Apparition (ἐπιφανεία, 2 Maccabees 5:4; ἴνδαλμα,
Wisd. 17:3; φάντασμα, Wisd. 17:15 [14]), the sudden appearance of a "ghost" or the spirit of a departed person (comp. Lu 24:37), or some other preternatural object. SEE SPECTRE. The belief in such occurrences has always been prevalent in the East; and among the modern Mohammedans the existence and manifestation of efreets is held an undoubted reality (Lane's Mod. Eg. 1, 344). SEE SUPERSTITION. Such a belief, however, has no sanction in the canonical Scriptures beyond the doubtful case of Saul (1Sa 28:14). SEE WITCHCRAFT. The visits of Christ to his disciples after his resurrection come under altogether a different category. SEE APPEARANCE.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More