AFTER-DEATH EXPERIENCES:
DOES THE BIBLE VALIDATE THEM?

     Miraculous displays are becoming more and more prevalent in our society. Some of them are severely testing our faith in the Bible as our standard for heaven-led truth and to identify the wiles of the devil. It is our only standard against ignorance to keep us from becoming ensnared in the many traps of sin that disqualify the soul from everlasting life.

     Question: Is there a single example of any after-death experience recorded in the Holy Bible? Of the many people the Bible lists who were brought back to life from the dead, from the son of the Shunammite woman through the prayer of Elisha the prophet (II Ki.4:32-37) and the damsel that Jesus raised from the dead (Mk.5:41,42), to Jesus’ close friend, Lazarus who was dead and buried for four days (Jn.11:41-45) and Dorcas, who, through the prayer of Peter was restored to life (Acts 9:40), there is not a single example where anyone came back from the dead and testified of seeing angels, deceased loved ones or tormented souls in hellfire. In fact, there is not a single verse in the Bible where after one’s death a conscious life continues on.

     Here’s an example of just what it is that we’re up against. When Satan tempted Jesus during His forty day fast “the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.” Matt.4:8.

     Little discussed in the church is just what took place in this third and final temptation of Satan to get Jesus to sin against GOD the Father. Please note: Jesus was taken off in vision by Satan himself, to be shown “the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.” This was simply Satan superimposing the images from his own mind into the optic nerve of the Saviour. Although this was a most powerful display of miraculous power the Saviour rebutted it because it stood outside the auspices of the Word of GOD, “for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matt.4:10. In this invaluable lesson we learn how Satan imposes the scenes he creates in his own mind into the minds of his chosen victims. And those who do not have the protection of GOD are his special targets to use at his will and do his bidding. The moral of this lesson is that to step away from the authority of Scripture is to make one vulnerable to his sophistry.

     So, in conclusion to this introduction to our study, every after-death experience stands defiant to Scripture and all who receive these manifestations are victims of Satan who uses his mental powers to deceive Bible illiterate souls to their ruin. Even little Catholic girls have been taken off in vision by Satan's impersonation of the virgin Mary. These are well documented.

     There are many things going on in religious circles today where there is a strange silence on the part of the church. And where these miraculous displays are chronicled and even publicized such as Sid Roth’s “It’s Supernatural,” they never seem to be questioned whether or not GOD is the source and/or even Bible compliant. Among them includes visions given to popes and many others—Catholics and Protestants alike, while many others who stand outside the profession of faith receive after-death experiences. In light of these displays of paranormal power we are wise to take heed to the counsel of Scripture concerning the legitimacy of these testimonies, whether they are of GOD or of Satan. The Apostle John warned: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I Jn.4:1. We are to “try the spirits” from the only Source that is safe for us to place our implicit faith: “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” I Tim.3:15. The Scriptures were Christ’s standard against ignorance. How much more should they be ours as well?

     With this in mind I must share a testimony that has recently come to my little hollow where I live in the lovely hills of Tennessee. I’ve heard many testimonies like the one I’m about to share, and I always turn to the Bible to verify or disqualify its legitimacy, as when the Bereans tested the Gospel message of the Apostle Paul: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11. With these displays becoming more numerous and influential in the church and the world they are reaching the point where Christ said, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt.24:24.

     My brother-in-law who lives next-door just received a visit from his electrician who had wired his home a few years ago. He came telling a fantastic story of how during his surgery he died for 46 seconds. But in this short span of time he received a vision that to him lasted over two hours. He was taken up to heaven and met the Father whose voice was tender and sweet. He also met Jesus whose voice was thunderous, shaking everything. He also met his deceased family members. And the glory of the whole place was beyond description. He also met people there who had not yet gained everlasting life, but through good works of interceding for others, eternal life in heaven would be granted to them. Angels then escorted him down to hell where Satan rules and torments by fire all those who have refused the love of Jesus Christ. Then, being taken back to heaven he was told, “Go, and share with others what you have seen.” The doctors then revived him and his surgery was over.

     This man is now a devout Christian, and goes everywhere sharing his testimony. In the garb of “an angel of light” Satan imitates the Christian faith, even evangelizing souls to become members of the church. Example: When the Apostle Paul was preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles he had to deal with an evil spirit that was professing the Christian faith as the one true religion. “A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” Acts 16:16-18.

     Satan, whose range of power is underestimated: from his ability to create and heal disease [when it serves his purpose (Job 2:7; Lu.13:16; Jn.5:1-4)] to creating natural disasters and sending fire down from the sky to destroy life and property (Job 1:16,18,19; Rev.13:13). Paul said of Satan, “we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Cor.2:11). But with the churches believing many miracles are from GOD, when the Scriptures expose them as evil manifestations to deceive, it is obvious that the churches are quite “ignorant of his devices.” A false confidence rules in the church just as when Eve thought it safe to judge things on her own apart from Adam’s counsel.

