“His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; on that very day his thoughts perish.”Psalm 146:4

“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they no longer have any share in what is done under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave”Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10

Those who have died cannot help us, and they cannot harm us. It is common for people to perform rituals and sacrifices that they believe will please those who have died. This is displeasing to God because it is based on one of Satan’s lies. It cannot please the dead either, since they are lifeless. We should not fear or worship the dead. We should worship only God.—Matthew 4:10.

Is “the eternal fire” Jesus warned of literal or symbolic? Note that “the eternal fire” mentioned by Jesus and recorded at Matthew 25:41 was prepared “for the devil and his angels.” Do you think that literal fire can burn spirit creatures? Or was Jesus using the term “fire” symbolically? Certainly “the sheep” and “the goats” mentioned in the same discourse are not literal; they are word pictures that represent two types of people. (Matthew 25:32, 33) The eternal fire that Jesus spoke of completely burns up the wicked in a figurative sense. Jesus never taught that humans have an immortal soul. However, he often did teach about the resurrection of the dead. (Luke 14:13, 14; John 5:25-29; 11:25) Why would Jesus say that the dead would be resurrected if he believed that their souls had not died?

The idea that we do not die is a lie spread by Satan the Devil. Satan and his demons make people think that spirits of the dead are alive and cause sickness and other problems. Satan deceives people, at times through dreams and visions. Jehovah God condemns those who try to talk to the dead.

“There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, 11 anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable practices Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you.” —Deuteronomy 18:10-12. (NWT)

God does not want us to try to communicate with the dead.

What about the angels?

Angels are spirit persons

The Bible says that angels “are greater in strength and power” than humans. (2 Peter 2:‌11) Angels live in the invisible spirit realm with God, so the Bible sometimes refers to them as spirits.‌—1 Kings 22:21.

The Hebrew and Greek words translated “angel” literally mean “messenger.” Angels convey God’s messages. Let’s examine an account that shows this.

The Bible says regarding the angels: “Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for he commanded, and they were created.” (Psalm 148:2, 5) According to this verse, are angels humans who have gone to heaven? The angels are a unique creation of God. They are not humans who have died and been raised to life in heaven.

Angels were created with personalities, divine qualities, and free will. Hence, like humans, they can choose to do right or wrong. Sadly, some angels chose to rebel against God.​—Jude 6