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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Have Some People Already Visited Heaven? (Part 1)

February 11, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Have Some People Already Visited Heaven? (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WordofGod #Heaven #Truth #Death #Encouragement #Eternity #Heart #Prophet/Prophets #Grief #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Have Some People Already Visited Heaven? (Part 1) | February 11, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr.robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Have you ever heard someone claim they died and went to
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  • Heaven and came back to tell about it?
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  • These stories are everywhere today in books, movies, and
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  • Personal testimonies.
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  • But can we trust these accounts?
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  • And more importantly, what does the bible say about people who
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  • Claim to have visited the afterlife?
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  • Well, today i'm going to help you evaluate these experiences
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  • Through the lens of scripture so you can distinguish biblical
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  • Truth from popular fiction.
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  • My message is titled, "have some people already visited heaven?"
  • 00:00:49.761 --> 00:00:54.133
  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: when loss leaves you searching for hope, turn your
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  • Eyes toward heaven.
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  • In "encouragement from a place called heaven," dr. robert
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  • Jeffress offers comfort drawn from god's promises about
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  • Eternity, not the myths and misconceptions tv and movies
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  • Tell us, but what scripture truly reveals.
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  • Whether you're grieving a loved one, facing illness, or walking
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  • Alongside someone in pain, this beautiful hardcover book
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  • Provides the encouragement you need.
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  • Request "encouragement from a place called heaven" when you
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  • Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: "god is calling me."
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  • Those were among the final words spoken by the great evangelist
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  • Dwight l. moody on december 22, 1899 when he died in his home in
  • 00:01:49.655 --> 00:01:55.994
  • East northfield, massachusetts.
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  • Now, the fact that d. l. moody died is really nothing unusual.
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  • We all die, don't we?
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  • But what was interesting about moody's experience is what
  • 00:02:05.003 --> 00:02:08.273
  • Happened immediately before his death.
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  • According to an article in "the new york times," moody said
  • 00:02:11.343 --> 00:02:15.080
  • Right before he died, quote, "i see earth receding; heaven
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  • Is opening.
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  • God is calling me."
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  • Did d. l. moody have what we call today a
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  • Near-death experience?
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  • Well, his great-nephew raymond moody certainly thinks so.
  • 00:02:32.564 --> 00:02:37.469
  • Raymond moody is the father of the modern craze called the
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  • Near-death experience fad.
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  • He's written a bestselling book that really has been the
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  • Foundation of the near-death experience craze.
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  • It was called, "life after life."
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  • It was published in 1975.
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  • And in this bestselling book, raymond moody describes
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  • Countless people who have had some out-of-body experience when
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  • They were near death or they said actually had died in which
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  • They visited the other side and were able to come back and
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  • Relate what they had seen.
  • 00:03:11.536 --> 00:03:14.139
  • Of course, the experiences we hear today differ from the
  • 00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:18.410
  • Experience of d. l. moody in two significant ways.
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  • First of all, d. l. moody actually died.
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  • He didn't kind of die.
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  • He actually died.
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  • And secondly, he never came back to share what he saw on the
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  • Other side.
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  • And of course, that brings up the question today as we
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  • Consider our series on heaven, "a place called heaven," and the
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  • Question is simply this: have some people who are alive right
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  • Now already visited heaven?
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  • Have you ever wondered about that?
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  • How do you make sense of all of these books and experiences of
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  • People who say, "we died, we went to the other side, we saw
  • 00:03:58.250 --> 00:04:03.055
  • What god has prepared for us, and we've come back to tell you
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  • All about it"?
  • 00:04:06.358 --> 00:04:07.693
  • Well, that's what we're going to talk about today.
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  • Have some people already experienced heaven?
  • 00:04:09.961 --> 00:04:13.598
  • Now first of all, we need to begin by defining what we mean
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  • By a near-death experience.
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  • The international association for near-death studies--can you
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  • Believe such a group exists?
  • 00:04:24.776 --> 00:04:26.244
  • But there is.
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  • An international association of near-death studies defines a
  • 00:04:27.612 --> 00:04:31.016
  • Near-death experience this way.
  • 00:04:31.016 --> 00:04:32.651
  • It is, quote, "a profound psychological event that may
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  • Occur to a person close to death, or if not near death, in
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  • A situation of physical or emotional crisis, and it
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  • Includes transcendental and mystical elements."
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  • Here are some common components of near-death experiences many
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  • People claim to have had today.
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  • The sensation of floating upward and viewing the scene around
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  • One's dead body, traveling through a tunnel or a dark space
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  • Toward a light, time spent in a beautiful otherworldly realm,
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  • Meeting god, jesus, and/or angels, encountering deceased
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  • Loved ones, relatives and friends, the story of one's life
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  • Passing in review as if he were watching a movie.
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  • The sensation of overwhelming peace and love, though some have
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  • Reported experiencing terrifying scenes of demons and distress.
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  • Approaching a barrier of some sort, signaling a point of no
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  • Return and being called back and reluctantly agreeing to return
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  • To one's body and life.
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  • Many people claim to have had these experiences.
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  • But whether they are valid or not, nobody can deny
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  • Their popularity.
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  • People buy these books by the millions.
  • 00:05:59.638 --> 00:06:03.842
  • Why are these books so popular?
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  • Why are we so fascinated with people who claim to have had a
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  • Near-death experience?
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  • I think there's two reasons for the popularity of this movement.
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  • First of all, our natural curiosity about the unknown.
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  • There is a dark curtain that is drawn between this life and the
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  • Next life.
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  • It's a mystery to us in many ways what awaits us on the other
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  • Side, and it's only natural that we would want to know what
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  • Happens after our brief few years here on earth, what awaits
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  • Us on the other side.
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  • In 2004, don piper renewed this interest in the near-death
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  • Experiences with his bestselling book, "90 minutes in heaven: a
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  • True story of death and life."
  • 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:50.956
  • That book was followed in 2006 by another man's experience.
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  • It was entitled, "23 minutes in hell."
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  • I'd rather have the 90 minutes in heaven, but he had 23 minutes
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  • In hell.
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  • One man's story about what he saw, heard, and felt in that
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  • Place in torment.
  • 00:07:06.872 --> 00:07:08.273
  • And on and on the books came, but none of these books comes
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  • Close to matching the popularity of a book released in 2010.
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  • It was written by todd burpo and it's entitled, "heaven is for
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  • Real: a little boy's astounding story of his trip to heaven."
  • 00:07:22.521 --> 00:07:26.725
  • Perhaps you've read the book or you saw the movie.
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  • In the book, todd burpo tells the story of his 4-year-old son
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  • Colton, who "died" during an emergency room surgery.
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  • He came back to life and he told his family about his 3-minute
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  • Trip to heaven.
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  • While in heaven, little colton burpo claims to have seen his
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  • Sister whom his mother miscarried and about whom his
  • 00:07:49.514 --> 00:07:53.151
  • Parents reportedly told him nothing.
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  • He saw his great-grandfather, whom he had never met.
  • 00:07:55.554 --> 00:07:58.723
  • He also saw john the baptist, jesus, god, and god the father
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  • Who had two wings, and the holy spirit who is apparently bluish
  • 00:08:04.062 --> 00:08:09.100
  • In color and transparent.
  • 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:11.770
  • The book has sold over 10 million copies and it continues
  • 00:08:11.770 --> 00:08:15.206
  • To sell today.
  • 00:08:15.206 --> 00:08:17.242
  • But not every book about a near-death experience has been
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  • So well received.
  • 00:08:21.112 --> 00:08:23.348
  • In 2004, alex malarkey claims to have died in an automobile
  • 00:08:23.348 --> 00:08:31.623
  • Accident and came back to report what he saw, and he, along with
  • 00:08:31.623 --> 00:08:36.728
  • Kevin malarkey, i like to pronounce it malarkey, wrote a
  • 00:08:36.728 --> 00:08:41.199
  • Book entitled, "the boy who came back from heaven."
  • 00:08:41.199 --> 00:08:45.503
  • And the reason i call it malarkey is that's what alex
  • 00:08:45.503 --> 00:08:49.774
  • Malarkey said himself.
  • 00:08:49.774 --> 00:08:52.077
  • He later confessed that he had made the whole thing up.
  • 00:08:52.077 --> 00:08:55.513
  • It was a fraudulent account and the publisher had to remove the
  • 00:08:55.513 --> 00:08:59.451
  • Books from the shelves.
  • 00:08:59.451 --> 00:09:01.486
  • I think one reason for the popularity of these books is the
  • 00:09:01.486 --> 00:09:04.389
  • Fact that we all have a natural curiosity about the unknown, but
  • 00:09:04.389 --> 00:09:08.526
  • Secondly, the popularity is partly due to our longing
  • 00:09:08.526 --> 00:09:12.430
  • For heaven.
  • 00:09:12.430 --> 00:09:13.765
  • Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that god has placed in every one of us
  • 00:09:13.765 --> 00:09:18.203
  • Eternity in our hearts.
  • 00:09:18.203 --> 00:09:20.271
  • We have a desire to know what god is preparing for us.
  • 00:09:20.271 --> 00:09:24.643
  • We know there's more to life than what we're experiencing
  • 00:09:24.643 --> 00:09:28.146
  • Right now.
  • 00:09:28.146 --> 00:09:29.481
  • The question is, where do we turn to find answers about what
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  • God has prepared for us?
  • 00:09:33.084 --> 00:09:35.487
  • I mentioned just a moment ago that alex malarkey confessed
  • 00:09:35.487 --> 00:09:39.758
  • That his experience was fraudulently.
  • 00:09:39.758 --> 00:09:42.160
  • In his letter of apology to the public, he wrote these words:
  • 00:09:42.160 --> 00:09:46.865
  • "when i made the claims i did in my book, i had never read
  • 00:09:46.865 --> 00:09:50.869
  • The bible.
  • 00:09:50.869 --> 00:09:52.237
  • People have profited from lies and continue to.
  • 00:09:52.237 --> 00:09:55.874
  • They should read the bible, which is enough.
  • 00:09:55.874 --> 00:09:59.678
  • The bible is the only source of truth.
  • 00:09:59.678 --> 00:10:03.214
  • I want the whole world to know that the bible is sufficient."
  • 00:10:03.214 --> 00:10:09.421
  • The bible is sufficient because the bible is true.
  • 00:10:09.421 --> 00:10:14.592
  • And that means whenever we come to think about near-death
  • 00:10:14.592 --> 00:10:18.196
  • Experiences, whether ones we've had or one somebody else has
  • 00:10:18.196 --> 00:10:22.200
  • Had, we need to examine it in light of what the bible says.
  • 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:26.438
  • In 1 john 4, verse 1, the apostle warns, "beloved, do not
  • 00:10:26.438 --> 00:10:31.376
  • Believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
  • 00:10:31.376 --> 00:10:35.647
  • Are from god, because many false prophets have gone out into
  • 00:10:35.647 --> 00:10:40.585
  • The world."
  • 00:10:40.585 --> 00:10:41.953
  • I don't care how well intentioned, how godly somebody
  • 00:10:41.953 --> 00:10:44.923
  • Is, if they have an experience, we need to test their experience
  • 00:10:44.923 --> 00:10:49.627
  • Against the truth of god's word.
  • 00:10:49.627 --> 00:10:51.496
  • Remember the bereans in acts chapter 17?
  • 00:10:51.496 --> 00:10:54.933
  • They listened to the great apostle paul preach, but acts
  • 00:10:54.933 --> 00:10:58.169
  • 17:11 says after paul preached, the bereans searched the
  • 00:10:58.169 --> 00:11:02.707
  • Scriptures to see if these things were true or not.
  • 00:11:02.707 --> 00:11:06.044
  • I don't care whether it's the apostle paul, robert jeffress,
  • 00:11:06.044 --> 00:11:09.380
  • Colton burpo, whoever it is, every word needs to be tested by
  • 00:11:09.380 --> 00:11:14.285
  • The truth of god's word.
  • 00:11:14.285 --> 00:11:16.354
  • And that leads to the question: are near-death
  • 00:11:16.354 --> 00:11:19.190
  • Experiences biblical?
  • 00:11:19.190 --> 00:11:22.060
  • How do we know that these experiences are simply not
  • 00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:26.765
  • Chemical reactions that the brain produces in times of
  • 00:11:26.765 --> 00:11:30.301
  • Stress that can lead to the sensation of light?
  • 00:11:30.301 --> 00:11:35.140
  • On the other hand, if a near-death experience leads
  • 00:11:35.140 --> 00:11:38.543
  • Somebody to faith in christ or causes them to make great and
  • 00:11:38.543 --> 00:11:42.380
  • Correct changes in their life, who are we to deny that their
  • 00:11:42.380 --> 00:11:45.750
  • Experience is real?
  • 00:11:45.750 --> 00:11:47.786
  • What we need to do is examine these experiences in the light
  • 00:11:47.786 --> 00:11:51.856
  • Of scripture.
  • 00:11:51.856 --> 00:11:53.224
  • And so today, in the few moments we have left, i would like to
  • 00:11:53.224 --> 00:11:56.461
  • Share with you seven principles for evaluating near-death
  • 00:11:56.461 --> 00:12:02.000
  • Experiences, and along the way we're going to learn something
  • 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:06.037
  • Real about heaven as well.
  • 00:12:06.037 --> 00:12:08.640
  • Seven principles for evaluating near-death experiences.
  • 00:12:08.640 --> 00:12:12.076
  • Principle number one: remember, near-death is not death.
  • 00:12:12.076 --> 00:12:18.383
  • Near-death is not dead.
  • 00:12:18.383 --> 00:12:20.618
  • Nearly dead people aren't dead people.
  • 00:12:20.618 --> 00:12:23.388
  • The bible is very clear on this point.
  • 00:12:23.388 --> 00:12:26.024
  • You only die once.
  • 00:12:26.024 --> 00:12:28.359
  • Hebrews 9:27 says: "each person is destined to die once and
  • 00:12:28.359 --> 00:12:34.265
  • After that comes judgment."
  • 00:12:34.265 --> 00:12:38.570
  • Now i can already hear the protestations coming from you.
  • 00:12:38.570 --> 00:12:42.774
  • I can hear it.
  • 00:12:42.774 --> 00:12:44.209
  • "only die once.
  • 00:12:44.209 --> 00:12:46.077
  • What about lazarus?
  • 00:12:46.077 --> 00:12:48.446
  • What about jairus's daughter?
  • 00:12:48.446 --> 00:12:50.949
  • What about the son of the shunammite woman?
  • 00:12:50.949 --> 00:12:54.252
  • Over and over and over again, the bible gives accounts of god
  • 00:12:54.252 --> 00:12:57.455
  • Raising people from the dead.
  • 00:12:57.455 --> 00:13:00.358
  • And then they die again.
