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An avowed atheist, Dr. Maurice Rawlings wasn't concerned about God, heaven, or hell until confronted with the harrowing experiences of his clinically dead patients before resuscitating them.

There is no debate about the existence of a literal hell in his mind now.

Most of his cardiology patients were ordinary people who didn't necessarily think of themselves as being particularly good or bad, but were totally shocked to find themselves in hell when they died. They describe their encounters as being in "total darkness and untold terror" or "moving toward volcanic flames filled with people crying out in agony."

One patient, Charles McKaig, dropped dead during an EKG treadmill test. Once revived, the terrified man, with his hair standing on end, gripped Rawlings and begged, "Don't let me go to hell again." The befuddled doctor muttered a prayer he had heard about asking Jesus into one's life as savior and the man repeated it. The patient's heart stopped again and he was immediately transported to heaven. He was resuscitated a second time and described the most brilliant colors he had ever seen and about meeting relatives there.

Howard Storm, an art and literary professor, was an atheist who says the only god in his adult life was himself. His experience was slightly different. He was drawn toward a bright light as gentle voices beckoned him to come. As he walked with the group, the light diminished and their voices became increasingly more hostile.

Once in total darkness, hundreds of people viciously attacked him. They weren't monster-like creatures, but ordinary people who had lived selfish lives on earth and now lived in a world that was entirely selfish and cruel.

He tried to pray and blurted out anything he could remember. Each time he said, "God," the assailants stopped abruptly, shrieked in fear and moved away. Eventually, they left him bruised and bleeding. He laid there for what seemed like an eternity.

In a weakened state, he sang "Jesus Loves Me," which he had recalled singing as a child. Jesus appeared, tenderly picked him up and completely healed his wounds. All the pain and horror evaporated and he was filled with indescribable love.

Before returning, the angels showed him a video recording of his life from beginning to end. Whenever he was loving and considerate of others, God, Jesus and the angels rejoiced and when he had been selfish and manipulative, they grieved. He came back to earth with a changed heart, determined to love people.

Former atheist Dr. Donald Whitaker, a research scientist and physician, spent the most horrific night of his life on the brink of hell, tearing at bed sheets and pulling the mattress over him to shield himself from the penetrating darkness. He waited frantically for a friend to come, whom he had cursed years prior when the man told him about the Lord.

Whitaker quickly became a believer and concludes, "It's very easy to be an atheist when you're successful, when you're one of the most powerful men in your part of the country, because you don't need God, but it's very difficult to be an atheist when you are on your death bed."

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Repeated encounters with his patients convinced Rawlings to get his own life right with God by accepting Jesus Christ as his savior. He has published a book/video, To Hell and Back, detailing the accounts of his patients and urges readers/viewers to be aware and prepare for the impending afterlife.