Spiritual Warfare – the Last Enemy part 4

We continue our discussion of the fact of death and the Bible’s developing revelation about it, with a look at the 10 accounts of people raised from the dead, the instances of people being seen after their death and what the Bible says about contacting the dead. With all that in mind, we are finally able to consider what the Biblical position would be relative to accounts of near-death experiences, such as have become popular in recent years.

People in the Bible who were raised from the dead

1. The son of the widow of Zarephath, raised by Elijah (1 Kin. 17:22-23)
2. The son of the Shunammite woman , raised by Elisha (2 Kin. 4:32-37)
3. The son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14-15)
4. Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:51-56)
5. Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:38-44)
6. Dorcas, raised by Peter (Acts 9:40-41)
7. Paul, stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19-20)
8. Eutychus (Acts 20:9-10)
9. Old Testament saints at the time of Jesus’ death (Matt. 27:51-53) (why some and not others? What happened to them? Reference to Ezek. 37)
10. Jesus Himself (all 4 Gospels!)

All but Jesus were resuscitations as they will all have died again – they were still mortal! (with the possible exception of the OT saints raised at the time of Jesus’ death – we’re not told what happened to them)

People in the Bible who were seen after their death

People in the Bible who were seen or heard from after their death

• Samuel 1 Sam. 28 – NB v. 19 ‘will be with me’, not ‘will be dead’
• Elijah 2 Chron. 21:12–15
• Moses and Elijah Luke 9:28-36
• Jesus! All 4 Gospels Luke 24:36-43 re a physical body; John 20:19-20, 26-29

People in the Bible who had ‘out of body’ experiences

• Ezekiel Ezek. 1, 2, 10
• Daniel Dan. 10
• Paul 2 Cor. 12:1-6
• John Rev. 4:1; 21:10

NB None of those who were raised, or who were transported to heaven, communicated anything about it except:

• Paul – not ‘lawful’ to repeat what he had seen and heard (2 Cor. 12:1-5)
• John, Daniel and Ezekiel – who were having Scripture revealed to them, and even then there were things they either couldn’t, or were told not to, describe.
• Jesus – Acts 1:3 as proof of His resurrection and commissioning the Apostles

Contrasting with people today speaking and writing (and making money!) about their experiences

What does the Bible say about contact with those who have died

Deut 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord

Not only is necromancy evil, it is forbidden. Playing with things of the occult like Ouija boards is very dangerous and Christians should have no part of it. Let’s say you try to contact dead family members you are not speaking with them. You are speaking with demons and you will indeed open your body up to them. All it takes is one time.

1.  Leviticus 20:5-7 I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek. I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people. Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.

2. Deuteronomy 18:10-14 Don’t sacrifice your sons or daughters in the fires on your altars. Don’t try to learn what will happen in the future by talking to a fortune-teller or by going to a magician, a witch, or a sorcerer. Don’t let anyone try to put magic spells on other people. Don’t let any of your people become a medium or a wizard. And no one should try to talk with someone who has died. The Lord hates anyone who does these things. And because these other nations do these terrible things, the Lord your God will force them out of the land as you enter it. You must be faithful to the Lord your God, never doing anything he considers wrong. “You will force the other nations out of your land. They listen to people who use magic and try to tell the future. But the Lord your God will not let you do these things.

3. Leviticus 19:31 Don’t turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the LORD your God.

Isaiah 8:19-20 Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark

1 Samuel 28:8-11 Saul visits the Witch of Endor. 1 Chronicles 10:12-14 Saul’s death is said to be because he did so. See also 1 John 4:1; 2 Cor. 11:14; Jer. 27:9-10

Resuscitated vs. Resurrected

Being resuscitated is different to being resurrected. Clinical death is measured by man’s invented instruments.  Since God is the giver of life, only He can know with 100% certainty the exact moment when a life ends.  This would explain many “returns” as resuscitations from inactivity of the heart (a flatlined state of the body), not a resurrection from the dead (a regeneration to life – which, biblically, involves a new body).

Are accounts of near death experiences compatible with the Bible,

No one can know for certain what happens in near-death experiences, but we do know what happens in death:

Heb 9:27  …it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

We should be very cautious when reading or watching accounts of near-death experiences.  Never form your understanding of Heaven based upon such books and movies.  Only Scripture provides a true and trustworthy revelation of what Heaven is like and who will be there.  The Bible might not tell us everything that we want to know about Heaven, but we can be assured that it does tell us everything that we need to know about Heaven—with great accuracy.

A common aspect of NDEs is a brilliant light: is this satan appearing as an angel of light? What is reported from these NDEs does NOT tally with what the Bible says about death and life after it. They also all have common features which would mean that there is no need for the Gospel of salvation through Christ – everyone goes to a place of peace and love, and vibrant colours and smells, regardless of their position re salvation. This contradicts Scripture and gives people false hope.

Some report meeting people, such as relatives. Since God has forbidden contact with those who have died, we cannot accept that He would then give people experiences which contradict His own injunctions. As with mediums and clairvoyants, these must be demonic impersonations.

Our position must be “Let God be true and every man a liar” and “Every Word of God is true”! So near death experiences, whether recounted in a Christian book (and there are several of them), or in a scientific study, can be used as part of the enemy’s tactic to blind the minds of those who don’t believe. The bottom line is that, if these experiences do not tally with what the Bible says, then they are not from God.