersonating deceased people to mislead the living. He connects this interpretation to biblical prohibitions against consulting mediums and attempting to communicate with the dead.

His argument also draws on 1 Samuel 28, which recounts King Saul's encounter with a medium at Endor. Facing the Philistines and receiving no answer from God, Saul seeks the help of a medium to summon the prophet Samuel.

The biblical account describes a figure identified as Samuel appearing and delivering a warning to Saul. The message predicts defeat and the deaths of Saul and his sons, with the subsequent battle described in 1 Samuel 31.

Warfel interprets the encounter as an exceptional event in which God allowed Saul to speak with the real Samuel. He believes the medium's reaction indicates that the appearance was unexpected, rather than the result she anticipated from her usual spiritual practices.

Christians interpret this passage in different ways, including disagreements about the identity of the figure who appeared. The account therefore provides context for Warfel's argument but does not establish a universally accepted Christian interpretation of ghosts.

Warfel's broader message is that people should seek God rather than attempt to contact the dead. His conclusions reflect his understanding of Scripture, while other believers may reach different conclusions about the passage and its implications.

What Gallup Found About American Beliefs in Ghosts

The debate takes place against a backdrop of varied American attitudes towards paranormal phenomena. A Gallup report published on 23 July 2025 found that 39% of US adults believed in ghosts, while 42% said they did not. The remaining 19% were unsure.

Gallup conducted the survey from 1–18 May 2025. Its broader analysis classified 34% of Americans as generally open to paranormal concepts and 66% as generally sceptical. These categories covered several beliefs, rather than ghosts alone.

The poll also identified differences according to religious attendance. People who attended religious services once a month or less were more likely to be generally open to paranormal beliefs than weekly attendees. The respective figures were 40% and 22%.

These findings describe patterns in public opinion, not proof for or against supernatural explanations. They also do not establish that church attendance determines an individual's views about ghosts.

Warfel's position differs from that of people who interpret alleged encounters as contact with deceased relatives. Rather than denying that people report such experiences, he offers a different spiritual explanation for them.

His argument ultimately rests on how he reads biblical passages about death, judgement and communication with the dead. For readers interested in Christian perspectives on the paranormal, that distinction is central to understanding his position.