The Life Review and the Near-Death
Experience
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Kimberly Clark
Sharp
once shared an interesting near-death account
of the life review of a woman who saw an
event in her life as a child. The lesson
the woman learned from her life review is
that our actions which seem unimportant
can be more important than we can imagine
on the other side. When the woman was a
little girl, she saw a tiny flower growing
almost impossibly out of a crack in the
sidewalk. She bent down and cupped the flower
and gave it her full unconditional love
and attention. When the girl became a woman
and had an NDE, during her life review she
discovered that it was this incident with
the flower that was the most important event
of her entire life. The reason was because
it was the moment where she expressed her
love in a greater, purer, and unconditional
manner. This example of a life review by
Kimberly Clark Sharp is one of my favorite
examples because it shows in a dramatic
way a principle that appears in many life
reviews. The principle is that the actions
we think are unimportant may turn out to
be the most important act we have ever done
in our life. Unconditional and spontaneous
acts of love are the greatest acts we can
perform - even if it is directed at a tiny
flower.
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Table
of Contents |
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1.
Comments from NDE researchers about the life review |
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"The Being of Light presents the dying with a panoramic
review of everything they have ever done. That is,
they relive every act they have ever done to other
people and come away feeling that love is the most
important thing in life." (Dr.
Raymond Moody)
"A life review, seeing and re-experiencing major
and trivial events of one's life, sometimes from
the perspective of the other people involved, and
coming to some conclusion about the adequacy of
that life and what changes are needed." (IANDS
FAQ)
"One of the common aspects found in NDEs is the
life review. It can be described in terms that are
similar to seeing a movie, in segments, or a reliving."
(P.M.H.
Atwater)
"There is evidence that a type of judgment occurs
at the time of death. This judgment involves a review
of a person's life and results in their placement
in the spirit world. Sometime after the judgment
the person is assigned (in many cases this assignment
is self-imposed) to a specific place or level in
the other world - a place where his or her spirit
feels most at ease." (Dr.
Craig Lundahl)
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2.
The purpose of the life review |
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There are many reasons for the life review
and all of them are very important. The life review
has been described by many to be the single most
enlightening experience they have ever had. Here
are some of the purposes of the life review according
to experiencers profiled on this website:
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a. |
The life review is for educating us
about life and death. |
b. |
The life review is for educating us
about ourselves: why we are the way
we are; what were our motives behind
our actions; how did our lives impact
others; how we could have done better;
and what we can do to correct aspects
to ourselves which are not compatible
with life on the Other Side. We learn
these things in order to become a better
person. |
c. |
The life review is for evaluating our
soul development for the purpose of
attaining soul growth. |
d. |
The life review is for evaluating our
progress in completing our mission. |
e. |
The life review is for evaluating our
lives to determine our next step toward
our progression in the light. |
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3.
The mechanics of the life review |
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The method of reviewing your life has been
described in many different ways. Why there are
different methods for this process is anyone's guess.
The theory I have about everything that happens
after death is that we either get what we want,
get what we expect, get what we need, or some combination
of this. The important thing is that life review
experiences have more in common than they have differences.
Life reviews have been described as:
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a. |
Viewing a movie of your entire life. |
b. |
Viewing a movie of important segments
of your life. |
c. |
Viewing a video of knowledge concerning
your entire life. |
d. |
Viewing a panoramic view of your entire
life. |
e. |
Viewing a vivid, three-dimensional color
display of your entire life. |
f. |
Viewing hundreds of television screens
with each screen showing a home movie
of one event in your life. |
g. |
Viewing a three-dimensional hologram
of your life in full color, sound, and
scent. |
h. |
Viewing scenes of your life in little
bursts. |
i. |
Viewing scenes of your life flitting
from scene to scene. |
j. |
Viewing scenes of your life at a tremendous
speed. |
k. |
Viewing scenes of your life in fast-forward. |
l. |
Viewing scenes of your life in a way
that can be slowed down or paused in
order to focus on a particular detail
of your life. |
m. |
Reliving your entire life with scenes
of your life projected around you. |
n. |
Having a feeling like a dam has burst
in your mind and every memory has flowed
out. |
o. |
Having a religious figure or higher
being initiating the life review. |
p. |
Having the life review occur when getting
in close proximity to the Being of Light. |
q. |
Having a higher being reading from a
Book of Life (for Christian experiencers). |
r. |
Having a higher being reading from the
Akashic Records (for Hindu experiencers). |
s. |
Having a life review before a Council
of Elders who are seated at a table. |
t. |
Having a life review take place in a
domed room with square screens up and
down the walls and on the ceiling. |
u. |
Having a life review take place in a
amphitheater the size of a sports stadium
filled with light beings who will observe
your review. |
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4.
