Neurosurgean Dr. Eban Alexander had a profound experience of being in heaven while he was brain-dead. He miraculously recovered and wrote about his experience in the book "Proof of Heaven." In it, he describes encountering God in a thick darkness. Now, this sounds very odd, however, there are many passages of Scripture that describe God dwelling in a thick or deep darkness. Here are some of them:

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. (Exodus 20:21)

And He [God] made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. (2 Samuel 22:12)

He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. (Psalm 18:11)

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. (Psalm 97:2)

Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. ( 1Samuel 22:12, 2 Chronicles 6:1)

Other Scriptures such as 1 Timothy 6:15-16 speak of God dwelling in light.

The Hebrew word here for "darkness" is araphel-which means, "cloud, heavy cloud, gloom, gloomy, thick darkness."

Now, why would God "dwell in a deep darkness"? Well, in both the Hebrew and ancient Egyptian Temples, the inner sanctum, or "Holy of Holies" was not well lit. It was a very dark chamber. Also, smoke from the incense altars and the smoke from the sacrifices filled the Temple.

However, at the theophany at Mount Sinai, where God appeared to Moses and the Israelites, there was this "thick darkness" within which God appeared.

A SCIENTIST'S CASE FOR THE AFTERLIFE

Thousands of people have had near-death experiences, but scientists have argued that they are impossible. Dr. Eben Alexander was one of those scientists. A highly trained neurosurgeon, Alexander knew that NDEs feel real, but are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress.

Then, Dr. Alexander's own brain was attacked by a rare illness. The part of the brain that controls thought and emotion—and in essence makes us human—shut down completely. For seven days he lay in a coma. Then, as his doctors considered stopping treatment, Alexander's eyes popped open. He had come back.

Alexander's recovery is a medical miracle. But the real miracle of his story lies elsewhere. While his body lay in coma, Alexander journeyed beyond this world and encountered an angelic being who guided him into the deepest realms of super-physical existence. There he met, and spoke with, the Divine source of the universe itself.

Alexander's story is not a fantasy. Before he underwent his journey, he could not reconcile his knowledge of neuroscience with any belief in heaven, God, or the soul. Today Alexander is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved only when we realize that God and the soul are real and that death is not the end of personal existence but only a transition.

This story would be remarkable no matter who it happened to. That it happened to Dr. Alexander makes it revolutionary. No scientist or person of faith will be able to ignore it. Reading it will change your life.

I think that it is very interesting that there are all these people who are having these experiences of being in heaven and returning and telling people about them.

We have:

Proof of Heaven by Dr. Eban Alexander
90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life by Don Piper
Heaven is Real by Don Burpo (this is the story of a little boy who died and went to heaven and returned)
"To Heaven and Back: A Doctor's Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story" by Dr. Mary C. Neal

Lets not forget Hell. "23 Minutes in Hell" tells the story of Bill Wiese's vision of Hell. If you read Plato's Republic-he concludes telling the story of a man's "near death" experience and of his vision of heaven and hell.

Another thing that is very interesting, I believe, is Dr. Alexander's encounter of God dwelling within a thick darkness. It is unlikely he knew of these obscure passages of scripture, so his experiences confirm the Biblical account.

The church has a tradition of "Mystics." This includes the famous mystic of the Assyrian Church of the East named "Saint Isaac of Nineveh." Dr. Alexander found Christian mystics had a similar experience of God dwelling within a thick darkness.

2012 draws to a close

2012 is now drawing to a close. With the re-election of Mr. Obama, America enters into a dark chapter-and most certainly a period of decline. It was a bad year.

Stephen starts radio program

I was thinking of starting a radio show-but I can't afford it. However, through Juda Myers, I have discovered www.blogtalkradio.com. I may start a radio program entitled "Aramaic Voice." The service is free-so I think that I am going to do it.

Prayer Needs

It seems that most people are having financial problems. I am. I may be broke before 2013 is over. I hope that "my God will supply all my needs according to his glory in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:19). I ask for your prayers that somehow, I will make it through the coming year.

One of the worst things about Obama is how he is encouraging and supporting the rise of radical Islam around the world. The end result is that Obama's policies may result in the extinction of Christianity in the Middle East. Also, we will probably have a terrible war. Lord Chamberland's strategy of appeasement of Hitler led to World War II. Obama's strategy of appeasement and encouragement of radical Islam will lead to a future war that will make the "Global War on Terror" look like a walk in the park-that or Islam will come to dominate the world-BUT, Moslems aren't having a population explosion-they are having a population decline. Radical Islam could fall-but if it does its no thanks to Mr. Obama, who has done everything in his power to see that Islam reigns supreme. Whatever happens-this will remain true-the spread of radical Islam causes the spread of misery and human suffering.

