Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)
Part 2
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:…
Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) (emphasis mine)
The above Bible verse pertains to all believers in Christ Jesus, affirming the notion that death occurs only once. Following this, individuals are subject to judgment based on our earthly actions. Ecclesiastes 12:14 states, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (KJV). Through an analysis of relevant biblical verses, it becomes evident that death occurs only once. Consequently, judgment is also a singular event. In my extensive research, I have not encountered any accounts from individuals who claim to have experienced a visit to heaven or hell and subsequently returned to life, in which they reported an experience of the judgment seat of Christ. From my inquiries, NDE proponents will explain a glorious heaven or a treacherous hell however, I have not seen or heard these supporters describe any judgment by God. Although such an occurrence may be reported, my investigations have not revealed any documented instances. Regardless of any judgments, if cited, near-death experiences are not possible.
Jesus Christ endured suffering and death on the cross, serving as the ultimate sacrifice for human sins. Notably, there was a period of three hours during which darkness enveloped the earth as Jesus bore the weight of mankind’s sins. 1 Peter 2:24 asserts, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (KJV). Furthermore, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 reads, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:…”(KJV). This verse signifies the second coming of Christ, upon which believers will be taken to heaven, beginning with those who have already passed away. These scriptural references do not include any mention of individuals dying, ascending to heaven, and subsequently returning to earth. If an individual asserts that they have died and subsequently come back to life, it is important to examine the implications of the phrase “the dead in Christ will rise first.” This notion of NDEs indicates that people who claim a return from heaven or hell would be categorized within this group which is impossible. Consequently, these claims are false teachings and misleading ideologies. The Bible clearly states that Jesus Christ is the only person who died and was resurrected from the dead and then walked the earth.
I firmly adhere to the belief in the infallible word of God. Consequently, if near-death experiences (NDEs) were valid, one would expect to find references to them within biblical texts. However, there is no scriptural documentation that supports the accounts of individuals who have undergone NDEs. Matthew 7:15 reads, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (KJV).
In 2018, a pastor participated in a national television interview claiming to have died in a car accident. Notably, the interview included a promotion for his book. Throughout the dialogue, the pastor failed to specify that the accident occurred in 1989. He attempted to quote biblical verses without providing specific references. These inconsistencies raised concerns regarding the veracity of his account. I conducted further research and discovered that two distinct books recounting the same narrative exist under different titles, affirming my suspicions about the adaptation of an old story for commercial gain. It is worth noting that this book was previously a New York Times bestseller and sold millions of copies, despite it being false doctrine.
An examination of NDEs also necessitates a discussion on brain function and brain death. From a scientific perspective, the brain regulates all bodily functions but does not control oxygen or glucose levels. In instances of cardiac arrest, brain activity ceases within approximately six minutes due to a lack of oxygen. At this point, recovery becomes increasingly unlikely. The human heart may intermittently stop and restart during the natural dying process, leading to a flatline (asystole), characterized by no electrical activity in the heart muscle. The longest documented duration for a heart to stop and later restart autonomously is four minutes and twenty seconds. What implications does this data carry? It suggests that individuals who are clinically declared brain dead may sustain life through artificial means but remain in a state with no hope of recovery. I hold the belief that such individuals may enter heaven if they are saved through Jesus Christ. Even in the absence of brain activity and despite the improbability of returning to a conscious state, I believe their spirit must go somewhere since there is a loss of brain activity. This is unlike those in comatose conditions who are simply unconscious and have the probability of waking up.
While I do not claim to possess medical expertise, I reference scripture on this matter, as I am confident in God’s omniscience. Legally, a physician officially declares a person’s time of death. Death is when the brain and brain stem have irreversibly lost all neurological functions. At this point, the physical body remains, but cognitive functions are nonexistent.
As articulated by my pastor, Rick Dobbins, 2 Corinthians 5:8 reads, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (KJV). He has also preached about Luke 16:26 which states, “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (KJV).
The biblical account in Luke 16:26 presents a profound narrative involving the beggar Lazarus and a wealthy man. The wealthy individual led an opulent life on earth, enjoying considerable wealth, status, and the finest luxuries available. In contrast, Lazarus lived in poverty, begging for sustenance on the streets while dogs licked his sores (Luke 16:21b).
Upon their deaths, the fates of the two men diverged significantly. Lazarus was taken to heaven by angels, while the wealthy man found himself buried and enduring torment in Hades (Luke 16:22-23). In his anguish, the rich man was able to observe Lazarus in the company of Abraham and, desperate for relief, implored Abraham to send Lazarus to offer him even a drop of water to cool his tongue.
Abraham responded that a “great gulf” exists between heaven and hell, making it impossible for one to cross from one realm to the other. He emphasized that those in eternal torment cannot return to earth or access heaven. Therefore, NDEs are impossible. Individuals who assert that they have experienced visits to heaven or hell have likely undergone vivid dreaming, episodes of syncope, or the effects of strong anesthesia. Certain medications can cause hallucinogenic effects; therefore, it is very important to recognize reality versus an altered experience.
My next point of discussion is to differentiate between human claims of near-death experiences and supernatural encounters. There are no scriptural references in the Bible that suggest humans can travel to and from heaven or hell. In contrast, the Bible does provide accounts of angels, the devil, and demons traversing these realms. It is noteworthy that the Bible does not contain any documentation of NDEs experienced among humans. It is acknowledged in the Old Testament and New Testament that, as opposed to humans, the devil and his demons are allowed to roam the earth as a consequence of human sin. This concept is further supported by the scriptural referenced below:
Job 2:2 (KJV) – And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Luke 8:30 (KJV) – And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
The Bible also references angels visiting the earth, again as opposed to humans, and communicating with certain individuals. Read the scripture verses below for confirmation:
Genesis 16:7-8 (KJV) – And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
Acts 10:3 (KJV) – He saw a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
Angels even ministered to Jesus when he prayed on the Mount of Olives:
Luke 22:43 (KJV) – And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Angels ministered to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and gave him strength after He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot:
Matthew 4:11 (KJV) – Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Although the nuances of this topic may be intricate, the process of death itself is straightforward from a biblical perspective: one is either deceased or alive, with no intermediary state. Ultimately, concerning God’s judgment, there is a clear dichotomy—one either ascends to heaven or descends to hell, devoid of any intermediate gray areas. As mentioned before in this blog, individuals are judged by God once rather than twice (reread Hebrews 9:27-28). The existence of near-death experiences would imply a second judgment which is not supported in biblical teachings.
Thank you for engaging with this comprehensive blog. It is my hope that the content has clarified numerous inquiries regarding near-death experiences (NDEs). In part 3, we will examine various biblical figures who, while not facing death, encountered profound instances of divine intervention and did not return to the earthly realm.
Love and Blessings,
Annah
Contributing advisor: Pastor Rick Dobbins, Calvary Baptist Church, Trumann, Arkansas
References on brain and neurological functions, Johns Hopkins Medicine (see link below)
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/the-challenges-of-defining-and-diagnosing-brain-death#:~:text=Brain%20death%3A%20Irreversible%20cessation%20of,severe%20illness%20or%20brain%20injury.
Some words are italicized to show emphasis of a word or subject.
Some words are capitalized to show emphasis of one true deity.