Posted on 05/07/2014 10:00:03 PM PDT by OneVike
One of the most interesting cases of resuscitation that ever came to my knowledge was that of George Lennox, a notorious horse thief of Jefferson County. He was serving his second term. Sedgwick County sent him to the prison the first time for a similar offense - stealing horses.
During the winter of 1887 and 1888 he worked in the coal mines. The place where he was laboring seemed dangerous to him. He reported the fact to the officer in charge, who made an examination, and deciding that the room was safe, ordered Lennox back to his work. The convict, obeying, had not continued his work more than an hour, when the roof fell in and completely buried him. He remained in this condition fully two hours.
Missed at dinner time, a search was instituted for the missing convict, and he was found under this heap of rubbish. Life seemed extinct. He was taken to the top, and on examination by the prison physician, was pronounced dead. His remains were carried to the hospital where he was washed and dressed, preparatory for interment. His coffin was made and brought to the hospital. The chaplain had arrived to perform the last sad rites preparatory to burial. A couple of prisoners were ordered by the hospital steward to lift the corpse from the boards and carry it across the room and place it in the coffin. They obeyed, one at the head, the other at the feet and were about half way across the room when the one who was at the head accidentally stumbled over a cuspidor, lost his balance, and dropped the corpse. The head of the dead man struck the floor, and to the utter surprise and astonishment of all present, a deep groan was heard. Soon the eyes opened, and other appearances of life were manifested. The physician was immediately sent for, and by the time he arrived, some thirty minutes, the dead man had called for a cup of water, and was in the act of drinking when the physician arrived.
The coffin was at once removed and later on was used to bury another convict in. His robes were also taken from him, and the prison garb substituted. On an examination he was found to have one of his legs broken in two places, and was otherwise bruised. He remained in the hospital some six months, and again went to work.
I learned of his peculiar experience while apparently dead soon after, from a fellow miner. Prompted by curiosity, I longed for an acquaintance with Lennox to get his experience from his own lips. This opportunity was not offered for several months. At last it came. After being removed from the mines I was detailed to one of the prison offices to make out some annual reports. The subject of this man"s return to life was being discussed one day, when he happened to pass by the office door and was pointed out to me. It was not long until I had a note in his hand, and asked him to come where I was at work. He did so, and here I got well acquainted with him, and from his own lips received his wonderful story. He is a young man, probably not over thirty years of age. He had been a hardened criminal; is possessed of a very good education, and naturally very bright.
The most wonderful part of his story was that during the time he was dead. Being a shorthand reporter, I took his story from dictation.
Said he: "I had a presentiment all the morning that something terrible was going to happen. I was so uneasy on account of my feelings that I went to my mining boss Mr. Grason, and told him how I felt, and asked him if he would not come and examine my coal room, the place where I was digging coal. He came and seemed to make a thorough examination, and ordered me back to work, saying there was no danger, and that he thought I was going "cranky." I returned to my work, and had been digging away for something like an hour, when all of a sudden it grew very dark. Then it seemed as if a great iron door swung open and I passed through it. The thought then came to my mind that I was dead and in another world. I could see no one, nor hear sound of any kind. From some cause unknown to myself, I started to move away from the doorway, and had traveled some distance when I came to the banks of a broad river. It was not dark, neither was it light. There was about as much light as on a bright, star lit night. I had not remained on the banks of this river very long until I could hear the sound of oars in the water, and soon a person in a boat rowed up to where I was standing.
"I was speechless. He looked at me for a moment, and then said that he had come for me, and told me to get into the boat and row across to the other side. I obeyed. Not a word was spoken. I longed to ask him who he was, and where I was. My tongue seemed to cling to the roof of my mouth. I could not say a word. Finally we reached the opposite shore. I got out of the boat, and the boatman vanished out of sight.
"Thus left alone, I knew not what to do. Looking out before me, I saw two roads which led through a dark valley. One of these was a broad road and seemed to be well traveled. The other was a narrow path and led off in another direction. I instinctively followed the well-beaten road. I had not gone far when it seemed to grow darker. Ever and anon, however a light would flash up from the distance, and in this manner I was lighted on my journey.
