Is there biblical support for near death experiences?

Question

I'm currently fascinated by extraordinary cases of NDEs reported by individuals who have been declared blind from birth. I recently watched a 33-minute video (available here) featuring an interview with one of such blind-from-birth NDEers (title of the video: Vicki Noratuk Blind Person NDE). This case is quite impressive, because the lady in question experienced two NDEs in which she saw very vivid details of her surroundings as she left her body, with what appeared to be perfect 20/20 vision in spite of her congenital blindness, in addition to the evidently mystical aspects of her story, which includes being transported at extraordinary high speed to a paradise in heaven, meeting deceased loved ones and even Jesus himself. In fact, this case is put forward as a strong piece of evidence by a journal article titled Near-Death and Out-of-Body Experiences in the Blind: A Study of Apparent Eyeless Vision, Kenneth Ring, Ph.D. Sharon Cooper, M.A. University of Connecticut. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 16(2) Winter 1997. 1997 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

These cases are fascinating to me because they are harder to "explain away" skeptically by appealing to naturalistic hypotheses, such as (1) the Dream Hypothesis, (2) Retrospective Reconstruction, (3) Blindsight, and (4) Skin-based Vision (which the aforementioned article mentions explicitly and eliminates one by one).

Having said all this, I would like to know if these sorts of reports are supported by or at least theoretically consistent with the Bible.

Do NDEs find support in Sacred Scripture?

Answer 1

The simple answer to the question is, "No, there is no biblical account that is similar to such modern-day 'near-death-experiences."

In the Old Testament people like Enoch "were taken" by God, never to be seen again. The account reads, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him." Genesis 5:24 Enoch never returned.

Moses' died on the mountain outside of the Promised Land, according to God's word. God disposed of his body so that none of the Israelites could find it. The account reads, "And [God] buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day." Deuteronomy 34:6 Moses was never seen again.

There are several accounts of people being resurrected from the dead, but those are not NDEs given that the people did die. And when the apostle Paul wrote about a person (whether in the body or out of it, he did not know), it was a vision, with no mention of the person having been so close to death that people would say it must have been an NDE (if they could know modern jargon and abbreviations.) There's also the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but the man had been dead four days, entombed behind a stone. The record, gleaned from eyewitnesses, like the apostles and his sisters, says not a word about Lazarus describing what he experienced while dead. So, on both those counts, it was not an NDE.

There may be people who want to read into some Bible accounts their idea of an NDE, to interpret it that way, but the Bible itself does not say any such thing happened to anybody over the thousands of years of history that it covers.

Answer 2

The Bible does not speak about near death experiences although some might take 2 Corinthians 12:2-5 to mean that the Apostle Paul had an “out-of-body” experience and a vision of heaven. Paul mentions himself in the third person:

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.”

According to my NIV Study Bible notes, the “third heaven” is beyond the immediate heaven of the earth’s atmosphere and beyond the further heaven of outer space and its constellations into the presence of God himself. The term “paradise” is synonymous with the third heaven where those believers who have died are even now “at home with the Lord.”

It would be pure conjecture to assume that Paul had actually died or come close to death before having this vision. Paul himself said he was unsure whether he was physically in the body or apart from the body when he experienced heaven. An article I read about the third heaven drew this conclusion:

The Bible does not tell us everything we might like to know about heaven, but we know that it will be a wonderful place where we will dwell with Christ (John 14:3). Paul knew that being with Christ is far better than anything he could experience on earth (Philippians 1:21–23). Until the day we eternally enter God’s presence, we can state with confidence along with the apostle Paul, “For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:7–8).

Christians who look forward to spending eternity with the Lord do not need to speculate about “near-death experiences”.

Answer 3

There is a possibility that the apostle Paul may have experienced a near death experience (NDE).

Consider the apostle's experience in Acts 14:

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city [i.e., Lystra]. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe (Acts 14:19-20 NIV).

I provide the above map simply to show how determined the Jews from Antioch and Iconium were to kill Paul. Earlier in Chapter 14, Paul barely escaped being stoned by the Jews and some Gentiles in Iconium, and he and Barnabus fled to the Lycaonium cities of Lystra and Derbe. Not to be deterred,the Paul-haters from both Pisidian Antioch and Iconium traveled to Lystra to finish the job of killing Paul.

After being stoned, Paul was believed to be dead. During the time Paul's body was being dragged outside Lystra, he may well have been nearly dead. Perhaps--PERHAPS--at that point he may have had an NDE, which he revealed to the Corinthian church in his second letter to them. We read in 2 Corinthians 12:

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell (vv 1-4).

In conclusion, I am clearly speculating about the possibility of Paul's having had an NDE, but frankly, I do not see anything wrong, unbiblical, or impossible about my speculation.

