SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT - NYOBS 73.27

SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT

Falling under the Power – Resting in the Power – Is it Genuine, Ritualistic or Fake?

First Word

·         Slain in the Spirit Definition – A temporary physical response of an earthen vessel to a Spiritual Encounter of the Holy Spirit; the presence of God.

·         Biblical examples are few and far between and only in the lives of specific people, but was repeated many times accompanied by “Spiritual Fruit” in the way they lived their lives.

·         This phenomena is divided up into three categories; Genuine, Ritualistic and Fake.

Voices Against

·         Scripture is silent on this issue, thus is inappropriate and a condemnation.

·         Extra-Biblical – This is adding to the Bible; you are just reading this into scripture.

·         Anti-Biblical - It is not in the Bible – Worshipers allow themselves to fall on the floor because it is a tradition or is ritualistic in their church. – It’s called a “Courtesy Fall” which is not the work of the Holy Spirit.

·         The Holy Spirit is not transferred by touch. – Nobody in the Book had hands laid on them and was pushed down. – It is un-verifiable and ostentatious and could be nothing more than the overwhelming power of emotions.

·         Nowhere in the Book do the Prophets, Disciples or even Jesus ever lay hands on someone and knock them over to receive the manifestation Holy Spirit. – The only time people fell is when they were experiencing some kind of judgment from God.

·         It is emotional, lacking purpose – The over eagerness of some people get themselves emotionally “worked up” into a frenzy and fall out in the spirit especially when someone touches them who is thought to be special and anointed.

·         It can be counterfeited - There are people who fake these experiences so that they will seem more spiritual. - Some fake the fall so others won’t think that they are less spiritual.

·         They fell forward, not backward. – They didn’t require “catchers” to keep them from hurting themselves. – If the Sovereign Holy Spirit overwhelmed them, then He can certainly protect them from harm when falling.

·         It brings glory to man, not to God - Some fall out who are emotional and are just starved for attention. - This could very well be demonic spirits masquerading as the Holy Spirit.

Daniel 8:17-18 – Daniel fell with His face to the ground
¹⁷ So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face.
¹⁸ And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my FACE to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. (ESV)

Ezekiel 3:23 – Ezekiel – Fell on his face
²³ So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my FACE. (ESV)

Numbers 22:31 – Balaam – Fell on his face
³¹ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. (ESV)

Voices For

·         Scripture is silent on this issue, no condemnation; thus an endorsement.

·         The only person that was under judgment was Paul on the Road to Damascus; there was no other time they were under direct judgment when they fell in the spirit.

·         Is it in God’s nature to manifest His presence? – YES - Is there examples of His manifestation in the Book? – YES, time and time again. – Does God’s presence cause people to physically and emotionally react. – YES, time and time again -

·         Can the Holy Spirit can be transferred by touch – YES – Command; Lay hands on the sick.

·         God purposely manifests His Spirit in special events and is not intended to be something that is considered a normal event for everyone.  - Manifestations are not indicators of spiritually, nor are they a guarantee of growth in the kingdom. – Manifestations are given as the Spirit wills.

·         Some who feel the presence of the Holy Spirit may voluntarily fall, out of reverence for God. – The Book does not tell us while we are in prayer to bow our head or close our eyes, but we do so, in reverence for God. – We rise up on our toes while singing as being raptured. Nothing in the Book labels “falling” as something demonic or of the flesh.

·         Many verses in the Book do not indicate which way someone fell when they experience the manifestation of the Holy Spirit; they could easily have fallen either way; the point is, they could not stand and fell. – Other times when the Holy Spirit was manifested NO ONE FELL. It is God who decides how He will manifest His presence. – It can literally flow through the Pastor’s hands if He chooses.

1 Kings 8:10-11 – Priest – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁰ And when the PRIESTS came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD,
¹¹ so that the priests COULD NOT STAND to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. (ESV)

2 Chronicles 5:14 - Priest – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁴ so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. (ESV)

Daniel 8:17-18 – Daniel – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁷ So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
¹⁸ And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up.

