NEAR DEATH THEOLOGY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES Heaven Is

NEAR DEATH THEOLOGY

NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES • “Heaven Is For Real” – book now movie • Millions of other experiences

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? • Nothing directly • However, if NDE’s are accurate, then we are wrong • Actually, if NDE’s are accurate, everyone is wrong

RESURRECTIONS IN THE BIBLE • Not near death, but established death events • Saints at Jesus’ death (Mt. 27: 52 -53) – already in tombs • Widow’s son (Lk. 7: 11 -17) – at a funeral procession • Jairus’ daughter (Lk. 8: 49 -56) – laughable to think she wasn’t dead • Lazarus (John 11) – didn’t want to open the tomb because of the stench (dead 4 days) • Tabitha (Acts 9: 36 -42) – dead long enough to go between villages

EXPERIENCE OR RESURRECTION? Which mattered most? • We never see the resurrected speaking about their death experience nor was that message what impressed others

EXPERIENCE OR RESURRECTION? Which mattered most? • Mt. 27: 52 -53 – they appeared • Lk. 7: 15 -16 – they feared because of a great prophet • Lk. 8: 56 – amazed at the resurrection • John 11: 45 – Saw what he had done…believed in Him (John 12: 10 -11, 17) • Acts 9: 42 – same as Acts 9: 32 -35

Is a Near Death Experience any different than a proclaimed vision or dream from God?

THE DANGER OF DREAMS/VISIONS/EXPERIENCES 1. Colossians 2: 18 – and people will take a stand on them because they are convinced 2. Contradictory visions / messages 3. Ezekiel 13: 3 -9 – there are fakers, and they will act convinced too 4. Dreams from God often required an interpreter to correctly understand

SHOULD WE BE DISTURBED BECAUSE WE CAN’T EXPLAIN THEIR SOURCE? • Deuteronomy 13: 1 -3 • Matthew 24: 24 • II Thessalonians 2: 9 -11

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH NDE’S • Unverifiable • Almost always about heaven – Mt. 7: 13 -14 • They take away from God’s word (Gal. 1: 8 -9)