Liberal Hollywood

"Hollywood is seldom just about money. It's about propaganda. And if you defy the party line, you stand no chance of winning. So when Dinesh D'Souza's movie got passed over, I wasn't even vaguely surprised," noted Dan Gainor, VP of Business and Culture at the Media Research Institute. "Is that bias? Of course. Jack Nicholson was close: Hollywood can't handle the truth. And they can't handle disagreement. Their one-sided view of what deserves awards underlines that."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/12/07/hit-anti-obama-documentary-2016-snubbed-by-academy-awards/#ixzz2ENU2e76G

Homosexuals attack Salvation Army (www.foxnews.com)

The University of California in Berkeley is considering a student government resolution calling for Salvation Army bell ringers to be banned from campus over allegations the charity is "anti-gay." The resolution accused the Salvation Army of discriminating against gays and lesbians and urged the public university to immediately revoke their license to operate on campus property. "Allowing the Salvation Army to collect donations on campus is a passive form of financial assistance, that empowers the organization to spend the money it raises here in order to discriminate and advocate discrimination against queer people," the resolution reads. The story was first reported by Campus Reform. Student government leaders feared that homosexual students "may take offense to the presence of collection containers operated by a discriminatory religious organization in their places of living." Salvation Army spokesperson Jennifer Byrd denied the ministry is anti-gay – and took offense to a particular passage that accused them of offering help only to people "who accept and abide by the Salvation Army's doctrine and discipline, which exclusive homosexuality." She told Fox News that accusation is "totally false." "The only requirement for service from The Salvation Army is demonstrated need and our ability to meet it," she said. "Any allegation of discrimination at a Salvation Army center is thoroughly investigated because it's against our established policy and practice." She stressed that their mission is to "preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination." Byrd also took issue with allegations that the Salvation Army raises money to advocate discrimination – again calling it "false." "Money contributed in Berkeley – or anywhere else – stays in the community where it was given to provide services to people in need," she said. Reaction to the possible ban has been mixed. Nick Helbig told KGO, "Donating to the Salvation Army doesn't mean that you're prejudiced against gays and lesbians, it just means that you want to help people." But a number of critics have lashed out against the Christian charity on websites like Towelroad. "I can't stand it, can't walk into the grocery store without hearing that stupid bell, that hurts your ears when it's cold, and then they say Merry Christmas at me like they know I'm gay and would be offended by it," one reader wrote.

Todd Starnes is the author of Dispatches From Bitter America – endorsed by Sarah Palin, Mark Levin and Sean Hannity. Click here to get your copy!

Navy Cancels Nativity

The Navy directed service members serving in Bahrain to cancel and dismantle a "Live Nativity" after receiving a complaint from a military atheist group who said the manger scene endangered Americans serving in a Muslim country and violated the U .S. Constitution. The chaplain at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain confirmed to Fox News the nativity scene was cancelled – but referred any further comments to the NSA's public information officer.

The "Live Nativity" was a long-standing tradition at NSA Bahrain that featured the children of military personnel dressed as shepherds, wise men, along with Mary and Joseph. It was part of a larger festival that included a tree lighting, Christmas music and photographs with Santa Claus and a camel.

But the Military Association of Atheiests and Freethinkers objected to the Nativity and filed a complaint with the Navy's Inspector General. They argued the Nativity promoted "Christianity as the official religion of the base." The atheist group also worried that the Nativity put service members in danger. "Also of concern is the likelihood that the predominantly Muslim local population will see the U.S. military as a Christian force rather than a secular military support U.S. – but not necessarily Christian values in their Muslim country," the MAAF wrote in their complaint. "This even threatens U.S. security and violates the Constitution as well as command policy."

"It's unconstitutional, it's bad for the military and in a Muslim country it's dangerous," MAAF spokesman Jason Torpy told Fox News.

"Upon further review, the CRP (Command Religious Program) will be removing the Living Nativity Program from the general base secular holiday festivities and co-locating it more appropriately with some of our other private religious and faith-based observances at the chapel at a separate time," read a statement the Navy reportedly sent the NAAF.

Some service members in Bahrain told Fox News called the cancellation heartbreaking and children who were supposed to act in the Nativity were devastated.

"It was horrible," said one officer who asked not to be identified. "It was devastating. Here we are serving in the Middle East, defending our country and other people's religions and we couldn't understand why we can't enjoy our own religious freedoms."

Aren't the Christians, who enjoy the Nativity Scene being discriminated against by not being able to celebrate their holiday? Muslims are not offended by Christmas-since it is one of the very few stories about Jesus found in the Koran! Also, Christianity-and Christmas is practiced and observed by millions of non-Muslims in the Moslem dominate Middle East. These stupid "Atheists and Freethinkers" know nothing about Islam!

Stephen on the Radio

I was interviewed on Juda Myers program "Consider This": www.blogtalkradio.com/considerthis