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This is another account of a near-death experience.  This writer details an encounter with demonic spirits who try to capture his spirit, but he is saved from them by memories of his previous faith background and prayer insights.  Jesus comes in response to his cry in this state of death-life, and he has seemingly long sessions of question and answer with angels, as well as time with Jesus, to learn truths about life and death and the universe.

The bulk of the book expresses what he asked and the answers he received.  He gradually makes his way back to life in his body, and the experience changes his perspective and his whole way of life.

Reasonabable
This book does not propose a lot of wild conclusions like some ethereal books.  For instance, I have read books by psychologists who have interviewed Essenes through the bodies of the people who now live modern lives but were supposedly once actually Essenes.  They treat these conversations under hypnosis as sources of actual historical eye-witnesses.  They report what they have "learned" and seem to consider these hypnotic "revelations" as actual facts of history.  This is a bit much to take seriously.

But Storm for the most part simply confirms the standard popular religious concepts of modern westerners.  It seems to me that this in itself is somewhat suspicious.  You would think if he actually had access to the fount of true knowledge he could clear up some of our cultural stereotypes running commonly through the modern popular evangelical culture.  Instead he simply confirms the long-standing and unreflective ideas, whether they have been critically compared to the Bible or not.  Fine, but he writes as though his experience was in line with biblical writings.  This is unfortunately a too-common weakness of much popular so-called Christian writing.

Problem for Evangelicals
Evangelicals will likely be troubled by the implication of his story that you can get a second chance after death.  Assuming this was an actual death experience, but he got a second chance to come back, this holds out hope for a chance to make a choice after death, which is virtually universally denied by Protestants, at least at the level of popular theology.

He is not clear on the status of his faith at an earlier stage in his life.  It sounds like he had been exposed but never personally believed.  In general Protestants believe this means he will be lost forever.  Storm's experience, however, indicates he got another chance to believe.

Not only that, but he got sent back as a messenger.  Interesting, since Jesus indicates this would not be done for the people of his time.  But maybe heaven is operating by new rules these days.

Common Popular Beliefs
Storm's account shares the common trait of this genre of writing that the experience reflects common popular concepts, not any particular biblical focus.  His memory of the "conversations" with the demons and then with Jesus himself sound like a religious horror novel, and a hero deliverer, not like a real discussion with Jesus or encounter with the spirit world.

I don't doubt her reports accurately what he experienced, or at least the way he remembers what he experienced.  But what is the basis of his conclusion htat this was a literal, objective experience, rather than an unusually vivid dream?

Responsible Return
It is great that his life was turned around.  I rejoice with him for that.  He has responded responsibly to the challenge and insights of this life-changing experience.  I have no basis to doubt he had a real grace experience with the Lord, and that he is now faithfully living out the implications.  It is amazing that he had a divine second chance to live.  I am glad that he is able to offer his testimony as a point of choice for others who need a new direciton and purpose in their life.  It is truly wonderful that other lives are being changed and saved because of his experience.

Pious
His account of his experience sounds very pious and apocalyptic, but it leaves one with questions.  It will appeal to those who enjoy the titillation of an experience with the spirit-world without having to actually die.  Isn't this much of the appeal of ghost stories and horror thrillers?  It reads like a horror story with a truly happy ending.

See my related reviews on near-death experiences:
Near-Death Confirms Life Beliefs?
Out-of-Body Travel

See related reviews and articles on this site:
Demonic Metaphysics
God, Heaven and Human Knowledge
More Speculation about Angels
Principalities and Powers: Notes On Demonic Hierarchies

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OBJ

First reading notes written 13 October 2007
Finalized and posted on Thoughts and Resources 23 October 2007

Copyright © 2007 Orville Boyd Jenkins
Permission granted for free download and transmission for personal or educational use.  Other rights reserved.

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