I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
Since Jesus showed up – we have begun to have MANY testimonies of people who have actually died and went to heaven and then were sent back. Jesus actually brought a few back from the dead Himself. (Can you list a few?) Now in this culture and time they are given the term NDE, which stands for a ‘near death experience’. I’m my opinion I’m not sure that’s the best term for that kind of experience. But there have been also those who have been given ‘revelations’ like the “man” Paul was describing here in this passage, and most theologians believe Paul was actually recounting a personal experience in this scripture. Some have had ‘visions’ of heaven and experienced much of what those who “die” on the table in a hospital and then visit heaven. Either way these individuals are FOREVER changed by that ‘visit’ to God’s Kingdom / Heaven. I actually have talked personally to more than several who have had personal NDE’s.
When I was 12 years old my maternal grandmother had a ‘dream’ while her husband (my grandfather) was actually dying in a hospital bed that she was sitting next to very late one night. Her dream was that she was talking with Henry (my grandfather) about normal things in a place where there was mist up to their knees, when Henry remarked to Agnes (my grandmother) that he had to go, the angels were coming to get him. At that point Henry began to rise and lights met him, and he lifted out of her sight. When she woke up Henry was dead. My grandmother believed the dream was an actual meeting with Henry, and was greatly comforted by the dream.
Many have had experiences of the ‘spiritual nature’, yet because there are so many who try to fake their way into notoriety by telling / lying about a personal spiritual encounter, almost all these experiences are shunned into silence. Yet many are REAL. How should we know the real ones? By the discernment through the Holy Spirit that inhabits / indwells your body. All other ways are very long and tedious and can be doubted. If you can’t know the truth by the Spirit of God, then everything is questionable. All scripture is CONFIRMED by the Spirit of God within you OR …you are guessing that it may be correct or how to interpret it. Every translation is an interpretation. Just ask anyone who is bilingual. Not everyone will translate from one language to the next the same way. Translating heavenly experiences either from an NDE or a heavenly vision is EXTREMELY difficult, as there is SO much that language just cannot explain. No words seem to fit what the person experienced. So many struggle to put into words what they experienced in the spiritual realms.
And many are fearful to even tell others about their experiences, because of the rejection they have seen by the ‘judgmental Church types’. What is really needed are those in the Body of Christ who are of the ‘prophetic ilk’ who can help these individuals tell their stories. Jesus actually gives those ‘gifts to the Church’ for the edification and equipping of the saints (Ephesians 4:11-14), but many modern church institutionalists have run those ‘gifts’ out of the leadership and membership. Let’s allow Jesus to actually know what’s best for us – rather than listening to academics “who know better” than us, as we can also just plainly read the scriptures for ourselves. These spiritual experiences and testimonies can be HIGHLY encouraging and faith affirming. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to help us discern the truth of things.
Let’s not be afraid of spiritual experiences. But let’s allow the Holy Spirit teach us through them and confirm them in scripture.