What Happens After We Die
By: Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. Edwin Lutzer; ©2002 |
Dr. Ankerberg interviews Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Church about the topic of death, and some of the ways people have tried to get information about what happens after we die. |
What Happens After We Die?
Dr. John Ankerberg: One topic that people are always interested in is what will happen to them after they die. In fact, some people are so interesting in finding out about it that they are trying to get information through some rather strange sources. Tell us about some of those.
Dr. Erwin Lutzer: John, the desire for people to find out what lies on the other side of the curtain is so great that some people have asked, āIsnāt it possible for us to peer behind that curtain and see what is there?ā For example, there is such a thing as āchanneling,ā as all of us know, where you are in contact with spirits and as a result of this contact, supposĀedly people know what lies on the other side.
One day I was in a library and I picked up the book by Bishop Pike entitled, āThe Other Sideā. You will remember, his son committed suicide, and he wanted to find out what it was like on the other side and he thought that his son was trying to communicate with him. Pike went to a medium and she was in contact with his son. And Iāll never forget some of the conversations that they had.
For example, when the son was asked, āDo they talk about Jesus on the other side?ā his response was, āNo.ā He said, āWe donāt speak much about Jesus here on the other side.ā
Well, do you know what I would like to do? I would like to suggest, my friend, today, that if you die and youāre in a place where theyāre not talking much about Jesus, youāre in the wrong place.
Now, the question is, āHow, then, did this spirit, this medium, know information about Bishop Pikeās son?ā You know, the Bible talks about evil spirits as being āfamiliar spirits.ā Did you know that there are actually demonic powers that are acquainted with us; they observe our ways? And so it would be understandable that a medium, being in contact with these spirits, would be able to give information regarding them and regarding the young boy.
Now, listen to what the Scripture says. It is very clear in making sure that we do NOT consult mediums: āAnd when they say to you, āConsult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,ā should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?ā (Isaiah 8:19) God condemns this kind of prying into the spirit world because there are spirits out there that are very deceptive.
Now, thereās another means that sometimes people think about and that is āReincarnaĀtion.ā One day I was on a plane and I was riding with this woman sitting right next to me whose name was Shirley. And when Shirley found out I was a minister, she said, āOh, I envy you being able to speak to people because I can perform healings and I have all this information!ā And then she told me that she believed in reincarnation because she said, āThere was this house in Vermont and I would dream about it. I had visions of it.ā
And she said, āI had never visited the state but as an adult I went there and I found the house and I discovered that I lived there in the 18th century.ā
And I said, āShirley, I want you to know something. There is no such thing as the transmigration of souls, but there is the transmigration of demons.ā I said, āYouāre picking this information up from the spirit world. It was evil spirits that gave you this information about that house in Vermont.ā
And she looked at me defiantly and said, āAbsolutely not! I have nothing to do with evil spirits. I communicate only with those that come to me clothed in light.ā
Well, what verse of Scripture do you think I gave to Shirley? The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that, āSatan himself is transformed into an angel of light.ā I want to tell you today, my friend, that there is a lot of deception that is going on out there.
Ankerberg: What about near-death experiences. We hear a lot about them. In fact, a few years ago we did a series of programs about them. But just briefly, if you would, tells if we can trust the information that comes from that type of experience?
Lutzer: Iām sure, when we talk about near-death experiences, one of the first things that comes to many peopleās mind is the book āEmbraced by the Lightā, that book by Betty Eadie (which, incidentally, is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ). But itās a book that is very deĀceptive because it gives the impression that when one dies, Jesus is there to embrace everyone. There is no judgment. And she even makes a statement to the effect that, āI was worthy of Jesus.ā
My dear friend, I want you to know that is NOT the Jesus of the New Testament, because the Bible is very clear that death is NOT a wonderful experience for everyone. As a matter of fact, some who have written about this topic have said that some of these people have had a terrible experience. Theyāve described it, really, as an experience of āHell,ā not a Jesus who embraces everyone.
I remember one woman saying to me, āYou know, I had this Near-Death Experience,ā and she said, āJesus took me by the hand and He showed me all the different religions of the world. He said, āThere is Buddhism,ā and āThere is Hinduism,ā and āThere is the Islam faith.āā And she said, āJesus told me that all of these religions lead to the same destination.ā
Again, I want you to know, my friend, that is NOT the Jesus of the Bible who said that He is āthe way, the truth and the life,ā and that āno one can come to the Fatherā except by Him (John 14:6). Jesus is very clear regarding who He is. In fact, the Bible says there are many christs and so we should not be surprised at the fact that there are demons out there who even take the name of āJesusā to deceive (Matt. 24:23-24).
Ankerberg: You know someone is going to ask, so letās get an answer on the table. What about Stephen?
Lutzer: I love that story in the New Testament (Acts 7) where Stephen is being stoned, youāll remember, and rocks are being thrown at him and, lo and behold, the heavens are opened and he sees the Son of God standing at the right hand of the throne of God. John, Iāve often thought about that passage because, you know, it is the only place in all the New Testament where Jesus is seen standing at the right hand of God the Father. Elsewhere Christ is always seated, but itās almost as if Jesus is saying, āStephen, be faithful. Be faithful because the minute you die, Iām here to receive you.ā
But hereās the point: Is it possible to have a near-death experience? Sometimes people who are in that transition between life and death have talked about seeing relativesā grandfather or grandmother or a child. Itās certainly possible. Stephen saw the Lord Jesus Christ before he died.
But I want to warn you today that Satan would like to give the same positive experience to everyone. And thatās where the deception comes in. There is no such thing as having a near-death experience that is completely authoritative unless it squares with what God says death is all about.
Now, here is my take on it. Iām not so much interested in what happens when Iām ānearā death. I want to know what happens when I actually die. It is not so much the transition that concerns me as it is the final destination. I want to share this from my heart to you today.
Frankly, I think itās arrogant for people to trust their near-death experiences. I do not want to trust someone who was only ānearā death, because Iām not so much interested in the transition. Iām interested in the final destination. How much better to trust someone who actually was dead and then came back from the dead so that He can tell us what lies on the other side. I think of the words of Jesus in Revelation 1:18. He said, āI am He that liveth and was dead and am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.ā
At the end of the day, we do need a reliable map. We need a reliable guide who can help us know what is on the other side. And only Jesus Christ qualifies. And thatās why we have to hang onto every word that He said in the New Testament because He alone is able to tell us what happens after we die.