The bulk of this blog was written some years ago by my Sister. It’s an account of an experience she endured as a child. I can clearly recall the night, even the very moment that - that earlier experience threw our whole home into utter confusion. I should like to state, that until our thirties neither my Sister nor I had any Christian background.

So there we were, my Parents, Sister, Brother and I... all quietly watching a Second World War film. You know the type, one of those “Red leader to blue leader, bandits at three o’clock, tally-ho chaps”. Well during the movie there was a close-up of one of the pilots placing on his flying mask... and forgive the pun, but suddenly ‘all hell broke loose’.

I’ve seen people ‘freak-out’ since that day but in almost all cases, the afflicted soul still demonstrated some remnant of purpose during their madness, in either that they attempted to flee from, prevent or attack whatsoever it was that had distressed them. This logic was completely absent from my Sister, who although physically with us, was lost in some monstrous reality that was completely incomprehensible.

There was no warning, no build-up, just an immediate and shocking hysteria! The screaming was instantaneous and totally without restraint, I jumping-up turned to see my Sister, who was by now on her feet... wearing a mask of such dread and despair that I knew it was far beyond any thing that I could comprehend... for this was in the realm of gibbering madness! For a moment our eyes met... as if she were trying to convey to me her horror, but although she being my Sister, I just didn’t want to know. And so turning away she continuing screaming and lashing out at invisible terrors. It took my father, who at that time was at least a stocky sixteen stone, to restrain her which he could only accomplish by pinning her, a mere child to the floor! Such was the despair and terror of her voice that for a short while, even my then small brother became hysterical... gleaning something of her horror!

It appears that the placing on of the mask was the trigger that reminded her of the event she had earlier experienced, whilst under anaesthetic.

I can recall nothing more of that event than what I have already conveyed, only that so discomforting was it to all present that looking back, we appeared to have disowned it, as we never spoke of it again until approximately thirty years later. My most prominent memory shall always be the moment our eyes met, of which I still can not fully comprehend, nor do I want to.

Well, here is Marie’s testimony of that event, as she wrote it on her own blog...

In seeking to shrug off such a testimony, as a gas induced vision... or as the excitable imagination of a child, a few things aught to be considered.

Nitrous Oxide, the gas used was banned for it’s many differing side effects, one being that it not only could kill, but more importantly regarding this article, that it also brought others to the very brink of death. With this in mind, it is noteworthy to mention that many people who have been involved in ‘near death experiences’, such as those involved in car accidents, wars, fights, illnesses or whatever have testified to similar ‘near death experiences’ as did my Sister, with others actually being brought back from the dead testifying to the same.

Additionally, I can also testify regarding a close friend, whom having suffered a similar experience, sort out my opinion. However in his case I can not reveal his name as not being a Christian... he would be greatly ashamed of being associated with anything that might relate to Christianity, such as my blog.

Anyway, some years ago I played my old friend an audio CD called ‘The Sounds of Hell’, a recording that I myself stated “must be a hoax” for scriptural reasons. Though in many ways it does fulfil all the scriptural expectations that you might expect Hell to sound like, if in fact Hell could be recorded... of which I am quite confident that it can not.

Months later, my friend unexpectedly knocked on my door, and although I could see that he was anxious to discuss with me something of importance... he soon left. I immediately attributed his quick departure and odd strained behaviour to the presence of a Christian friend, who unknown to him had arrived some hours earlier. That there being little my friend would discuss before others, I intuitively knew that it had to be something relating to my faith, something that he would be greatly ashamed off... and as all Christians know, The message Cross is foolishness to those who don’t believe (1 Corinthians 1:18). This greatly perplexed me, for what could possibly drive my friend to overcome his pride and great fear of Christianity to enquire of me? Possibly it might be that I was the only person he knew from our shared background, that knew Christ and who he might dare to confide in.
Anyway, strangely this very same situation replayed itself about a week later, him turning-up when my Christian friend was again visiting.

However, about a week later on his third visit, with no other in attendance we had hardly sat down, when he informed me that he had recently returned from hospital where he had very nearly died. He then related to me what had taken place. Whilst in intensive care, almost the last words he heard before he descended into a deep dark pit was a nurse saying “he’s not going to make it”. And then he fell...

My friend would not elaborate more than the following few words...

He wouldn’t say much more, only that he somehow fought back to the light, though I sensed he was holding much back. But then he asked me “what was it?” Looking in his eyes I instantly knew exactly that he was really trying to ask me was “am I safe now, is it all over?”

What could I say, should I lie to ease his fears or tell him the truth? I told him the truth based on scripture and said...

“XXXXXX, God has allowed you to see where you are going if you do not change your ways and turn to Him for cleansing, few have had that privilege... but you have been shown”. To my surprise his almost frantic reply was “but I made it back”, to which I answered “but one day we shall all die, and you now know where you are going if you remain as you find yourself today, unwashed of sins past”.

Since then I have rarely seen him, my one hope is that the lie he has concocted to sustain him while being aware of such knowledge, will breakdown before the cries of a desperate conscience that knows better.

Before I finish, I would like to make a few comments based on my scriptural observations. I shall keep these short as this blog is already quite long.

The first thing that I just must comment on is my Sisters quote...

People have no idea that all of the love, peace and safety that they currently experience... is based entirely on the fact that they live in a World where the presence of God still exists, therefore they are not in this life, completely cut-off from His presence and His love.
But in rejecting God... as my Sister has fully understood, they are rejecting the love of God, because as the Scriptures state, “God is love”. And as fear and even horror can take hold of those who in committing sinful acts in the land of the living, draw themselves away from His presence. How much more then, shall ultimate horror and infinite fear be experienced by those who in death, have utterly and eternally cut themselves off from the presence of God... by their rejection of Him, when they find themselves in Hades or Hell?

And regarding Hell itself, although Jesus alludes to the fact that Hell already exists... ...scripture makes it clear that when the unsaved die, they go to Hades to await the great day when the guilty will be judged, then sentenced to their part in Hell.

See The Biblical Hades

On that basis, I think it much more likely that both my Sister and my friend saw and experienced a part of Hades and not of Hell. Though, it is entirely possible that God in His mercy shew them their part in Hell (The Second Death) that they would endure if they met death, uncleaned from their sin. I praise God that He sent His Son Jesus, whom I serve... and that He has saved many of my family, friends as well as myself from Hell. And it is my desire that He will not only save my old friend but you also... some of whom I have failed to conveying His salvation message, may He give me such an opportunity again... and may we all find grace and salvation through His Son on that great day.