(ESV)

Ezekiel 3:23 – Ezekiel – Slain in the Spirit
²³ So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face. (ESV)

Ezekiel 43:2-3 – Ezekiel – Slain in the Spirit again
² And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
³ And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. (ESV)

Ezekiel 44:4 – Ezekiel – Slain in the Spirit third time
⁴ Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD. And I fell on my face. (ESV)

Numbers 22:31 – Balaam – Slain in the Spirit
³¹ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. (ESV)

John 18:6 – Soldiers – Slain in the Spirit.
⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and FELL TO THE GROUND. (ESV)

Matthew 28:4 - Guards – Slain in the Spirit
⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. (ESV)

Acts 26:13-14 - Paul – Slain in the Spirit
¹³ At midday, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
¹⁴ And when we had ALL FALLEN TO THE GROUND, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ (ESV)

Acts 9:2-4 – Paul – Slain in the Spirit
³ Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
⁴ And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (ESV)

Revelation 1:17 – John – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, (ESV)

Matthew 17:6 – Disciples Slain in the Spirit
⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. (ESV)

Manifestations

·         There are different ways the Book shows the manifestation of the Holy Spirit other than being “Slain in the Spirit”.

·         Wind, Earthquake, fire and a still small voice

·         Fire in a burning bush

·         Pillar of Fire and a Pillar of Smoke

·         Paul caught up to heaven

·         John caught up to heaven

·         Handkerchief or aprons when they touched the skin; healing

·         Garments being touched to receive healing

·         Touching bones of Elisha; Resurrection

·         David breaking out in dance before the Ark of the Covenant

·         Laying on of the hands to receive the Holy Spirit and for healing

·         With all these different Holy Spirit manifestations, why do we reject the manifestation of being “Slain in the Spirit”?

1 Kings 19:11-12 – Wind – Earthquake – Fire - Whisper
¹¹ And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong WIND tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an EARTHQUAKE, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
¹² And after the earthquake a FIRE, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a LOW WHISPER. (ESV)

Exodus 3:2 – Fire – Burning Bush
² And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. (ESV)

Exodus 13:21 – Pillar of Fire – Pillar of smoke
²¹ And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 – Paul – Caught up to heaven
¹ I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
³ And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
(ESV)

Revelation 1:10 – John – Caught up to heaven
¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet(ESV)

Acts 19:12 – Manifested by touching handkerchiefs & Aprons
¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. (ESV)

Mark 5:30 – Manifested by touching garments
³⁰ And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” (ESV)

Acts 8:17 – Manifested by hands touching
¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

2 Kings 13:21 - Manifested by touching bones
²¹ And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

2 Samuel 6:14 - Manifested in David’s dance
¹⁴ And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. (ESV)

Last Thoughts

·         What you believe about Counterfeits, Make Believers and the Dark Side can prejudice you against the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in those who are “Slain in the Spirit”.

·         The manifestation of the Holy Spirit brings glory to God and edifies the body. - It encourages spiritual growth in the believer.  It causes the believer to endeavor to become more and more like Jesus; to operate in the “fruits” of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

·         The Holy Spirit rarely takes center stage, but points us to the other members of the Trinity. He is like the wind, invisible, powerful, uncontrollable and unpredictable, you cannot see Him or tell where He comes or goes, but you can hear and feel His presence; The Spirit’s work will always point to our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. - We raise the sails in our boat; the breath of the Holy Spirit powers our sails and God steers.

·         The Holy Spirit alone is the source of empowerment that God uses to accomplish His will. Don’t look at how big the task is, instead look at the opportunity that allows the spirit to empower you. – Raise your sails. – Pray often.

·         While visiting a Church with my family, I witnessed the “falling of the Holy Spirit” on the left side of the room and saw it moving toward the right, I felt my young daughter beside me slip down to the floor. – Holding on to her, I could not help but ask; what happened? – She said she did not know, but it felt so good. – I have never experience being “Slain in the Spirit” although I have been around this phenomenal for many years while recording Praise and Worship services for Christian TV.

·         If someone is NOT slain in the Spirit it is not an indicator that they didn’t have an encounter with God.

·         Billy Graham  – “Many who have experienced being SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT have associated it with the new birth, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, spiritual, emotional or physical healing or deliverance. - Whatever one may think about the experience of being “Slain in the Spirit”, it should not be made an expectation for all believers or be considered a sign of spiritual maturity.  In addition, discernment needs to be exercised by mature church leadership since the power of suggestion and mere emotionalism can so easily mimic legitimate spiritual experience”.

