Near Death experiences, are they real?

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)

"27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: "

The statistics for death are "one out of one dies." unless you are a true Believer, then death is just "a change of address."
However, we do quite often hear of people who have apparently died and been brought back to life having a memory of visiting or seeing a place they describe as heaven.
A classic description is that they are outside of their body looking down and then travel through space and see or meet various people.
Today there are a number of research groups or associations researching this situation. But there is one major difference between a normal and final death and these experiences, no one has comeback from a final death to tell us of their experience.

What is significant about a Near-Death Experience?

One scientific description of a "Near Death experiences" is that "a person experiences a major psychological experience when they are close to death or, if not close to death in a considerable physical or emotional strain." This definition can therefore include transcendental situations.

What do people report that they experienced?

The people who have reported experiencing "a near death experience,"

• They experience of floating upwards from their body and viewing the scene around their "dead" body.
• Seeing a bright light when you look down a tunnel or though a dark space.
• They arriving at a beautiful, none worldly area.
• They were meeting angels, and/or God or Jesus.
• Meeting loved ones or friends already dead.
• Seeing a record of their past life.
• Some experience a feeling of peace and love, though some have reported experiencing demonic scenes.
• Reaching a point, where once passed, there was no return.
• Being called back to their body.

It becomes obvious that anyone going through this experience would probably have a different attitude to their life. Any one who has been close to death by accident or an health issue without these experiences would realized how short life was and probably examine their life’s attitude.

There have been many books which record peoples experience or try to explain what was happening. Some recorded stories have since been proved false or lies.

Why are people so interested in these experiences?

We know that mankind is always trying to find out the future, is it that God has implanted an interest in our hearts for the future of a person. God has provided a very large collection of information about the future of Mankind, especially what the future is for those who believe in Him and those who have rejected Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (KJV)

"11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. "

The Bible gives a warning about peoples reports.
1 John 4:1-3 (KJV)

"1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

What does the Bible tell us about "Near Death Experiences?"

We know that God has given many visions, prophecies of the future to His servants, for example Daniel and John the disciple. The vision given to John, as recorded in Revelation, gave a very detailed vision of the future, but neither Daniel or John were experiencing a near death situation at the time of the vision.

How can we judge whether a persons "Near Death Experience" is real.

Certain drugs have been known to have an affect upon the brains operation and have often generated an apparent out-of-body experience.

The scripture is certain on one point, Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)

"27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: "

The Bible does record a few people who died and were brought back to life and so were subject to two deaths. Miracles do happen but they are very unusual and often occurred for a special reason, in addition there is no report by those involved in having a "Near Death Experience" and able to report what heaven is like.
For Mankind we die once following a short period of life then face eternity somewhere.

The point about a "Near Death Experience" is that it is not a complete death then the person coming back to life sometime later, the person is still apparently alive.

The book of Revelation, as given to John in a vision contains a very definite revelation of what will happen to every person on their death, whether Christian or non-Christian, it also contains a possible blessing and a warning of anyone who tries to change the record in any way.
Revelation 1:1-3 (KJV)

"1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. "

Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV)

"18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. "

Everyone who records having a "Near Death Experience" is dangerously close to violating the warnings given in Revelation 22. It is very serious and dangerous if the reports claim that they were given instruction by the "Jesus or God" figures which were different to the words of Jesus. I must point out that meeting a pure and Holy God by a sinful human would be completely wrong, God cannot relate to or tolerate sin.
John 1:18 (KJV)

"18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. "

We have to Question the identity of the "Being" involved in a "Near Death Experience"

Those who had a "Near Death Experience" often report a figure of light, they claim that this figure is Jesus. However, this figure regularly gives them teaching which is very different given in the Word of God,such as:
"There is no such place as hell."
"Sins are not a problem." "All people will eventually reach heaven and be welcomed there."
"There is no special religion, all are the same."

These statements totally contradict the teaching of the Word of God and the teaching of Jesus.
Hebrews 13:8-9 (KJV)

"8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."

Jesus does not change, neither does His teaching, this "Jesus" they are meeting must be an antichrist, a counterfeit Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 (KJV)

"1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. "

Satan is a lier, if he can deceive anyone by using a disguise, a fake Jesus, then that is one more soul to him. The problem is that we seek what we want to find and ignore the truth.

Please note that many of the experiences reported by those who are involved in the occult have great similarity to those recorded by a "Near Death Experience"

The final point concerning "Near Death Experience" is that there are no records in the Bible of a person approaching death and then recovering. God has occasionally raised someone from true death in the past, none of them had a "Near Death Experience" reported. The stoning of Stephen is the closest to a "Near Death Experience" but his vision was before he was stoned and he did not come back to life again afterwards, he died, not nearly died..
Acts 7:54-58 (KJV)

"54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul."