Chapter 8: True Christian Experiences of Heaven

[尼古拉前执事]

Chapter 9: The Meaning of Today's "After-Death" Experiences

[Reader Benjamin]

I apreciat the inclusion of the experiance of heaven by one that is not ready. What a contrast from what we are lead to believe from the "experiances" of those that have died and came back to life very quickly. The Saints that were dead for some time, days, then came back is educational and good to make us careful to prepare ourselves for death.

Have anyone noticed a difference in reaction of those that expieriance a near death and the Saints' reaction to having seen Heaven and/or Hell?

[romiosini]

Have anyone noticed a difference in reaction of those that expieriance a near death and the Saints' reaction to having seen Heaven and/or Hell?

Yes, indeed, many Saints at their deaths we mourning that they are worthy of Paradise. Such Piety and True Humility!
Not any sinner who hasn't known Christ gains eternal blessedness but eternal pain!
I remember reading about the last hours of Saint Elder Joseph the Hesychast, who was mourning, because he was made worthy and reassured by the Theotokos, that She would come Herself and recieve him to Her Son's Kingdom. He was mourning and crying and saying he wasn't worthy and that he has dissapointed His Mother. Elder Joseph saw the Theotokos a couple of weeks or months before he fell asleep into the Lord, but turned away his head, but reassured by Herself, the Theotokos, that She isn't an illusion. Elder Father Ephraim of Arizona still remembers those moments when he called him the second he was dying. Father Ephraim with his spiritual brothers were honored of recieving his blessing. Unlike, Papa-Ephraim, he lived his last breaths side by side to him. He can tell you a lot of things of the Holy Papou (Grandpa, in greek) and his last days if you ask him or write to him. I am one of them to know.