The characteristics of the life review |
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The life review is an amazing experience
having many interesting characteristics - not all
of which are found in every life review. The following
is a list of some of those characteristics.
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a. |
Instantly becoming everyone you came
in contact with in your entire life
(feeling their emotions, thinking their
thoughts, living their experiences,
learning their motives behind their
actions). |
b. |
Reliving every detail of every second
of your life, every emotion, and every
thought simultaneously. |
c. |
Re-living the way you dealt with others
and how others dealt with you. |
d. |
Viewing a few special deeds in your
life. |
e. |
Replaying a part of your life review
to focus on a particular event for instruction. |
f. |
Viewing past lives and/or your future. |
g. |
Feeling a strong sense of responsibility. |
h. |
Feeling a sense of judgment or self-judgment
(often these feelings transform from
judgment to self-judgment). |
i. |
The review is a fact-finding process
rather than a fault-finding process. |
j. |
Your motives for everything will be
as visible as your actions. |
k. |
The negative events you expected to
see did not show up because you had
a change of heart. |
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5.
The being of light in the life review |
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While in the presence of the Being of Light
during a life review, it is impossible to lie to
yourself or to others or to the Light. In the Light,
there is no place for secrets to hide. But it is
not God who judges us after we die. The purpose
for the life review is strictly for education, enlightenment
and spiritual growth. In the presence of the Being
of Light, some people may judge or condemn or punish
themselves. There is no judgment except the judgment
we might level at ourselves and even this we shouldn't
do. God's standard is pure love and our lives will
be compared to this standard in the light of God.
Pure love is serving God and others without having
self-centered motives for doing so. The life review
is the perfect experience for the Being of Light
to reveal to people how they have measured up to
this standard and their mission in life. The following
is a list of characteristics of the Being of Light
during life reviews. Sometimes the Being of Light
is accompanied with other light beings and for this
reason the so-called "Being of Light" will be referred
to as "they."
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a. |
They can fill you with a love that is
beyond description. |
b. |
They can eliminate any negativity you
may feel from viewing your life review. |
c. |
They may ask questions concerning your
life and how you felt about it. |
d. |
They may rejoice when love is displayed
in your life. |
e. |
The entire heavenly hosts may thank
you in unison for your deeds done out
of love. The entire heavenly hosts may
thank you in unison for your deeds done
out of love. |
f. |
They may applaud you and let you know
that God approved of your acts of unselfishness
and caring. |
g. |
They may suffer and/or feel sorrow for
you about something you did. |
h. |
They can pause the review for awhile
if you are upset to strengthen you with
love. |
i. |
They witness everything you did in secret. |
j. |
They take into consideration various
aspects about your life when it comes
to evaluating your life; such as, how
you were raised, what you were taught,
the pain inflicted upon you, and the
opportunities missed or not received. |
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6.
Questions and responses from the being of light |
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The Being of Light often asks the experiencer
a question or a series of questions to elicit a
response that is then projected in the three-dimensional
form of the life review. Sometimes this Being and/or
other light beings respond to the experiencer's
life review. The following is a list of some of
those questions and responses.
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a. |
Any question they ask will be answered
during your review. |
b. |
They ask questions to elicit a response
from you. |
c. |
They already know the answers to the
questions they ask you. |
d. |
"What have you done with your life?" |
e. |
"How much did you love during his life?" |
f. |
"Did you love others as you are being
loved now? Totally? Unconditionally?" |
g. |
"How much love did you give others?" |
h. |
"How much love did you receive from
others?" |
i. |
"What did you do with the precious gift
of life?" |
j. |
"Why did you choose the particular parents
you have?" |
k. |
Responding to an event in your life,
whether good or bad, by saying: "You
are doing wonderfully." |
l. |
"We are here to support you." |
m. |
"Continue to do good work, and we will
help you." |
n. |
"You are part of us, and we are part
of you." |
o. |
"We stand ready to come to your aid
when you need us, and you will." |
p. |
"Call us. Beckon us. We will flock to
you when the time comes!" |
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7.
Insights about our deeds that are reviewed |
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The life review reveals how God is concerned
about deeds - not creeds. This fact becomes crystal
clear during a person's life review. Many experiencers
have expressed the astounding realization of how
life on earth is one gigantic "test" for
which our deeds will be graded during our life review.
Here is a list of other insights concerning our
deeds in relation to our life review.
