"THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL"
TEXT: I John 4:1-3
THESIS: To examine the Near-Death and Out-of-Body experiences in the light of God's Word.
INTRO:
A. With modern resuscitation technology we now have a population of between 8 and 11 million people who have had "Near-Death" (NDE) or "Out-of- Body" Experiences (OBE).
🔹A noted researcher in this field, Dr. Chas. Garfield noted: "Not everyone dies a blissful, accepting death...Almost as many of the dying patients interviewed reported negative visions (demons, etc.), as report blissful experiences..." p.73 "To Hell and Back"
🔹Our text demands that we "Try (examine) the spirits..." Nearly all the NDE'S and OBE'S see "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL" of death, but the question is what is that "Light"?!
B. The New Agers claim that death is a positive, ecstatic experience and "the uniform acceptance by the angel of light has inspired a new philosophy called 'Omega...
Omega serves to indicate 2 things:
1. There are no prerequisites for entrance into this heavenly place, and
2. those who are not accepted but are returned to earthly life are constrained to move the world toward peace and brotherly love, which is called the 'Omega Point.'"
(IBID. Bible-believers know better and see these "positive" experiences of unbelievers, as Satanic delusions designed to convince the lost that salvation is not required and that there is no judgment after death.)
C. You may wonder what this has to do with prophecy. The next event on the prophetic calendar may be the rapture, but the next event on God's calendar for your life or mine may be death!
TRANS: Today, let's "Try the spirits..." and take a biblical look at "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL"...
I. THE TRUE LIGHT:
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
A. The "Light From Heaven":
1. Paul's Conversion:
ILLUS: Paul apparently had a "Near-Death Experience" on the Rd. to Damascus and he was struck down by "a light from heaven" Who was the Lord Himself!
Acts 9:3-6
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
NOTE: Paul asks Who this beautiful Figure of Light is. If you ever have a NDE you had better ask too! He may turn out to be an impostor! But we who know Him now will also know Him then!
2. Stephen's Execution:
ILLUS.: Stephen was being stoned. (This wasn't a "NDE" it was a "RDE" - Real Death Experience!) The Bible account says he "looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory (light) of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God..." Acts 7:55
3. Paul's Vision:
a. Paul says he may have had an "OBE" when he was stoned at Lystra.
II Cor. 12:1-4
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard Unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
b. There was no doubt as to where Paul was; he called it "the 3rd heaven" and "paradise".
ILLUS: When someone tells you that you cannot know for sure that heaven is real because no one has ever been there and came back with a report, tell them about our Savior who did and Paul who did! And now there are apparently thousands who have had NDE'S OR OBE'S who have come back as well.
B. The Light of the World:
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (KJV)
II. THE FALSE LIGHT:
A. An Angel of Light:
II Cor. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is trans-formed into an angel of light.
1. Satan wears 2 faces: he is either "an angel of light" or "a roaring lion" - Beware!
2. For many "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL" may turn into fire!
3. No one ever reports seeing Satan himself in hell; that is because though he is alive and well he is not yet in hell.
4. But as the great deceiver and counterfeiter he is se-nding may others on ahead.
B. The Light Bearer:
1. The word Lucifer is translated from a Hebrew word meaning "Morning Star."
2. The Latin words "Lucis-Ferre" means "light bearer".
QUES: Why are most of the NDE'S and OBE'S positive or beautiful? If Satan should appear as Satan, it would horrify the victim. It would turn him from his wicked ways and dispel the aura of unconditional love and acceptance.
On the other hand, if Satan appears as Lucifer the angel of light, the victim might feel secure and comfortable in the seduction of this angelic fate.
a. Instead of Satan, Lucifer is now presented as "The Force" which will energize the New Age.
ILLUS: Darth Vader says to Luke Skywalker: "You've only begun to discover your power. If only you had known the power of the Dark Side...Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy." Crystals, mind-altering drugs, yoga, meditation, hypnosis, spirit guides, crying are all used to raise The Force, The Power, Kundalini, the Omega Point...SATAN!
The New World Order or the New Age Conspiracy is a disguised plot to usher in the Kingdom of Antichrist. A whole new world order of politics, religion, holistic health, and economic change which completely writes God out of the picture and deifies Lucifer instead...another light, another glory
b. The 4 lies of Satan in Eden are being repeated today by the New World Order, the Omega Point (Christ is the ALPHA and THE OMEGA!), and the New Age:
1) You will not die! (Yes, you will!!!) Reincarnation
2) Your eyes will be opened! (You will be blinded!!) Mysticism
3) You will be like gods! (You will become demon- possessed!!) Demonism
4) You will know good and evil! (You will think you are God!) Humanism
CONCL:
🔸There is indeed a "LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL" but before you go through the tunnel you had better know which light is at the end of YOUR tunnel! There are more than one!
🔸The only way to be sure is to receive the True Light!
THESIS: To examine the Near-Death and Out-of-Body experiences in the light of God's Word.
INTRO:
A. With modern resuscitation technology we now have a population of between 8 and 11 million people who have had "Near-Death" (NDE) or "Out-of- Body" Experiences (OBE).
🔹A noted researcher in this field, Dr. Chas. Garfield noted: "Not everyone dies a blissful, accepting death...Almost as many of the dying patients interviewed reported negative visions (demons, etc.), as report blissful experiences..." p.73 "To Hell and Back"
🔹Our text demands that we "Try (examine) the spirits..." Nearly all the NDE'S and OBE'S see "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL" of death, but the question is what is that "Light"?!
B. The New Agers claim that death is a positive, ecstatic experience and "the uniform acceptance by the angel of light has inspired a new philosophy called 'Omega...
Omega serves to indicate 2 things:
1. There are no prerequisites for entrance into this heavenly place, and
2. those who are not accepted but are returned to earthly life are constrained to move the world toward peace and brotherly love, which is called the 'Omega Point.'"
(IBID. Bible-believers know better and see these "positive" experiences of unbelievers, as Satanic delusions designed to convince the lost that salvation is not required and that there is no judgment after death.)
C. You may wonder what this has to do with prophecy. The next event on the prophetic calendar may be the rapture, but the next event on God's calendar for your life or mine may be death!
TRANS: Today, let's "Try the spirits..." and take a biblical look at "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL"...
I. THE TRUE LIGHT:
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
A. The "Light From Heaven":
1. Paul's Conversion:
ILLUS: Paul apparently had a "Near-Death Experience" on the Rd. to Damascus and he was struck down by "a light from heaven" Who was the Lord Himself!
Acts 9:3-6
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
NOTE: Paul asks Who this beautiful Figure of Light is. If you ever have a NDE you had better ask too! He may turn out to be an impostor! But we who know Him now will also know Him then!
2. Stephen's Execution:
ILLUS.: Stephen was being stoned. (This wasn't a "NDE" it was a "RDE" - Real Death Experience!) The Bible account says he "looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory (light) of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God..." Acts 7:55
3. Paul's Vision:
a. Paul says he may have had an "OBE" when he was stoned at Lystra.
II Cor. 12:1-4
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard Unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
b. There was no doubt as to where Paul was; he called it "the 3rd heaven" and "paradise".
ILLUS: When someone tells you that you cannot know for sure that heaven is real because no one has ever been there and came back with a report, tell them about our Savior who did and Paul who did! And now there are apparently thousands who have had NDE'S OR OBE'S who have come back as well.
B. The Light of the World:
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (KJV)
II. THE FALSE LIGHT:
A. An Angel of Light:
II Cor. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is trans-formed into an angel of light.
1. Satan wears 2 faces: he is either "an angel of light" or "a roaring lion" - Beware!
2. For many "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL" may turn into fire!
3. No one ever reports seeing Satan himself in hell; that is because though he is alive and well he is not yet in hell.
4. But as the great deceiver and counterfeiter he is se-nding may others on ahead.
B. The Light Bearer:
1. The word Lucifer is translated from a Hebrew word meaning "Morning Star."
2. The Latin words "Lucis-Ferre" means "light bearer".
QUES: Why are most of the NDE'S and OBE'S positive or beautiful? If Satan should appear as Satan, it would horrify the victim. It would turn him from his wicked ways and dispel the aura of unconditional love and acceptance.
On the other hand, if Satan appears as Lucifer the angel of light, the victim might feel secure and comfortable in the seduction of this angelic fate.
a. Instead of Satan, Lucifer is now presented as "The Force" which will energize the New Age.
ILLUS: Darth Vader says to Luke Skywalker: "You've only begun to discover your power. If only you had known the power of the Dark Side...Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy." Crystals, mind-altering drugs, yoga, meditation, hypnosis, spirit guides, crying are all used to raise The Force, The Power, Kundalini, the Omega Point...SATAN!
The New World Order or the New Age Conspiracy is a disguised plot to usher in the Kingdom of Antichrist. A whole new world order of politics, religion, holistic health, and economic change which completely writes God out of the picture and deifies Lucifer instead...another light, another glory
b. The 4 lies of Satan in Eden are being repeated today by the New World Order, the Omega Point (Christ is the ALPHA and THE OMEGA!), and the New Age:
1) You will not die! (Yes, you will!!!) Reincarnation
2) Your eyes will be opened! (You will be blinded!!) Mysticism
3) You will be like gods! (You will become demon- possessed!!) Demonism
4) You will know good and evil! (You will think you are God!) Humanism
CONCL:
🔸There is indeed a "LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL" but before you go through the tunnel you had better know which light is at the end of YOUR tunnel! There are more than one!
🔸The only way to be sure is to receive the True Light!