A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF DEATH

Transcription

1 A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF DEATH (Revised) A Bible Study Course for Adults John D. Schuetze Student s Guide Produced by the Board for Parish Education Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod All rights reserved. Purchase by a congregation: Purchase of these student copy masters by a congregation gives Bible study leaders of that congregation permission to adapt and copy this material for use in one or more groups within that congregation. (Dual parishes may purchase one copy for use in both congregations.) Purchase by a pastor or other Bible study leader: Purchase of these student copy masters by an individual gives the buyer permission to adapt and copy this material for Bible classes he or she teaches or supervises. Fourth printing, 2008 Third printing, 2005 Northwestern Publishing House Second printing, N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI Northwestern Publishing House. Published 1996 Printed in the United States of America

2 A Christian View of Death Foreword Part 1: The Art of Dying Our Qualifications What Is Death? Understanding the Dying Dealing with the Dying Preparing for Death Coping with Death Part 2: Euthanasia What Is Euthanasia? The Muddy Waters of Euthanasia Small Beginnings The Right-to-Die Movement The Sanctity of Human Life The Quality of Life The Moment of Death Preserving Life or Prolonging Death? The Benefit of Suffering Advance Directives Choose Your Directive Carefully Part 3: Death and the Child Introduction Explaining Death to a Child Preparing a Child for Death Dealing with the Death of a Child Part 4: Life after Death Near-Death Experiences Illusion or Reality? The Final Judgment Hell The Fate of the Unbeliever The Word Hell in the Old Testament What Is Hell Like? Heaven The Hope of the Believer Endnotes Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 2

3 FOREWORD Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15 Funerals have always been a favorite part of my ministry. That may sound strange, perhaps even a bit morbid. Yet the death of a Christian is something special. The psalmist calls it precious. The death of a Christian is precious for a number of reasons. First, it means another soul has been safely ushered to the heavenly home. And that s what the ministry is all about. That s what our mission as Christians is all about winning souls for heaven. But a Christian s death is precious for another reason. It provides a special opportunity to share the gospel with the living. As we comfort the grieving, we share with them Christ s victory over death. What better time to do this than when people are faced with the grim reality of death? What better way to prepare them for their own death? I pray this course may do the same prepare people to meet their Maker, making them confident of the eternal life they have through the life and death of Jesus Christ. For then they, too, will view a Christian s death not as something dreadful, but as something truly precious. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 3

4 PART 1 The Art of Dying OUR QUALIFICATIONS To offer information and advice on a given subject, it s helpful to have firsthand experience. A former drug user may be effective in speaking about drug addiction. An airline pilot may be helpful to one who is studying the hazards of aviation. We may wonder, therefore, what qualifies us to speak on the subject of death. Few of us have come face to face with death. None of us have been dead for any length of time, only to come back and tell about it. Even those with neardeath experiences leave many questions unanswered. Did they really die? Did they actually see what lies beyond the grave? Can their reports be trusted? READ Luke 16: Why are we qualified to speak on the subject of death? WHAT IS DEATH? Man has made many attempts to define death. To the atheist, death is the end of any meaningful existence a mere passage into oblivion. To others, death is viewed as a natural part of life. Everything is born, lives for a while, and then dies. Neither of these views gives an accurate picture of death. Death is not natural. It s unnatural. God didn t create us to die; he created us to live. When God breathed into man the breath of life, he intended that man should live forever. READ Romans 6:23; 5:12. What do these passages say is the reason for death? Why is the phrase death with dignity a contradiction in terms? READ John 8:44. Why does Jesus rightly call the devil a murderer? UNDERSTANDING THE DYING In recent years a great deal of research has been done with the dying. Terminal patients have been interviewed and analyzed in an attempt to better understand the dying process. Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is a well-known investigator in the field of dying. Though not a Christian, Dr. Kubler-Ross can help us understand and relate to the dying. In her book, On Death and Dying, she outlines five stages of dying. These are stages a person may go through after he is told he has a terminal illness and that, in all likelihood, death is just around the corner. Not all terminal patients go through all five stages. Nor is there always a clear progression from one stage to the next. Some may go back and forth between stages. Others may be in several stages at once. And, as we will see, a Christian s faith has a profound effect on how he or she deals with death. The five stages 1 are as follows: 1. DENIAL This usually occurs shortly after the person is told he has a terminal illness, although this denial may continue to the end. The person feels there must be some mistake. The doctor must have misread the X ray, or the files must have been mixed up. This denial may lead the patient to consult with other doctors, hoping the initial diagnosis was wrong. As the patient s health deteriorates, denial becomes more difficult. 2. ANGER When a person is no longer able to say, No, it s not me! he may begin asking, Why me? This may cause him to lash out in anger at family, friends, doctors, nurses, and God. Even a Christian may say things that Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 4