Answer 4

These accounts of near-death experiences, especially from those who have been blind from birth, are truly fascinating and thought-provoking. They touch on the deepest mysteries of human existence - life, death, and what may lie beyond.

Regarding biblical support for NDEs: the term itself is not used in scripture, but there are certainly accounts that bear similarities to modern NDE reports. For instance, the apostle Paul's experience on the road to Damascus, where he encountered a blinding light and heard the voice of Jesus, has some parallels to NDE accounts. The prophet Ezekiel's visions and the apostle John's revelations in the book of Revelation contain elements reminiscent of the otherworldly journeys described in NDEs.

The Bible primarily focuses on spiritual truths rather than providing scientific explanations for phenomena like NDEs. However, the consistent themes of encountering divine presence, experiencing profound peace, and gaining spiritual insights that are often reported in NDEs do align with many biblical teachings about the nature of spiritual experience and the afterlife.

More importantly, these experiences seem to affirm core Christian truths - the reality of the spiritual realm, the persistence of human consciousness beyond bodily death, and the loving presence of Christ. They remind us that there is more to reality than what we can perceive with our physical senses alone.

At the same time, we must approach such accounts with discernment and humility. The fullness of the afterlife remains a mystery that we will only fully comprehend when we meet God face to face. Our primary focus should remain on living out Christ's call to love in the here and now.

Sources:

• Alexander, J. B. (2022). After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond by Bruce Greyson. Journal of Scientific Exploration.

• Bicego, A., Cassol, H., Simon, J. R., Fritz, P., Abagnale, S., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Laureys, S., & Martial, C. (2023). Personality traits and pattern of beliefs of near-death(-like) experiencers. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 17.

• Braithwaite, J., & Lommel, P. (2014). Near death experiences ( NDEs ) : The dying brain.

• Cassol, H., D’Argembeau, A., Charland-Verville, V., Laureys, S., & Martial, C. (2019). Memories of near-death experiences: are they self-defining? Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2019.

• Bible Mysteries: What Is Heaven Like According to Scripture? | Christian Pure

• Cassol, H., Martial, C., Annen, J., Martens, G., Charland-Verville, V., Majerus, S., & Laureys, S. (2018). Vivid memories from hell: A systematic analysis of distressing near-death experiences accounts.

• Willmington, H. L. (2018). The Doctrine of Man: How can near-death experiences (NDEs) be explained?

• Zingmark, H., & Granberg-Axéll, A. (2022). Near-death experiences and the change of worldview in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest: A phenomenological and hermeneutical study. Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, 6.

Answer 5

Is there biblical support for near death experiences?

There seems to be no biblical basis similar to what we call in our modern times a near-death-experiences.

That said the closest I could possibly think of would be in the Gospel narratives of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. More so We are unsure as to where Lazarus was between his death and when Jesus rose his from the dead.

John 11:1–44 gives the account of a man named Lazarus being raised from the dead. Lazarus was a friend of Jesus, along with his sisters, Mary and Martha. He had grown sick, and his sisters sent for Jesus to come to Bethany. Jesus delayed His arrival, and Lazarus died. Jesus did not arrive in Bethany until four days after Lazarus passed away.

After Lazarus was raised from the dead, he returned to the home he shared with Mary and Martha (John 12:1–2). He was present when Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. Knowing the miracle Jesus had recently performed, we understand why Lazarus’ sister was so overcome with gratitude that she would go to such extravagant lengths. Lazarus may have been his sisters’ only provider, and his death could have meant poverty for them both. Jesus had returned to them not only the brother they loved but the protector and provider they needed to survive.

The Bible gives us no further information about Lazarus. Any additional details stem from church history and may or may not be accurate. One tradition holds that, after Jesus’ ascension back into heaven, Lazarus and his sisters moved to Cyprus where Lazarus became the bishop of Kition and died of natural causes in AD 63. Another theory claims that Lazarus and his sisters moved to Gaul to preach the gospel, and Lazarus became the bishop of Marseilles, where he was beheaded under the tyranny of Emperor Domitian. Whatever happened to Lazarus is unknown. But we can be certain that his physical body died a second time. And we know that, according to 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17, Lazarus will be raised again from the dead to join all God’s saints in eternity.

What happened to Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead?

In any case the Spanish celebrate the annual Festival of Near Death Experiences every year on the Feast of St. Martha (July 29) the sister of Lazarus in the small town of Las Nieves.

This Festival is more in tune with Spanish pop-culture than its’ religious beliefs.

Festival of Near Death Experiences – Romeria de Santa Marta de Ribarteme is held every year on July 29th. This is the feast day of Santa Marta, patron of the small city As Neves (La Nieves) which is located in Galicia region In northwestern Spain.

