[Aquinasfan]

Why not monsters or demons?

That's a good question, and a reason why adult experiences should be treated with a reasonable degree of skepticism. After all, Lucifer can disguise himself as an angel of light.

Interestingly, I saw a "near death experience" program where a dying libertine had a "near hell experience." The man was a dying, dissolute college professor who experienced a feeling of falling into a dark pit and being continuously clawed at. He finally cried, "Jesus save me!"

He felt hands "pick him up" and the clawing dissipated. Eventually he regained consciousness.

I tend to believe his story because he is now an ordained minister.

[Screaming_Gerbil]

That's a good question, and a reason why adult experiences should be treated with a reasonable degree of skepticism. After all, Lucifer can disguise himself as an angel of light.

You are correct about Lucifer being able to disguise himself as an angel of light. In Moody's book on Near Death Experences "Life after Life" there was only this loving accepting light with no refernce to any judgement.

In Rawlings' book "Beyond Death's Door" however, there are several stories of "Decending into "Hell"...

I just think that there is an "age of innocence", and the stories from the young children are the best we can get in terms of what's really going on, without any possiblity of undue influence by other forces.

[drjimmy]

I tend to believe his story because he is now an ordained minister.
And the good reverends Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker, and Jesse Jackson will all vouch for the honesty of their brother minister!

[rwfromkansas]

There have actually been several reports of such black near death experiences and I remember hearing about the one you are speaking of.

I wish I would have taped a Nightline from a couple years ago, as it focused on life after death and the scientific evidence. I was simply blown away. Many of the studies I had never heard of, but they proved that energy of some sort from us stays around after we die. They also did studies on NDE's which provide support to the idea it is not just brainwaves acting up prior to death.

I have been reading a book on demonology and one interesting point the author brings up is that the demons in Scripture testify of Christ's divinity when a possessed man comes near the Son. Missionaries have recorded demons in a possessed person to this day testifying that Christ is the Messiah. It is rare, as why would they want to testify of the Divine they hate? But, it has happened occassionally.

[diamond6]

Wow!

[Ditter]

post #40 Fabulous story, thanks!