5 shock those around him and lead them to question his faith. 3. BARGAINING At this stage the question shifts from Why me? to Why now? As it becomes more difficult to deny his approaching death, the person seeks to postpone it by striking a bargain, often with God. He promises to go to church every Sunday, to live a good life, to spend more time with his family, if only the Lord will extend his life. 4. DEPRESSION When it becomes evident that death is near, the person often sinks into depression. During this time the patient will be grieving for what he has already lost (e.g., health, mobility) and is about to lose (i.e., friends, family). It is commonly a period of silence and withdrawal as the dying patient tries to separate himself from all he has known and loved. Kubler-Ross refers to this depression as preparatory grief because it allows a person to prepare for death by letting go of his attachments in life ACCEPTANCE Eventually a person may resign himself to his impending death. He once again enjoys the company of people and is able to speak openly about his situation. He works at getting his house in order and may even anticipate his approaching death. READ the following passages. Determine which stage of dying each person was in. 2 Kings 20:1-6 Job 10:18-22 what to say or how to say it. There are a number of points to keep in mind as we minister to the needs of the dying person. READ the following passages. What guidance do they give in dealing with the dying? Ephesians 4:15,25 James 1:19 Matthew 20:34 Matthew 25:36 1 Peter 3:15 READ Matthew 26: As true man, what did Jesus long for as his death approached? What were some of his feelings as he faced death? What makes his death unique? READ Job 4:7-9; 8:1-7. What reason did Job s friends give for all his suffering? Job 21:3-6; 23:1-5 2 Timothy 4:7,8 Why may a Christian also go through these stages of dying? DEALING WITH THE DYING Some people feel awkward around those who are dying. They aren t sure they know Why were Job s friends of no comfort to him in his suffering? (Cf. Job 42:7.) What point does Jesus make in Luke 13:4,5? 1. From a Christian perspective, why is it usually better to tell a person he is terminally ill? Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 5

6 2. Evaluate: Some people fear dying more than death. 3. Evaluate: When a Christian suffers in life, he should remember it is the will of God. PREPARING FOR DEATH It s one thing to help the dying person deal with death. It s an entirely different matter when we are faced with our death. Fear, doubt, and uncertainty may suddenly grip the staunchest of Christians. No longer is it the other person who is dying. Now we are. But death shouldn t take us by surprise. We all know it s going to happen. It is going to take its toll of human beings as long as this earth endures. Since we know death is coming, it only makes sense to prepare for it. We will be taking the greatest journey of our lives, a trip out of time into eternity. Such a journey requires preparation. To help us prepare for our own death, let us consider some biblical role models. READ the following passages. Discuss how these people prepared for death. Psalm 23 David Luke 2:25-32 Simeon Philippians 1:21-25 Paul 2 Peter 1:13-15 Peter Luke 23:42 Thief Luke 23:46 Jesus 1. Evaluate: A Christian should never be afraid to die. 2. Evaluate: A Christian is always prepared to die. COPING WITH DEATH In many ways, those who are grieving over the death of a loved one are similar to the dying person. They may go through some of the same stages. The sudden shock of death may leave them in a state of denial. They wake up each day wondering if it really happened, hoping it was all only a nightmare. As the reality hits home, they may express feelings of anger or sink into depression. Even after they finally accept what has happened, the pain lingers. In a sense, the grieving will never end. Because of these similarities, the way we deal with the grieving is similar to the way we deal with the dying. Some of the points listed in Dealing with the Dying also apply here. In general, we need to be patient, compassionate, and understanding in dealing with those who are grieving. They have lost someone who will never be replaced in this life. READ 1 Thessalonians 4:13. Is the Lord telling us not to grieve? Explain. In what way is our grieving different from that of an unbeliever? READ John 11:35. What did Jesus do at the death of Lazarus? Why? 1. When does the reality of death often hit a person? 2. Discuss some of the unique social problems a widow or widower has to face. 3. At a funeral a minister once comforted the people by saying, Death is a friend. It helps us appreciate life. Comment on this statement. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 6

