Is it biblical that you could go to hell and back again?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary O on September 6, 2012 at 11:38am

Personal opinion, I think God will go beyond what we know in the Word, like phenomena. It's at God's discretion. A believer I know, most amazing testimony. I was crying. She had a very hard life. She overdosed and was dying. All her not so good friends left her alone to die. She remembers saying...God I'm dying. All I ever wanted was to know You. I don't know everything she saw, but she's alive. She's a living testimony that there's a heaven and something beyond ourselves and this time and place.

A friend of mine was in a bad accident. She tells the story of a man helping her. He helped her sit up, and told her not to lay back because she would die. He said it's going to be all right. He stayed with her until the ambulance got there and disappeared. She believes an angel helped her. I think so too. Jacob wrestled with an angel.

I think we need to hear this testimony. It reminds us there's something beyond what we see in this life.

Love and God bless,

Mary

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on September 6, 2012 at 12:45pm

  

I dare say that most of the testimonies that have to do with out-of-body experiences and/or dying and going to heaven/hell are due to a burrito hitting the tummy in an explosive way hahaha I greed with you that the majority are gold digging efforts.

 

But there are among the fake ones, a few that the Spirit bears witness with us that they are true, especially when the person relating the occurrence does it in a way that aligns with the word. The vid you placed here for instance is right on, on our biblical understanding of hell. The fact that she was not allowed to partake of things in heaven sounds right as well.

 

With God all things are possible.

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on September 6, 2012 at 1:53pm

I agree with David. I am very skeptical when I hear one proclaim that they have visited hell or heaven in reality, vision or dream. Whatever is revealed cannot contradict Scripture. If it does contradict Scripture, I toss out the whole event, the "whole event." If it aligns with Scripture it becomes at least possible. If the person giving the account is someone I do not know I am still skeptical, but acknowledge that I cannot put God in a box by saying it cannot be true, but I want a little more confirmation than just the word of someone I do not know. If it is from a trusted friend I would then be more apt to accept the testimony.

 

Food for thought: Look at what people say about heaven or hell when they tell of their experience. If the view of heaven and/or hell align with Scriputre one needs to go a step further. What is the purpose of this illumination? Is there a teaching or principle attached. Often one will come back and proclaim that heaven is a great place or that hell is a wicked place ... I don't need  to be told that as Scripture portrays that clearly. Thus, what is the goal of the vision/experience? It surely isn't just for entertainment sake, so again, what purpose does it serve?

 

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on September 6, 2012 at 2:40pm

David, the only problem that made the video sound a little off to me is where she says she realized she was in Hell because she had not accepted Jesus as her Lord. I got the impression that she was not saved at the time she shot herself. She had not accepted Christ as her Savior. Only after we are born again can we then begin to make Christ Lord and Master of our lives, as we begin to experience the sanctification process which is lifelong. We proclaim Jesus as Lord and we muct proclaim Jesus as Lord but first we must know Him as Savior. This is my current understanding anyway and I realize my POV may be wrong. Another thing that she shares is that she went back into a rebellious lifestyle after surviving the suicide attempt. However, one does not even realize they are in rebellion unless convicted by the Holy Spirit. So she perhaps became born again after this experience but was then having trouble crucifying the flesh. But before the experience, she did not think of herself as being in rebellion against God.

 

I have been told a couple of things regarding being in rebellion, one being that it is something that born again believers can do and also that one not saved would never arrive at the conclusion that they are in rebellion but would be going through needing to be convinced of who Jesus is and needing to see their need to be saved -- an unbeliever needs to be convicted of their sin and convinced of the truth in Scriptures, the gospel of Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection. They have to experience a change in mind that reveals all of this to them -- which is repentance that leads to salvation. From her testimony, it sounds like before she shot herself, she had not experienced this change in mind. The visions helped her realize all of these things about God. This is my summary, anyway, of her story.

 

I am not sure either if her descriptions match what Scripture says about hell. She says she could read people's minds in hell and know their thoughts, etc... I can't find this in Scripture though. We have the story of the rich man and Lazarus. People in hell likely can see the ones who inherited eternal life but I have no idea what hell would be like for those in it and how they relate to each other. I think it would be utter spiritual darkness and isolation and loneliness. But that's just my thoughts. The lake of fire is not hell, is it? She mentions sulfuric acid and burning. Sulfuric acid is colorless. Jesus described hell as fire and flames and not chemicals. Scriptures say different things about hell, such as a place of utter darkness (Jude 6) and very painful. I don't want to know what hell is like. I am glad she experienced it though in order to meet Jesus. She has every reason to be thankful for this favor bestowed upon her by God. She is very blessed indeed.

 

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on September 6, 2012 at 7:24pm

I guess I shouldn't say that we make Jesus Lord of our lives. Jesus is Lord. We must submit to Jesus -- yield to His will and control as our Lord but I call that the sanctification process. 
www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Lord.html

I can't simply just decide to do this. I need empowerment from God for Jesus to be Lord of my life. I must rely on Jesus and not on myself. I can only do this after being born again. I trusted Jesus as Savior because I know He is the Son of God and He died for me and therefore I do see Him as Lord. 
www.gotquestions.org/personal-Savior.HTML

I don't know why she explains that she was in hell and yet she knew salvation was by grace through faith to be saved and no work of our ours can save us and yet she says she was there because she had not accepted Jesus as Lord. I am not sure what she actually means by that and can only speculate she means she was not living for Christ which in her case was because she was not born again and didn't know Him as Savior.

We must confess the Lord Jesus. Romans 10:9. We accept Him as Savior knowing He is the Lord. 

