Atheist Dad Is Transformed After Glimpse of Heaven as Toddler Son Is Taken Off Life Support

The Epoch Times ^ | February 17, 2022 | Geeta Nanjia

[Twotone]

A family who lost their 2-year-old son due to respiratory complications of the flu virus 11 years ago have shared that what God did for their lives, and in the lives of others through their son, has been nothing short of a miracle.

A former atheist, dad Darin Hamm shares his story of how a glimpse of heaven transformed him and led him on a journey of faith, while his late toddler son, Griffin, was given only a few hours to live before he was taken off life support.

A bright-eyed little boy with beautiful curly blonde locks of hair, Darin and his wife, Jennifer, state that their toddler son, Griffin, was a “content, happy, and observant child who loved what all boys do—tractors, cars, and being outside with his daddy.”

“It took seven years to have him,” his parents told The Epoch Times, “and he was a gift from God.”

While parenting Griffin and their older son, Dylan, went smoothly for Darin and Jennifer, the father-of-three states that they’d been walking through a very difficult time in their marriage.

Jennifer described that, during that time, her husband dealt with a profound amount of anger and frustration toward others. It was not uncommon for him to get into an altercation with someone who upset him at the store or out in the community. He was often unpredictable, and she’d been counseled to think of divorce. However, she struggled and found hope through her faith.

[Radix]

Hey, Abe Froman, before the Dispensation of Grace, a lot of concepts were contended with.

The term ‘Day’ has in Biblical terms had several different definitions. You can go check Strongs Concordance with its Hebrew and Greek (Aramaic) definition of the Radix of words. The Hebrew word ‘Yom’ can be interpreted in diverse fashion depending upon context and usage.

Certainly it never could be limited by some small minded definition able to be defined by one not educated or perhaps never really interested in understanding the richness of the old World and its complex languages.

Food for thought, sausageseller.

[higgmeister]

With all due respect, so many of these "I've seen heaven" stories have turned out to be scams...

I'm a little confused how that sort of thing could be a scam?   If you don't believe something that someone tells you, how would you think it was a scam?   Then again, if you decided you believed a person's account and then you stopped believing it, again, why would you consider it a scam?

Someone saying they saw bigfoot and asked for money to go hunt for it, would be a scam.

Someone telling of a personal experience, is up to you to believe or not as you choose.

[daniel1212]

"It may be a long time before anyone gets to heaven. We will have to experience the Tribulation, the Millennium, then the Final Judgment before the New Jerusalem is created."

Wherever Scripture clearly speak of the next conscious reality for believers then it is with the Lord, (Lk. 23:43 [cf. 2Cor. 12:4; Rv. 2:7]; Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17) Note in the latter case all believers were assured that if the Lord returned, which they expected in their lifetime, so would they “ever be with the Lord,” though they were still undergoing growth in grace, as was Paul. (Phil. 3:7f)

And the next transformative experience that is manifestly taught is that of being like Christ in the resurrection. (1Jn. 3:2; Rm. 8:23; 1Co 15:53,54; 2Co. 2-4) At which time is the judgment seat of Christ, which is the only suffering after this life, which does not begin at death, but awaits the Lord's return, (1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Timothy. 4:1,8; Revelation 11:18; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Peter 1:7; 5:4) and is the suffering of the loss of rewards (and the Lord's displeasure) due to the manner of material one built the church with, which one is saved despite the loss of such, not because of. (1 Corinthians 3:8ff)

As imperfect (Philippians 3:13) Paul stated, who was

"in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you," (Philippians 1:23-24) "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)

However, if the return of the Lord came before his death, then he and all the believers would go to forever be with the Lord: "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." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) And to reign with Him 1,00 years:

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 20:6)

However,

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5)

And which coming is "the day of Christ," the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him" (2 Thessalonians 2:1) "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

After this first resurrection is the judgment seat of Christ which is not that of the Great White Throne judgment, but is part of the day of Christ, of His appearing before His 1,000 year reign. And which judgment is not to determine who is saved or lost and their particular punishment, but is the judgment of the elect, which determines their rewards of less thereof based upon their manner of workmanship they helped build church with.

"the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.' (Revelation 11:18)

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

Yet one is saved despite loss, and not because of such:

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:8-15; cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10)

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:4-5)

And the best i see it, the believers will first also go with Him to fight in the Battle or Armageddon and afterwards reign with Him for a 1,000 years and then act as judges in the final judgment:

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

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 14-15)

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:19-20)

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1-3)

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)

It is this 1,000 years that is "the age to come" in which there is forgiveness, for not all in the earth during the 1,000 year reign of Christ are believers, as some flesh survived the great tribulation, thus while the Lord "shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) yet speaking of the same period, And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15)

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-18)

Now obviously all these who go to be forever with the Lord, and fight for and with Him, and are judged as to reward, and rule for Him are all believers. All before the final judgment. And in which judgment the two classes are also manifest, with the sheep being testified to as those who had effectual faith, versus those whose deeds evidenced the contrary (see further below).