·         It is natural and proper for Believers to be “slain in the spirit” given the sinfulness of our lives compared to the majestic Holiness of God, but the manifestation should not be made an expectation  nor be considered a sign of spiritual maturity.

·         We shouldn’t prejudice our belief system and reject the manifestation of the Holy Spirit because of someone who might be a Make-Believer or someone who is Ritualistic or Fake. 

·         We just raise our hands in Praise – Rise up on our toes in Rapture – Bow our head and close our eyes in Reverence and let OUR daily life point back to God and glorify Him.

Acts 8:18-19 – The Manifestation of the Spirit is observable

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money

19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I LAY MY HANDS MAY RECEIVE the Holy Spirit." NIV

Galatians 5:22-23 – Manifestation of the Spiritual Fruits
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.(ESV)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Bible Hub.com

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made gender neutral.  AVOID IT.

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney

OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCES - NYOBS 73.17

OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCES

Astral Projection – Near Death Experience – Soul Travel – Spirit Walking – Esotericism

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 NO “outer darkness”, 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. (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, 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; 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. – NYOBS 42.26 – NECROMANCY

Isaiah 8:19 – People should communicate with God not the dead
¹⁹And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they SEEK THE DEAD on behalf of the living? (NKJV)

Matthew 25:30 – Outer Darkness – Weeping & gnashing of teeth
³⁰ Now throw this useless servant into OUTER DARKNESS, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (NLT)

Genesis 3:3-5 – Satan’s lie – Not die; You will be like a god
³ but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
⁴ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, knowing good and evil.” (ESV)

A few Definitions

·         Esotericism is intellectuals seeking to homogenize or combine "pagan" philosophies with Christian philosophy and the Jewish “Kabbalah”,  resulting in the emergence of the esoteric 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 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; and when you “Soul Travel” you are traveling through his territory. – Ephesians 2:2 - Soul Travel is of the Occult

·          Spirit Walking is the ability to enter into a state of consciousness between sleep and dreaming on one hand, and a wakeful consciousness on the other. 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 details and information. – Spirit walking is of the Occult – NYOBS 11.16 – FAMILIAR SPIRIT

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 seven “categories of memory”; violence or persecution, fear, animals and plants, bright light, Deja-vu, and family.

·         Some report an awareness of their surroundings while in OBE or NDE and what is being said in their presence; 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 object is to travel and communicate with other astral bodies; FAMILIAR SPIRITS. – NYOBS 01.15 – FOURTH DIMENSION

My 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 staying out much longer… BUT again I felt an urge that I should not do this and I found myself fighting and struggling, trying to get back into my body which made my heart race.

·         I told a Christian co-worker about it and she verbally beat me up, telling me; NEVER DO THAT AGAIN, 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.

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. (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.

·         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 what you believe is wrong or the Bible is wrong.

·         There are three heavens in Hebrew cosmology; FIRST our atmosphere – SECOND outer space – THIRD God’s dwelling place. – It’s the third heaven that 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 Post” that 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 Post” that if it is from God, it is involuntary; we do not cause it to happen. - 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.

Acts 14:17 – First Heaven – Atmosphere - rains
¹⁷ Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (ESV)

Isaiah 13:10 – Second Heaven - Space
¹⁰ For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. (ESV)

1 Kings 8:30 – Third Heaven – Dwelling place of God
³⁰ And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (ESV)

Acts 14:19 – NDE OBE – Paul - Trauma – Stoned – left for dead
¹⁹ But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they STONED PAUL and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 – Paul – In or Out of the Body unknown
¹ I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or OUT OF THE BODY I do not know, God knows.
³ And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. (ESV)

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:

·         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 the THIRD “Fence Post” that is out of line; it is practicing the Occult.

Job 4:12-21 – Job – It scared the tater tots out of him
¹² Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it.
¹³ Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
¹⁴ dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
¹⁵ A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.
¹⁶ It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:
¹⁷ Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?
¹⁸ Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;
¹⁹ how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like the moth.
²⁰ Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.
²¹ Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?’ (ESV)

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. – FOURTH Fence Post planted – Revealed or not revealed; decreed by the command of God.

·         He was taken on “The Lord’s Day” which many students believe was on a Sunday, others believe it was Saturday.  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.

