The Japanese have long been ancestor worshippers. The practice is perhaps stronger and more alive than Buddhism is with the people. As a result, Ghost stories and belief in ghosts is incorporated into Japanese lore, movies, theatre, and literature. With this in mind, it has been reported by the press that survivors of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami are being haunted by strange visitations and in some cases being overcome and possessed by spirits.

The current sightings and phenomena are not necessarily deceased relatives or the familiar ghosts from popular lore. The ghosts are those of people lost in the tsunami flood under some violence. They tend to show up uninvited and dripping wet or dismembered at people’s homes, or in taxicabs, at burial sites, or anywhere in the vicinity of the destroyed coastal towns. These manifestations have greatly disturbed the locals and have driven some people to a total breakdown, or to sleeplessness or possession by the spirits.

Buddhist priests and others have been performing exorcisms on those afflicted. In some of the more dramatic cases, the spirits that are expelled by prayers or ceremony seem to depart from the afflicted, only to resurface somewhere else or come upon the afflicted again later. Even with the strong belief in ghosts, it is most unusual, for this kind of spiritual activity to be so concentrated and active in one area of the world. It could almost be likened to the density of ghostly activity portrayed in the Ghostbusters movies, except it is no laughing matter.

The culture of belief in ghosts, is well entrenched in Japan. They have a long list of ghosts that have distinct personalities and powers, not unlike a system of mythical gods. As previously mentioned, it is strongly tied to the ancestral worship belief system. These practices may even be more deeply entrenched than Buddhism, the mainstream religion of Japan and much of the far east.

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:12

How do we explain the prevalence of demonic activity in such a concentrated area? Assuming one does believe in Satan and his minions, it is foretold in the book of Revelation that he will be hard at work in the last days, knowing his time is very short. A place like Japan will serve Satan’s purposes very well. The people of Japan do not have a history or foundation of serving the God of Abraham. However, the foundation of many of their beliefs come from the ancient worship founded by Nimrod. That is to say they incorporated Astrology, spirit worship and the family trinity of Ancient Babylon to form the current belief system. These elements coupled with a blend of Buddhism rounds out their religious experience along with the addition of the worship of dead ancestors and praying to them. This system takes God completely out of the mix.

National Public Radio did a report on the ghoulish phenomenon. In the piece the reporter stated that as an ex-pat who has lived in Japan for several years, he finds the Japanese among the least religious nations in the world. If he means religious towards God, I could agree, but in terms of having a religion, they most certainly do and this current situation is proof that they believe in the religion of worshipping the dead, with a “ghostly” fear, as opposed to a “Godly fear” spoken of in the scriptures. This sets the people up to be haunted by all kinds of spirits, including demons from the pits of Hell.

You may be wondering if there is any reality to the ghostly manifestations, apart from the imagination of the people? There is an account in the Old Testament where King Saul asks a witch to conjure up the ghost of Samuel, the dead priest, when he was in need of counsel.

“Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
   And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
   And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
   And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
   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 deceived 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 is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
   And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
   Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
   And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
   Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
   Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Sam. 28:7-19

Based on this passage, I would venture that it is possible to wake the spirit of the dead, or some spirit imitating a deceased human, but it is ill advised to trouble such waters. Those who spiritualists and fortune tellers who are involved in such matters are consorting with actual spirits that ought not to be trusted and they surely do not know their origin. Even more concerning, is that the practice is declared to be witchcraft, which is an abomination to the Lord so it is neither holy nor Godly and would put one in opposition to God.

However, it seems in the case of the current reports from Japan, these are uninvited visitations and are being used to provoke fear and mental illness or even total madness. Jesus spoke about the last days in which men’s hearts would fail them for fear.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and the moon, and the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
  Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25-26

As one who might believe in the Living God and Jesus Christ, why should one be concerned with this unusual phenomena? It is one more sign to point the believer to comprehend that these are the last days and it is time to get our spiritual house in order. These spiritual manifestations are going to get more common and will become even more terrifying and dangerous. We are told in the last days it will be as dark and evil as the days of Noah and will be fraught with seducing spirits. They will become more perverse, mocking God ever more boldly and openly. The power they have over godless men will be to drive them to do violence on themselves and others, and even to the taking of lives as the spirits gain power on the Earth. These things were prophesied and it is time to gird up spiritually and draw close to Jesus that you might be able to withstand what is coming, until Jesus’ returns for his bride.

“For as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
   Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Lk. 21:35-36