Near Death Experience - Can A Person Die, Leave Their Body, And Then Return?

Nowhere in the Bible does it say it is “appointed” (Gk: ‘apokeimai’ - to be reserved, laid away) for humans to die more than once. Humans don't die, go to Heaven or Hell, and then come back, except Jesus, who is God incarnate.

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV)

There are many stories and YouTube Videos of people who swear they had a Near Death Experience (NDE), went to Heaven and spoke to Jesus or a dead relative or pet, etc., etc., etc. Yet, there is no way to validate, verify, or substantiate their stories, especially from the Bible. When a person has no heartbeat, breathing, or brain activity, that is described as clinical death, but it does not necessarily mean biological death, which is when a person's brain is damaged. Cells in the heart, brain, and other organs die from a lack of oxygen within 4-6 minutes and will progressively become worse from about 6-11 minutes. Generally, when 11-14 minutes have passed without a supply of oxygen to the brain, a person will have little chance of survival because of the damage caused, which is irreversible. At that point, 'personhood' is legally removed from the body.

Some suggest that the Apostle John was translated to Heaven, and if that had not happened, there would not be the Book of Revelation. However, the Bible does not say anywhere that John was 'translated,' but it does say that Enoch and Elijah were. The Greek word ‘metathesis’ is used in the Bible regarding a change or transformation in the context of a significant shift or removal but was never used about going to and from Heaven. It is also used to convey the idea of a fundamental alteration or transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, symbolizing a spiritual and not a physical shift. The Apostle John was not supernaturally translated to Heaven. Still, he did have a ‘vision’ or a ‘divine revelation’ of insight or messages from God through a visual experience beyond the natural realm, which he confirmed in writing.

The New Testament records a handful of people who died and were raised from the dead, but it does not record that anyone had an NDE. The most famous is Lazarus of Bethany, yet he was the third person Jesus raised from the dead. Lazarus was 100% dead and rotting in the grave for four days and was not near death (John 11:17). Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep" (John 11:11 KJV). The word' sleepeth/sleep' in Greek is 'koimaó' and is used in the Bible metaphorically and euphemistically equivalent to 'die of the sleep of death; to decease, the dead' (see Matthew 27:52; Acts 7:60,13:36; 1 Corinthians 7:39,11:30;15:6,18,20,51; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15). The result of these astonishing miracles was God was glorified, and many people believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Yet, some refused to believe in Jesus and plotted to kill Jesus and Lazarus (John 11:53; 12:10).

The first person that Jesus raised from the dead was the widow of Nain's son (Luke 7:11–17). Jesus came across a funeral procession that was leaving the city with a young man in an open coffin who had died within the last 24 hours. When Jesus saw the procession, He had compassion on the widow and physically reached out to touch the coffin, saying to the dead man, arise! The young man immediately sat up and began to speak. The people were astounded and began to glorify God. This young man was dead and not near death when Jesus spoke life into his body.

Many people believe that the daughter of Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, was the second person to be raised from the dead (Luke 8:40–56). Someone from the house of Jairus informed him that his daughter was dead. Jesus overheard them and said, "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well" (Luke 8:51). Jesus then went to the house and told everyone there that she was "not dead but sleeping" (Luke 8:52). They laughed at Him. He then took her hand and said, "Child, arise," and her spirit returned. She got up, which amazed everyone there. What is interesting is that Jesus didn't say she was dead but only asleep, even though her spirit had already left her body.

The next person to be raised from was Tabitha (Acts 9:36–43). Tabitha, whose Greek name was Dorcas, was a Believer in Jesus who lived in the coastal city of Joppa. The Apostle Peter prayed for her. Dorcas was known for "always doing good and helping the poor" (verse 36). When she died, the Believers in Joppa were filled with sadness. They laid the body in an upper room and sent for Peter, who was in the nearby town of Lydda (vs 37–38). Peter came at once and met with the Disciples in Joppa, who showed him the clothing that Dorcas had made for the widows there (verse 39). Peter sent them all out of the room and prayed. Then, "turning toward the dead woman, he said, 'Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet" (verses 40–41). The overjoyed Believers received their friend, and the news spread quickly throughout the city. "Many people believed in the Lord" as a result (verse 42).