  • 00:13:00.358 --> 00:13:02.627
  • Everybody who was raised from the dead in the bible, every one
  • 00:13:02.627 --> 00:13:05.530
  • Of them had to die again.
  • 00:13:05.530 --> 00:13:06.898
  • They died twice.
  • 00:13:06.898 --> 00:13:08.233
  • What about those cases where god raised people from the dead?"
  • 00:13:08.233 --> 00:13:12.136
  • Well, we have a word to describe those events: miracles.
  • 00:13:12.136 --> 00:13:17.008
  • We don't call them usuals, we call them miracles, and the
  • 00:13:17.008 --> 00:13:21.279
  • Reason we call them miracles is because they are the exception
  • 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:24.849
  • To the rule.
  • 00:13:24.849 --> 00:13:26.184
  • They're not the rule.
  • 00:13:26.184 --> 00:13:27.552
  • But in every one of those cases where god raised up somebody
  • 00:13:27.552 --> 00:13:30.755
  • From the dead, in not one of those cases did they ever tell
  • 00:13:30.755 --> 00:13:34.659
  • About what they saw on the other side, not one single time.
  • 00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:40.031
  • Nearly dead is not dead.
  • 00:13:40.031 --> 00:13:42.901
  • The only people who get to go to heaven are those who have
  • 00:13:42.901 --> 00:13:46.371
  • Actually died, not nearly died.
  • 00:13:46.371 --> 00:13:49.674
  • Let me illustrate that for you if i can.
  • 00:13:49.674 --> 00:13:52.510
  • Let's say you have some friends who live in san antonio and they
  • 00:13:52.510 --> 00:13:56.314
  • Have never visited dallas before, but they've always
  • 00:13:56.314 --> 00:13:59.417
  • Wanted to come to dallas, and so they call you up and they say,
  • 00:13:59.417 --> 00:14:02.854
  • "you know what, we're finally gonna make our trip to dallas
  • 00:14:02.854 --> 00:14:05.323
  • This weekend.
  • 00:14:05.323 --> 00:14:06.691
  • We wish we had time to see you, but we're gonna be so filled
  • 00:14:06.691 --> 00:14:09.260
  • With activities we wanna see all the sights in dallas.
  • 00:14:09.260 --> 00:14:12.130
  • Can you give us some hints?"
  • 00:14:12.130 --> 00:14:13.698
  • So you give them some things that they ought to do while
  • 00:14:13.698 --> 00:14:15.833
  • They're in dallas.
  • 00:14:15.833 --> 00:14:17.435
  • So the weekend passes.
  • 00:14:17.435 --> 00:14:18.770
  • Monday you call them, said, "how did you like your trip
  • 00:14:18.770 --> 00:14:21.139
  • To dallas?"
  • 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:22.507
  • They say, "oh, it was beyond anything we could
  • 00:14:22.507 --> 00:14:24.509
  • Possibly imagine.
  • 00:14:24.509 --> 00:14:26.044
  • We'd always wanted to go to reunion tower and eat at that
  • 00:14:26.044 --> 00:14:30.348
  • Restaurant we've heard about, that new restaurant.
  • 00:14:30.348 --> 00:14:32.283
  • And so we got on the escalator and we rode all the way to the
  • 00:14:32.283 --> 00:14:36.354
  • Top, to the 6th floor, and we ate at that pizza hut they have
  • 00:14:36.354 --> 00:14:40.692
  • At the top there, that really fine restaurant."
  • 00:14:40.692 --> 00:14:43.094
  • You think, pizza hut?
  • 00:14:43.094 --> 00:14:44.429
  • Six floors?
  • 00:14:44.429 --> 00:14:45.797
  • And then they say, "we went from there to klyde warren park and
  • 00:14:45.797 --> 00:14:48.333
  • We were really surprised to see all those oil derricks right
  • 00:14:48.333 --> 00:14:51.402
  • There in the middle of klyde warren park, but we figured,
  • 00:14:51.402 --> 00:14:53.905
  • Hey, this is texas.
  • 00:14:53.905 --> 00:14:55.273
  • What else do you expect?"
  • 00:14:55.273 --> 00:14:56.607
  • But they said, "the highlight of the trip was when we went to
  • 00:14:56.607 --> 00:14:59.210
  • Thanksgiving square and we got to see what we've always wanted
  • 00:14:59.210 --> 00:15:02.513
  • To see.
  • 00:15:02.513 --> 00:15:03.848
  • There was big tex right in the middle of thanksgiving square.
  • 00:15:03.848 --> 00:15:07.085
  • Oh, it was a great sight right there in the center of
  • 00:15:07.085 --> 00:15:09.487
  • The city."
  • 00:15:09.487 --> 00:15:10.855
  • You're thinking oil derricks, pizza huts, big tex, "are you
  • 00:15:10.855 --> 00:15:16.060
  • Sure you came to dallas?"
  • 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:18.363
  • Your friend says, "well, not really.
  • 00:15:18.363 --> 00:15:21.766
  • We made it as far as waxahachie, but then our car broke down.