7 PART 2 Euthanasia WHAT IS EUTHANASIA? The term euthanasia comes from the Greek. Literally it means easy death or happy death. As harmless as this word may sound, it refers to shortening the life of a terminally ill or hopelessly sick individual. According to former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop, Euthanasia means that you do anything you can, actively or passively, to hasten the demise of someone who is considered to be either a nuisance or no longer productive. 3 Euthanasia can be broken down into different categories. To aid in understanding the issue, here are a few definitions: ACTIVE EUTHANASIA The termination of life by direct intervention. (Example: lethal injection) PASSIVE EUTHANASIA Hastening death by failing to provide or by withdrawing treatment that sustains life. The Baby Doe case is an example of this form of euthanasia. VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA The killing of a patient in accordance with his or her wishes. (This is broader than suicide because it involves a second party in bringing about the death.) INVOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA The killing of an incompetent or comatose patient without his or her consent, justified as merciful or humane. THE MUDDY WATERS OF EUTHANASIA To demonstrate how muddy the waters of euthanasia can be, we offer the following actual cases: A 55-year-old man suffered brain damage while undergoing heart surgery. His family had his respirator removed, with the expectation that he would die. However, he did not die. So he was denied food and water and succumbed to dehydration six days later. A court dropped murder charges against the physicians, ruling that the artificial administration of food and water constituted medical treatment and could be denied on orders of a third party. A Florida man was convicted of killing his wife and was sentenced to life in prison. The defense argued that the man shot his wife, who was suffering from Alzheimer s disease, out of love. The prosecution argued that the man took this action because his wife had become too much of a burden. In Michigan, Dr. Jack Kevorkian has helped more than twenty people commit suicide, even though a state law was passed barring such practices. His first victim was Janet Atkins who was diagnosed with the early signs of Alzheimer s disease. She played a game of tennis shortly before taking her life with the help of Dr. Kevorkian. 4 READ 1 Samuel 31:1-6; 2 Samuel 1:1-16. What type of euthanasia was practiced in the death of Saul? Why did David execute the Amalekite? What similarities do you see between the arguments of Saul and the Amalekite, and those who favor euthanasia today? SMALL BEGINNINGS It started with the acceptance of the attitude that there is such a thing as a life not worthy to be lived. 5 So wrote the Boston psychiatrist Leo Alexander in the late 1940s. As a consultant to the Secretary of War, Alexander outlined the reasons that led up to the German holocaust. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 7

8 Besides the annihilation of many Jews, Hitler s master race plan also called for the practice of active euthanasia. Alexander stated that Hitler exterminated 275,000 undesirable people in this way. The first to be killed were the aged, the infirm, the senile, and the mentally retarded and defective children. As World War II approached, the category of the doomed was broadened to include World War I amputees and even children with badly modeled ears. 6 READ 2 Corinthians 6:1,2. What does this passage say about the value of all human life? READ James 1:14,15. Apply these words to the matter of euthanasia. THE RIGHT-TO-DIE MOVEMENT The Euthanasia Society of America was formed in Now called Choice in Dying, this movement has gained considerable momentum in recent years. One of the leaders of this movement is Derek Humphrey. In 1979 he founded the Hemlock Society, which has as its stated purpose, advocating active euthanasia legislation and assisted suicide. Humphrey has also published a number of suicide manuals which explain how a terminally ill person can end his or her life. These include the book Let Me Die Before I Wake and a more recent volume entitled Final Exit. The latter was on the best-seller list for quite a few weeks. It s clear that Humphrey approaches the matter from a secular, humanist viewpoint. In the opening chapter of Final Exit, he states, If you consider God the master of your fate, then read no further. Seek the best pain management available and arrange hospice care. If you want personal control and choice over your destiny, it will require forethought, planning, documentation, friends, and decisive, courageous action from you. This book will help, but in the final analysis, whether you bring your life to an abrupt end, and how you achieve this, is entirely your responsibility, ethically and legally. 7 Humphrey is very specific about the type and amount of drugs needed to cause death. He encourages people to seek out a sympathetic doctor who will supply the drugs. He also instructs people to store these drugs in a safe, dry place so they can be used if and when they are needed. As a backup, Humphrey suggests placing a plastic bag over the head. He explains, There is a ten percent chance that my body might for some freakish reason ride out the assault of the drugs, or I might vomit despite the precautions. So I would have on hand a plastic bag. 8 READ Deuteronomy 32:39. What does this passage say about a person s right to die? READ 1 Timothy 1:9. Which phrase of this passage applies to the right-to-die movement? 1. Derek Humphrey believes in personal autonomy. He feels each person should have the right to determine the time and circumstances of his or her death. React to this argument. 2. Humphrey also refers to active euthanasia as self-deliverance. Why is it senseless to speak about it in this way? 3. Discuss the subtle pressures physicianassisted suicide places on the ill and the elderly. 4. Evaluate: Doctors are in a good position to provide assisted suicide since they can prescribe the drugs and also know the person s medical history. THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE In their book, Whatever Happened to the Human Race?, Francis A. Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop trace the problem of euthanasia back to secular humanism. While secular humanism glorifies man by placing him at the Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 8

