Holy Witnesses

No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten son, who is in the bossom of the father, He has declared him.
John 1:20 NKJV

I've heard a few of the stories, some even being made into a few books and films.  Someone will survive a terrible accident, and in the end they will declare that they have "visited" heaven and seen the living God.  So, what are we to make of these grandiose claims?  Well, for my money, I base my opinion on the written word of God.  If the scriptures claim that it is impossible for sinful man to see the living God, then I accept that as fact.  Throughout the ages, there have been many of those who have claimed to have had an audience with God.  I will venture to say that often times we may THINK that we see something that, in reality, isn't there.  The trauma and emotional distress that a few of these holy witnesses have suffered may have also added to their situation more or less.
In John 1:20 we are told of one who has definately been in the presence of our living God.  That man was Christ Jesus.  As scripture goes, Jesus is the only one to ever be in the presence of God.  Obviously, for Jesus was in his presence from the very begining.
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip?  He who has seen me has seen the father; so how can you say, 'show us the father?'  Do you not believe that I am in the father, and the father in me?  The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the father who dwells in me does the works.
John 14: 9-10 NKJV

So, if Jesus and the father have been one from the very begining, obviously he is the ONLY one to ever see the living God.  As I've said, the trauma of certain situations can cause us to see things that may not be there.  Recently, a young man who had claimed to have died and visitied heaven admitted to fabricating that story.  While I don't condone his behavior, I do believe that Gods forgiveness can reach him also.  So, what are we to make of the claims that someone has visited heaven?  My only answer would be to proceed with caution and dwell on what Gods written word claims.  After all, that is one source we cannot go wrong with.

~Scott~