"Presently I was met by a being that is utterly impossible for me to describe. I can only give you a faint idea of his dreadful appearance. He resembled a man somewhat, but was much larger than any human being I ever saw. He must have been at least ten feet high. He had great wings on his back. He was black as the coal I had been digging, and in a perfectly nude condition. He had a spear in his hand, the handle of which must have been fully fifteen feet in length. His eyes shone like balls of fire. His teeth, white as pearl, seemed fully an inch long. His nose, if you could call it a nose, was very large, broad and flat. His hair was very coarse, heavy and long. It hung down upon his massive shoulders. His voice sounded more like the growls of a lion in a menagerie than anything I can recall.
"It was during one of the flashes of light that I first saw him. I trembled like an aspen leaf at the sight. He had his spear raised as if to send it flying through me. I suddenly stopped. With that terrible voice I seem to hear yet, he bade me follow him; that he had been sent to guide me on my journey. I followed. What else could I do? After he had gone some distance a large mountain appeared to rise up before us. The part facing us seemed perpendicular, just as if a mountain had been cut in two and one part had been taken away. On this perpendicular wall I could distinctly see these words, "This is Hell." My guide approached this perpendicular wall, and with his spear handle gave three loud raps. A large massive door swung back and we passed in. I was then conducted on through what appeared to be a passage through this mountain.
"For some time we traveled in Egyptian darkness. I could hear the heavy footfalls of my guide and thus could follow him. All the way along I could hear deep groans as of someone dying. Further on, these groans increased, and I could distinctly hear the cry water, water, water. Coming now to another gateway, and, passing through, I could hear, it seemed, a million voices in the distance, and the cry was for water, water. Presently another large door opened at the knock of my guide, and I found that we had passed through the mountain, and now a broad plain lay before me.
"At this place my guide left me to direct other lost spirits to the same destination. I remained in this open plain for a time, when a being somewhat similar to the first one came to me; but instead of a spear he had a huge sword. He came to tell me of my future doom. He spoke with a voice that struck horror to my soul. "Thou art in hell," he said; "for thee all hope is fled. As thou passed through the mountain on thy way hither, thou didst hear the groans and shrieks of the lost as they called for water to cool their parched tongues. Along that passage there is a door that opens into the lake of fire. This is soon to be thy doom. Before thou art conducted to this place of torment never more to emerge - for there is no hope for those who enter there - thou shalt be permitted to remain in this open plain, where it is granted to all the lost to behold what they might have enjoyed instead of what they must suffer."
With this I was left alone. Whether the result of the terrible fright through which I had passed I know not, but now I became stupefied. A dull languor took full possession of my frame. My strength departed from me. My limbs refused to support my body longer. Overcome, I now sank down a helpless mass. Drowsiness now took control of me. Half awake, half asleep, I seemed to dream. Far above me, and in the distance, I saw the Beautiful City of which we read in the Bible. How wonderfully beautiful were its walls of jasper. Stretching out and away in the distance. I saw vast plains covered with beautiful flowers. I, too, beheld the river of life and would pass in and out through the gates of the city, singing, oh, such beautiful songs. Among the number I saw my dear old mother, who died a few ears ago of a broken heart because of my wickedness. She looked toward me and seemed to beckon me to her, But I could not move. There appeared to be a great weight upon me that held me down. now a gentle breeze wafted the fragrance if those lovely flowers toward me, and I could now more plainly than ever, hear the sweet melody of angel voices, and I said, "Oh, that I could be one of them."
"As I was drinking from this cup of bliss it was suddenly dashed from my lips. I was aroused from my slumbers. I was brought back from happy dreamland by an inmate of my dark abode, who said that it was now time to enter upon my future career. He bade me follow him. Retracing my steps I again entered the dark passageway, and followed my guide for a time, when we came to a door that opened in the side of the passage, and going along this, we finally found ourselves passing through another door, and lo! I beheld the lake of fire.
"Just before me I could see, as far as the eye could reach, that literal lake of fire and brimstone. Huge billows of fire would roll over each other, and great waves of fiery flame would dash against each other and leap high in the air like the waves of the sea during a violent storm. On the crest of the waves I could see human beings rise, but soon to be carried down again to the lowest depths of this awful lake of fire. When borne on the crest of these awful billows for a time their curses against a just God would be appalling, and their pitiful cries for water would be heart-rending. This vast region of fire echoed and reechoed with the wails of these lost spirits.
