What a good question.You suggest that maybe we see want we need to see. – That is also an interesting idea. The Hindu and their beliefs about Karma and Zen see the passage into the afterlife this way: The vibrational frequency of the energy of your essence passes into another realm. In this new realm your essence will settle in the area where your vibrational frequency finds harmony. Die at peace and your essence will settle in a peaceful location. Die in chaos and in chaos you will find yourself. Sort of like throwing a magnet into a pile of other magnets, some will repel some will attract until it comes to rest where it belongs.
A book that I found interesting is – Life after Death.“In this collection of inspirational essays, internationally known author Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross draws on her in-depth research of more than 20,000 people who had near-death experiences, revealing the afterlife as a return to wholeness of spirit.”
Dr Kubler-Ross was an ER physician that was fortunate to bring several back to life. In her research of 20,000 patients she concludes that the common story told by so many people must have some bases in fact, although she doesn’t frame her conclusion in the vocabulary of Heaven or Hell, possibly to make her book marketable to the secular world.
A perfect example: youtu.be/VOCGYjS5BZILast fall my wife discovered the YouTube video story of Angelica Zambrano, a 16 yr old girl from Mexico that was taken into hell and given a tour by an angel of the Lord. Today, this young girl preaches salvation endlessly and commands a huge following in Mexico.
Act 2:17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
“In the last days” – this is the question. If we really are approaching the end-time, these stories become more prophetic. But as I am sure Richard will tell you, many times in the past people though they were the end-time generation. As much as want to see the end-times evidence today, we may also be fooled. False messages abound.
My SkepticismDo I absolutely 100% believe her story? As a skeptic by nature, I reserve 100% endorsement of almost everything, but I have no reason to doubt her story. In my writing I refer to Enoch and Paul and their journeys into the multiple heavens, so why would I have any reservation about Angelica Zambrano’s story?
Personally, I think it is due to my skepticism of “Christendom” in general. I desire to belong to the body of Christ, the Church that has zero relationship with buildings and paid overseers. This is exactly why I describe myself as a Gnostic, just to separate myself from being stigmatized as a Presbyterian, Catholic, or any other sub group.
Because Dr Kubler-Ross refuses to use the words Christ or Heaven in her conclusions – she is passively endorsing a New Age Spiritualism, which is nothing more than a non-Christ-centered belief system.
Angelica Zambrano’s story is driving thousands back to a zealous Catholic-centered-church belief.
It is not about the church (small c intended) and is has less to do with a non-Christ-centered belief system. Both are false messages. Even Angelica Zambrano reports to have seen Pope John Paul in hell. I would find her story so much more satisfying if she then goes on to say run as fast as you can from Catholicism and toward something more meaningful – run from the corporate origination toward Christ!
2Co 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
This is the bases for my skepticism – I know some really good hearted Mormons. I know some really good hearted Jehovah Witnesses. I have a lot of respect for a Muslim friend of mine. They all have something that causes their convictions to be so strong.
As a skeptic by nature, I reserve 100% endorsement of almost everything, but I have no reason to doubt these stories. I take this information onboard, but I weigh it accordingly with all the other trivia, scripture, and prayer.
Have I made my position clear? Or am I just sounding wishy-washy?
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