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a. |
Deeds which we might consider to be
unimportant may turn out to be more
important than we can possibly imagine
on the Other Side. |
b. |
Deeds which we might consider to be
important may turn out to be insignificant
on the Other Side. |
c. |
Deeds which we might consider to be "very
good" may not be considered as
such on the Other Side if the deeds
were done solely for self. |
d. |
Deeds which we may have given "no
second thought about" might amaze
us when we learn how much they meant
to God and the Other Side. |
e. |
Deeds which are considered most valuable
on the Other Side are those which express
love in a greater, purer and unconditional
manner. |
f. |
Deeds which are considered to be "greatest"
on the Other Side are usually those
which are not done with great fanfare,
but are small acts of kindness toward
others. |
g. |
Deeds which are considered "greatest"
on the Other Side are often the little
things we do out of kindness and love
because they are more spontaneous and
reveal our true motive behind the deeds.
Such deeds demonstrate in a better way
who we really are. |
h. |
Deeds can carry repercussions which
affect many lives and many lifetimes. |
i. |
There are no "wrong" deeds.
There are only deeds which either do
or do not enhance positive spiritual
growth. |
j. |
We are very powerful spirit beings.
Even our "little" deeds can
have a powerful affect on others even
though we are completely unaware of
it. |
k. |
All of our deeds have an affect on the
evolution of our soul and the evolution
of the souls of those around us. |
l. |
The choices we make in life matters
deeply. |
m. |
We receive what we give out. |
n. |
It is practically impossible to forgive
others if we cannot forgive ourselves. |
o. |
Howard Storm was given the following
insights after his life review when
he was afraid of returning to earth
life because he feared he would make
the same mistakes again: |
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"Mistakes
are an acceptable part of being
human. We are here to make all
the mistakes we want because
it is through our mistakes that
we learn. As long as we try
to do what we know to be right,
we will be on the right path.
If we make a mistake, we should
fully recognize it as a mistake,
then put it behind us and simply
try not to make the same mistake
again. The important thing is
to try our best, keep our standards
of goodness and truth, and not
compromise them to win people's
approval. God loves us just
the way we are, mistakes and
all. When we make a mistake,
we should ask for forgiveness.
After that, it would be an insult
if we don't accept that we are
forgiven. We shouldn't continue
going around with a sense of
guilt, and we should try not
to repeat our mistakes. We should
learn from our mistakes. God
wants us to do what we want
to do. That means making choices
- and there isn't necessarily
any right choice. There are
a spectrum of possibilities,
and we should make the best
choice from those possibilities.
If we do that, we will receive
help from the Other Side." (Rev.
Howard Storm)
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8.
Insights of love from the life review |
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The overwhelming consensus among experiencers
is that love is supreme. Love is where we came from.
Love is where we will return. Love is what life
is all about because love is God. Life on earth
is like being in school - our lessons in life are
mostly about love. Thus, during the life review
experiencers are often given profound insights about
love which they are allowed to bring back to share
with the rest of us. Here are some of those insights:
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a. |
A simple smile has the power to start
a chain reaction of love that can spread
throughout the entire world and alter
the course of history. |
b. |
Who you are is the love that you share;
and that love is God. |
c. |
The simple secret to improving humanity
is this: know that the love you give
to others is equal to the love you will
have when you die. |
d. |
Pure love is God's measuring stick that
is used to measure all of our actions. |
e. |
Love is the message we receive from
our life review. |
f. |
Loving others unconditionally as we
love yourself is the most important
thing we do in life. |
g. |
We must love ourselves unconditionally
before we are able to love others in
the same way. |
h. |
Loving others is really the only thing
that matters in life and love is joy. |
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9.
Other insights learned from the life review |
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Love is the most important aspect of life
on the Other Side. Love is also the most important
aspect of earth life although there seems to be
so little of it here compared to the Other Side.
Along with insights of love, life reviews offer
insights on virtually an unlimited amount of knowledge.
Here are some of them:
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a. |
Life is like a "gigantic test"
which we will grade ourselves on during
our life review. |
b. |
Life reviews teach us who we really
are. We are powerful spiritual beings. |
c. |
Life reviews can show us how and why
we were the way we were in life. |
d. |
Everything about you and your life will
make more sense after a life review. |
e. |
From our earthly perspective, it seems
like we are living behind a "curtain
of secrecy" where we can do things
without anyone knowing about it. But
in reality, we are "on display"
for the Other Side throughout our entire
lives. All of our actions which are
done "in secret" are known
on the Other Side. At death, this illusionary "curtain"
is lifted and "the floodlights"
shine on us. |
f. |
Life is very important because how we
have lived our life largely determines
how far we can go into the light. |
g. |
Some of the opportunities we are given
in life are orchestrated by Higher Powers. |
h. |
The more we learn in life, the more
the doors of opportunity will be opened
to us later. |
i. |
There really are no mistakes in life
because all of our experiences are ways
for us to learn and grow. |
j. |
We need negative experiences as well
as positive experiences in life in order
to learn. |
k. |
Every negative experience allows us
to obtain a greater understanding about
ourselves so that we can make better
choices. |
l. |
Before we can know joy, we must know
sorrow. |
m. |
God's overriding desire is to purify
us no matter how much suffering it takes
to achieve it. |
n. |
We come to earth to make mistakes and
have a human experience. |
o. |
Life is a golden opportunity to live
a spiritual life in a world of darkness. |
p. |
All events in our lives are significant.