Presently I turned my eyes to the door through which I had a few moments before entered, and I read these awful words, "This is thy doom; Eternity never ends." Shortly I began to feel the earth give way under my feet, and I soon found myself sinking down into the lake of fire. An indescribable thirst for water now seized upon me. And calling for water my eyes opened in the hospital prison.
"I have never told this experience of mine before for fear the prison officials would get hold of it, think me insane and lock me in the crankhouse. I passed through all of this, and I am as well satisfied as I am that I live, that there is a heaven and there is a Hell, and a regular old-fashioned Hell, the kind the Bible tells about. But there is one thing certain, I am never going to that place any more.
"As soon as I opened my eyes in the hospital and found that I was alive and on earth once more, I immediately gave my heart to God and I am going to live and die a Christian. While the terrible sights of Hell can never be banished from my memory, neither can the beautiful things of Heaven I saw, I am going to meet my dear old mother after awhile. To be permitted to sit down on the banks of that beautiful river, to wander with those angels across the plains, through the vales and over the hills carpeted with fragrant flowers, the beauty of which far surpasses anything that mortal can imagine; to listen to the songs of the saved - all this ill more than compensate me for living the life of a Christian here on earth, even if I have to forego many sensual pleasures in which I indulged before coming to the prison. I have abandoned my companions in crime, and am going to associate with good people when I am once more a free man.”
We give the account to the reader just as we received it from Lennox.
It is one of the most wonderful experiences it has ever been our lot to read. May God bless this message from Mr. Lennox to the awakening of many lost souls. Oh, how can men doubt the existence of a real, literal burning Hell? Tell me, how can they, when we have the Word and remarkable revelation such as the above from time to time? Men and women, stop! Face about! Get a real Bible experience of heart felt salvation, lest you experience the reality of not only forty-eight hours, but an Eternity in Hell.
(Excerpt) Read more at Gospel Tract and Bible Society ...
I aver that it in fact is empirical evidence that reveals God, but that of the heart not of the physical senses. God, by showing Himself to be the most fundamental love of existence, verifies the reliability of the rest of what He is about, including the special revelation of scripture and the general revelation of nature. Of course since we are mired in sin and hate, and do not escape it all until we leave this mortal coil, we can’t get it all at once... and not even God expects that to happen. The Cross really does cover all for those who have entered into belief.
Hell is the closest thing to pure hate as can be achieved in existence. As such it’s quite difficult for mortals to grasp. Its revulsion is not mere sensual, in fact if it were, we would miss the point. It is a fundamentally revolting place. All that hate and nowhere to go with it except where it is. There probably is such a thing as glee in hell, and it is wicked.
did you not read the very scriptures that Jesus himself spoke that prove he is not God? Nobody here can address them because they blow the apostasy out of the water. Period.
Not intending to be unkind, but please hear my correction. You are not going to debate him here in Koine. Maybe you are going to debate, in the English language, about how you are going to choose correct English words and English grammar to explain the concept that the first century Greek-speaker would have understood in his language, but you are not going to debate in the Greek. You are going to debate in American English.
Capisce? (in Italian this means "Understand?")
We ignore you, and God sadly scoffs at your presumption.
Nice. I like.
Thanks for posting this fascinating story. Yes Hell and Heaven are both real.
Sorry. I've read them enough times to know that faulty logic, linguistics, and lazy approach to hermeneutics have already sunk your proposition. That's the period for me.
But I think this discussion has taken us away from the core of the article under consideration.
I gave you a whole dissertation of proof that he is God, You refuse to read it because you lack proper reading comprehension.
How, praytell, did you ever get out of high school if you cannot comprehend what you read?
It’s spiritual pride, Vike, that wants Jesus to not be God.
For God to undergo the dirty work of salvation, He did the religiously unspeakable.
Undertake that is
It isn’t a matter of education, basically. It’s one of bias.
The prouder someone is (and I had been very proud indeed and can vouch for what that is like) the more alienated they will be from Christ. They are wrapped up in themselves. Heads up their spiritual derrieres.
