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What does the Bible say about dying, seeing heaven and returning to life?

My husband believes that there are truly some people who have died, seen Heaven , spoken with God and then returned to earth.  I tell him the bible says it is not possible, but can not find the support.

Clarify Share Report Asked February 24 2014 Mini Annette Beane Supporter

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Seth3 Seth Freeman Supporter
At the very least you're right in that you can't find support to disprove near death experiences (NDE) in Scripture. But then again, you won't find anything I would consider as evidence to support a NDE. 

The way I see it then is we are left with two options when it pertains to people who experience an NDE. 

1) It was a hallucination caused by the brain.
2) It was a legitimate experience 
2a) Legitimate and from God
2b) Legitimate and a trick from the Enemy

I think those are our only options, and discerning between the two can be a tricky thing. The only way that I know of is to look at the details of the NDE and see if the details line up with what Scripture teaches in relation to the current state of Heaven, the nature of hell, as well as the character of God. 

For example, many people are under the false belief that Satan and his demons somehow are in charge of hell. This is absolutely not the case. Satan doesn't have a throne in hell where he and his demons terrorize and torture people who have died. Satan is not in hell right now. Satan does not want to be in hell right now. And when Christ returns He is going to throw hell, Satan, the other fallen angels, and all the lost into the Lake of Fire where they will all be having a terrible time. 

Thus, from the outset, any and all of the NDEs where the person experienced a hell type place with demons torturing them we can know with certainty was not a legitimate experience. Please notice I say "legitimate" and not "real". It was probably very real to the person who experiences it. But, the NDE was either a result of their brain, or if it was legitimate, it was a trick of the enemy, and not from God.

Likewise, I question many heavenly NDEs because I think that is a great opportunity for either people to give themselves a false sense of security where there actually is none, or for the enemy to do the same. Remember, Satan is out to keep people from Christ. I don't think he cares whether you're an atheist, a Muslim, or a person who thinks they are "good" and will go to heaven because of that. Satan's methods will look different for different people. We need to be aware of that. 

So there you have it, I just took a really long time to say that we can't know for certain whether or not NDEs are real or not. At best, we can try to discern the truth from the actual experience itself.

February 25 2014 2 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini James Kraft Supporter 74 year old retired pipeline worker
Many have asked me about this when I had a sudden death cardiac arrest. My heart did not function on its own for 15 minutes, but a Dr. was there to administer CPR until the EMT's got there to get my heart started again. When they hit me with the defrilator it restarted my heart.

If I had an out of body experience I know nothing about it. I did not remember anything until I was in the hospital and my wife asked me if I knew where I was and why I was there. So I can only say what happened to me. I am pretty sure my soul stayed with my body and though I was out, I was still alive. 

It did make me realize that death is just like going to sleep. My father passed in his sleep with out any struggle. For the christian God has taken the sting out of death. Our hope is in heaven and not here on earth. We are just pilgrams away from home. 

We don't die. We just pass from death unto life. One thing I am sure of. The Lord decided when we were going to be born, and He will decide when we die. We have no control over either one.

June 29 2015 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Aija Brauvere Supporter
First of all “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). 

Many people deceive themselves by believing in any thought what come in their minds. Satan is doing his job excellently. But always understand and know, “be sober – minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But “give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27) to deceive yourself. Man can not die, go to heaven and come back. Than He has to die more as once but God said that man will die only once. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). That is way we must spend time in prayer and ask God enlighten our eyes of heart may we can see the truth fully.

“The dead don't know anything” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). “The dead do not praise God” (Psalms 115:17), and “the body returns to dust and the spirit returns to God” (Ecclesiastes 12:7), and “when the breath returns to God, the thoughts perish” (Psalms 146:3-4). 

The same way as Satan deceived Eve saying “You won’t die” (Genesis 3:3-4) the same way he is deceiving many people also now. He is the father of lies (John 8:44). The truth is said in Hebrews 9:27. 

Jesus promised the Advocate, the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things. If we search the truth and rely on Him fully than God through Jesus Christ by His Spirit power undeceives our strayed away minds and lets us know the truth that man is destined to die once. No man can come back neither from heaven or hell. 

”But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). 

2 Samuel 12:23; Isaiah 38:18; John 8:32.

February 25 2014 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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