  • 00:15:21.766 --> 00:15:26.337
  • We never actually made it to dallas.
  • 00:15:26.337 --> 00:15:28.373
  • We only got there--we almost got there.
  • 00:15:28.373 --> 00:15:30.975
  • We had an nde, a near-dallas experience."
  • 00:15:30.975 --> 00:15:38.983
  • Can you trust the information somebody would give you about a
  • 00:15:38.983 --> 00:15:42.186
  • Near-dallas experience?
  • 00:15:42.186 --> 00:15:43.521
  • No, the only people who can tell you what is really in dallas are
  • 00:15:43.521 --> 00:15:48.393
  • Those who have been to dallas or they've read a reliable book
  • 00:15:48.393 --> 00:15:53.398
  • About it, and the same thing is true with heaven.
  • 00:15:53.398 --> 00:15:56.734
  • The only people who can tell you with accuracy what is in heaven
  • 00:15:56.734 --> 00:16:00.505
  • Are only those who have been to heaven, and you have to be dead
  • 00:16:00.505 --> 00:16:04.342
  • To get to heaven.
  • 00:16:04.342 --> 00:16:05.710
  • The only other way you know about heaven is from what god
  • 00:16:05.710 --> 00:16:08.679
  • Has recorded in his book.
  • 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:10.381
  • Remember, near-death is not death.
  • 00:16:10.381 --> 00:16:13.451
  • Second principle: the bible is sufficient.
  • 00:16:13.451 --> 00:16:17.488
  • The bible is sufficient.
  • 00:16:17.488 --> 00:16:19.557
  • You know, the presupposition behind books like "heaven is for
  • 00:16:19.557 --> 00:16:22.593
  • Real" or "to heaven and back" and so many of these other books
  • 00:16:22.593 --> 00:16:25.630
  • Written by christians, the basic presupposition is the bible is
  • 00:16:25.630 --> 00:16:30.034
  • Good but it's not sufficient.
  • 00:16:30.034 --> 00:16:32.270
  • There is more information out there god wants us to have about
  • 00:16:32.270 --> 00:16:36.107
  • Heaven, and he's given me that information to share with you
  • 00:16:36.107 --> 00:16:39.911
  • For $22.95.
  • 00:16:39.911 --> 00:16:41.646
  • That's the basic presupposition behind all of these accounts,
  • 00:16:41.646 --> 00:16:46.517
  • But listen to what the apostle paul said about the sufficiency
  • 00:16:46.517 --> 00:16:49.687
  • Of god's word.
  • 00:16:49.687 --> 00:16:51.055
  • Turn over to 1 thessalonians chapter 4.
  • 00:16:51.055 --> 00:16:54.058
  • 1 thessalonians chapter 4.
  • 00:16:54.058 --> 00:16:56.360
  • Paul wrote these words to comfort the
  • 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:58.396
  • Thessalonian christians.
  • 00:16:58.396 --> 00:17:00.064
  • They believed that jesus was going to come back in their day.
  • 00:17:00.064 --> 00:17:03.734
  • But then their loved ones started to die and they had a
  • 00:17:03.734 --> 00:17:06.871
  • Question for paul: "our loved ones are dying all around us.
  • 00:17:06.871 --> 00:17:11.242
  • They've died before christ returns.
  • 00:17:11.242 --> 00:17:13.444
  • Are they going to miss out on heaven?"
  • 00:17:13.444 --> 00:17:16.114
  • Notice how paul answers their question.
  • 00:17:16.114 --> 00:17:18.483
  • Verse 13: "but we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren,
  • 00:17:18.483 --> 00:17:23.421
  • About those who are asleep."
  • 00:17:23.421 --> 00:17:25.323
  • By the way, that's the term the bible uses to a christian--for
  • 00:17:25.323 --> 00:17:28.926
  • A christian when he dies: he falls asleep.
  • 00:17:28.926 --> 00:17:31.896
  • That doesn't mean his soul goes to sleep.
  • 00:17:31.896 --> 00:17:34.732
  • To be absent from the body is to be at home with the lord.
  • 00:17:34.732 --> 00:17:37.235
  • Falling asleep refers to what happens to the physical body.
  • 00:17:37.235 --> 00:17:40.838
  • It's placed in the ground, it is asleep until the great
  • 00:17:40.838 --> 00:17:44.041
  • Resurrection when we receive our new body.
  • 00:17:44.041 --> 00:17:46.644
  • He says, "we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about
  • 00:17:46.644 --> 00:17:49.046
  • Those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve as the rest
  • 00:17:49.046 --> 00:17:53.117
  • Who have no hope.
  • 00:17:53.117 --> 00:17:54.552
  • For if we believe that jesus died and rose again, even so god
  • 00:17:54.552 --> 00:17:58.890
  • Will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in jesus."
  • 00:17:58.890 --> 00:18:02.727
  • God's not forgetting about your loved ones who have died.
