Almost all people who have lived through a Near Death Experience (NDE) report participating in a particular series of events. While the details of each case vary among individuals, they generally begin with a feeling of separation of the consciousness (soul) fromthephysical body, followed by the soul “hovering over” the scene. Thisisfollowedbytravelingthrough a tunnel while moving toward a great light. Then comes a joyful gatheringwithdeceasedfriendsand relatives. After that, most NDErs report meeting Jesus or God while undergoing a “life review.” After the review, it is understood that they are not yet in heaven proper, but stand at a boundary that prevents them from proceeding further. Finally, a decision is made to return to Earth and their resuscitated physical body. But this is where it really gets interesting. Christians claim that, according to the Bible, all these experiences should come as no surprise. In fact, the events observed during NDEs affirm what the Bible has long said about what happens to us when we die.
This week, we continue to look at the apparent close corroboration between NDEs and what the Bible has to say about the celestial gathering of loved ones that many NDErs report. For example, researcher John Burke reports on the otherworldly experience of Don Piper. Immediately after a horrific auto accident, Don found himself (that is, his consciousness) separated from his physical body, standing in heaven, as a large crowd of people approached him. Of this crowd, Don said, “I knew instantly that all of them had died during my lifetime. . .. I knew they were my welcoming committee. . .. The first person I saw was Joe Kulbeth, my grandfather. He looked exactly as I remembered him. . .. He stopped momentarily and stood in front of me. A grin covered his face. . . His eyes lit up, and he held out his arms as he took the last steps toward me. He embraced me, holding me tightly. He was once again the robust, strong grandfather I had remembered as a child. . . Never had I felt more love.” Over and over again Scripture speaks of the saints who lived to the ripeness of old age, and then they passed from this world, and they were “gathered to their people.” Abraham (Gen 25:8), Isaac (Gen 35:29), and Jacob (Gen 49:33), each lived to the fullness of old age and then they died, and Scripture says they were “gathered to their people.” Aaron (Num 20:24) and Moses (Num 27:13)—these two brothers—each died in their own time and in their own place and the Bible says they were “gathered to their people.”
The gathering of people is one of the central teachings of the Bible, with both the Old and New Testaments foretelling a great future gathering, taught even by Jesus Himself. On the night of His arrest, the Bible says that Jesus prayed to the Father on behalf of all people who would come to believe in Him that they may be “perfectly one” not only in God the Father and Jesus the Son, but also united in one another—Jesus prays, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one so the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you love me. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of theworld”(John17:23-24).Nowthis is quite remarkable. Jesus wants all believers to be “with Him where He is to see His glory.” If Jesus is now in heaven, and His prayer is that all believers someday be where He now is, then it sounds like there is a multitude that are spiritually “gathered to their people,” in the presence of Jesus, gazing upon His glory. Once again, it turns out this is exactly what the majority of the 25 million people who have had a NDE report having seen as part of their experience—a great gathering of those whom they have loved and lost. This phenomenon is all the more interesting in light of evidence which suggests that in dreams and hallucinations, people claim to see recently encountered living people, not those who have long since died. Simply stated, they are not dreaming! It would seem the evidence continues to point to a corroboration between what is experienced by people during NDEs, and what the Bible affirms will happen to us when we die. In fact, NDErs report that 95 percent of the people they encounter in their heavenly experience are those who had already died and were now “gathered” to their people once again.
Nevertheless, and as wonderful as these reunions with loved ones may be, there can be nothing quite like seeing the bright and resplendent glory of Jesus firsthand, can there? Join us again next week as we continue to look at how the evidence from NDEs corroborates the Bible. Until then, ask your soul, Is God dead?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Ty B. Kerley, DMin., is an ordained minister who teaches Christian apologetics, and relief preaches in Southern Oklahoma. Dr. Kerley and his wife Vicki are members of the Waurika church of Christ, and live in Ardmore. You can contact him at: dr.kerley@isGoddead.com.