Can a Person Have a Near-Death Experience?

You are here

Can a Person Have a Near-Death Experience?

Login or Create an Account

With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later!

Sign In | Sign Up

×
Downloads
MP4 Video - 1080p (177.68 MB)
MP4 Video - 720p (63.06 MB)
MP3 Audio (1.36 MB)

Downloads

Can a Person Have a Near-Death Experience?

MP4 Video - 1080p (177.68 MB)
MP4 Video - 720p (63.06 MB)
MP3 Audio (1.36 MB)
×

What does the Bible really say about what happens after death?

Transcript

[Darris McNeely] Here on Beyond Today, we deal with the issues about life. And we deal with the truth of the Scriptures. Often we get questions about after-death experiences, near-death experiences. Do people come back actually from the dead and – back to the land of the living, physically, and then tell and relate accurate stories of what they see? What about all of this? We’ve actually done a Beyond Today program on near-death experiences, but it warrants just a quick, brief discussion about it because we find that a lot of people really do not understand what the Bible says about death, and when we take that biblical definition, then it helps us to understand the answer and come to some – a reasonable, logical, biblical solution for that question, and an answer to that question.

The Bible does record instances where people were dead, and they were brought back to a physical life. Elijah the prophet did that in his ministry. Jesus Christ Himself raised individuals, notably Lazarus, back from the dead. Of course Christ Himself was resurrected after three days and three nights in the grave. But those were back to physical life experiences when people lived out their normal life and they did not come back. There’s no record in the Bible of them having experiences of things beyond life at this particular point.

Now, with all the accounts that people have, and the extreme interest in what happens at death, and again, people recounting that they see lights, they see loved ones or they hear voices, or they have this interesting experience, and then they are drug back into the land of the living – it raises the question, it raises a lot of issues that do need answers. But if you look at what the Bible says, and take its definition of death, then that is extremely helpful. Let me give you two scriptures. Psalm 6:5 – it says that “in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave who shall give You thanks?” as the psalmist is writing about God. Again, Ecclesiastes 9:5 and in Ecclesiastes 9:10, it says, “The living know they shall die, but the dead know not anything.” The dead know nothing. “Neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.” Again, Ecclesiastes 9:5, and the previous scripture was Psalm 6:5.

So if we accept the Bible’s description of death, we realize that those who do return to consciousness are not – or maybe medically revived and later relate their experiences -- weren’t really dead in the true sense, because the brain, the heart, requires oxygen. It requires blood to be flowing to it in order for them to function and to meet the requirements of life. And when those are removed, then there is death. And there is no consciousness beyond that. Science knows a great deal about life, and yet there are even aspects about life today and the human body that science is still investigating and still learning.

How much more, or how much less, I should say, really, do we really understand about death and when that moment takes place? There’s still a lot to learn about life. If we take what the Bible says, then it allows us the ability to have truth and understanding, and we don’t have to speculate about all of this other – these other near-death experiences.

And so, when you know the truth, the truth can set us free, and free from a lot of fear or doubt when it comes to this issue of what happens at death, and helps us to understand the critical issues about life.

That’s BT Daily. Join us next time.

Comments

  • Benstr
    So in watching many NDE's stories on YouTube. Several people have been declared clinically dead. So dead for 40 minutes, other longer. Dead long enough, with 'no oxygen, no blood flow, etc' no way they can come back. But later to find they suddenly come back to us. Is it not possible for these people's spirit to have gone somewhere, later to be sent back to their bodies? It is possible right? It's been medically documented people on operating tables -- left their bodies in the spirit, watched what went on the operating table, been to another location in the hospital. later returning to their bodies. This is possible right? Is God showing us in these last days, God is spirit. we are made in His image. therefore we are spirit. Let me show ya via NDE testimonies.
  • shaun johnson
    With what is on offer on the other side, why would we want to come back to this life? I never got to know either of my grandfather's but I have lots of questions I would love to ask them concerning the times they lived in. So combined with that opportunity plus the very special opportunity of being with the most gracious lord, I tell you , I would not come back.☺
  • craigm
    I'm interested to hear an elaboration of this topic. When people _do_ have these experiences, how can they be best explained in light of Biblical revelation? E.g. could they be dreams/hallucinations, God-given visions, or maybe the influence of malevolent spirits? For example, I've heard stories of people who had a "near-death experience" in which they heard the voice of God telling them they needed to stop sinning and turn their lives towards God—which would seem well explained as a God-given vision, and plausible in light of scriptures which show God has sometimes given visions to people to fulfil His purpose (2 Corinthians 12:1-4; Daniel 4).
  • Kevin Greer
    Hey there craigm, It's hard to make a general statement about something that is so personal & often varies greatly from case-to-case. We can spend great amounts of time speculating as to just what these events are. We do have a concrete biblical understanding, however, as Mr. McNeely shared, of what they are not. It is true based on the biblical record that God uses dreams and visions to influence people, and certainly God wants people to repent (2 Pet. 3:9). I think it's important, regarding any sort of speculation that you or I might come up with, to not elevate those speculations to the level of the Scriptures; this is a pitfall many people stumble into and it produces confusion. In all of this, we should seek to compare any "new message" that someone claims to have to what God's Word says about that subject (consider Deut. 13:1-5). God says that all of His Word is available for our correction and reproof (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Luke 4:4). UCG.org has resources on topics relating to life & death that can assist with these types of studies. In short, stick to what you know to be true - the Word of God - and, while it may be interesting, don't stress to much about what we don't know.
  • Join the conversation!

    Log in or register to post comments