Question I was asked by an agnostic friend

[nebula]

It would be interesting to go back in time and interview Lazerus, huh?

One thing we have to be careful of, the Bible is not a 20th century User Manual. There is not "Spiritual Realm 101" all-inclusive all-you-need--to-know explanation of all there is. (See the first line of my Signature).

The Bible is full of accounts of people learning through experience. Why would the Lord's methods change - that we learn through experience? (Yes, with guidance by the Holy Spirit and congruent with the teaching of the Word.)

[Saved2Serve]

Faith is not blind faith, it is believing with an intrusted commitment. It might have been because of one's faith that heaven / vision was revealed to them.

I had a vision once, but it was the night that i gave up television. I was convicted of it and I let it go. 3:00 AM the next morning I had the 'in of body / out of body experience' which Paul referred to in 2 Cor.

"But I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) snatched up in this manner to the third heaven: and I know such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I know not, God knoweth; how that he was snatched up into Paradise and heard secret words which it is not lawful for men to speak; on behalf of such a one will I glory; but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my infirmities."-2 Corinthians 12:1-5

I had the same experienced on behalf of my faith. I would say such things would bring us more hope and increase our faith.

It did for me.

Hebrews 11:1 says - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

My two cents to a response would be this - Once faith is completed then comes evidence!

Edited April 5, 2011 by Saved2Serve

[Matthitjah]

Where in the Bible does it say we can die, see heaven or hell and then return?

2Co 12:2

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Joh 11:43

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

[~Shalhevet~]

Pardon my confusion but I'm not seeing it or reading the verses right. Lazarus died and went to heaven and came back to tell about it? Did he describe heaven? What about people going to hell?

[imoss]

Faith is not blind faith, it is believing with an intrusted commitment. It might have been because of one's faith that heaven / vision was revealed to them.

I had a vision once, but it was the night that i gave up television. I was convicted of it and I let it go. 3:00 AM the next morning I had the 'in of body / out of body experience' which Paul referred to in 2 Cor.

"But I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) snatched up in this manner to the third heaven: and I know such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I know not, God knoweth; how that he was snatched up into Paradise and heard secret words which it is not lawful for men to speak; on behalf of such a one will I glory; but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my infirmities."-2 Corinthians 12:1-5

I had the same experienced on behalf of my faith. I would say such things would bring us more hope and increase our faith.

It did for me.

Hebrews 11:1 says - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

My two cents to a response would be this - Once faith is completed then comes evidence!

I believe you. My husband had the same such experience... He was given a brief glimpse of heaven, He said it was beyond overwhelming in feeling and brilliance and nothing words could ever do justice to. He said it was also a very quick glimpse.

Great post young man!

[Guest]

Faith is not blind faith, it is believing with an intrusted commitment. It might have been because of one's faith that heaven / vision was revealed to them.

All Them Jews

"Before such a fulfilment of prophecy as Jewish history exhibits, what can all the fiery darts of infidelity do?

Their story, extending back as it does through 4,000 years of history, forms an impregnable fortress for believers in the inspiration of Scripture." --H. Grattan Guinness, Light For the Last Days: A Study in Chronological Prophecy, 1888

And God Too

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

[Guest]

Where in the Bible does it say we can die, see heaven or hell and then return?

Oh

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Yeah

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:14

Every

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6

Body

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:22-29

[imoss]

Where in the Bible does it say we can die, see heaven or hell and then return?

Oh

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Yeah

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:14

Every

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6

Body

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:22-29

Once again tips hat to the Lord for His word & to Joe for his gifting in the word.

[other one]

Do we really know enough about the human brain, mind and spirit to know if these out of body experiences are reality or things going on within ourselves.... I know several people who have had the experience but I'm also enough of a science person to know (or actually not know) if it's possible for us to create such a thing. How they saw and heard things outside the rooms their bodies were in, I would not know.... so I tend to "think" there's something to it all...... but I can't say for sure.