OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCES - IITB 08.05

 

Chapter 8. 5

Out of Body Experiences

Esotericism – Astral Body – Soul Travel – Spirit Walking

Paul’s OBE – Job’s OBE – John’s OBE – Familiar Spirits

The Hoax - Near Death Experience

 

 

First Word

     Hollywood’s efforts in producing superstitious ideas has brought credibility to ghosts, exorcisms, astrology and “Flatlines”; people who have died and lived to tell about it.  In a Gallup poll, eight to nine million people have reported experiencing an OBE; Out of Body Experiences or an NDE; a Near Death Experience which occurred after some kind of trauma that rendered them temporarily dead or on the verge of death. These TWILIGHT ZONE experiences seem to fall into two categories;

1)      Real and Genuine; uphold Biblical concepts and glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ.  The experience deepens their commitment to the Biblical Jesus and to personal evangelism or for the Non-Believer results in salvation or a return to Christ with a lifelong commitment.  Some have expressed a desire to stay and not come back to their body.

2)     Real, but deceptive; teaches non-Biblical concepts; or implies false doctrines such as Universalism which teaches that in the end; everyone goes to heaven and even goes further and rejects the doctrine of eternal punishment.  There is NO fear of death; there is NOouter darkness”,[1] only light; there is NO wrath of hell, only love.

 

     Many shared the same mystical perceptions, experiences, feelings and emotions:

a)     Encountered a brilliant light or a BEING OF LIGHT; an angel or Jesus who emanates irresistible love and warmth and communicates with them not with words, but thoughts.

b)     Experienced no judgment; only profound real acceptance with pure love, joy, peace accompanied by extreme pleasure.  No demons with pitchforks, nor angels playing harps.

c)     Were united with deceased loved ones; friends and relatives or perhaps spiritual entities with a physical form that help them through the experience or they meet “Saints from Old”.

d)     Encountered a barrier; a door, fence, body of water or an imaginary line where they can go no further.

e)     Were sent back to fulfil or complete their earthly tasks, assignments or responsibilities.

 

     Many report that they no longer fear death and see death as just a transitional state to another form of life.  The event convinces some to become Christians, others to leave the faith and become mediums to facilitate others to embark on their OWN supernatural spiritual journey.

     The New Age Movement presents a higher, larger, wiser and more real SELF which hastens ones self-realization that he or she is also a god.[2] (Satan’s very first teaching and lie; you can be a god)

     For centuries it has been common to believe that man is made up of TWO components, body and spirit, but now the New Age Movement teaches a THIRD component; The Astral Body;

1)      The Material body of flesh which we receive at birth.

2)     The Soul or Spirit which comes from God and returns to Him at death.

3)     The Astral Body which is an exact copy of the “flesh body” except the material is finer, shiny and luminous in appearance.

     The Astral Body can travel great distances in “the Astral Plane” in the ethereal world and is not subject to the laws of nature, nor solid objects.

     The Book commands us to not communicate with the dead;[3] with that said, if we are told to NOT communicate, then it must be possible.  So if someone dismisses OBE’s and NDE’s as FAKE, then they have not studied the examples in the Book.

 

A few Definitions

     Esotericism is intellectuals seeking to homogenize or combine "pagan" philosophies with Christian philosophy and the JewishKabbalah”, resulting in the emergence of the esoteric (cryptic, secret, mysterious) New Age movements like “Christian theosophy”; Esotericism is of the Occult.

     Soul Travel is a willful out-of-body experience (OBE), a supposed form of telepathy that assumes the existence of a soul or consciousness called an "astral body" that is separate from the physical body which is capable of travelling outside of it throughout the universe.  It accesses the fourth Dimension or an “intermediate world” of light between Heaven and Earth, composed of the spheres of the planets and stars.  These astral spheres are held to be populated by angels, demons and spirits.  Satan is THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR;[4] and when you “Soul Travel” you are traveling through his territory; “Soul Travel” is of the Occult.

     Spirit Walking:  Just on the border of your waking mind there lies another time where darkness and light are one and as you tread the hall s of sanity you feel so glad to be unable to go beyond.  (Lyrics from the song TIME by the Electric Light Orchestra.)   Spirit Walking is the ability to enter into the twilight zone that’s on the borders of your waking mind.  On one hand it’s a state of consciousness, between sleep and dreaming, and on the other a wakeful consciousness.  It is in this state that it is possible to make contact with Familiar Spirits who reside in the spirit world who can give you esoteric details and information.  Spirit walking” is of the Occult.