9 center of the universe, it also devalues human life. It believes man evolved by chance and that some human life is expendable. It ultimately gives man the right to alter and manipulate the human race. The feeling is that this should be done for the common good of man. READ the following passages. Why is human life special, as opposed to animal life? Genesis 1:26,27 Matthew 10:28 Romans 5:8 READ the following passages. What do they say about the sanctity of human life? Ephesians 2:10 Jeremiah 1:4,5 Psalm 139:13-18 Genesis 9:1-6 READ Isaiah 55:6,7; Philippians 1:21. For what purpose does God give us life? THE QUALITY OF LIFE Some people believe that the value of a person s life depends on the quality of his life. They feel that when sickness or other health problems limit what a person can do and diminish the quality of his life, death may be the better alternative. Or they feel that when a person can no longer contribute anything to society or when he becomes a burden to others, his life becomes meaningless. This results in doctors sometimes making health-care decisions based on whether or not a person will regain or maintain a meaningful quality of life. EVALUATE the following statements: 1. A healthy person has a higher quality of life than someone with medical problems. 2. A wealthy person has a higher quality of life than someone who is poor. 3. An intelligent person has a higher quality of life than someone who is mentally disabled. 4. An attractive person has a higher quality of life than someone with ordinary looks. 5. A person s life is meaningful as long as he enjoys a good quality of life. 6. Human life is valuable because it s human life. THE MOMENT OF DEATH Years ago it was relatively easy to determine when a person died. If his heart stopped beating or he stopped breathing, he was pronounced dead. It s no longer that simple. It is becoming more and more difficult to pinpoint the moment of death. Everyone knows people die. The question is when. Because of advancements in medical technology, a person whose pulse and breathing have ceased momentarily can be resuscitated and brought back to life. Add to this the fact that a heart and lung machine can maintain these bodily functions for an extended period of time. Is such a person alive? Because this question is difficult to answer, some physicians use another criterion called irreversible coma or brain death. Even though a person s breathing and pulse may be maintained mechanically, physicians consider a person dead if he has a flat electroencephalogram (brain wave test). However, even when this test is applied, many gray areas still exist. To establish some guidelines in these areas, the medical community has produced the Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 9

10 Uniform Determination of Death Act. While not a legal document, it sets down the criteria that those in the medical community use to determine the moment of death. It states that an individual can be declared dead if he or she has sustained either (1) irreversible cessation of circulatory or respiratory functions or (2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem. READ Ecclesiastes 12:7 and John 19:30. From a biblical point of view, when does death occur? READ the following passages and use them to evaluate the following statement: God predetermines the moment when we die. Job 14:5 Psalm 139:16 Isaiah 38:1-5 Psalm 31:15 Psalm 55:23 PRESERVING LIFE OR PROLONGING DEATH? Because medical technology is now able to maintain vital bodily functions mechanically, the question is often raised, Are we preserving life or prolonging death? Even Christians, who recognize that God holds the authority over life and death, have to struggle with this question. In this connection it s helpful to distinguish between ordinary and extraordinary care. Ordinary care could be described as basic medical treatment: proper food and fluids, medications, surgery, and other treatment that is essential in sustaining life. Extraordinary care refers to use of aggressive and often immediate medical treatment in order to reverse a medical crisis. Such treatment is done with the reasonable expectation that the condition can be reversed and the emergency procedure will not cause the patient undue hardship. The familiar case of Karen Ann Quinlan demonstrates this predicament. In 1975 she became comatose after ingesting a combination of alcohol and drugs on an empty stomach. After a legal battle that led to the New Jersey Supreme Court, her parents obtained permission to remove the respirator, maintaining it was an extraordinary means of support that was keeping her from dying a natural death. When the process of weaning her off the respirator was completed, Miss Quinlan continued to breathe on her own, to the surprise of all. She lived nine more years until her death in While a respirator may be extraordinary treatment in some circumstances, in other cases like Quinlan s it may be ordinary care needed to sustain life, even though the person s quality of life has been diminished. Some definitions might be helpful: PRESERVING LIFE To provide the comfort, care, and sustenance needed to sustain a life, regardless of the quality of life. (This can include either ordinary or extraordinary care designed to restore or maintain the health of a person whose earthly life, according to human judgment, God wants to preserve.) POSTPONING DEATH To employ extraordinary means of medical treatment with the hope of preventing death when according to our human judgment God is calling the person home. READ Psalm 31:5,14,15. What should be our attitude toward life and death? 1. Can a Christian ever refuse certain medical treatment, even if refusing such treatment will shorten his life or that of a loved one? Explain. 2. Evaluate: A Christian should not let cost determine whether a treatment should be used. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 10

11 3. Evaluate: Since a feeding tube is a form of medical treatment, it can be removed, even if it causes death. THE BENEFIT OF SUFFERING One argument used by the right-to-die movement is that euthanasia frees the dying person from severe suffering. While this argument may sound noble and humane, a major point is overlooked. It has to do with the purpose of suffering in the human life. READ the following passages. What purpose does suffering have in our lives? Genesis 3:16-19 Job 42:1-6; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Luke 23:39-43 Job 1:20-22 Matthew 25:40 future time if one becomes unable to make decisions. 9 Although the living will was the first type of advance directive, it is generally less desirable for a number of reasons. For one thing, it s difficult to determine what medical treatment we want in advance. We don t know what the future holds. What we refuse when we are healthy we may want and need when we are sick. It s also impossible to cover every situation we may face. Another weakness of a living will is that people can interpret the directives differently. Another form of advance directive is the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Not to be confused with the Power of Attorney which deals with financial decisions, this is a legal document which appoints an agent to make our health care decisions in the event we cannot make them ourselves. This allows us to state some specific desires and, most importantly, to designate a person whose judgment we trust to make health care decisions for us, guided by God s Word and based on all the facts. READ the following phrases. Discuss how they can be interpreted differently depending on a person s perspective. 1. Terminal condition READ James 1:2-4,12. What attitude does James tell us to have about suffering? Why? READ 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. What comfort does Paul give those who are suffering? ADVANCE DIRECTIVES An advance directive is a verbal or written statement about our choices for health care, should we become unable to make decisions for ourselves. The laws regulating these directives often vary by state and province. There are two basic forms of advance directives. One is called a living will. This is a written statement that tells physicians and family members what life-sustaining treatment one does or does not want at some 2. When death is imminent 3. Artificial or heroic measures 4. No reasonable expectation of recovery 5. Restore a meaningful quality of life In 1991, the Patient Self-Determination Act was passed. It requires all health care facilities to inform patients upon admission of their right to have an advance directive and to provide them with information in this area. Why would this not be the best time to confront people with an issue like this? CHOOSE YOUR DIRECTIVE CAREFULLY When choosing an advance directive, we want to ask ourselves, Does it reflect our Christian Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 11