And in which believers shall be judges:

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:3) As Jude said, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed.."

Yet which final judgment occurs after the devil is loosed for one final test of man, as he leads a multitude in rebellion against the Lord and His elect in a renewed world.

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10)

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15)

For the lost have been in Hades with the selfish man of Luke 16, but like as believers were in Heaven yet not specifically rewarded for their faith (cf. Heb. 10:35) until the Lord's return, so also the unbelievers have not yet been sentenced to their degree of punishment relative to their works and accountability. And there are differences:

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. (Matthew 11:23-24)

Note that Catholics are not going to get this in their Catechism, for Rome is clearly in error in denying the literal thousand year reign of Christ in which there can be forgiveness for the lost who survived the great tribulation, while believers are as angels.

[daniel1212]

"With all due respect, so many of these "I've seen heaven" stories have turned out to be scams that I take them all with a grain of salt now. "

As do i, however, To Hell and Back with Dr. Rawlings? I consider the most persuasive - with exception of the second story,

And Glimpse into Eternity with Ian McCormack.

More are here.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

[roving]

The Bible describes heaven and Jesus, and no one has ever described it correctly. Nice dream though.

[norsky]

As do i, however, To Hell and Back with Dr. Rawlings? I consider the most persuasive - with exception of the second story,

.....

Excellent book. Been there myself. It is all questionable until it happens to you! Took care of an athiest in ICU that got quite a fright. He died while at work, got resusitated and was frightened out of his wits. I was told about it and went and told him that what he experienced was not his imagination.

[Elsie]

NOW you’ve done it!

Another 300+ reply thread is on its way!

[Elsie]

... “and he was a gift from God.”

And yet so many 'mothers' throw away that gift before it even gets birthed.

I wonder...
...how many of them will 'see the light' and receive a MORE precious gift from GOD??

---

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.".

[Elsie]

"With all due respect, so many of these "I've seen heaven" stories have turned out to be scams that I take them all with a grain of salt now. "

Well; considering what the Scriptures have recorded...

1 Corinthians 2:9 ERV

But, as it is written:

That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.

[gitmo]

2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

[gitmo]

Perhaps, you are referring to our physical bodies.

Exactly.

[Vision]

bm

[Elsie]

So when Jesus told the thief on The cross next to him “ This day you will be with me in paradise”, he was lying?

 

Lots to parse here.

 

First, the only translation I could find that contained "This day" is...

 

 
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

 

...the others say 'today'.

 

So, a minor point? Or not??

 

 

First; let's see what the thief said to Jesus:

 

39 And one of those robbers who were hanged blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing; thou art under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly: for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done no evil. 42 And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

 

Luke 23:39-43 D-R

 

 

 

So the thief had a request; and he put a quailfier on it: "...when thou shalt come into thy kingdom."

 

So when Jesus replies, "this day" to him, just which day IS it??

 

 

 

Scripture tells us Jesus was 3 days in the tomb, and another place it says:

 

John 20:17 Jesus tells Mary ' Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren an say unto them," I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God and to your God".'.

 

So just WHEN did Jesus come into His Kingdom?

 

 

 

Matthew 16:28 Amen I say to you, there are some of them that stand here, that shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

 

 HMMMmmm...

 

Not too specific, but it narrows it down a bit.

---

 

 

Now this is where I'll stop; for many others, much more learned than I have 'discussed' this subject for years.  The inquisitive can do the research on there own from here.

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

Matthew 6:10 ...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 

 

 

[Elsie]

To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.

Uh; not quite...

---

Many folks 'remember' this verse incorrectly

---

  ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’

 

 

Sorry; but IS TO BE is not found among any of the following translations...

 

2 Corinthians 5:8

 

Verse  (Click for Chapter)

New International Version
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

New Living Translation
Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

English Standard Version
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Berean Study Bible
We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
Now we are confident and are pleased rather to be absent out of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

New American Standard Bible
we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

New King James Version
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

King James Bible
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible
In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord.

Good News Translation
We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.

International Standard Version
We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord.

NET Bible
Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

New Heart English Bible
We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because of this we trust and we long to depart from the body and to be with Our Lord.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord.

New American Standard 1977
we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

Jubilee Bible 2000
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

King James 2000 Bible
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

American King James Version
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

American Standard Version
we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Darby Bible Translation
we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

English Revised Version
we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

Webster's Bible Translation
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
So we have a cheerful confidence, and we anticipate with greater delight being banished from the body and going home to the Lord.