    

Near Death Experience

     Near-death experience (NDE) is a personal experience generated by trauma, perhaps associated with death or impending death caused by a severe illness, a heart attack or car accident.  It can also be triggered by drug use or occult practices where an altered state of consciousness is desired.

     Such experiences may encompass a variety of sensations including detachment from the physical body; they become “spectators” with feelings of levitation, total serenity, security, warmth, the experience of absolute dissolution, and surrounded with the presence of light.

     Others report of traveling through; a valley, cave, sewer, trough or tunnel with light at the end.  Some hear wonderful rapturous music while others hear banging, buzzing or other harsh disturbing sounds.  Researchers have catalogued SEVENcategories of memory”;

1) Violence or persecution, 2) fear, 3) animals, 4) plants, 5) bright light, 6) Deja-vu, and 7) family.

     While in OBE or NDE, some report an awareness of their surroundings and what is being said in their presence; while others report seeing their life pass before them in VIVID color.  Many who had experienced NDE reported many striking similar experiences, but none experienced ALL of the same things.  While a NDE or OBE can be innocent, we cannot rule out demonic deception or satanic manipulation of the mind to cause the feeling or experience of the Astral body floating out of the physical body. (If such a thing as an Astral body even exist)

 

Out of Body

    Out-of-body experience (OBE) is an experience that typically involves a feeling of floating and in some cases, the perception of observing one's own physical body from a place outside of one's body.  One out of ten people will have at least one OBE experience in their lifetime; some will experience it several times.  Wikipedia

     For the most part people seek OBE for spiritual reasons; a higher level of consciousness or enlightenment; however, there are some who want to operate in the supernatural so that they can cause harm to others.

 

Out of Body experiences are divide up into TWO GROUPS.

1)      Involuntary OBE can happen after a near death experiences during an accident or after some kind of trauma or exhaustion in which a person leaves their body for a brief period of time where for some reason, they discover additional clarity and truth.  Many observe details that they did not know before; they gain knowledge.  The event was not actively pursued and was unpredicted and totally un-expected.  Often this surprise is accompanied by panic to get back inside the body.

2)     Voluntary OBE is when a person is trying to have an out of body experience in order to connect with the spirit world; the supernatural.  Astral Projection (or astral travel) is a term used in esotericism to describe a willful out-of-body experience (OBE), a supposed form of telepathy that assumes the existence of a soul or consciousness called an "ASTRAL BODY" that is separate from the physical body and capable of travelling outside of it throughout the universe.

Two Forms of Voluntary OBE

1)      Phasing:  Where an individual endeavors to access a part of the mind that is “shut off” during their everyday life.  This practice is similar to Buddhism or the New Age Movement where they look inward to oneself for knowledge; this is practicing the Occult.

2)     Mystical:  Where an individual endeavors to EXIT the body completely and travel to another dimension that is not connected with this world.  This is again is of the Occult.

     OBE practice includes concentrating for a lengthy period of time on one’s own self in a mirror while trying to deliberately slow down their heart beat; to try to loosen their astral bodies from the confines of their physical bodies.  The purpose or object of OBE is to travel and communicate with other astral bodies; FAMILIAR SPIRITS.  Necromancy or communicating with the dead or familiar spirits is an ABOMINATION to God.[5]

 

My personal OBE

     I was particularly interested in this Word Study because of my own personal experience that happened about 35 years ago… I had a particularly tiring day and had just laid back on the sofa and at some point found myself out of my body looking down from the corner of the room at myself lying on the sofa.  I felt weightless, there was liberating sensations in my body and I thought this is awesome, till suddenly I felt an urge that this was not right and I immediately STRUGGLED to get back into my body.  I found on the internet many others who also had reported observing themselves below from the top corner of a room.

     It happened again; this time I was a little more trusting and adventuresome and Astra traveled right up through the ceiling; above the roof and began to fly around over the trees, not horizontal, but vertical as sitting down; traveling down the streets and under overpasses, I  stayed out much longer… BUT again I felt an urge that I should not do this and found myself fighting and struggling, trying to get back into my body which brought on sudden fear and made my heart race.