     Said Christ of today’s “lukewarm” church: men who in their pride worship their own religion above the GOD of heaven: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth [Your self-righteousness makes Me nauseous to the point of throwing up]. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Rev.3:15-17. To be lukewarm is to be self-righteous (Isa.65:2-7). To be self-righteous is to work against humility. To work against humility is to refuse repentance. To refuse repentance is to reject salvation. To reject salvation is to condone the murder of GOD on the Cross. At the end of time GOD the Father will ask every fallen angel and sinning man, “What did you do to My Son?” Men have always and will always follow a miracle as the leading of GOD, regardless of its source and regardless of its destination to which it leads.

     Numerous stories gain the headlines in both religious and secular society dealing with after-death experiences, visions and paranormal powers. Even television has come on board with ghost hunters, etc. These forms of entertainment of a spiritual nature are on the rise today and becoming more and more prominent. While the atheist scoffs at these testimonies, those who have personally experienced them will never be persuaded to deny what they saw and heard with their own eyes and ears. The question is: Who is the source of these manifestations? It is either GOD or Satan! And there is no neutral ground. Once again, the waymarks of Scripture alone can safely guide us through the thickets of deception.

     Every man and woman, whether Christian or agnostic needs to get a handle on this wave of paranormal exhibitions because what we see today in terms of the many displays of paranormal powers, from Sylvia Browne’s proven fortune telling counsels to Benny Hinn’s “slain in the spirit” altar calls need to be taken to the Scriptures to verify whether these things are ordained of GOD. The prophet Isaiah gave clear instruction on this: “To the law [the Ten Commandments] and to the testimony [the Holy Bible]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa.8:20. And Jesus said to His disciples: “But take ye heed: Behold, I have foretold you all things.” Mk.13:23. In these words, Jesus refers to all the counsel in the Scriptures. And then there is the Grand Prayer of Jesus just before His crucifixion, where He pleaded with His Father to educate and mold the hearts of His followers through Scripture’s lessons on the truths of salvation: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Jn.17:17.

     Now, we have to bring this to our day and see the steps that are being taken by Satan to consolidate the false beliefs of men in the church who have taken the liberty to side-step the Scriptures to follow miracles and traditions of sin going all the way back to the tower of Babel (Gen.11). The church and the world today are being backed into a corner via the wicked rulers of this world in which Satan is setting up his grand finale to ensnare the whole world into standing with him in universal sin against GOD’S Holy Law [the very Law that condemns him (Eze.28:16)]. What will judge every man will also judge Satan and his evil angels as well. And the best resource to understand what we are facing today is found in the lessons of history recounted in the Bible.

     There is one historical event that matches perfectly what stands on the horizon of our day: the fall and destruction of Judah. As the land of Judah was facing its destruction due to the sins of the priests and the people who refused to repent, Satan was herding the masses into his corral for the great slaughter. He used dreams and visions to deceive the leaders and the common man, reinforcing their faith to have false expectations. Of this time, “the LORD” warned the people through His prophet Jeremiah saying:

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” “The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” “I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.” “For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.” Jer.5:31; 14:14; 23:25; 29:9.

     False expectations in both salvation and the future events is the great snare of Satan who has "beguiled" the church into denying Christ via sidestepping His Word, just as he "beguiled" our Premier Mother Eve to believe his first lie, "Ye shall not surely die," when the LORD'S warning was perfectly clear: "for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen.2:17).

     What is imperative for every man, woman and child to understand is that Jesus boldly declared the Holy Bible will judge every man who has ever lived: “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” Jn.12:47-49.

     There are several verses of Scripture encouraging us to place our implicit trust in the Word of GOD as our only safety. They cover the lessons of history and how they apply to our day as Paul said: “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” I Cor.10:11. The knowledge of the Bible is our best guide to make wise decisions in everyday life as Jesus said: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matt.5:24,25. And the Bible delineates every criteria for the blessings of GOD as well as the snares of Satan: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” Jn.14:21.

     The Scriptures conclude that this world with its ruling religions will always reject the plain “Thus saith the LORD.” But to the Bible believing Christian, over and above all miraculous displays the Word of GOD must reign supreme. So we must settle in our minds and hearts that whatever may befall us, if we are faithful to the Word of GOD unto the end, we “shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Ja.1:12.

     Until then, we have to deal with the reality of how all testimonies that stand defiant to Scripture, whether of moral, doctrinal or of miraculous nature, their source is “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” II Thess.2:9-12. The converse of these words also hold true: Those who have a deep love For GOD’S truth, “as the truth is in Jesus” will not be damned “but have everlasting life.”

“Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Rev.1:5-7; 3:11.