World English Bible
We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
we have courage, and are well pleased rather to be away from the home of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

[sausageseller]

” Kingdom has no bearing on the story the OP posted.

I believe the story could be very well be true.
Why?

The Vision of Paradise
12 It is [a]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

[sausageseller]

So glimpses of paradise never happen.

The Vision of Paradise
12 It is [a]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise? A Amazing the socalled Christmas that get caught up in semantics and can't believe .

[daniel1212]

"Excellent book. Been there myself. It is all questionable until it happens to you! Took care of an athiest in ICU that got quite a fright. He died while at work, got resusitated and was frightened out of his wits. I was told about it and went and told him that what he experienced was not his imagination."

Sounds like the atheist Dr. Donald Whitaker in To Hell and Back with Dr. Rawlings. Powerful testimony indeed. Ad hoc grace.

It was February of 1975, at that time I was an alcoholic out of control. I was also using recreational drugs. But pri marily, alcohol was my drug of choice. I was totally out of control. I had a lot of friends in the entertainment business; Ringo Star and a bunch of other people.

They were having a TV special on the west coast. Hoight (a friend) had called me and asked me if I would like to go. I told him that I would love to, because I knew there was going to be a lot of booze, and partying. While they were doing their special, I was doing my thing.

After about three or four days out there, I became ill. I had sever e pain in my abdomen. I flew into Oklahoma city, called a senator friend of mine, and asked him to send a car for me because I was sick. They sent a car and took me home. And I checked into Whatley hospital in Texarkana, Texax in February of 1975. I ch ecked in with electrolytes, which means that the chemicals in my body were so far out of balance that they had to give me IVs to build me up

At that time of my life, I was atheist. I was hard core atheist and was living for myself. Atheists are sel f centered, they live for themselves. This is where I found myself in 1975 in my hospital.

After 3 days they operated me. Later, I found myself in the intensive care on a respirator, which means it was breathing for me. I couldn’t speak. I’ve been th ere in a comma. I heard these people talking about how sick I was and how I was going to die and how I wouldn’t get out of the hospital. At that time my hair was very long because I just wore my hair long. And I heard one guy say, “ My, his hair is long. ” And another guy said, “ Not nearly as long as it is going be before he gets out of here. ” And the third voice said, “ He's not going to get out of here. He's going to die. ”

And after 3 days, I could breath on my own. I remember my doctor, my surgeon, Dr . Donald Dunkon said to me, “ Don, if you have anything to get right, if you have anything to get signed, you get it done because we are not sure how long you have. ”

I knew I had a condition which is that was called Acute hemorrhagic narcotic pancreatitis. You don’t live with this disease. You could live with pancreatitis. You could even live with Acute pancreatitis, but you do not live with Acute hemorrhagic narcotic pancreatitis. Dunkon had told my two sons that I would be dead before morning. They d idn’t expect me to survive.

I was laying there, a professed atheist. I didn’t believe in God. I believed in the power of the universe because I’ve seen it. As a physician, I’ve dealt with life and death. I believed in something, but don’t talk me ab out God. And surely don’t talk to me about resurrection, virgin birth or these type of things because I am in research and science. The Majority of PHDs in research and science don’t believe in God. They do not believe a supreme being. They are beginni ng to believe there is an order in the universe because the further along we go, we see the order

It is very easy to be an atheist when you are successful. You have worked your way from Oklahoma welfare to be one of the most powerful men in your part o f the country – one of the most powerful men in the state of Oklahoma, politically. It is very easy to be an atheist when you have done all of that. A man could sit back and say " I don’t need God. What is God

But it is very difficult to be an atheist when you are lying on the death bed, because you began thinking " what if these people are right? " There had been one man named Ron Short, that stood between me and the gates of hell. One man had witnessed to me about the love of Jesus for 5 years, befor e I became ill. I would debate him and I liked him, because he did what he said he was going to do. He was the only one that I saw that profess to be Christian and lived what he said he was going to do. I really respected him. I didn’t believe what he said but I respected him.

When I was lying on my death bed and knowing that I was going to die, guess who I thought about? I thought, " what if Ron is right? What if there is a Heaven and a Hell. " Almost immediately the most pressing thought in my mind is how do I get saved. What is saved? How do I get saved?

So I sent people out to get Ron Short. I wanted him to come down because I wanted him to do whatever he had to do. I had no idea how a man hanging on a tree in Israel 2000 years ago could save m e. What is that to me? But I knew he had something that I had to have. That night Ron wasn’t home, he was in Alabama. So I had people go and get Ron.