  • 00:18:02.727 --> 00:18:06.030
  • "for this we say to you by the word of the lord, that we who
  • 00:18:06.030 --> 00:18:09.267
  • Are alive and remain until the coming of the lord, we will not
  • 00:18:09.267 --> 00:18:12.870
  • Go ahead of those who have fallen asleep."
  • 00:18:12.870 --> 00:18:15.806
  • And then he gives the order of what's going to happen at the
  • 00:18:15.806 --> 00:18:18.009
  • Rapture when the dead in christ will rise first and we who are
  • 00:18:18.009 --> 00:18:21.846
  • Alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet the lord in
  • 00:18:21.846 --> 00:18:24.849
  • The air.
  • 00:18:24.849 --> 00:18:26.217
  • Paul said, "here's everything you need to know about the
  • 00:18:26.217 --> 00:18:28.786
  • Future god has for you and your loved ones."
  • 00:18:28.786 --> 00:18:33.024
  • I suppose in the last 35 years i've--there's no telling how
  • 00:18:33.024 --> 00:18:36.794
  • Many hundreds and hundreds of funeral services i've conducted,
  • 00:18:36.794 --> 00:18:41.199
  • And every time i conduct a service, i read from this
  • 00:18:41.199 --> 00:18:44.702
  • Passage of scripture and i read revelation 21, verse 4 that
  • 00:18:44.702 --> 00:18:50.308
  • Says, "but god shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and
  • 00:18:50.308 --> 00:18:54.278
  • There shall no longer be any death or mourning or crying or
  • 00:18:54.278 --> 00:18:58.115
  • Pain for the first things have passed away."
  • 00:18:58.115 --> 00:19:01.285
  • I have never ever felt the need to reach into some secular book
  • 00:19:01.285 --> 00:19:06.057
  • To give additional information about heaven.
  • 00:19:06.057 --> 00:19:08.993
  • Every time i read those verses from god's word and look into
  • 00:19:08.993 --> 00:19:12.897
  • The eyes of those on the front two rows who have lost a loved
  • 00:19:12.897 --> 00:19:16.567
  • One, i see god's word bring comfort and peace to them.
  • 00:19:16.567 --> 00:19:21.639
  • That is the power of god's word.
  • 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:24.342
  • God's word is sufficient.
  • 00:19:24.342 --> 00:19:27.011
  • We don't need any so-called extrabiblical revelation.
  • 00:19:27.011 --> 00:19:31.916
  • Number three, and this is key: adding to or taking away from
  • 00:19:31.916 --> 00:19:36.487
  • The bible is condemned by god.
  • 00:19:36.487 --> 00:19:40.324
  • Adding to or taking away from the bible is condemned by god.
  • 00:19:40.324 --> 00:19:44.996
  • You know, the best explanation of what heaven is going to be
  • 00:19:44.996 --> 00:19:48.065
  • Like and what our future is going to be like is found in the
  • 00:19:48.065 --> 00:19:51.469
  • Book of the revelation.
  • 00:19:51.469 --> 00:19:53.070
  • Remember it was given to john.
  • 00:19:53.070 --> 00:19:54.505
  • It was a revealing, an unveiling, of jesus christ given
  • 00:19:54.505 --> 00:19:58.476
  • To john when he was on the island of patmos.
  • 00:19:58.476 --> 00:20:01.312
  • Some people say, "well, john had an near-death experience when he
  • 00:20:01.312 --> 00:20:05.249
  • Saw all of this."
  • 00:20:05.249 --> 00:20:06.584
  • No, he didn't.
  • 00:20:06.584 --> 00:20:07.952
  • He wasn't anywhere near dead.
  • 00:20:07.952 --> 00:20:09.287
  • He was alive and doing just fine, but god gave him a limited
  • 00:20:09.287 --> 00:20:13.457
  • View of what happens in the future, and he told john to
  • 00:20:13.457 --> 00:20:17.361
  • Write the things down, some of them, but he told john not to
  • 00:20:17.361 --> 00:20:20.931
  • Write down other things.
  • 00:20:20.931 --> 00:20:22.967
  • But after john received the revelation, notice the closing
  • 00:20:22.967 --> 00:20:26.604
  • Words of this book in verses 18 to 19 in revelation 22: "i
  • 00:20:26.604 --> 00:20:30.708
  • Testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of
  • 00:20:30.708 --> 00:20:34.478
  • This book: if anyone adds to them, god shall add to him the
  • 00:20:34.478 --> 00:20:39.750
  • Plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes
  • 00:20:39.750 --> 00:20:43.187
  • Away from the words of the book of this prophecy, god shall take
  • 00:20:43.187 --> 00:20:47.425
  • Away his part from the tree of life, from the holy city, which
  • 00:20:47.425 --> 00:20:51.462
  • Are written in this book."
  • 00:20:51.462 --> 00:20:55.433
  • Anyone who says god has given me a revelation about what heaven
  • 00:20:55.433 --> 00:21:00.705
  • Is like, is treading on dangerous ground by adding to
  • 00:21:00.705 --> 00:21:06.444
  • What god has revealed in his book.