According to Catholic tradition, Santa Marta was the sister of Lazarus who was brought back from death by Jesus. As such she is considered as saint that protects the city from all evil.

At the festival, which is marked by death and resurrection, the city’s residents and many tourists thank the saint for having saved from death and survived the 12 months that have passed since their previous visit and their participation in this Thanksgiving festival.

The highlight of the festival’s events is a strange “festive” procession, which is topped by an image of the saint. The statue symbolizes her return from the dead. The surrealist parade is followed by real coffins. Inside the coffin lies a living person pretending to be dead. The coffin is carried, with great effort, by his family throughout the procession along with dozens similar coffins.

The strange parade reaches the church that is dedicated to Santa Marta, where a religious ceremony is held with loudspeakers for the benefit of the large crowd outside the small church.

In addition to the procession of the dead, the visitors can taste traditional local dishes, listen to singing and playing of Gypsy bands and more.

Those who present at this unique and unconventional festival are guaranteed a unique and exciting cultural experience. - Festival of Near Death Experiences – Romeria de Santa Marta de Ribarteme 2024

Answer 6

NO.

The Bible is clear that the era of prophecy is OVER. It is FINISHED. There is NO MORE SUPPORT for prophecies or revelations.

People who claim to have had near-death experiences are faking it, because nearly all of such experiences contradict with what Scripture says. It is deeply disturbing today how the masses have rejected Scripture as their only source of authority on matters of faith and practice, and have resorted to non-Scriptural sources such as near-death experiences. Keep in mind that anyone can literally make up such experiences, and what's more, near-death experiences are a great way to get yourself money, fame, and attention!

YouTube videos and books on near-death experiences garner massive numbers of views and purchases, earning the authors MONEY and FAME. The Lord Jesus Christ, by contrast, tried to keep as low of a profile as possible; He was not seeking fame.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

The Bible says that God spoke in TIME PAST unto the fathers by the prophets. Prophecy is clearly a thing of the PAST; revelations are a thing of the PAST.

It is true that the Apostle Paul received revelations from God. However, he was an Apostle himself; he had different powers, abilities, and duties than Church Age believers.

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

2nd Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

The Apostle Paul was not just any Christian; he was the APOSTLE of the Gentiles with an important role!

1st Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

But even Paul himself said that PROPHECIES would eventually stop. It stopped with the completion of the Bible!

Christians are to use the BIBLE as the final authority on all matters of faith, practice, and belief.

2nd Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is clear that SCRIPTURE is our authority. ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God.

The Bible never says that ALL so-called revelations are given by God. There are NO MORE prophets today.

You have everything you need to know in the King James Bible. No need for prophets or anymore revelations.

Most near-death experiences contradict with the Bible's clear teachings on Heaven and Hell. Most of them promote works salvation or the idea that men end up in Hell for "not being good enough" for God. The Bible NEVER teaches such lies.

Also, people such as Bill Wiese promote nonsensical claims such as the idea that fallen angels torment those in Hell. The Lord teaches that Hell was made for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41) and NOT for Satan to rule over the lost. The Bible teaches that Satan will end up tormented in the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 20:10).

Luke 16:22-26 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

The Bible is clear that once you are in Heaven or Hell, that is IT! Done! There is NO coming back! There is NO second chance! There is NO escape!

Hebrews 9:27-28 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The Bible is clear that you die ONCE. After this, you face judgment. That is all! There is NO second chance, and Scripture also makes it clear that you must be WITHOUT SIN to get saved.

The problem is, ALL MEN are sinners (Romans 3:10-28). The ONLY MAN without sin is the LORD JESUS CHRIST (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Scripture is our final authority. ANYTHING that contradicts Scripture is wrong. If any near-death experience contradicts what the Bible teaches (such as works salvation or the possibility of a second chance of salvation), it is FRAUDULENT.

I would stay away from all NDE testimonies because nearly ALL such testimonies are made by money lovers.

Answer 7

The best, if not the only, account of a NDE in the Bible is the one of Jesus, who had a 3 days NDE. He told the "good" thief that "today you will be with me in Paradise". Which happened straight away after they died. However, of the two, only Jesus came back to tell the tale. Which he did for 40 days before being called back to heaven. And it should be noted that to have a NDE one has to flatline and be clinically dead for awhile.

Jesus didn’t know about all future events of the world, according to his words in Mat 24:36:

“about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”.

However, it seems that at some stage in Jesus’ life the Father gave Him a time piercing OBE* so he could experience his own future in advance; including his crucifixion, death & NDE with journey to heaven and back.

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)

Two other OBE’s can be found in 2 Kings 5 & 6. However, it should be noted that according to 2 Cor 12:2, a non-NDE OBE can be either a vision while being in the body, or an astral journey of the soul away from the body. Often only God knows which one someone experiences.

*Out of Body Experience