12 principles about life and death? Or does it approach the matter from the quality of life viewpoint? Since advance directives provided by the state or by secular health care facilities often reflect a quality of life viewpoint, a Christian will want to read the document carefully and, if possible, choose an advance directive that approaches the matter from a Christian perspective. Our choice will not only affect our health care decisions but will give us a unique opportunity to confess our faith. For more information on this matter, refer to the Addendum in the leader s guide of A Christian View of Death or contact: WELS Lutherans for Life National 2949 N. Mayfair Road Suite 309 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Phone: Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 12

13 PART 3 Death and the Child INTRODUCTION In some ways we may feel that death and children are incompatible. Whether we are discussing death with a child or dealing with the death of a child, both can be difficult situations. We may think it senseless to burden young minds with morbid thoughts about death. And we may struggle more with the death of a child than we do with the death of an older person. Yet, death and children are inseparable. Children sometimes die. Children have questions about death. And children need to know the facts of death. Let s look at the matter of death and the child. EXPLAINING DEATH TO A CHILD The way a person explains death to a child will depend on the child s age and maturity. Yet there are some important concepts about death we need to convey to children of all ages. READ the following passages. Apply them to the manner in which one explains death to a child. Ephesians 4:15 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 READ the following passages. What important teachings do they contain? How would you explain them to a child? Romans 6:23 1. Some statistics point out that by the age of 14 the average child has witnessed 18,000 murders on TV. What false view of death does this give? 2. Evaluate the following situation: Sarah is six years old. Recently a classmate at school died of an illness. When Sarah asked about the child s death, her mother said, God loved your friend so much he took her to be with him in heaven. 3. In a letter to his young son, Hans, Martin Luther described heaven as a beautiful and cheerful garden where there are many children wearing little golden coats. They pick up fine apples, pears and cherries and yellow and blue plums under trees. They also have ponies with golden reins and silver saddles. 10 Comment on this description. PREPARING A CHILD FOR DEATH God is no respecter of persons. This is especially true when it comes to death. His statement that the length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength (Psalm 90:10) is not intended as a promise. Some never live to a ripe old age. Some die in the prime of life. Others barely see the light of day. Because our times are in the Lord s hands, it s important to be prepared for death at all times. And it s important to help our children prepare for death so they, too, can live in the hope of heaven. Romans 5:12 John 14:2,3 READ Ecclesiastes 11:7 12:8. What warning does Solomon give young people? Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 13

14 READ the following passages. How does one prepare a child for death? Mark 10:13-16 Matthew 28:19,20 DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF A CHILD Medical science has made great progress in the past few decades. Some diseases that once took their toll of young lives have been virtually eliminated. Years ago it was common for parents to lose a child at a young age. Today it is relatively rare. For this reason the death of a child may catch parents off guard and leave them shocked. READ Psalm 127:3. Why is it often harder to deal with the death of a child than with the death of an older relative (parent, grandparent)? READ 2 Samuel 12: Why did David s child die? What purpose did the child s death serve? See 2 Samuel 12:14. How do you explain David s actions? What comfort did David have when the child died? See 2 Samuel 12:23. COMPARE Job 1:1-3 with Job 42:10,12,13. If God promised to double Job s family, why did he still have only seven sons and three daughters? Apply this to parents who have lost a child. READ Ephesians 6:2,3. Does this passage say that a child who dies was disobedient to his parents? Explain. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 14

