Did you know that MANY people have very similar experiences, called NDEs? And most are not Catholic, or even Christian?
We believe this story was put into Torah to teach Jews that even false religions can work miracles. This is why we know never to rely on a miracle alone as proof of something being from God.
Shalom!
Your reply reminded me of this parable told by Jesus and I would like to share it with you.
Jesus told this parable of the rich man and the poor man. Luke chapter 16 verses 19 - 31.
19
There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.
20
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
22
When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
23
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
25
Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
26
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
27
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house,
28
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’
29
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30
15 He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’"
And that’s why if theJews wont listen to the prophets like Isaiah where God revealed all the tellsigns who and what the promised Messiah would look like they wont listen to a dead man who rose from the dead. Though this verse is also about Himself who after 3 days will resurrect from the dead.
The book of the prophet Isaiah is all there pointing to us that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Every details of his life from conception to death was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. All those with eyes must see, those with ears must listen.But woe to those who has eyes but refused to see and with ears but refused to listen. Jesus said.
That’s why in His one of public appearences in a synagogue, Jesus read the passage from Isaiah about , making the blinds to see, the lame to walk, set the prisoners free and then after that He told the crowd “to this day this passage was fulfilled” because He knew that Isaiah was talking about Him.
And again He said, before Abraham was I Am.
In the beginning ws the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and all things were created through Him and for Him … and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
