What do you think about Heaven/Hell testimonies?

[levnishbar]

The Bible tells us that Heaven (Luke 23:43) and Hell (Luke 16:19-31) are real.

Do you think that God may allow some people to cross either threshold, and come back to tell us of their experiences? Or that entry into either place is a one way ticket?

Should we place any belief or draw any inspiration from them? Or should we categorically avoid them like a plague?

I remember some time ago when I was going through an exceptionally rough patch in life, I saw/read about the testimony of a boy who came back from Heaven. It gave me a light at the end of the tunnel, that there is something so worthwhile waiting for us at the end that our sufferings of the present time to be trivial compared to the glory to be revealed (Romans 8:18).

After I emerged from that rough patch, I learnt that it turned out to be malarkey, and was sorely disappointed, almost embittered.

But a mature Christian friend counseled me, saying that it was what I needed to hear and hope for at the time, and the fact that it helped me pull through that dark period showed it was fit for purpose, for all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

 

[eleos1954]

The mind is a fragile thing .... one can be easily deceived ... nobody goes back and forth from heaven .... this "idea" comes from the false teaching of a "immortal soul"

We are NOT immortal in any way and do not become immortal until Jesus returns .... there have been a few .... special resurrections and Enoch was evidentially translated but beyond that the masses wait dormant in the grave until Jesus returns and we will once again has access to the tree of life ... in heaven and we will eat of it forever.

so ... how did this teaching come to be?

Here's a pretty good article on it ...

The Origin of Hell-Fire in Christian Teaching

Revelation 22:2-3 tells us that there is a tree of life in heaven.

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; (NASB) Rev. 22:1-3

The tree of life will exist in heaven forever.

 

[BobRyan]

The Bible tells us that Heaven (Luke 23:43) and Hell (Luke 16:19-31) are real.

Do you think that God may allow some people to cross either threshold, and come back to tell us of their experiences? Or that entry into either place is a one way ticket?

Agreed - heaven is real, the lake of fire (hell) will also be real.

1. Prophets have been shown heaven as we see in 2 Cor 12, and in the book of Revelation... and there are more recent examples.

2. Hell does not exist until the Rev 20 Lake of fire and brimstone which is "the second death". The only ones that go there are the ones in Rev 20 that are judged in the great white throne judgment and cast into that lake of fire.

Prophets have been shown that lake of fire (hell) as we see in the case of John and also more recent prophets have seen it in vision.

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2 Cor 12:
Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

 

[bbbbbbb]

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?

 

[Bob Crowley]

I've raised this issue ad infinitum, but I maintain the night my father died he appeared in my room. He started with an apology for the way he'd treated me (in his own words on the night "I've been an absolute mongrel to you!"), we had an exchange of views most of which I can still remember 43 years later (I turned 25 later that year), and at the end he gave this blood curdling scream and then just disappeared.

It was obvious that something was coming for him, going by his body language. It was also obvious that during most of our exchange he was looking at something behind and above me. But at no time did I see anything but him. I was prevented from seeing what he could see.

I think he went to Hell. I'm sure of it. You didn't see the scream.

The Catholic Church teaches the "particular judgment" takes place immediately after death, and I think I saw his reaction to being judged. He'd died that night, probably only a few minutes beforehand. The "Last Judgement" on the other hand will be a stupendous event and we will all see how our actions and inactions contributed to the final outworking of God's plan.

Catholic Catechism Paragraph 1039

"In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's relationship with God will be laid bare.626 The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life:"

There are canonised saints who have been given visions of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. I believe all three exist. Like the OP I'm a bit cynical about those who say they've "been to heaven / hell / purgatory" but these saints were given visions while they were still alive. Being honest Saints I think their testimony can be trusted.

I was well and truly alive the night my father died, and I still am obviously. But I make no claim to having gone to any of those places. I will one day though, like all the rest of us - to one of them, or maybe two - hopefully Purgatory and Heaven.

Heaven as Described by the Saints

5 Saints Who Had Terrifying Visions of Hell -

3 Sobering Visions of Purgatory from the Saints