  • 00:21:06.444 --> 00:21:09.447
  • I mean, do we really want to accept what 4-year-old colton
  • 00:21:09.447 --> 00:21:13.050
  • Burpo says that god has two wings and the holy spirit is
  • 00:21:13.050 --> 00:21:17.254
  • Blue in color?
  • 00:21:17.254 --> 00:21:18.723
  • Do we really believe that, or is that not adding to the word
  • 00:21:18.723 --> 00:21:22.893
  • Of god?
  • 00:21:22.893 --> 00:21:24.261
  • Number four: question the identity of any "being
  • 00:21:24.261 --> 00:21:29.300
  • Of light."
  • 00:21:29.300 --> 00:21:30.634
  • Question the identity of any "being of light."
  • 00:21:30.634 --> 00:21:33.637
  • So many people who have had a near-death experience claim that
  • 00:21:33.637 --> 00:21:37.408
  • They have met god or angels or some undefined deity.
  • 00:21:37.408 --> 00:21:43.781
  • In many cases they claim to have seen jesus christ, but the
  • 00:21:43.781 --> 00:21:48.152
  • Messages that jesus supposedly gave them is completely
  • 00:21:48.152 --> 00:21:52.790
  • Contradictory to scripture.
  • 00:21:52.790 --> 00:21:54.625
  • I've read accounts of people who have said, "i saw jesus and he
  • 00:21:54.625 --> 00:21:57.928
  • Told me sin is not a problem," or "there is no hell" or "all
  • 00:21:57.928 --> 00:22:02.700
  • People are welcomed into heaven," or "every religion is
  • 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:06.137
  • Equally true."
  • 00:22:06.137 --> 00:22:08.072
  • Listen, the bible says in hebrews 13:8 jesus is the same
  • 00:22:08.072 --> 00:22:13.144
  • Yesterday, today, and forever, and the jesus in heaven does not
  • 00:22:13.144 --> 00:22:17.882
  • Contradict what jesus said on earth.
  • 00:22:17.882 --> 00:22:20.985
  • Jesus said on earth, all religions are not the same.
  • 00:22:20.985 --> 00:22:25.222
  • He said, "all roads don't lead to heaven.
  • 00:22:25.222 --> 00:22:27.258
  • There is one way to heaven.
  • 00:22:27.258 --> 00:22:28.692
  • And it is through faith in me."
  • 00:22:28.692 --> 00:22:32.663
  • Jeffress: as christians we need to exercise spiritual
  • 00:22:36.734 --> 00:22:39.303
  • Discernment whenever these sensational cases come to
  • 00:22:39.303 --> 00:22:42.373
  • Our attention.
  • 00:22:42.373 --> 00:22:43.741
  • We can't allow our biblical understanding of heaven to be
  • 00:22:43.741 --> 00:22:47.111
  • Hijacked by far-fetched stories.
  • 00:22:47.111 --> 00:22:50.181
  • Now in closing today, let me thank you for your generous
  • 00:22:50.181 --> 00:22:52.983
  • Support of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:52.983 --> 00:22:55.019
  • Together we're reaching men and women all across the world with
  • 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:58.355
  • The truth about heaven.
  • 00:22:58.355 --> 00:23:00.491
  • Right now, in fact, we're providing a fully translated
  • 00:23:00.491 --> 00:23:03.394
  • Version of this program in ukraine as well as russia and
  • 00:23:03.394 --> 00:23:07.398
  • The nation of israel.
  • 00:23:07.398 --> 00:23:08.999
  • In the process, we're seeing hundreds and even thousands of
  • 00:23:08.999 --> 00:23:12.002
  • People enter the kingdom of heaven.
  • 00:23:12.002 --> 00:23:14.872
  • Yes, god is using your gifts to bring men and women all over the
  • 00:23:14.872 --> 00:23:18.476
  • World into his eternal family, and what you and i accomplish
  • 00:23:18.476 --> 00:23:22.847
  • Together will reverberate in the halls of heaven forever.
  • 00:23:22.847 --> 00:23:27.551
  • Thank you so much for partnering with us, especially our pathway
  • 00:23:27.551 --> 00:23:31.188
  • Partners, to pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:31.188 --> 00:23:35.726
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:23:35.726 --> 00:23:37.094
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:37.094 --> 00:23:40.498
  • Announcer: whether you're mourning someone you love or
  • 00:23:43.033 --> 00:23:45.069
  • Facing your own difficult season, grief can
  • 00:23:45.069 --> 00:23:48.172
  • Feel overwhelming.
  • 00:23:48.172 --> 00:23:49.507
  • But the bible tells us not to be discouraged because this life is
  • 00:23:49.507 --> 00:23:53.210
  • Not the end.
  • 00:23:53.210 --> 00:23:54.545
  • Dr. robert jeffress wants to help lift your eyes from earth's
  • 00:23:54.545 --> 00:23:57.748
  • Sorrows to heaven's certainty with "encouragement from a place
  • 00:23:57.748 --> 00:24:01.552
  • Called heaven."