     I shared this with a Christian co-worker and she verbally beat me up, telling me; NEVER DO THAT AGAIN, she said when your spirit leaves your body, another spirit can occupy it; this opens the door to demonic possession, it is of the Occult.  WOW, I had never heard of such a thing.

 

Apostle Paul’s OBE

     Paul writes to the Church at Corinth addressing a few issues, one of which is boasting about their authority and he mentions that he also had visions and a revelations.  He makes a point of telling them that he doesn’t know if it happened while he was in his body or was Out of his Body experiencing an OBE.[6] (Also called OOBE.)

     Sidebar there was a time when Paul experienced trauma or had a near death experience when he was stoned & left for dead; it could be very well that this is when Paul had his OBE.[7]

     I embrace fence Post Theology; the Bible makes a statement about a subject which drives in a fence post of Truth.  When you look back at all the fence post that are in a line, if one does not line up; either your BS, your Belief System is wrong or the Bible is wrong. You need a course correction.

     There are three heavens in Hebrew cosmology; FIRST our atmosphere,[8] then SECOND outer space,[9] then THIRD, God’s dwelling place.[10]  It’s the third heaven that the Apostle Paul encountered.

During Paul’s experience, he heard inexpressible words, which man is NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK.  This is important; he could not reveal what he heard.  If we use Paul’s experience of a Spiritual encounter with God, then we drive in our FIRST Fence Postthat says if it is a Godly experience, we will not be allowed to divulge the details.  I say this because many that have had OBE REPORTED DETAILS of their situation that were not previously known.

     Paul reports that this was an involuntary experience, it just happened.  He did not seek it nor did he report it happening to him again.  This drives in a SECOND Fence Postthat if it is from God, it is involuntary; we do not cause it to happen.  THIRD Fence Post;There are books available that teach how to have “out of body experiences”.  That would make them voluntary experiences which would be a good indicator that this supernatural phenomena IS NOT FROM GOD.

 

Job’s OBE

     Job seems to have had an OBE; he said; “Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.  It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:[11]

     If we use Job as a Fence Post we would find that encountering something outside the body fills you with dread, trembling and makes your bones shake.  This is opposite of the many reports of warmth, happiness and joy; this is a FOURTH Fence Postout of line and it’s practicing the Occult.

 

John’s OBE

     John the Revelator (not John the Baptist) experienced an OBE when he was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos and was taken to heaven where he was shown a great many things.  He was commanded to write some things down, but others He was commanded to not record them.[12]  This is the FIFTH Fence Post planted; what is revealed or not revealed is decreed by the command of God. 

     John was taken on “The Lord’s Day which many students believe was on a Sunday, others believe it was Saturday.  In my BS, I believe that “The Lords Day” was an event of the second coming of Jesus Christ; thus a “Revelation” of prophecy of THE END TIMES.[13]

     In fear and Awe, John fell at the feet of Jesus as a dead man; the Pentecostals would say he was “slain in the spirit” and I would agree.[14]  This is the SIXTH Fence Post planted; this scared the tatter tots out of John and put his face on the ground; he DID NOT have a sense of peace, love and joy as others report.

 

Other Soul OBE

     The following are more examples of the soul leaving the body and returning to give it back its life.  These Biblical examples of the Soul/Spirit leaving was not just for a few minutes in time, but was for an extended time.  There was a superstition that a person’s spirit would linger around a couple of days before it finally departed.   We see this in the story of the death of Lazarus; Jesus waited three days to PROVE IT WAS A MIRACLE and not just an OBE.

     Jesus called Lazarus back to life who had been dead three days.[15]

     Jesus died on the cross and then tombs were opened and many believers came back to life.[16]

     Peter prayed and Dorcas/Tabatha came back to life.[17]

     Elisha the Prophet restored the life of a Shunammite’s woman’s son.[18]

     Elijah the Prophet asked God to allow the Widow Zaraphath’s son’s soul to come back into him and He did.[19]

     NOTE:  The SEVENTH Fence Post planted; in every case, a miracle was required to unite the soul to the body again and bring forth life.  Each event came from God to a specific person, for a specific purpose which results glorified God and revealed His love, grace and mercy for His people.

     SEVEN Fence Post planted: it was never about personal gain and never pointed TO ANY DEAD SPIRIT, it always pointed back to God.