That night was the longest night that I’ve had in my entire life, before or since. As I am laying t here in bed, I had begun to fade away into darkness. It was so, so dark. It was like the darkness just penetrated into your very being. I can tell you that I left my body because I remember coming back into my body. I don’t know where I was out of my body.

There are people that talk about a light, or floating above, a feeling of warmth or love. I didn’t feel any of that. I felt none of that. I felt untold terror, untold terror. I knew that if I went all the way, if I slipped all the way, I would never get back. In my being of beings I knew that. So I fought all night long

They told me later on that I not only pull the mattress cover off the mattress, I put the mattress upon me. I had to stay, I had to wait till Ron got there. Whatever he h ad to do, I had to wait

But again when I would leave my body, I would be going down into deep dark terror. My skin began to get cold. Not the kind of cold you feel when you walk out in the air, no, this was bone chilling cold. And I could feel the co ldness began to come up my legs.

Again I would begin to leave my body and would be in the darkness, in that void. I remember one time entering back my body, I felt my body thud, my physical body thud. Believe me, believe me, that was the most horrifyi ng terrifying experience that I had ever encountered

I fought all night long. The next morning around 9:30 or 10 o’clock, Ron came in. He said, “ Dr. Whitaker, what do they say are your chances? ” I said, “ Ron, they tell me I have none .” He said, “ Now is the time. ” I said, “You're right

Before, I had cursed him, I had spit on him, but now it was the time because I had to have whatever he had. I had a short period of time left on earth and I didn’t have any idea when I might make that trip and go al l the way.

At that time Ron simply led me in a sinner’s pray. I had no idea what a sinner’s prayer was, but I trusted Ron. He led me through the sinner’s prayer and told me that Jesus had died for my sins. He had died for the sins of the world. I di dn’t quite understand that. He showed me in the word of God where that was written.

You have to understand that I am a man of books. I’ve spent big part of my life, 25 or 26 years of life in books, all types of scientific books. I have degrees in Chem istry, all the way up to medicine doctor to practical medicine

He told me and I believed him because it said so in this book. It was a new book to me, it was called Bible. I had Ron lead me, and I said the sinner’s prayer. I can tell you one thing, t here was a peace that came over me like I have never known

I’ve searched for that peace in the bottles, alcohol, needles, drugs, and women. I’ve searched for it in all type of places. But there was no peace in my life. But once I accepted Jesus Chri st as my Lord and savior, I was no longer afraid. I still believed I was going to die because I knew the condition I had, and you don’t survive it. I knew that, I am a physician. I knew what I had you did not survive.

Ron showed me in the word of God where it says, “ These signs shall follow those that believe. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. ” ( Mark 16:18 ) I walk around on planet earth this day , taking no insulin, taking no enzymes, eating whatsoever I want, and everyday God produces in my body the correct material for me to function without having to take medication.

When you see blind eyes open, you see the cripples walk, you see the lepros y cleansed, and you see them with your own eyes, then it doesn’t take a rocket science to figure out that Bible is true.

https://www.divinerevelations.info/documents/rawlings/to_hell_and_back_dr_rawlings.pdf

Note: it was Howard Storm whose testimony I find fault with.

[BDParrish]

I agree completely. As a Baptist fundamentalist pastor and preacher since 1978 I completely agree and I am sure God Himself agrees with you.

Now you may also find the work of Gary Habermas interesting.
I will be curious what you think. If interested here is a tube. I will be curious your thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8SO_aCk_sU

[Elsie]

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

 

 

Try presenting this as testimony in a court of law.

 

It will get tossed as hearsay.

[daniel1212]

"Well; considering what the Scriptures have recorded... 1 Corinthians 2:9 ERV But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him. "

If this reference to Isaiah 64:4 in 1 Corinthians 2:9 is sppsd to be an argument against such NED then it is , since not only is it in the present tense, but the next verse states But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God....Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10,12)

Now in the full sense, yet if 2:9 is taken to mean exclusion of any experiential degree of Heaven (and I am not aware of the NED's I favored as claiming full revelation of what Scripture promises in Rv. 21,22) then it would exclude the love of God being shed abroad in hearts by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5) as well as being "caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Corinthians 12:4) Which some postulate might have occurred when Paul was and left for dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city. (Acts 14:19-20) Then you have the visions of the Heavenly City given to John.

Thus excluding any revelation of of the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9) is problematic to say the least, but instead it seems to be a general statement, and contrasting limited revelation under the Old Cov. with the New, that while "since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him" (Isaiah 64:4) yet by the Spirit to varying but not full degrees such are revealed due to Christ, and will be fully so for believers. To God be the glory. Likewise the horrors of Hell to unbelievers.