Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
RE: Final judgement.	Peter	Saturday, July 30, 2011
Question: Brother I have just read your reply to John and have been wondering, when is the actual time of death? A lot of people have claimed to have met Jesus on there death beds and then been sent back to continue there life on earth. I have heard by several sources that when we die or are in the process of dying that we have a special time of mercy to accept Jesus (about 2 minutes). But if we have lived our lives with our backs turned away from Jesus then we would not recognise this time and be lost. I thought that this time of mercy could be true for all the people and religions that don't know Jesus. Jesus has said that "No one comes to the Father except through Me" If say a good buddist dies or is in the process of dying he sees Jesus and then realises who Jesus really is, he now is able in this short time to accept Jesus and be saved. Thank you for your thoughts on this. Peter
Question Answered by Dear Peter: Only God knows the precise moment of death. The Medical definition of death is described in Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st Edition: "death (death) (deth) the cessation of life; permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions. For legal and medical purposes, the following definition of death has been proposed-the irreversible cessation of all of the following: (1) total cerebral function, usually assessed by EEG as flat-line (2) spontaneous function of the respiratory system, and (3) spontaneous function of the circulatory system... brain d[eath]. irreversible brain damage as manifested by absolute unresponsiveness to all stimuli, absence of all spontaneous muscle activity, including respiration, shivering, etc., and an isoelectric electroencephalogram for 30 minutes, all in the absence of hypothermia or intoxication by central nervous system depressants. Called also irreversible coma and cerebral d[eath]." No matter what definitions we create, ultimately only God knows the precise moment of death in which the eternal destiny of the person is set. The After-Life (or near-death) experiences are controversial. There is evidence that these "visions" are caused by chemical reactions of a dying brain. That aside, these people are most likely at the point of death and not actually dead (in God's terms). God allows them to see a bit of the afterlife. Some people's afterlife experiences are of hell. God, of course, can do what He wishes, so it is possible that these people have died, and God brings them back to life. But, most probably they are at near-death. It is not a Church teaching, but it makes sense based on what we know of the nature of God as a loving and merciful father, that Jesus may appear in the last nanosecond of life and say, "George, this is your last chance." This would even be true for Hitler, "Adolf, this is your last chance to accept me." But, if this happens it is before death, as God defines it. After death, however God defines it, the Church and the Bible are clear: there are no additional chances. The state of our soul at death determines are eternal destiny. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

RE: Final judgement.

Peter

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Question:

Brother I have just read your reply to John and have been wondering, when is the actual time of death? A lot of people have claimed to have met Jesus on there death beds and then been sent back to continue there life on earth.

I have heard by several sources that when we die or are in the process of dying that we have a special time of mercy to accept Jesus (about 2 minutes). But if we have lived our lives with our backs turned away from Jesus then we would not recognise this time and be lost.

I thought that this time of mercy could be true for all the people and religions that don't know Jesus. Jesus has said that "No one comes to the Father except through Me"

If say a good buddist dies or is in the process of dying he sees Jesus and then realises who Jesus really is, he now is able in this short time to accept Jesus and be saved.

Thank you for your thoughts on this.
Peter

Question Answered by

Dear Peter:

Only God knows the precise moment of death.

The Medical definition of death is described in Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st Edition:

"death (death) (deth) the cessation of life; permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions. For legal and medical purposes, the following definition of death has been proposed-the irreversible cessation of all of the following: (1) total cerebral function, usually assessed by EEG as flat-line (2) spontaneous function of the respiratory system, and (3) spontaneous function of the circulatory system...

brain d[eath]. irreversible brain damage as manifested by absolute unresponsiveness to all stimuli, absence of all spontaneous muscle activity, including respiration, shivering, etc., and an isoelectric electroencephalogram for 30 minutes, all in the absence of hypothermia or intoxication by central nervous system depressants. Called also irreversible coma and cerebral d[eath]."

No matter what definitions we create, ultimately only God knows the precise moment of death in which the eternal destiny of the person is set.

The After-Life (or near-death) experiences are controversial. There is evidence that these "visions" are caused by chemical reactions of a dying brain. That aside, these people are most likely at the point of death and not actually dead (in God's terms). God allows them to see a bit of the afterlife. Some people's afterlife experiences are of hell.

God, of course, can do what He wishes, so it is possible that these people have died, and God brings them back to life. But, most probably they are at near-death.

It is not a Church teaching, but it makes sense based on what we know of the nature of God as a loving and merciful father, that Jesus may appear in the last nanosecond of life and say, "George, this is your last chance." This would even be true for Hitler, "Adolf, this is your last chance to accept me." But, if this happens it is before death, as God defines it.

After death, however God defines it, the Church and the Bible are clear: there are no additional chances. The state of our soul at death determines are eternal destiny.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum