SUBJECT:  Death --- Near Death Syndrome

QUESTIONS:  What is Near Death Syndrome?  Do people really float above the deathbed and see themselves dying?  Were these people really dead?  Is God involved in anyway?  Does the Bible have anything to say about this near death syndrome?

ANSWER:

What some have experienced is what science and the medical industry is calling "near death experience” or “syndrome.”  Thousands apparently have experienced it.  Some of the accounts are more detailed than others.  Some say they saw relatives in heaven, or Christ or God.  After many studies and interviews the two common experiences to all were:

1] They saw a light.
2] They were at absolute peace.

The Bible does not have a, "thus saith the Lord" on the subject but there are biblical principles that would lead us to a definite conclusion.  We know from experience and the Bible that:

1] All humans die [Hebrews 9:27].
2] Many in history have died from terror-filled and/or very painful means.
3] The mind is shutoff at death.  The Bible says there is no thought in the grave [Ecclesiastes 9:10].  Death for the dead person only lasts a second, regardless of how long they are dead in the grave.

4] There is a resurrection [1 Corinthians 15].
5] God is not the author of confusion [1 Corinthians 14:33].

Since a great number of people have entered the death process and been brought back [they didn't die] the only conclusion is that the "white light" process is automatic.  Our conclusions are that a merciful God would set just this sort of process into the human mind and body.

Clearly no one has actually gone to heaven as the Bible clearly states that none [save Christ] has ever gone there [John 3:13].

The Bible speaks of three resurrections [first, second and third].  Most of the humans who have ever lived will be brought up in the second resurrection just after the 1,000-year reign of Christ.  We are talking about nearly 100 Billion people.  Without some sort of process to have them come up at peace, we would have these billions coming up with the last thought, sight or experience they had at the moment of death.  That would be total chaos and confusion and since God is the author of the resurrection, He would never allow such confusion and chaos.  The resurrection will be extremely peaceful and in order.

God is not the author of confusion.  Notice...

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Hebrews 13:20
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Romans 15:33
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

God is a God of peace and is not the author of confusion.  Now imagine, for a moment, all the billons who have died most horrible deaths from the sword (warfare) and from horrible diseases and famines.  Imagine the horror that was going through people's minds at the moment of death.  Now the Bible states that there is no thought in the grave and that in the next moment of consciousness is the resurrection.  So, we are given the idea that one moment you are alive, you die and one second later, as far as you (the one dying) are concerned, you are brought back to life.  Now imagine that last second or moment of life being in severe horror and/or fear of the impending death by torture, war, horrible disease or famine.  Would it not be logical that in that next second of life they would still have that horror in mind?

The question is this:  What does God do with or to the mind, such that we wake up in the resurrection without that last living thought of pain, horror or fear?  I suppose He could just erase that aspect out somehow.  I would not have a problem believing this.  However, in an attempt to speculate about this thing we call near death syndrome, it seems as if it could be a built in design of God to put the person at absolute peace in preparation for a future resurrection.  This is especially important when we have billions rise up in the Second Resurrection.  We cannot have billions of people awakening with screams and terror and shock.  I would gather, based on scripture, that this will be a peaceful and joyous occasion.

If my speculation is correct, I believe that this mental process takes place instantly, even if death is instantaneous.

Clearly this subject is not a salvation-related subject.  The Bible is primarily a book about personal salvation and not a book that explains how God does every little thing.  We know there is death.  We know there is a resurrection.  We know that God is not the author of confusion, so we can conclude that God, who does everything perfectly, has taken care of this aspect of death.

As to some of the outlandish stories of people going to places or seeing people, I give neither credence nor real comment.  They often (if not always) fail to fit with what we do know about God, His Plan, death, the grave and the resurrection.  There could be all kinds of reasons for such reports, including it being a lie, hoax or misunderstanding of what they experienced.  It could be a dream they had after the near death syndrome

As to the specific question of a person looking down on their deathbed:  It may or not be a part of the process of being put at peace, that you somehow are given the confirmation that you are, in fact, dying.  This would save a lot of questions about "what happened" and "where am I" in the resurrection.

As to the specific question of whether the person was really dead:  I am going to say no.  I understand being clinically dead, but that is a human definition and designation.  Near death syndrome is, by definition, not death, as the person did not complete the death process.  A person is really dead when all life processes cease and they are in the grave and/or have no possibility or expectation of those life processes returning to that body.  This is a safe definition of death for most practical and logical conversations and debate.

 
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