A near-death experience (NDE) is generally defined as what people experience after they have been pronounced clinically dead, that is, with no brain waves or heart function, and who are later resuscitated. It is important to note here that Jesus did not resuscitate, but resurrected. He is the only one in human history to have done so. All those who experience NDE’s come back to their earthly bodies and later die. Jesus died fully, but then came alive eternally and ascended to heaven. People who experience NDE’s commonly feel unconditional, overwhelming love from God. However, research shows that as many as 23% of NDE’s (and some argue for an even higher figure) are “hellish” and disturbing, even traumatic. NDE’s are reported across various religious backgrounds, and by some with no religious affiliation or belief.
The narrow issue discussed here is whether any of this contradicts the Christian notion of the Final Judgment. The standard answer to this question from a Christian perspective is taken from Pastor John Burke’s website, https://whatsafterlife.com/faq-2/“
“First, we can’t definitively determine where someone will end up by their NDE. Near death is different from final death. NDErs tell us there are two places ‘heaven’ and ‘hell.’ People who have had an NDE will eventually experience final death and no peer-reviewed research exists to tell us how that plays out, but certainly the possibility exists for a long stay in either of the two places. John, who had a vision of heaven (not an NDE) as recorded in the last book of the Bible (Revelation) reports that in the end there will be ‘a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.’ The Life Review [which is the picture of one’s life that an NDE often involves] is just confirmation that Jesus’ words were true that every thought, motive, and act will be revealed.
Near-death experiences are just that. They are experiences of almost dying. They are not dying. We die once and after that the judgment. Those who die don’t come back from death except by resurrection or at most, they visit from the other side (as Moses and Elijah did on Mt. Tabor). So to my friends with NDE’s who say ‘I died and came back,’ I say, ‘No. You nearly died.’ The inability to monitor vital signs for x-amount of time isn’t death. It’s a temporary suspension of certain vitals. It’s not death.”
This explanation is fine as far as it goes, but people still may have questions. For instance, is the heavenly or hellish vision we see during a NDE the same as what we will experience immediately after our “complete and final” death, or will there be an intervening intermediate state where we await, and are subjected to, some final divine judgment where our earthly behavior in thought, word and deed is evaluated in its totality? This prospect may be somewhat intimidating to many, even frightening, and why not, for we are all sinners? See Isaiah 64:6: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Standard presuppositions in traditional Christian doctrine, known as eschatology, suggest that this sort of divine judgment intervenes between the final death of our bodies and our entrance into eternity. Whether this judgment phase is instantaneous or extends over some period is subject to debate.
This note suggests a contrary view. The judgment of believers before Christ is an ongoing process during our earthly lives. It is a process by which Christ cleanses us and prepares us for heaven through His daily interaction with us. This interaction, whether we are always conscious of it or not, represents Christ’s Judgment Seat as recorded in 2 Cor. 5:10. After the believer’s death there is no further judgment and, just as with the repentant thief on the cross to whom Jesus promised immediate salvation (Luke 23:41-43), believers enter directly into eternity where they will always be with Jesus and continually experience his unfathomable love. This is all supported by a correct reading of 2 Cor. 5:10, which is discussed here.
What then is the purpose of NDE’s, and why are these out-of-body experiences granted to both Christ-followers and non-believers? It is suggested here that NDE’s represent one of the infinite ways that Christ pursues us in this life. In His wisdom, He graciously grants these portals into eternity to some of us to draw them to Himself, and to prompt them to be witnesses to others about their experiences. Indeed, for some, a “hellish” and disturbing NDE might be far more persuasive in that regard than a “heavenly” experience. The NDE, therefore, is one more way that the Good News of the Gospel is spread to an unbelieving and broken world. Just as with all evangelical witness, however, even when it comes directly from Jesus, it is not always successful, at least not immediately. See, for example, Matthew 19:21-22 (Jesus and the rich young man): “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
This short note was written to take some of the mystery out of NDE’s, and to demonstrate that genuine glimpses into the “afterlife” in no way conflict with Christian beliefs. In fact, they are generally supportive of those beliefs and, when properly understood, should be a source of great joy, comfort, and hopeful expectation for all Christians. In other words, NDE’s show us an eternal truth that we should already know, that is, that for Christ-followers, death is not the end, but just the beginning.
One more point. Those who argue for a post-physical-death judgment of believers generally cite as scriptural authority Hebrews 9:27 (NIV): “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” One might argue that this verse only applies to those who have not accepted Christ and are therefore not saved by faith, but to be fair the natural sense of the verse seems to be addressed to both believers and non-believers. But if believers are subjected to some sort of post-death punishment for their earthly behavior, even though they have already been saved by Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross on our behalf, how exactly is that punishment to be accomplished? Are they confined to some purgatory-like experience for some period of time, but for how long, and do they undergo some sort of spiritual pain during this process, since they are no longer in their physical bodies? With due respect to our Roman Catholic friends, the whole notion of purgatory, or some similarly shadowy post-death intermediate state, seems far afield from scripture. 2 Maccabees 12: 42-45, which is generally cited as support for this post-death experience, seems hardly determinative even if the passage is recognized as valid scriptural authority. Moreover, the Catholic doctrine of purgatory has more to do with spiritual cleansing than with punishment for one’s earthly sins.
Some might argue that believers take on Christ’s righteousness once they die and therefore are automatically purified from their earthly sins. Thus, they face no post-death punishment for their behavior. That is all true from the perspective of eternal salvation, but not necessarily from the conventional idea of judgment. See Revelation 20:12 (NIV): “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” According to the plain language of this passage, the dead here, if that were to include believers, are judged by what they did, not by what Christ did on their behalf.
So, how are we to resolve this apparent problem of how believers are judged for their earthly behavior? Scripture is clear that God’s judgment is without favoritism. See 1 Peter 1:17 (NLT): “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do.” The answer to this conundrum lies in the notion of death. Believers are crucified with Christ on the Cross when they accept him as their savior. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NIV). For the believer, this “spiritual” death is what counts for judgment. Again, see Colossians 3:3: “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” For the believer, therefore, this is the death that triggers Christ’s judgment under Hebrews 9:27 and 2 Cor. 5:10. I cite here the incorrect rendering of 2 Cor. 5:10 simply to illustrate the need for a comprehensive judgment of believers for their earthly conduct. For a correct rendering of this passage, see my article here. “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” 2 Cor. 5:10 (NLV).
Thus, upon their physical death, believers have already undergone a comprehensive judgment of their behavior and, because their salvation is no longer at issue, there is no need for further judgment. Non-believers on the other hand upon their physical death, because they have rejected Christ and any need for a savior, face the judgment set forth in Revelation 20:12, which is the judgment they have effectively chosen since they argue that they are justified purely on their own merits. As a note regarding the doctrine of purgatory, believers who face Christ’s judgment seat in this life are thereby fully cleansed and prepared for eternity. There is no need for any additional post-death purification.
Photo Credits: “on her cold death bed” by erix! is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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