Ep 222 | Former Agnostic: There IS Life After Death | John Burke | The Glenn Beck Podcast
Aug 10, 2024
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John Burke, an engineer turned pastor, shares his remarkable journey from agnosticism to faith after three decades of studying near-death experiences. He reveals profound insights about the afterlife, including consistent themes of love and divine presence reported by those who returned from death. Burke emphasizes that self-forgiveness is crucial for healing and discusses transformative stories of redemption, including an inspiring account of a descendant of Muhammad finding faith in Jesus. Ultimately, he conveys that how we treat each other reflects our spiritual journey.
John Burke's exploration of near-death experiences reveals a consistent narrative of love and peace that transcends cultural boundaries.
Life reviews during NDEs highlight the importance of empathy and the lasting impact of our actions on others.
The universal theme of divine love suggests that redemption is about both accepting grace and the willingness to forgive.
Deep dives
The Journey of Near-Death Experiences
Near-death experiences (NDEs) often reveal a common narrative among individuals who have clinically died and then been revived. These experiences typically involve a sense of leaving the physical body, encountering a bright light, and feeling an overwhelming sense of love and peace. Many report undergoing a life review, where they reflect on their past actions and the impact they had on others. This alignment across diverse accounts suggests a universal experience of an afterlife that transcends cultural and religious boundaries.
The Power of Life Reviews
Life reviews during near-death experiences significantly impact individuals, often leading to profound transformations. Participants not only relive their own experiences but also perceive others' feelings and responses to their actions, highlighting the importance of empathy and kindness. This insight stresses how individual actions resonate beyond personal relationships, influencing a broader community. Consequently, many who experience this review develop a newfound understanding of love as a central theme of existence.
Common Themes in NDEs
Across various NDE accounts, certain themes consistently emerge that challenge conventional perceptions of life and death. Participants frequently describe encountering a God-like figure or a divine presence that embodies unconditional love and forgiveness. They also report heightened senses and an understanding of a reality beyond earthly limitations, with descriptions resembling biblical imagery. Such parallels between these experiences and scripture suggest a deeper, often spiritual connection, raising intriguing questions about faith and understanding the afterlife.
The Role of Free Will and Redemption
The concept of free will is pivotal in discussions about heaven, hell, and human choice as revealed through near-death experiences. Many recount the overwhelming love and acceptance they felt from God, yet also recognize the consequences of their own choices leading to separation from Him. This suggests that one’s path toward redemption hinges not only on divine grace but also individual openness to accepting that grace. Ultimately, the experiences indicate that the journey towards God and acceptance often involves humility and a willingness to love and forgive others.
The Universality of God’s Love
People from different backgrounds and beliefs report experiencing God’s love during their near-death encounters, indicating a universal theme of divine acceptance. Even those who initially lacked faith often describe transformative encounters that lead them towards seeking a relationship with God. The idea that God reaches out to all people, regardless of their earthly background, speaks to a profound truth that transcends traditional religious boundaries. This reinforces the notion that love and relationship with the divine is the essence of existence and the afterlife.
What happens when we die? John Burke has studied near-death experiences for the past three decades, and what he found transformed him from an agnostic engineer to a pastor. The stories of those who have clinically died but come back to life, he says, point to the “reality of heaven and hell” and the overwhelming love of the God of the Bible who has kept his promises to Abraham and continues to keep his promises today. In a touching conversation about redemption and atonement, Glenn and John discuss afterlife “life reviews” and how we voluntarily lock ourselves in hell when we don’t forgive ourselves. Glenn shares a vivid dream that helped him understand the light of God, and John details the incredible story of how a descendant of Muhammad came to faith in Jesus.
In the end, the pair agree that even though we live in an “evil and broken world,” what matters most to God is “how we treat one another.”