But surrendering to His Lordship after the new birth is something different. If I were not saved, how much would I have to accept Jesus as Lord of my life and live for Him doing His will and under His control before He will save me? That would be me trying to clean up my act -- wouldn't it? I would need the Holy Spirit's help to submit to the will and control of Jesus and His Lordship in my life, or the process of being sanctified. 

I don't know. It's just the way I understand it right now. I may have it wrong. I don't really understand her message in this video and have no reason to want to read her book. 

Even after being saved I need grace to stay saved. I can't keep myself saved. So I would not say God will send me to hell for not accepting Jesus as Lord but for not receiving and trusting Christ as my Savior because He is Lord. Maybe if I don't submit to His Lordship in my life it could mean I am not saved. But we have to grow and our faith has to grow, too. We have to grow in grace and knowledge. 

She says her soul left her body and God put her soul back into her body. That raises questions about soul and spirit being separate entities or not. I didn't hear her say spirit but may have missed that part. The video just gives me more questions than it does answers. I guess I am too skeptical now and afraid of being deceived.

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Permalink Reply by ribbon on September 6, 2012 at 8:15pm

Amanda,

It was me who mentioned the word "spirit". I should have been more careful with my memorie I had of my mom and my conversation which happened over 30 years ago. I dont know the difference between spirit or soul.

 

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on September 7, 2012 at 10:39am

Janie, there are two teachings: body, soul, and spirit or body, soul/spirit.  Colby started a good discussion about this topic: http://www.allaboutgod.net/forum/topics/body-soul-spirit-or-body-an...

Check it out if you get time.

Another part of the woman's story in this video that bothers me is where she says when the ambulance arrived, the EMTs asked her mother if it was worth taking her to the hospital. Does that ever happen? I have worked in healthcare all of my life. If someone has shot themselves and still has a pulse no one waits for them to just finish dying and I cannot see an EMT asking a mother who had called an ambulance if the mother still wants her daughter to go on to the ER ... unless the girl's injuries are not that severe and no medical attention is really needed. She says she was conscious when the ambulance arrived and had even asked her mother to help her and her mother had called the ambulance as a response to her petition for help. ??? She says she had the "pallor of death" ... but she was obviously alive when they got there and they could see she was alive.

Also, attempted suicide is very serious and no EMT or ER takes it lightly. A mental health professional is called in to evaluate the person and see if they should be hospitalized and placed on a 72 hour hold, etc...

So the question of "if" they should transport her on to the hospital would never be asked IMO.

 

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on September 7, 2012 at 11:01am

Not under those circumstances anyway. Do I believe she was a troubled teen? Yes. Do I believe she was thinking about suicide? Yes. Do I believe that today she never feels lonely, discouraged, rejected, or sad? No. She is still human. She says she applies God's promises to her emotions and her mind now and never feels depressed. What is she teaching? I am leery. Not all of God's promises can be applied to me personally, let alone to my emotions and my mind, this I do know.

Now, God's will ... that's another thing.

Romans 12:1-2. There is a way for our minds to be renewed. I'm just not sure if it is her way.

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Permalink Reply by Mary O on September 6, 2012 at 3:54pm

I was thinking about what Jesus said, and then I thought about a few other verses. Consider Stephen being given a vision. And then I thought about the Lord giving Israel a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire to guide them through the wilderness. To me that's phenomena. It was the Lord's discretion to do that.

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  (John 20:29)

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  (Acts 7:55)

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.  (Exodus 13:21)

I hope I didn't make it sound like I believe in out-of-body experiences.

Love and God bless,

Mary

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Permalink Reply by ribbon on September 6, 2012 at 5:02pm

Thanks yall for yalls replys. I am always confused when hearing storys about to hell and back. I do believe that God gives some folks visions of heaven and or hell though. But actually being in hell is way over my head in comprehending how it could be possible. Yes i know all things are possible with God. But like someone said what would be the point.. or at least i think thats what they said. I also think if a close friend of mine was to say it happened to them I would know they exoerienced "something"  but not sure what.  I remember my mom telling me of a child in the bible had passed and Jesus healed her and her spirit returned. Mama asked me from where did it return from.  I just cant see that the all knowing God would allow someone into and out of hell. I thought it said that there was no second chance that once you are there you are there. Speaking if suicide.. If it wasnt from fear of hell torment and fire I would have been dead long ago.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on September 7, 2012 at 6:49pm

I didn't hear her say anything about her spirit and that is why I pointed
out that she mentioned soul. I thought that was odd. The spirit is what is born again.
She only mentioned that her soul was in hell. This is why I think she was not saved
to begin with. Also, she claims that while she was being transported through the heavens,
she was cleansed of her sins. That is a very odd way of being born again ... Is she saying she
Was born again after dying? Is that biblical, if so? I just found errors in her teaching and
I am glad you posted this discussion. Her story will be used by God to work for the good
of those who love Him and perhaps it will even make someone think twice before pulling
that trigger.

89 people successfully commit suicide each day in the USA and many more
make attempts. Eight out of ten people who commit suicide tell someone that they are
thinking about hurting themselves before they actually do it. Four out of five people who
complete suicide have made at least one previous attempt. It is nothing to take lightly and
I sure hope her only intention is not just to sell a book and make money. Suicide is completely
preventable.
Love,
Amanda

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Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on September 7, 2012 at 9:43pm

Dear Alienated, (interesting name).......

 

Let me say up front....I am a skeptic about people claiming visits to heaven and/or hell.....and returning.

But, also I believe that with God, all things are possible.

 

I cannot find any references in the Bible of people returning from hell......the rich man in Luke 16 wanted to.

InMatthew 27:52 and 53 we find saints returning from their graves and walking about after Jesus arose. We don't know how long they had been dead.

Then when the apostle Paul had his out-of body experience (2 Corinthians 12:4), "was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressable words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (All underlining mine).

 

Grace and Peace to all.

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