NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

        Much has been said in the last 30-40 years about the near death experience – NDE. Specifically it means to actually DIE then come back and tell the story. People have a bad sickness or an accident or total heart failure, then lose consciousness in coma etc, then go out of body and look on as doctors, medics, nurses etc. frantically try to revive the patient. From this point they usually mention going thru a long tunnel towards a bright light, etc, etc. Great peace and love are mentioned along with meeting long gone family members, angels, a beautiful blissful environment, etc. Then they reluctantly return to their bodies & recover. One PHD Raymond Moody, “Life After Life” 1975 had a lot to say on this subject. I recently read Eben Alexander’s “Proof of Heaven” 2012 - and this guy is a brain surgeon.
         Doctor Alexander was amazed that his consciousness could leave his dying body. Most medical folks believe the billions of brain cells working together generate what we know as consciousness & soul. They have a problem with the Biblical concept of a soul being independent of the body & mind. And this doctor waxed quite religious in his out of body state. He writes in his chapter 14, “The (false) suspicion that we can somehow be separated from God is the root of every form of anxiety in the universe, and the cure for it . . . was the knowledge that nothing can tear us from God, ever.” Really now, does he believe ALL are saved & on their way to glory where Charles Manson & Adolf Hitler will stroll along arm in arm with Billy Graham & Mother Theresa??
       Right there is the problem with the stories of NDE’s or out of body experiences. These writers are typically NOT theologians but dance all over Divine material & try their best to define it. They go for the gifts of God, but deny His revealed character & policies in the Scriptures.  Now I appreciate their supposed experiences, as long as they agree with established Bible truth which has been revealed to mankind and recorded since Abraham & Moses, Exodus 24:4. But these “Johnny come lately” amazing stories have a STRONG New Age flavor which can be VERY misleading. People should realize that in this last days world we live in, our adversary & his army of demon spirits have power & are desperate to deceive people on the subject of divine salvation. Specifically the one-way system the Biblical God has established at great cost – blood salvation thru His son Jesus Christ, John 3:16. New Age and its NDE stories don’t recognize the sin problem (or consequences), and suggest we can walk right into heaven as we are.
      To be rational on the subject of NDE we should open God's Book and read it. There are frequent accounts of dealing with the living God, along with an out of body experience (1 Samuel 28:11-15), visions of heaven, the SIN problem, God’s answer for that, and LOTS of other penetrating truths on various subjects. Why put a lot of stock (and confidence) in a NEW approach? Especially when it almost always contradicts that Old Standard – the Bible.  And to BALANCE the NDE supposed pictures of heaven, see Maurice Rawlings "Beyond Death's Door" 1978.  This guy was a cardiologist, and brought some of his patients back who were falling into hell.
      I believe people have a basic DECISION to make.  1) Go for the “of late” answers to ultimate questions & take their chances. - or   2) Go for the ancient & proven path,  “Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16   Paul the Apostle (who had an interesting NDE in Acts 9) said this “I delivered to you as of first importance . . . that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures . . .” 1 Corinthians 15:3. Then Jesus (who had a total death experience and came back to discuss it) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me”. John 14:6   In over 45 years of study on the subject, I conclude the Old Way is the right way, and the only way that is safe.  Choose Jesus, He is Alive. See also “New Age” link 56.

Other Interesting Titles:  www.gospelnotes.org                                                    * * F. J. Stone * * 
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