A lot of people complain about the supposed paucity of divine statements from Jesus. But Jesus didn’t go woofing to the crowds on how wonderful He was. God, and not just man, believes that “actions speak louder than words.” He said “believe the miracles” and carried them out all over the place.
I agree, HiTech.
It’s like men always wanting to do the work instead of accepting what He has done.
you don’t ignore me, you ignore what Jesus said in scriptures about himself...and then YOU presume a Godhead that is false. How dare you screw up his good name to people! Hew and His father will denounce you if you don’t see your deception.
wrong..it is pride that makes Jesus God when he is clearly the subservient son...the same pride that caused Adam to fall!
““Friend, your sins are forgiven.” In doing so, He claimed a prerogative reserved for God alone.” Spoken just like the pharisees during his time. He healed and did miracles with his father’s power, just has he clearly stated in order to NOT take pride as a God! Daaaaa! In your “knowledge” you guys have become very dumb and screwed up the name of Jesus. Shame on you!
I agree with the fact that Hell is a terrible place and people should be afraid to go there, but the idea that Hell is the Lake of Fire or that existence in Hell is eternal is not in accordance with Scripture.
I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but if you really want to dig there are many great sites to do so. Let me begin by saying that I used to argue an “eternal suffering” with people like SDA, but after doing a thorough Bible study on Hell and eternity, I now know that the Bible doesn’t teach that. Here were a few key verses for me...
John 3:16 as well as others pose the future as one of either eternal life or death. Death is the ending of life.
Revelation 20: 14,15 talk about the “second death” which upon study is the death of the soul. This is the end of the soul.
We are not born with an immortal soul, like some have told us or else 1 Cor. 15:53 is false. We only “put on” immortality (in our soul) when we accept Jesus because it is His immortality that we are taking on.
The only clear verse of entities being in torment forever is Revelation 20:10, but those being tormented are the Devil, the anti-Christ and the false prophet. My guess is that is because the greatness of their evil and/or because they were either made of different stuff or they ate of the tree of life.
Here are a few sites I found informative:
http://www.jeremyandchristine.com/articles/eternal.php
http://www.jeremyandchristine.com/articles/lazarus.html
the fire that shall never be quenched where "Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched."When you are God, and you say never, that is a very very long time. The Greek word used by Jesus for never, is the exact same Greek word used by the author of Hebrews for the word never where in Hebrews 13:5-6 the author said;
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has saidSo, for me, I can only believe that Jesus meant hell will last forever.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say:"The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
When you do your study be sure to research all the words that get translated to the single word “hell”.
One of the most common ones is geena or Gehenna which is a physical place in the valley of Hinnon. This was known to the Jews as a place of national punishment. In Jesus day it was used as a trash dump and a place for burning the corpses of the poor. Today Gehenna/valley of Hinnon is a field, but no fire is still burning there right now. This is the word that Jesus used in Mark 9. Gehenna isn’t eternal and even if the Mark 9 verses were used as a picture for warning, it says that worms don’t die, nothing about people in everlasting torment.
Another word used for “hell” is hades which is a Greek name for the place of the dead. This word is what is used in Matthew 16 where Jesus says that the gates of Hades won’t prevail against His kingdom. This is also the “hell” that is cast into the Lake of Fire.
The word tartaroo is also used like in 2 Peter 2:4 where it talks about where fallen angels will go.
The ONLY way through Scripture to believe that Hell/Hades lasts forever is to assume that the “fire, brimstone” punishment just melds into the Lake of Fire and continues as fire. While that may have some logic to it, it also ignores what Revelation says about the “second death”. The whole of Scripture does not contradict itself and an everlasting torment doctrine contradicts the verses on death and immortality.
You are so lost. Without trusting in a SAVIOR Christ who has the CAPABILITES of GOD (NOT just an advice-giver) you are LOST LOST LOST.
If you want to keep ignoring the obvious... then you will NOT trust in a Christ who forgives sins. Then your sins will be held against you, because you left them to be so. Then you will continue going to hell.
how about son ad savior..stop your nonsense...he was a subservient son to God and IO proved it here which NONE of you have addressed...those scriptures spoken by Jesus himself. Shame on you all!
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