 

God’s Thoughts

     When the spirit EXITS the body, that person is dead.[20]  Death is the separation of the Soul from the body, it does not become annihilated nor extinct; it is just separated from the body and will live on in immortally throughout eternity.  FENCE POST planted.   In order for a dead body to have life again, the soul/spirit must re-enter the body which requires A MIRACLE from God OR the soul/spirit never left the body to begin with.

     I have heard it said that OBEOut of Body Experiences” do neither good nor harm, but the Good Book says we are WARNED to not participate in these detestable practices.  God said very bluntly; YOU WILL GO TO HELL.[21]  (So stop it now; Repent.)

     Many people who have had Near Death Experiences say that they saw Jesus.  This is just not what the Book teaches.  In scripture, after the Lord’s resurrection and assentation into heaven, He was NEVER seen on earth again by anyone; even Paul on the road to Damascus did not see Jesus, he only heard a voice.  FENCE POST planted.  The being of light is not from God.

     What’s missing?  While there are warm and fuzzy reports of squealing delight, what is missing are the reports of judgment or the scorching fires of HELL.[22]  Rewards and Punishment have been replaced with a being of light.

     The TOTAL ACCEPTANCE by a being of light is a message of “Universalism”; which teaches that all the spokes in a wheel lead to the same hub; everyone goes to heaven.  What is present is the subliminal message that teaches the denial of sin, judgment and the need for forgiveness.

     Nowhere in the Book are we told to attempt Astral Travel.   OBE and NDE events with its vivid imagery disturb the normal reality in the cognitive system.  The TERMOut of Body Experience” was concocted to eliminate any reference to the Soul and removes any religious inference that points back to GOD; it all point back to SELF.

     The Book says the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears and will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.[23]

     Shirley MacLaine is probable most famous for her book “Out on a Limb” which embraces Transcendental Meditation and channeling through familiar spirits, Out of Body Experiences and Reincarnation. [24]

     The Book also says that the Holy Spirit will be OUR GUIDE into all truth.[25]  We are to put on the whole armor of God and Stand.[26]   WE do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

 

90 minutes in Heaven - HOAX

     Kevin Malarkey and his six year old son Alex were in a car accident in 2004 where Alex experienced a Near Death Experience or Out of Body Experience and went to heaven for 90 minutes and came back.  Together the two co-authored a trilogy of books; The Boy who came back from Heaven, Heaven is for Real and 90 minutes in Heaven.

     Ten years later Alex RECANTED HIS STORY and said “I did not die.  I did not go to Heaven. I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention.  When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible.  People have profited from lies, and continue to; they should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth; anything written by man cannot be infallible”. (Alex read the Bible and has courageously spoken up.)

     Tyndale House Publishers and Lifeway Christian Book Stores announced they will stop selling these trilogy BEST SELLERS.

 

The Take Away

     Near Death Experiences (NDE) is a personal experience generated by trauma and can occur after your heart stops beating, but while your mind is still functioning; NDE’s are similar to a dream, but are much more vivid and detailed.  The event is not of the Occult unless it is triggered by drugs used in occult practices where an altered state of consciousness is desired and sought.  People who practice “FLATLINERS” practice the Occult.

     Involuntary Out of Body Experiences (OBE) can occur after some kind of trauma, extreme stress or exhaustion.   For some reason, many discover additional clarity, truth, knowledge and details. Often this surprise event is accompanied by panic to get back inside one’s body.  This is NOT of the Occult.

     Voluntary Out of Body Experience (OBE); there are two forms;

1)      Phasing is when an individual endeavors to access a part of the mind that is “shut off” during their everyday life where they look inward to oneself for knowledge.  

2)     Mystical is where an individual endeavors to EXIT the body completely and travel to another dimension.   Both Phasing and the Mystical are of the Occult; they are Satanic and demonically inspired and purposed to lead you to demonic oppression; if not possession.

     The Book plants fence post for us to sight along to see if our BS, our Belief System is “out of line” with scripture; here are the seven fence post that were planted.

     FIRST Fence Post:  It happens involuntary; we do not cause it to happen.

     SECOND Fence Post:  In every case, a miracle was required to unite the soul to the body again and bring forth life.

     THIRD Fence Post:  You are NOT be allowed to divulge NEW spiritual knowledge and details.

     FOURTH Fence Post:  You are commanded to record or not record THE EVENT.  Things to be revealed or not revealed are decreed by the command of God.

