Thoughts on the Bible and Life
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43) In this exchange what did the criminal on the cross next to Jesus acknowledge? Jesus’ royal status – “when you come into your kingdom.” This crucified criminal … Read more
Near-death stories are filled with fascinating otherworldly details. Should we believe all of them? John said, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1). Our job is to test. That means we … Read more
Life after death is an ancient and universal human belief. Anthropologists believe prehistoric burial practices provide evidence of this expectation. Ancient philosophers, such as Plato, affirmed the soul’s eternal nature. And all major religions teach that we continue to exist after death. In fact, in a survey of almost 16,000 people in the U.S. even … Read more
During the past forty-five years researchers have been collecting data on a strange phenomenon. Thousands of people claim to have had a hyperreal experience while they were unconscious or even clinically dead. Their breathing, heartbeat, and in some cases even brainwaves had stopped yet they describe having an otherworldly experience—a glimpse of life after death—in … Read more
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul writes, 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 … Read more