15 PART 4 Life after Death NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES In recent years near-death experiences, also called out-of-the-body experiences, have received considerable attention. A person may have this experience when he is close to death, but is then resuscitated and brought back to life. During this brush with death, the person supposedly enters the realm of the dead and sees what lies beyond the grave. Dr. Raymond A. Moody is a prominent figure in the study of near-death experiences. He has analyzed hundreds of cases of near-death experiences and notes striking similarities. In his book Life After Life, he constructs what he considers to be the typical near-death experience: A man is dying and, as he reaches the point of distress, he hears himself pronounced dead by his doctor. He begins to hear an uncomfortable noise, a loud ringing or buzzing, and at the same time feels himself moving very rapidly through a long tunnel. After this, he suddenly finds himself outside his own physical body, but still in the immediate physical environment, and he sees his own body from a distance, as though he is a spectator. He watches the resuscitation attempt from this unusual vantage point and is in a state of emotional upheaval. After a while, he collects himself and becomes more accustomed to his odd condition. He notices that he still has a body, but one of a very different nature and with very different powers from the physical body he has left behind. Soon other things begin to happen. Others come to meet and to help him. He glimpses the spirits of relatives and friends who have already died, and a loving, warm spirit of a kind he has never encountered before a being of light appears to him. This being asks him a question, nonverbally, to make him evaluate his life and helps him along by showing him a panoramic, instantaneous playback of the major events of his life. At some point he finds himself approaching some sort of barrier or border, apparently representing the limit between earthly life and the next life. Yet, he finds that he must go back to earth, that the time for his death has not yet come. At this point he resists, for by now he is taken up with his experience in the afterlife and does not want to return. He is overwhelmed by intense feelings of joy, love and peace. Despite his attitude, though, he somehow reunites with his physical body and lives. Later he tries to tell others, but he has trouble doing so. In the first place, he can find no human words adequate to describe these unearthly episodes. He also finds that others scoff, so he stops telling other people. Still, the experience affects his life profoundly, especially his views about death and its relationship to life. 11 READ the following passages. Compare these experiences with the typical near-death experience described above. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 Acts 7:55,56 Revelation 7:9-17 ILLUSION OR REALITY? The question arises, Did the people with near-death experiences really experience what lies beyond the grave, or were they simply hallucinating? To answer this question we have to look at the cause of the phenomenon. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 15

16 According to experts, some experiences can be attributed to physical causes, such as a lack of oxygen to the brain, the effects of drugs and medications, etc. Such experiences would have to be classified as hallucinations. Studies have shown that certain drugs produce hallucinations similar to those found in near-death experiences. While most cases would probably fall into this category, one writer suggests, There are experiences we might call paranormal, that apparently defy the normal medical explanations often put forth. 12 Some would even attribute them to the devil. While Dr. Moody would also classify some near-death experiences as supernatural, he rejects the idea that they could have a demonic origin. He argues, As a response to such explanations, I can only say this. It seems to me that the best way of distinguishing between Goddirected and Satan-directed experiences would be to see what the person involved does and says after his experience. God, I suppose, would try to get those to whom he appears to be loving and forgiving. Satan would presumably tell his servants to follow a course of hate or destruction. Manifestly, my subjects have come back with a renewed commitment to follow the former and to disown the latter. 13 READ 2 Corinthians 11:14. Apply this passage to Moody s argument. READ Luke 16: Some people use near-death experiences to prove there is a life after death. On what should we base our hope for eternal life? THE FINAL JUDGMENT Many errors surround the second coming of Jesus and the final judgment. Some believe God will rapture the believers first, prior to the final judgment. Others believe in millennialism. Employing a misinterpretation of Revelation 20, millennialists say that when Christ returns, he will rule with his believers for a thousand years in a kingdom here on earth. Let s look to God s Word for a correct view of this matter. READ Ecclesiastes 12:7. What happens to a person at death? READ Luke 23:43; Matthew 22:32. Some believe that when a person dies, his soul sleeps until Judgment Day. Is this what the Bible teaches? Explain. READ John 5:28,29. What will happen to all people on Judgment Day? Jesus refers to those who have done good and those who have done evil. Is he teaching work-righteousness in these verses? Explain. EVALUATE the statement: It is impossible for someone to see heaven in a near-death experience. READ Isaiah 8:19,20. What should we use to judge the validity of near-death experiences? READ Matthew 12:39. Note the warning Jesus gave the Pharisees. How does it apply to this situation? READ Matthew 25: If we are saved through faith in Christ, why does Jesus commend the good works of the believers in this parable? 1. Evaluate: On Judgment Day, everything we have done will be revealed, both the good and the bad. 2. Evaluate: The Bible teaches that we will have to give account of our sins on the Last Day. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 16

