Does the Bible say anything about near-death experiences?

TL;DR:

The Bible does not mention near-death experiences but records instances where people truly died and were restored to life. Any claims of NDEs today should be evaluated by Scripture.

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are incidents where individuals report spiritual or out-of-body experiences during a period when they were clinically near death but later revived. The Bible does not record any such accounts. On the other hand, the Bible does mention several occasions when a person truly died and was later restored to life. Further, there are occasions in which writers of Scripture had visions of the afterlife and wrote down details of their experiences. But none of these events in the Bible could be called an NDE. NDEs today should be evaluated by Scripture, as they could be deceptive. While God can choose to communicate through visions, the Bible does not establish this as a regular pattern.

from the old testament

Ecclesiastes 9:10 states, "There is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." This verse contradicts the idea of near-death experiences (NDEs), where individuals claim to have conscious awareness, knowledge, or visions while near death. Any experiences reported during an NDE should be evaluated carefully and not assumed to be accurate depictions of the afterlife.

from the new testament

A near-death experience could be deceptive, since Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Some people interpret 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 as a near-death experience. In this passage the Apostle Paul recounts how he was caught up to the third heaven. However, Paul's experience is not compatible with the modern concept of NDE. There’s nothing in the text to say that Paul was near death (or actually dead) when he found himself in heaven. Paul is simply relating a vision that God gave him of heaven. Assuming this was a near-death experience goes beyond what the Scripture says.

implications for today

Near-death experiences today must be evaluated by Scripture rather than solely by experience. While God can certainly communicate through a vision if He chooses to, Scripture does not offer an established pattern of this type of communication. In addition, Satan is called the father of lies (John 8:44) and could certainly use a near-death experience to deceive a person into believing something about the afterlife that is not true (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Instead of relying on subjective experiences, we must turn to God's Word for truth about life after death. The Bible teaches that life is brief and death is certain (James 4:14; Hebrews 9:27). After death comes judgment, where each person will either experience eternal life with God or eternal separation from Him (Matthew 25:46). Jesus emphasized the importance of knowing Him as the only way to the Father (John 14:6), making the decision about where we will spend eternity the most critical one we face. Understanding what the Bible says about life and death urges us to seek salvation through Christ and be prepared for eternity.

understand

The Bible does not mention near-death experiences.
Any claims of NDEs today should be evaluated by Scripture.
The Bible teaches that life after death is determined by faith in Jesus Christ, making the decision about eternity essential.

reflect

How does knowing that the Bible emphasizes judgment after death influence your sense of urgency to follow Christ?
Have you ever been tempted to trust personal stories or experiences more than what Scripture says about life after death?
How does understanding what Scripture says about death help you evaluate near-death experiences?

engage

Why is it important to evaluate near-death experiences by Scripture rather than relying on feelings or stories?
How can we encourage others to focus on the certainty of salvation in Christ rather than seeking assurance through subjective experiences?
What biblical principles should guide our understanding of visions and experiences that claim to reveal information about the afterlife?