On Pages 253-254 they say,
"...George Ritchie observed the actions in the spirit world of those who had become addicted to alcohol and tobacco while on earth."
He had seen some smokers, one lady with a cigarette in her mouth and another trying to sneak and grab it from the first one. She couldn't grip the cigarette no matter how many times she tried.
A similar scenario happened among some men in a bar (as seen by an NDEr)...
"Then I noticed a striking thing. A number of men standing at a bar seemed unable to lift their drinks to their lips. Over and over I watched them clutch their shot glasses, hands passing through the solid tumblers, through the heavy wooden counter top, through the very arms and bodies of the drinkers around them.
Presumably these substance-less creatures had once had solid bodies, as I myself had had. Supposed that when they had been in their bodies they had developed a dependence on alcohol that went beyond the physical. That became mental spiritual heaven. Then when they lost that body...they would be cut off for all eternity from the thing they could never stop craving."
> This is so sad. How frustrating for these people. Their desires forever unquenched. So much misery. Torment.
Remember the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)? In the rich man's thirst for water, he begged Abraham to allow Lazarus to give even a "drop of water to cool his tongue" as he said he was "in agony in the fire".
This is all too true and there's no getting out of it once 'there'. Yet while still alive on earth, it is the time to choose life by choosing Jesus who holds out His arms of love and forgiveness and acceptance, offering the gift of salvation. Come to Him now and avoid the eternal misery, anguish and torment of Hades, and eventually, of Hell.
On Page 254 we are told...
"Ritchie learned that those who commit suicide fail to resolve whatever had been troubling them and discover they are unable to escape the consequences of their act."
From Page 256 we get further word that...
"...Those who committed suicide and were permitted to return to their physical bodies discovered that they were still loved by the 'Being of Light" and could be forgiven. But it was this life where they must face and resolve their problems." (emphasis, mine).
> Yes, as with the cigarette smokers and the drinkers, the trouble of those who committed suicide would not go away. The troubles would persist and that for eternity if they did not belong to Jesus. Those who did have a NDE and were permitted to 'return', and face and resolve their problem, especially by coming to Jesus would, in their final end on earth, go to glory to be with Jesus and live in eternal praise and peace, no longer afflicted by those troubles, dependencies and/or addictions.
The more I sit here imagining the horrors of Hades and Hell, the more I feel sick at heart for all those en route to there. For those already there; it's too late--that makes me feel even sicker. But those who have not yet come to Jesus, I continue to implore you to accept His salvation while you still have the chance; don't let it slip through your fingers.
At this juncture it would be pleasant to transpose the tenure of thought to what the alternative to Hades and Hell would be like. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 2:6-11; read it in its entirety below or from your own Bible.
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written; "No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God..."
The book of Revelation also has much description on our Heavenly Home. You will be blessed if you read through and find those passages sprinkled throughout. Then continue reading on here...
Back to the 1 Corinthian verses, esp verse 9,
I like how verse 10 continues on...as those of us who are God's children have the privilege to know, "God has revealed it to us by His spirit." We cannot know on our own volition, but the Revealer of mysteries and secrets, our very own Heavenly Father, God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that in them are, lets us be, 'in the know'. How kind and good of Him. This is God's "secret wisdom...that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began" (vs 7)! God and His omniscience!
Just think how grand it all will be. Some NDErs have been allowed to see just the tip of the iceburg and that is a grand sight already of the 'City of Light'. The apostle John (in the book of Revelation) had larger glimpses and God tells us snitches and snatches to whet our appetite. What will it be to be there?! For good!? None of the frustrations, horrors and dread of Hell. How marvelous, how wonderful to ponder on it and no wonder there will be so much praise and worship of the One who made it all possible; its' beyond our earthly comprehension.
The word 'glory' comes to mind. God is keeping us in suspense so He doesn't spoil His surprise for us. Something like children awaiting their birthday party and just what is in those splendidly wrapped gifts? Hmmm...
Get the picture, even a teeny, tiny bit? When we are followers of Jesus Christ, and "addicted" to HIM, we will come out of the darkness into His glorious, Heavenly Light. His Holy Spirit can help us on this earth to loosen the grip of substance, food, gambling, etc addictions but in Heaven we will never have to battle them.
Here's a nice song by Henry J. Zelley that says it all. Click on the chorus lyrics below to hear the song sung by an interesting mix of people.
"Heavenly sunlight, Heavenly sunlight, Flooding my soul with glory divine. Heavenly sunlight, Heavenly sunlight Hallelujah, Jesus is mine!"
~ERC 2017~
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