Expert: Marvin Howard - 5/21/2007

Question
Something came up to my mind yesterday.
If Jesus gave Lazaro his life back, how come there is no a single  remark as Lazaro telling relatives or friends  was was after life,
Either this is a lie  or he was not dead.  You know that  most people that go tru a close death experience always and most of them coincide in a black tunnel  or a light
What is your answer please.

Answer
Hi!

Alfredo, thank you for the opportunity to answer this for you. Let's begin with Scripture.

2nd Peter 1:3, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"

Peter tells us that God specified everything we need to know to have eternal life, and how to live godly while we are on earth.

John 21:25, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

The Bible is not large enough to cover all events in the lives of Jesus and the Apostles; let alone all of the lives they touched. For instance, we are not told the specific date of Jesus' birth. That does not necessitate that He is fiction.

Even if the Bible does not come out and say something in one place, if it can be discerned from other passages, it is still true.

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. We do not need Lazarus to tell people what it is like in the after-life, or what it is like to die, for we have another passage that tells us about the after-life.

Luke 16:19-31, "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

Let me state up front, this is not the same Lazarus Jesus raised. Mary and Martha, Lazarus' sisters were not poor. They had money to be hosts. They were not the richest people in Judea, but Jesus' friend was not a beggar.

We have the facts that sent these men to their respective realms. We have the fact that one is peace, and one is torment. We have the fact that there is no passage between the two. However, nothing in this passage states that one cannot come back from the dead. it is simply stated that it would not happen for this Lazarus.

We have other passages where it is recorded that someone was raised from the dead. Read each of the following:

Matthew 9:18-25
Acts 9:36-42
Acts 20:9-10

Jesus raised the dead. Peter raised the dead. Paul raised the dead. Peter and Paul both did it by the authority and power of Jesus. We do not need to know many specifics about death. What we need to know has been revealed. There are some things we will face in death for which there are no words.

That Lazarus, Dorcas, Eutychus, and the little girl were all dead, and nothing was recorded from their experience does not prove that it did not happen. As I stated earlier, they may have held their peace since there were no words to describe it. All this hoopla about bright lights and tunnels is not proven to be after death. It may be something that happens before death.

Moreover, it may not be actual lights and tunnels, but sensations that are so intense that they seem real. If I am right in this supposition, the Bible would not have recorded these sensations, for they are not true of their own accord. In fact, that the actual death experience is not recounted seems to indicate that it is nothing in and of itself. In fact, it is not important at all. What is important is the destination, and how we live in the present to prepare for it.

If you have obeyed all of God's requirements for salvation, you will receive the comfort of Lazarus. If you miss one, you will receive the torment of the rich man.

Alfredo, thank you again for the chance to help. If you have any further questions, such as a list of all six requirements God gives to see Heaven, please do not hesitate to ask.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
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