Even those events which we may consider
to be insignificant can bring us great
enlightenment. |
q. |
We already know everything that we will
learn from our life review. We have
just forgotten it. |
r. |
After having a life review, an experiencer
may feel accountable for everything
they do for the rest of their life. |
s. |
We should learn to understand ourselves
from the perspective of many lifetimes
of evolution and soul growth. It may
take many lifetimes for the negative
karmic debts we owe others to be dissolved. |
t. |
Our life will be wonderful if we choose
to always have a positive affect on
others. |
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10.
Various examples of life reviews |
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Carter Mills saw himself when he was a child and
killed a mother bird with a sling shot. At the time,
he was so proud of that shot; but during his life
review, he felt the pain that the mother bird's
babies went through when they starved to death. (Carter
Mills)
Reinee Pasarow described how the most positive thing
she did was to give special attention to a not so
lovable boy at a summer camp so that he would know
he was loved. During the review, she said this act
of kindness was more important from her viewpoint
of expanded awareness than if she had been president
of the United States or the queen of England. (Reinee
Pasarow --
Watch her video online:
www.lightafterlife.com)
After his review, Hal felt there is something missing.
Because of this, the Being of Light takes him to
a heavenly library where he was allowed to learn
more about his life. He was shown a document that
appeared to be about the size of a business card
and described his entire life. Because the Being
of Light did not want to interfere with Hal's free
will, he was not allowed to see all of it. (Hal)
Sherry Gideon was shown her future as if in a movie.
She was told that she was a healer sent to earth
to pave the way for others to live. She will also
open healing centers for women and children. She
was also shown a future event where she would help
a man who helped her during the difficult times
of her life. She was shown why we are all here in
the world. It is to have a human experience. She
was told that if it was religion, we would all be
hoping the religion we chose was the right one.
She was told that we are not here to kill each other,
but help each other rise to a higher level of love.
(Sherry
Gideon)
Grace re-experienced an event in her life when she
was a child in class. Her teacher had set three
special cards on a table which were to be awarded
for a spelling bee they were to have. When everyone
left for recess, Grace stole one of the cards. Later,
she felt sick with guilt and put the card back when
no one was there. Grace's re-experience of
this event made her remember everything about that
situation. What really impressed her was her awareness
at that time of how very wrong that action was.
Although she made amends for it then, she felt her
teacher's dismay at having the card missing. Grace
realized that other children saw only two cards
on the desk for the spelling bee, not three. What
she realized perfectly was that her actions carried
repercussions that effect many others. (Grace
Bubulka)
When Ned Dougherty's life review began, he was overwhelmed
by the process and the feelings of love directed
at him from the audience. As events of his life
were displayed, the audience would cheer for him
and convey their love for him. They were saying
things such as, "You are doing wonderfully.
We are here to support you. Continue to do good
work, and we will help you. You are part of us,
and we are part of you. We stand ready to come to
your aid when you need us, and you will. Call us.
Beckon us. We will flock to you when the time comes!"
Ned became confused by all the attention. There
wasn't anything wonderful about the way he had conducted
his life. He wondered how he can be doing wonderfully
when he tried to murder someone that very night.
Ned was then spiritually rescued from the negative
thoughts he was having. He was told that he mustn't
think such negative thoughts there. He was told
that only positive thoughts will be heard there.
Nobody can hear his negative thoughts. He must be
positive to perform his mission. (Ned
Dougherty)
RaNelle Wallace was shown how a friend of hers was
given to her from God to guide and help her. But
RaNelle saw instead how her own mistakes and uncaring
attitude ultimately mislead her friend and propelled
her into new mistakes and grief. Next, RaNelle saw
another episode in her life when she was asked by
a church leader to visit a particular woman to check
up on her occasionally to see if she needed help.
Because the woman was filled with such negativity
and bitterness, RaNelle never went to see her. She
didn't think she could handle her attitude. Now,
she saw that the opportunity to help her had been
orchestrated by Higher Powers and that she was just
the person the woman needed at the time. Now, RaNelle
felt the woman's sadness and disappointment because
she did not complete this mission. It was a responsibility
that would have been a benefit to RaNelle as well.
(RaNelle
Wallace)
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Dr. Dianne Morrissey's life review experience:
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As Dianne Morrissey's
life review continued, she was shown two
very special deeds she had performed in
her life. As these scenes were displayed
before her, every emotion she had originally
felt returned in full force. She also felt
as if God and the angels were honoring her
for performing these deeds. Love and joy
surrounded and ran through her. She felt
as though she was being hugged by God.
The first deed
she witnessed was when she helped a woman
pushing her stalled automobile. Afterward,
Dianne left in a hurry because she was afraid
of getting a ticket. In Dianne's haste,
she didn't give the woman a chance to thank
her. While reviewing this scene, Dianne
was filled with indescribable feelings of
love, which seemed to be directed at her
from the angels.
The second deed
she witnessed was a scene she'd forgotten
about. She saw herself as a teenager working
in a convalescent hospital. She helped feed
an elderly woman when no one else wanted
to do so. She had grown fond of the old
woman despite the old woman's unsavory behavior.
When this deed was displayed in her life
review, she felt as if every loving spirit
in God's kingdom was thanking her in unison.
She was amazed that such an act could have
meant so much to God - and to her. She felt
humbled and very honored. She communicated
with the light beings telepathically. As
she viewed the scenes of her life, she felt
as if she were absorbing many books all
at once with perfect clarity. (Dr.
Dianne Morrissey)
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Thomas Sawyer's life review insights:
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"I wish that
I could tell you how it really felt and
what the life review is like, but I'll never
be able to do it accurately. I'm hoping
to give you just a slight inkling of what
is available to each and every one of you.
Will you be totally devastated by the crap
you've brought into other people's lives?
Or will you be equally enlightened and uplifted
by the love and joy that you have shared
in other people's lives? Well, guess what?
It pretty much averages itself out. You
will be responsible for yourself, judging
and reliving what you have done to everything
and everybody in very far-reaching ways.
Very small, seemingly inconsequential things
such as the day when I, nine years old,
walked through Seneca Park and loved the
appearance of a tree. In my life review
I could experience a bit of what the tree
experienced in my loving it, two little
photons of love and adoration. It was somewhat
like the leaves acknowledging my presence.
Can a tree experience that? Yes, it can.
Don't go kicking trees anymore! You do have
that effect on plants. You do have an effect
on animals. You do have an effect on the
universe. And in your life review you'll
be the universe and experience yourself
in what you call your lifetime and how it
affects the universe. In your life review
you'll be yourself absolutely, in every
aspect of time, in every event, in the over-all
scheme of things in your lifetime. Your
life. The little bugs on your eyelids that
some of you don't even know exist. That's
an interrelationship, you with yourself
and these little entities that are living
and surviving on your eyelids. When you
waved a loving goodbye to a good friend
the other day, did you affect the clouds
up above? Did you actually affect them?
Does a butterfly's wings in China affect
the weather here? You better believe it
does? You can learn all of that in a life
review! As this takes place, you have total
knowledge. You have the ability to be a
psychologist, a psychiatrist, a psychoanalyst,
and much more. You are your own spiritual
teacher, maybe for the first and only time
in your life. You are simultaneously the
student and the teacher in a relationship.
My life review was part of this experience
also. It was absolutely, positively, everything
basically from the first breath of life
right through the accident. It was everything.
During this life review I experienced what
I can only describe as "in the eyes
of Jesus Christ." Meaning, I watched
and observed this entire event as if I were
in the eyes of Jesus Christ. Which means
unconditionally." (Thomas
Sawyer)
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Rev. Howard Storm's life review experience:
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Howard Storm's
entire life review was a lesson during which
they were trying to teach him. During some
events, they slowed the review down to zoom
in on it. All of the things that he worked
to achieve, the recognition that he had
worked for in elementary school, in high
school, in college, and in his career, meant
nothing in this setting. Howard could feel
the light beings' feelings of sorrow and
suffering, or joy, as his life's review
unfolded. They didn't judge him, but he
could feel judgment. He could sense all
those things they were indifferent to. For
example, they didn't consider his high school
shot-put record. They just didn't feel anything
towards it, nor towards other things which
he had taken so much pride in. What they
responded to was how he had interacted with
other people. His entire review would have
been emotionally destructive if it hadn't
been for the love he felt from the light
beings. Anytime he got upset during his
life review, they would turn it off for
awhile and just love him with a tangible
love that can be felt through his entire
being. Because his life review would keep
tearing him down, he would feel their love
every time. Despite all this, seeing his
selfishness and hypocrisy made him nauseated.
But through it all was their love. When
his life review was finally over, they asked
Howard if he had any questions. Sometimes
they would replay the part of his life review
in order to answer his questions. (Rev.
Howard Storm)
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Dannion Brinkley's life review insights:
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"When you
have a panoramic life review, you literally
relive your life, in 360 degrees panorama.
You see everything that's ever happened.
You even see how many leaves were on the
tree when you were six years old playing
in the dirt in the front yard. You literally
re-live it. Next you watch your life from
a second person's point of view. In this
life we're taught to be sympathetic toward
others. But from the second person's point
of view, you'll feel empathy, not sympathy.
After that, you literally will become every
person that you've ever encountered. You
will feel what it feels like to be that
person and you will feel the direct results
of your interaction between you and that
person. You know the story of the Book of
Judgment? Guess what? When you have your
panoramic life review, you are the judger
... You do the judging. If you doubt me,
believe this: you are the toughest judge
you will ever have." (Dannion
Brinkley)
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Laurelynn Martin's life review experience:
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During her life
review, she relived an event when she was
five years old and teased another girl to
the point of tears. Laurelynn then felt
exactly what the other girl was feeling.
Laurelynn realized how the girl needed love,
nurturing and forgiveness. Laurelynn then
felt a love for this child that was so deep
and tender, it was like the love between
a mother and child. She realized that by
hurting another person, she was only hurting
myself. It was an experience oneness with
everyone. Another event she relived was
similar to the previous one. As a child
she made fun of a scrawny, malnourished
asthmatic kid who eventually died from a
cerebral aneurysm. The kid once wrote a
love letter to her which she rejected. In
her life review, she experienced his pain
of being rejected. At the same time, she
felt a tremendous amount of love for this
boy and herself. Her life review connected
her with him in a way that went beyond the
physical. It was a connection that was felt
at the level of the soul. She saw how the
boy had a vibrant, bright light burning
inside of him. She felt the strength of
his spirit and vitality. It was an inconceivable
moment especially knowing how much he physically
suffered when he was alive. (Laurelynn
Martin)
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David Oakford's life review experience:
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David's life review
began by witnessing the initial circumstances
that occurred before being born that resulted
in him being the person he was. The spirit
beings asked David how and why he picked
these particular parents. David didn't know
where it came from but he told them what
they wanted to know. They agreed with him.
David picked his parents to help them on
their path as well as to achieve his own
learning. David re-experienced his own birth
and how he left heaven to become a helpless
infant. He experienced his parent's love
and their anger. He saw all the good and
bad episodes of his life. He felt all of
his emotions and the emotions of others
he had hurt as well as loved. From all of
this he learned that it matters deeply what
choices we make on earth. When his life
review was over, the spirit beings in the
room asked him questions concerning what
he saw and how he felt about his life up
to then. He knew that he had to provide
an honest assessment and that it was impossible
to lie. He hesitated when they asked him
whether he affected others more positively
than negatively. He thought about lying.
Instead he told them that he could have
done a better job, but he was not finished
with his mission. Because of this, David
told them he wanted to back and finish his
mission. They spirit beings agreed. (David
Oakford)
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Christian Andreason's life review experience:
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"I saw four translucent
screens appear (and form a kind of gigantic
box around me). It was through this method
that I was shown my life review. (Or rather
I should say my LIVES IN REVIEW!) Without
ever having to turn my head, I saw my past,
my present, my future and there was even
a screen that displayed a tremendous amount
of scientific data, numbers and universal
codes. I saw the beginning of my known existence
as a Soul and saw that I had existed Spiritually
long before this incarnation -- where I
am now a male human known as Christian Andreason!
In Heaven, I undeniably saw that I had lived
an innumerable amount of lives. Yet, what
I saw went way beyond our comprehension
of what we think reincarnation is. So, I
am not exactly speaking of being born again
and again on this planet alone. I saw that
it is a big Universe out there and God has
it all organized perfectly. Each of us is
sent where we can obtain the best growth
according to our Divine purpose." (Christian
Andreason)
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Betty Eadie's life review experience:
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"I was led to
a room, which was exquisitely built and
appointed. I entered and saw a group of
men seated around the long side of a kidney-shaped
table. I was led to stand in front of them
within the indented portion of the table.
One thing struck me almost immediately;
there were twelve men here - men - but no
women. The men radiated love for me, and
I felt instantly at peace with them. They
leaned together to consult with each other.
Then one of them spoke to me. He said that
I had died prematurely and must return to
earth. I felt them saying it was important
that I return to earth, that I had a mission
to fulfill, but I resisted it in my heart.
This was my home, and I felt that nothing
they could say would ever convince
me to leave it. The men conferred again
and asked me if I wanted to review my life.
The request felt almost like a command.
I hesitated; no one wants their mortal past
to be reviewed in this place of purity and
love. They told me that it was important
for me to see it, so I agreed. A light appeared
to one side, and I felt the Savior's love
beside me.
"I stepped to
my left to watch the review. It occurred
in the place where I had been standing.
My life appeared before me in the form of
what we might consider extremely well defined
holograms, but at tremendous speed. I was
astonished that I could understand so much
information at such a speed. My comprehension
included much more than what I remember
happening during each event of my life.
I not only re-experienced my own emotions
at each moment, but also what others around
me had felt. I experienced their thoughts
and feelings about me. There were times
when things became clear to me in a new
way. 'Yes,' I would say to myself. 'Oh,
yes. Now I see. Well, who would have guessed?
But, of course, it makes sense.' Then I
saw the disappointment that I had caused
others, and I cringed as their feelings
of disappointment filled me, compounded
by my own guilt. I understood all the suffering
I had caused, and I felt it. I began to
tremble. I saw how much grief my bad temper
had cased, and I suffered this grief. I
saw my selfishness, and my heart cried for
relief. How had I been so uncaring? Then
in the midst of my pain, I felt the love
of the council come over me. They watched
my life with understanding and mercy. Everything
about me was taken into consideration, how
I was raised, the things I had been taught,
the pain give me by others, the opportunities
I had received or not received. And I realized
that the council was not judging me. I was
judging myself. Their love and mercy
were absolute. Their respect for me could
never be lessened. I was especially grateful
for their love as the next phase of my review
passed before me.
"I was shown
the ripple effect, as they described it.
I saw how I had often wronged people and
how they had often turned to others and
committed a similar wrong. This chain continued
from victim to victim, like a circle of
dominoes, until it came back to the start
- to me, the offender. The ripples went
out, and they came back. I had offended
far more people than I knew, and my pain
multiplied and became unbearable.
"The Savior stepped
toward me, full of concern and love. His
spirit gave me strength, and he said that
I was judging myself too critically. 'You're
being too harsh on yourself,' he said.
"Then he showed me the reversed side of
the ripple effect. I saw myself perform
an act of kindness, just a simple act of
unselfishness, and I saw the ripples go
out again. The friend I had been kind to
was kind in turn to one of her friends,
and the chain repeated itself. I saw love
and happiness increase in others' lives
because of that one simple act on my part.
I saw their happiness grow and affect their
lives in positive ways, some significantly.
My pain was replaced with joy. I felt the
love they felt, and I felt their joy, and
this from one simple act of kindness. A
powerful thought hit me, and I repeated
it over and over in my mind:
"I recalled the
scripture that said, 'I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly' (John 10:10), and my
soul was filled with this abundant joy.
It all seemed so simple. If we're kind,
we'll have joy. And the question suddenly
came out of me, 'Why didn't I know this
before?' Jesus or one of the men responded,
and the answer was ingrained in me. It sank
into the deepest part of my soul, changing
my outlook on trials and opposition forever,
'You needed the negative as well as the
positive experiences on earth. Before you
can feel joy, you must know sorrow.' All
of my experiences now took on new meaning.
I realized that no real mistakes had been
made in my life. Each experience was a tool
for me to grow by. Every unhappy experience
had allowed me to obtain greater understanding
about myself, until I learned to avoid those
experiences.
"So the review
quickly changed from a negative experience
to a very positive one. My perspective of
myself was changed, and I saw my sins and
shortcomings in a multi-dimensional light.
Yes, they were grievous to me and others,
but they were tools for me to learn by,
to correct my thinking and behavior. I understood
that forgiven sins are blotted out. It is
as if they are overlaid by new understanding,
by a new direction in life.
"My review was
over, and the men sat in stillness, radiating
their absolute love for me. The Savior was
there in his light, smiling, pleased with
my progress. The men then conferred again
and turned back to me. 'You have not completed
your mission on earth,' they said. 'You
must go back. But, we will not compel you;
the choice is yours.' Without hesitation,
I said, 'No, no. I can't go back. I belong
here. This is my home.' I stood firm, knowing
that nothing could ever make me choose to
leave.'
"One of the men
spoke, also firmly. 'Your work is not complete.
It is best that you return.' I was not going
back. I had learned as a child how to win
a fight, and now I employed all those skills.
I threw myself down and began crying. 'I
won't go back,' I wailed, 'and nobody is
going to make me! I'm staying right here
where I belong. I'm through with earth!'
"Jesus stood
not far from me, off to my right, still
glowing in his brilliant light. He came
forward now, and I felt his concern. But
mixed with his concern was a sense of amusement.
He still delighted in me, understanding
my moods, and I sensed his empathy for my
desire to stay. I arose, and he said to
the council, 'Let us show her what her mission
involves.'
"Then turning
back to me he said, 'Your mission will
be made known to you so that you might make
a clearer decision. But after this, you
must decide. If you return to your life
on earth, your mission and much of what
you have been shown will be removed from
your memory.' Reluctantly I agreed and was
shown my mission.
"Afterward, I
knew that I had to come back. Although I
would hate to leave that glorious world
of light and love for one of hardship and
uncertainty, the necessity of my mission
compelled me to return." (Betty
Eadie)
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11.
Biblical support for the life review |
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The Bible supports the NDE phenomenon of
seeing your entire life reviewed after death - every
thought, word and deed:
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"But I tell you
that men will have to give account on the
day of judgment for every careless word
they have spoken. For by your words you
will be acquitted, and by your words you
will be condemned." (Matthew
12:36-37)
"There is nothing
concealed that will not be disclosed, or
hidden that will not be made known. What
you have said in the dark will be heard
in the daylight, and what you have whispered
in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed
from the roofs." (Luke
12:2-3)
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The Bible supports the NDE life review of
there being no judgment from God:
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"Moreover, the Father judges no one,
but has entrusted all judgment to the
Son." (John
5:22)
"As for the
person who hears my words but does not
keep them, I do not judge him. For I
did not come to judge the world, but
to save it. There is a judge for the
one who rejects me and does not accept
my words, that very word which I spoke
will condemn him at the last day." (John
12:47-48)
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The only judgment existing after death is
self-judgment at which time we enter the light of
God where all is made known. Having your true inner
self revealed (realizing that you are a part of
God) can be hell for those who have been motivated
mostly by negative forces in life. Having your true
inner self revealed can be heaven for those who
have been motivated mostly by positive forces in
life. Everyone's true inner nature is a part of
God. Those who enter the afterlife realize their
true inner nature. Those who lived a life against
their inner self will find difficulties. This is
self-realization and self-judgment.
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"This is the
verdict: Light has come into the world,
but men loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil. Everyone
who does evil hates the light, and will
not come into the light for fear that
his deeds will be exposed. But whoever
lives by the truth comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly that
what he has done has been done through
God." (John
3:19-21)
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The verse above describes people dwelling
in the dark to escape from having the light of God
reveal their inner divine nature and life of ignorance,
both of which are exposed to everyone in the heavenly
realms.
Near-death experiencers have affirmed that
so-called evil is, in reality, ignorance (darkness).
In the Bible, light is always a reference to God
and knowledge of God. Those people who lived a life
of darkness (ignorance) will find an incompatibility
with their true nature (divinity). This self-realization
can truly be a hell for such people. This realization
is self-realization and self-judgment. Below are
verses that suggest self-judgment.
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"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed
time; wait till the Lord comes. He will
bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will expose the motives of men's hearts."
(1
Corinthians 4:5)
"Let us not love with words or tongue but
with actions and in truth. This then is
how we know that we belong to the truth,
and how we set our hearts at rest in his
presence whenever our hearts condemn us.
For God is greater than our hearts, and
he knows everything." (1
John 3:18-20)
"If our hearts
do not condemn us, we have confidence before
God and receive from him anything we ask"
(1
John 3:21-22)
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The verse below describes how God's light
can shine in the darkness of our hearts even before
we die:
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"For God, who
said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,'
made his light shine in our hearts to give
us the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Christ." (2
Corinthians 4:6)
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Both
Edgar Cayce and
Emanuel Swedenborg revealed from their NDE journeys
how, after death, all humans literally become angels.
One particular passage of scripture can be interpreted
to describe how the self-judgment that we, as angels,
undergo:
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"Do you not know
that the saints will judge the world? And
if you are to judge the world, are you not
competent to judge trivial cases? Do you
not know we will judge angels?" (1
Corinthians 6:2-3)
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The word "angels" is sometimes used in the
Bible to apply to humans. Here are some of them:
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"See that you do not look down on one of
these little ones [children]. For I tell
you that their angels in heaven always see
the face of my Father in heaven." (Matthew
18:10)
"Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and
a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer
the door. When she recognized Peter's voice,
she was so overjoyed she ran back without
opening it and exclaimed, 'Peter is at the
door!' 'You're out of your mind,' they told
her. When she kept insisting that it was
so, they said, 'It must be his angel.'"
(Acts
12:13-15)
"At the resurrection people will neither
marry nor be given in marriage; they will
be like the angels in heaven." (Matthew
22:30)
"Do not forget
to entertain strangers, for by so doing
some people have entertained angels without
knowing it." (Hebrews
13:2)
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