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Positive Near-Death Experiences: Accounts of Heaven
​What happens when we die?
Positive NDE testimonials
Some people who have come close to death, in an accident, during surgery or after a cardiac arrest, return with an experience they say changed their lives. On this page are gathered some of those accounts so you can hear them in the person's own words. You don't have to accept every detail; just listen with an open heart and weigh what you hear against Scripture in the Bible.
What people commonly describe
Accounts differ, but several themes come up again and again: - feeling themselves leave their body – a tunnel, or moving towards a brilliant light - a deep peace and a love stronger than anything on earth – a review of their life, seeing how their choices affected others – meeting loved ones who had died, or a being of light that many call Jesus – reaching a boundary they were not allowed to cross – not wanting to come back.
How should a Christian weigh these accounts?
The Bible tells us to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1), so Scripture, not experience, is our final guide. Even so, these stories echo things the Bible already says. Paul wrote of a man "caught up to paradise", who heard things he could not put into words (2 Corinthians 12:2–4). Jesus promised the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). And John describes a place where God "will wipe away every tear" (Revelation 21:4). An experience can stir us, but only Jesus can bring us home. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
​What happens when we die?
Do people meet Jesus in near-death experiences?
Many describe a being of light and love, and some name Him as Jesus. We can't verify every account, but the Bible tells us clearly who Jesus is and how to know Him now.
Are positive NDEs proof of heaven?
They aren't scientific proof. They are testimonies worth weighing. The firmest ground for hope is the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15).
Why do some people not want to come back?
They often speak of a peace far beyond anything here, which fits Paul's words that to depart and be with Christ "is far better" (Philippians 1:23).
If these accounts have stirred something in you, you don't need to wait for a near-death experience to find peace with God. Here's how to become a Christian. You may also want to read the distressing near-death experiences some people report.
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