by Matthew Marlow

Created on: July 27, 2007

I once heard a doctor tell a horrifying story about a man on the operating table. He was performing surgery when suddenly the patient's heart stopped. The doctor reacted quickly to get the heart pumping again, and was astonished when the man sat up and grabbed his shoulders. "Don't let me die! Please, please don't let me die!", screamed the patient. Once again, the patient's heart stopped and the man went limp. Shaking off the strange occurrence, he worked to revive the patient again. Seconds later the man awoke with a deep breath, and began screaming even louder than before, "I'm on fire! Doctor, please don't let me die, I'm going to hell! I'm burning, Ahhhhhh!" Unfortunately the man did expire, but not before the doctor was able to share what he had learned in Sunday School as a young boy; That Jesus can save you from Hell. This incident changed the doctor's life forever

Believe it or not, many people have experienced near death experiences which have introduced them to life after death. As a bible believing Christian who was brought close to death and gazed upon the gates of Heaven and Hell, I am convinced that there is life after death. Do you think you could have persuaded the patient in the previous story that he had not been to Hell? That would be like telling him he wouldn't die again. What about the thousands of other true life stories that parallel this one? For example, my great grandmother was pronounced dead and left on a gurney for half an hour as the coroner did some paperwork. Just as suddenly as she died, she awoke, sat up, and began to tell a story about meeting Jesus and being told that she would need to return and live a while longer. And that she did!

Aside from the physical evidence of life after death, the bible tells us many things about the afterlife. Before Christ was born, there was Abrahams Bosom, and Hades. Abrahams Bosom was the place where righteous people went, and Hades was a holding place for the dammed. An example of this is found in Luke 16:22-24 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

After Christ died on the cross and arose on the third day, he conquered death. We that now believe in Him go to be with Him in Heaven when we die. Abraham's Bosom is no longer needed. Unfortunately, Hades (Hell) was not destroyed, and is still in use to hold the large number of non-believing people that have died. We know that this Hell is still around because it will be destroyed in the future. Revelation 20:24 tells us that after Christ returns for the second time he will cast Hades and Death into the lake of fire. This will be the end of death, and Hell.

The only reason to fear death is to not know Christ Jesus as your personal savior. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

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