If you knew for certain that you were going to relocate to a new home and would be there for eternity, there would certainly be an interest in finding out everything about what it will be like from those who have already “seen” it. This would be especially true given the potential for either good or terrible neighbors. Of course, the challenge is whether you can trust their description. That is the basis for an interest in exploring the visions of those who suggest they have seen beyond the grave in the form of near-death experiences, or NDEs.

Webster defines NDEs as “an occurrence in which a person comes very close to dying and has memories of a spiritual experience (such as meeting dead friends and family members or seeing a white light) during the time when death was near.”

In 2023, Pew Research did a survey and found that 80 percent of Americans believe that there is a spiritual realm. In 2019, the “European Academy of Neurology [surveyed] 1,034 people across thirty-five countries, showing that one out of ten people had undergone a near-death experience—and 73 percent of them rated it as having been ‘unpleasant.'”

The Bible is less clear about these visions. One verse that some use as theological evidence is Paul’s commentary …

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. - 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

However, it is not at all clear that Paul was near death when the Lord offered this insight into Heaven. The apostle also said that much of what he saw “cannot be told,” implying that humans shouldn’t know the details of what lies beyond death.

Further, Scripture does warn us that trying to extract information on the other side of the grave is dangerous and discouraged.

There shall not be found among you ... who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. Deuteronomy 18:10b-11

The Bible actually offers very little insight into Heaven other than to say that it is beyond our imagination (1 Corinthians 2:9). A description of Hell is much more detailed throughout the New Testament (Revelation 14:11, 20:10, 20:15, 21:8, Matthew 13:50, 25:41). So, as we consider near-death testimonies, it is important to carefully filter these visions through the lens of what we have been told through Scripture, especially given that …

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. - 2 Corinthians 11:14

Finally, we should not immediately reject NDEs as fake or satanic since God can certainly choose to offer insight into the spiritual realm if He so chooses. Further, there are many examples of the Lord using visions as a form of evangelism down through history in places where Bibles are not available and Christianity is still in its formative stages, often under fear of persecution. The Bible is full of those who received visions from God, such as Ezekiel, Daniel, Peter, and Paul.

Near-Death Experiences—Background

Psychiatrist Raymond Moody popularized the term “near-death experience” in the 1970s through his research of over 150 case studies.

There are a number of common traits associated with POSITIVE NDEs, including:

• Feelings of detachment from the body and levitation,
• Seeing and being draw to a bright light,
• Having a guide, often a passed family member,
• A tunnel experience,
• Feelings of peace, serenity, warmth, and joy,
• Experiencing a life review leading to major changes in beliefs and attitudes.

Conclusion

Of course, some NDEs are fake. One contemporary example was the book The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven, which was later determined to be a fake. On the other hand, books such as “Piper (90 Minutes in Heaven), Burpo (Heaven Is for Real), and Wiese (23 Minutes in Hell)” lend credibility to the experience. One of the best books on the subject is Lee Strobel’s Seeing the Supernatural.

In part two of this series on Near-Death Experiences, we will explore some examples as well as evidence that supports supernatural claims.

It is important for Biblical Christians to maintain an open mind while filtering these testimonies through God’s Word.

But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. - 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22