Astral projection is an interpretation of out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of an "astral body" separate from the physical body and capable of traveling outside it. Wikipedia
Is astral projection travelling in the Spirit… and is a mature Christian suppose to be able to do it?
Now first off… the question is not if the name astral projection is correct… I think it is safe to say that someone from the new age or something came up with that name. And that that person wish to call himself god…blah, blah, blah. I ain’t interested in that.
I merely use the name for identification purposes, so that everybody knows or understands what I am talking about being that your spirit leaves your body and travels a distance.
So let’s start the journey:
In the OT we find Elisha displaying something similar: Please feel free to read the entire passage if you do not know the story. J
2Ki 5:15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
2Ki 5:16 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
2Ki 5:17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
2Ki 5:18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
2Ki 5:19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
2Ki 5:20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
2Ki 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
2Ki 5:22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
2Ki 5:23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
2Ki 5:24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
2Ki 5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
2Ki 5:26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
2Ki 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Granted Elisha gave very little explanation as to what he meant by his words, and based upon this alone it would not have peaked my interest. But let’s take a look in the NT. Take a look at what Paul wrote:
1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
This much more clearer, but showing exactly what Elisha did and Paul doing the same. Judging someone from a distance as if being with the person as he is with him in spirit but absent in body.
In another place Paul writes this:
2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
such an one caught up to the third heaven. 2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Why would Paul, knowing full well since he was a Pharisee (professor of the law) all the sins , make mention of whether in or out of the body if one of them could be a sin. For he knew sin cannot exist in the presence of God. So obviously he granted both to be without sin, yet he did not know which one of the two took place.
Yet in another place the following is written:
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
If therefore he meant by walk, did he mean we should travel in the spirit. And experience the spiritual as if it were part of our daily lives.
OT reference:
2Ki 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
2Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
The young man Elisha’s servant was afraid for he couldn’t see the angels. But Elisha saw them and therefore were without fear. And as an aid to the young man he prayed that his eyes should be opened. Logically his spiritual eyes.
Now if we take the following verse we can see even this make more sense…
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
For if eye look with my physical eyes only… all I perceive is the physical. How then can I distinguish between good and evil?
But this goes even deeper than that. Look what Jesus said:
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
And then the following would make sense:
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
He said seek first the Kingdom of God. Not last. Not after all your life’s journeys are complete. Seek it first so all the things you need may be added on to you. Meaning that which you truly need you will find by entering into the Kingdom of God in spirit…
So one can think that the apostle John, might shed some light on this and he does…
But I got to warn you… this is where it gets scary for most people…
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
So if I understand this correctly… to see into the Kingdom of God…. One must be born of Spirit.
To enter (moving) into the Kingdom of God…. One must be spirit.
Well that makes sense, especially if you read verse 6.
So now I can already hear many say, but we are born of God, for we have the Holy Spirit.
My answer and question is simply this… if one is truly born of God (Holy Spirit) should one not be able to see and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven by one’s spirit as it is written.