     FIFTH Fence Post:  It fills you with dread, trembling and your bones shake; you do not feel warm and fuzzy all over with happiness and joy.

     SIXTH Fence Post: It knocks you to the ground and scares the tatter tots out of you; you do not have a sense of joy, peace and love.

     SEVENTH Fence Post:  Each event was for a specific purpose which the end results glorified God and revealed His love, His grace and His mercy for His people.  It was never about personal gain of knowledge.  It always pointed back to God; not to the dead spirits.

     We do not go to the afterlife at near death”, we go at death” and we cannot crossover to come back.  C.S. Lewis says there will be two kinds of people in the end;

1)      those who will say to God; Thy will be done  (BLESSED)

2)     those to whom God will say, “Thy will be done.” (CURSED)

Did you see it?  In the finality of things, it’s our will that will be done; Life is choice driven.

 

IT’S IN THE BOOK

 

Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right

12 THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN, BUT ITS END IS THE WAY TO DEATH.

(ESV)

Luke 16:26 - Between you & us a great chasm; none may cross
26 And besides all this, between us and you A GREAT CHASM has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and NONE MAY CROSS from there to us.’

(ESV)

Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by reading God’s Word
17 So FAITH COMES FROM HEARING, and hearing through the word of Christ.

(ESV)

 



[1] Matthew 25:30 – There is an Outer Darkness where there is Weeping and gnashing of teeth from pain

[2] Genesis 3:3-5 – Satan’s lie; you will Not die; you will be like a god

 

[3] Isaiah 8:19 – People should communicate with God not the dead

[4] Ephesians 2:2 - The prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience

[5] Deuteronomy 18:9-12 – Abomination; Sorcerer, Medium, Spiritist or one who communicates with the dead. -- Isaiah 8:19 – Do not seek Wizards that have familiar spirits that mutter and peep, seek the God of the living.

[6] 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 – Paul’s OBE; whether In or Out of the Body I do not know

[7] Acts 14:19 – NDE OBE:  Paul Trauma, Stoned, left for dead

[8] Acts 14:17 – First Heaven; our atmosphere where it rains

[9] Isaiah 13:10 – Second Heaven; Space

[10] 1 Kings 8:30 – Third Heaven; the dwelling place of God

[11] Job 4:12-21 – Job; the OBE scared the tater tots out of him

[12] Revelation 10:4 – John was instructed, commanded; do not write it down

[13] Revelation 1:10-11 – OBE; John taken to heaven on the Lord’s Day

[14] Revelation 1:17 – In fear, John fell as Jesus’s feet as dead; slain in the Spirit

[15] John 11:43-44 – Jesus; Lazarus dead three days, lived again

[16] Matthew 27:51-53 – Jesus death; many bodies raised from dead

[17] Acts 9:39-40 – Peter; Tabatha/Dorcas came back to life

[18] 2 Kings 4:32-36 – Elisha; Shunammite’s son receives life back.

[19] 1 Kings 17:21-22 – Elijah; Child’s life came back into him.

[20] Genesis 35:18 – When your Soul Spirit departs; your body is DEAD -- James 2:26 – The body apart from the Soul Spirit is DEAD

[21] Galatians 5:19-21 – I WARN YOU those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God; you will go to hell -- Leviticus 20:6 – Whole communities with Familiar Spirits will go to hell -- Deuteronomy 18:9-11 – Do not learn the detestable worldly ways; those WHO PRACTICES DIVINATION or SORCERY, INTERPRETS OMENS, ENGAGES IN WITCHCRAFT and CONSULTS THE DEAD -- Deuteronomy 18:10-11 – Command – Do not consult the dead -- Leviticus 19:26 - Do not practice divination -- 2 Chronicles 33:5-6 – NECROMANCERS; communicating with the dead provokes God to anger

[22] Galatians 5:19-21 – I WARNED YOU that those that engage in sorcery will go to hell -  Matthew 25:46 – ALL DO NOT GO TO HEAVEN

[23] 2 Timothy 4:1-4 – You have itching ears for your own passions of myths

[24] Hebrews 9:27 - THERE IS NO REINCARNATION

[25] John 16:13 – The Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth

[26] Ephesians 6:11-13 – Put on the whole armor of God to be able to stand against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over THIS PRESENT DARKNESS

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