  • 00:24:01.552 --> 00:24:02.920
  • This beautifully designed book combines inspiring scripture,
  • 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:05.723
  • Stunning photography, and powerful biblical truths you can
  • 00:24:05.723 --> 00:24:09.360
  • Keep close during difficult times.
  • 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:11.595
  • Jeffress: the greatest hope we have is the promise of heaven.
  • 00:24:11.595 --> 00:24:15.332
  • In this book of encouragement, i want to remind you what awaits
  • 00:24:15.332 --> 00:24:18.369
  • Us after this life is over, not the myths and misconceptions tv
  • 00:24:18.369 --> 00:24:23.073
  • And movies tell us about, but what god's word has promised.
  • 00:24:23.073 --> 00:24:27.344
  • Announcer: this padded hardcover book makes a thoughtful gift for
  • 00:24:27.344 --> 00:24:30.514
  • Anyone navigating grief, chronic illness, or
  • 00:24:30.514 --> 00:24:33.083
  • Stressful circumstances.
  • 00:24:33.083 --> 00:24:34.885
  • Request your copy of "encouragement from a place
  • 00:24:34.885 --> 00:24:37.655
  • Called heaven" when you give a generous gift to pathway
  • 00:24:37.655 --> 00:24:40.190
  • To victory.
  • 00:24:40.190 --> 00:24:41.525
  • And when your gift is $75 or more, we'll also send you dr.
  • 00:24:41.525 --> 00:24:45.195
  • Jeffress's bestselling book, "a place called heaven," along with
  • 00:24:45.195 --> 00:24:48.866
  • The complete "a place called heaven" teaching series on both
  • 00:24:48.866 --> 00:24:52.036
  • Cd and dvd.
  • 00:24:52.036 --> 00:24:53.370
  • Jeffress: it's not gonna be very long till we go to that place
  • 00:24:53.370 --> 00:24:55.539
  • Called heaven, but knowing that our future is secure ought to be
  • 00:24:55.539 --> 00:25:00.044
  • A motivation for us to live the most effective lives for god
  • 00:25:00.044 --> 00:25:04.248
  • That we can right now.
  • 00:25:04.248 --> 00:25:06.016
  • Announcer: your generosity empowers this ministry to pierce
  • 00:25:06.016 --> 00:25:08.953
  • The darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:25:08.953 --> 00:25:11.455
  • Jeffress: perhaps you've read one of those popular books about
  • 00:25:14.725 --> 00:25:17.528
  • Heaven or heard someone share their near-death experience.
  • 00:25:17.528 --> 00:25:21.732
  • It's tempting to believe these accounts because we're naturally
  • 00:25:21.732 --> 00:25:24.902
  • Curious about what awaits us on the other side, but the bible is
  • 00:25:24.902 --> 00:25:29.607
  • Sufficient to tell us everything we need to know about eternity.
  • 00:25:29.607 --> 00:25:34.678
  • Well, many people claim to have seen beams of light or received
  • 00:25:34.678 --> 00:25:38.782
  • Messages that contradict the bible, so next time we're going
  • 00:25:38.782 --> 00:25:42.486
  • To examine how to discern the difference between genuine
  • 00:25:42.486 --> 00:25:45.856
  • Spiritual experience and deceptive counterfeits.
  • 00:25:45.856 --> 00:25:49.560
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:52.162
  • Series, "a place called heaven."
  • 00:25:52.162 --> 00:25:56.100
  • Jeffress: look, i don't wanna put god in a box.
  • 00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:58.035
  • God can do whatever he wants to do, but as you look at
  • 00:25:58.035 --> 00:26:02.373
  • Scripture, the weight of evidence is against these
  • 00:26:02.373 --> 00:26:06.443
  • Near-death experiences.
  • 00:26:06.443 --> 00:26:09.079
  • Everything we need to know about our eternal home is found in
  • 00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:13.617
  • This book.
  • 00:26:13.617 --> 00:26:14.952
  • The bible is sufficient.
  • 00:26:14.952 --> 00:26:18.355
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us again next time for part two
  • 00:26:18.355 --> 00:26:21.625
  • Of the message, "have some people already visited heaven?"
  • 00:26:21.625 --> 00:26:25.496
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:25.496 --> 00:26:27.197
  • Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
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  • And renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
  • 00:26:31.835 --> 00:26:35.072
  • Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:35.072 --> 00:26:38.676
  • Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
  • 00:26:38.676 --> 00:26:41.812
  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage.
  • 00:26:41.812 --> 00:26:45.616
  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay to the charming
  • 00:26:45.616 --> 00:26:49.019
  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
  • 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:53.290
  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:53.290 --> 00:26:56.760
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
  • 00:26:56.760 --> 00:26:59.396
  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:26:59.396 --> 00:27:01.999
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:27:01.999 --> 00:27:04.835
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:27:04.835 --> 00:27:08.572
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
  • 00:27:08.572 --> 00:27:11.775
  • Minister of encouragement.
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  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:27:13.544 --> 00:27:15.679
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:19.183
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:19.183 --> 00:27:21.952
  • Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:21.952 --> 00:27:21.952