17 HELL THE FATE OF THE UNBELIEVER The majority of near-death experiences describe visions of a better life beyond the grave. Few relate visions of hell. Some researchers maintain that many have unpleasant experiences in their near-death encounters but are reluctant to report them. In such situations human nature tends to remember the good and suppress the bad. The same applies to a belief in hell. Most believe in some form of heaven. Few believe that hell really exists. READ Matthew 25:41. Why was hell created? READ 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:16. Some people argue that God is a loving God who wants all people to be saved. Therefore they feel he would never condemn people to hell. How would you answer such an argument? (Cf. Ezekiel 18:23.) READ John 17:17. How do we know hell really exists? THE WORD HELL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT The Old Testament Hebrew word for hell is sheol. However, this word is not used exclusively to refer to the place where the unbeliever goes when he dies. It sometimes has a more general meaning and simply refers to the abode of the dead, the place where believers and unbelievers alike go when they die. Thus it is sometimes translated the grave. READ the following passages. How does the context determine the meaning of the word sheol in each case? Genesis 37:35 Old Testament. What do these Old Testament passages say to this point? Isaiah 66:24 Psalm 1:4-6 Daniel 12:2 WHAT IS HELL LIKE? It would be more pleasant if we could concentrate on heaven and not speak about hell. Yet hell is a reality. And the Bible describes it vividly. Even our loving Savior spoke plainly about the suffering of hell. READ Luke 16:23. Some teach that the unbeliever will be annihilated in hell. Is hell a ceasing to exist? Explain. Why do we need to explain carefully phrases like eternal death, destroy, and perish when we talk about the fate of the unbeliever? READ the following passages. What type of pain will the unbeliever suffer in hell? Luke 16:24 Revelation 14: Thessalonians 1:9 READ Matthew 27:46. What did Jesus suffer on the cross? Why? Jonah 2:2 Some people maintain hell is a New Testament concept which is not taught in the READ Matthew 25:46. What makes the punishment of hell so terrible? Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 17

18 READ Luke 12:47,48; Matthew 11: Is it true there are degrees of punishment in hell? Explain. READ Colossians 2:15. What comfort does this passage give us? Jesus speaks about the gnashing of teeth that will take place in hell. With this phrase Jesus seems to indicate something about the attitude of the condemned and the general atmosphere of hell. READ the following passages and note what this gesture expresses elsewhere in Scripture. Job 16:9 Psalm 35:16 Psalm 37:12 Lamentations 2:16 Acts 7:54 READ 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, What type of body will we have in heaven? READ Philippians 3:20,21; 1 John 3:2. In what ways will our bodies be like Christ s glorious body? READ Revelation 21:4. What will be totally lacking in heaven? READ Revelation 7:9-17 and note the beautiful snapshot of heaven God gives in this section. READ 1 Thessalonians 4: What comfort can we have at the death of a fellow Christian? HEAVEN THE HOPE OF THE BELIEVER There are many questions about heaven we can t answer. The Lord doesn t spell out in detail what heaven is like. It s easy to understand why he doesn t. For how could one describe in human terms something as beautiful as eternal life? How could one explain heavenly things, using only earthly words? But while the Lord doesn t give us a full-length feature film on heaven, he does show us some snapshots of our eternal glory. Let s page through this picture album God gives in his Word. READ John 6:47. When does the believer s eternal life begin? Evaluate the following statements: 1. In heaven we will be like angels. 2. We will recognize each other in heaven. 3. We will be sad if we get to heaven and find that one of our loved ones is missing. 4. Those who have died know what is happening here on earth. 5. We can be sure eternal life is ours. Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 18

19 ENDNOTES 1 Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, On Death and Dying (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1969). 2 J. Kerby Anderson, Life, Death and Beyond (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Corp., 1980), pp. 21,22. 3 Action Line, Christian Action Council Newsletter, July 12, 1985, Vol. 9, No Euthanasia Educational Packet. (To obtain this packet, contact Christian Action Council, 701 West Broad Street, Suite 405, Falls Church, Virginia, ) 5 Francis A. Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop, Whatever Happened to the Human Race? (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1979), p Schaeffer and Koop, Whatever Happened to the Human Race?, p Derek Humphrey, Final Exit (Secaucus, New Jersey: Carol Publishing, 1991), p Humphrey, Final Exit, p Respecting Your Choices, Advance Directives Counselor Certification Handbook, (LaCrosse, Wisconsin: Lutheran Hospital, 1993), p Martin Luther, Luther s Works, Vol. 49, Edited by Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut T. Lehmann (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House; Philadelphia: Fortress Press, ), p Raymond A. Moody, Life After Life (New York: Mockingbird Books, 1975), pp J. Kerby Anderson, Life, Death and Beyond, p Moody, Life After Life, p Scripture is from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 19