·         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. – FIFTH 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.

Revelation 1:10-11 - OBE – John taken to heaven –

¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
¹¹ saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (ESV)

Revelation 1:17 – In fear, John fell as His feet as dead
¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,

Revelation 10:4 – John instructed – Do not write it down
⁴ And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” (ESV)

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. – NYOBS 06.14 – DEATH

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

·         The Prophet Elisha restored the life of a Shunammite’s woman’s son.

·         Jesus called Lazarus back to life who had been dead three days.

·         When Jesus died on the cross, tombs were opened and many believers came back to life.

·         Peter prayed and Dorcas/Tabatha came back to life.

·         NOTE:  SIXTH 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. – SEVENTH Fence Post planted - It was never about personal gain. – It always pointed back to God, NOT TO ANY DEAD SPIRITS.

1 Kings 17:21-22 – Elijah – Child’s life came back into him.
²¹ Then he (Elijah) stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”
²² And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. (ESV)

2 Kings 4:32-36 – Elisha – Shunammites son receives life back.
³² When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed.
³³ So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD.
³⁵ Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

³⁶ Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her.  When she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” (ESV)

John 11:43-44 – Jesus – Lazarus dead three days – lived again
⁴³  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
⁴⁴  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (ESV)

Matthew 27:51-53 – Jesus death; Many bodies raised from dead
⁵¹ And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
⁵² The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (ESV)

Acts 9:39-40 – Peter – Tabatha/Dorcas came back to life
³⁹ So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
⁴⁰ But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. (ESV)

God’s Thoughts

·         When the spirit exits the body, that person is dead.  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 OBE “Out 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. - (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.  After the Lord’s resurrection and assentation into heaven, He was NEVER seen again by anyone in scripture; 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 reports of judgment or the scorching fires of HELL – 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. – NYOBS 14.02 – ANOTHER GOSPEL

·         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 TERM “Out 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. --  NYOBS 14.14 – NEW AGE MOVEMENT -- NYOBS 07.048 - EMERGENT CHURCH RABBIT TRAIL -- NYOBS 01.15 - FOURTH DIMENSION

·         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

·         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.  – NYOBS 11.16 – FAMILIAR SPIRITS – NYOBS 11.16 – DEMONS

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

Genesis 35:18 – When your Soul Spirit departs; you are DEAD
¹⁸ And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

(NKJV)

James 2:26 – Body apart from the Soul Spirit is DEAD
²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 18:9-11 – Do not learn the detestable worldly ways
⁹ When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, WHO PRACTICES DIVINATION OR SORCERY, INTERPRETS OMENS, ENGAGES IN WITCHCRAFT
¹¹  or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who CONSULTS THE DEAD. (NIV2011)

Galatians 5:19-21 – Warning; practice sorcery and go to hell

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I WARN YOU, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Matthew 25:46 – ALL DO NOT GO TO HEAVEN
⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

(ESV)

Hebrews 9:27 - THERE IS NO REINCARNATION
²⁷ And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (ESV)

2 Timothy 4:1-4 – Itching ears for own passions of myths
¹ I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but HAVING ITCHING EARS they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 – Command – Do not consult the dead
¹⁰ There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
¹¹ or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. (NKJV)

Leviticus 19:26 - Do not practice divination
²⁶ Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. “‘Do not practice divination or seek omens. (NIV2011)

Galatians 5:19-21 – Those that engage in sorcery will go to hell
¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I WARN YOU, as 

I WARNED YOU before, that those who do such things

WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

(ESV)

2 Chronicles 33:5-6 – Communicating with the dead provokes God
⁵ And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
⁶ And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with NECROMANCERS (communicating with the dead). He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. (ESV)

Leviticus 20:6 – Communities with Familiar Spirits will go to hell
⁶ And the person who turns to mediums and FAMILIAR SPIRITS, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. (NKJV)

John 16:13 - Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth
¹³  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (ESV)

Ephesians 6:11-13 – Put on the whole armor to be able to stand
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (ESV)

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.

Last Thoughts

·         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 what we believe is “out of line” with scripture.

·         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; Those who will say to God; Thy will be done and those to whom God will say, “Thy will be done.” – Life is choice driven –

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)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Bible Hub.com

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made gender neutral.  AVOID IT.

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney