spiritual experiences
The Spiritual Implications Of The Lazarus Syndrome
Recently, while watching the 2008 film The Lazarus Project, I was reminded of the paranormal phenomenon of near-death experiences (NDEs) and became intrigued by the possibility of someone coming back to life after death.
The plot of the movie is about a man who is given a second chance at life after being executed for a crime. Despite being lethally injected, he somehow wakes up in a psychiatric hospital and must overcome a series of mysterious and mystical challenges to be reunited with his family.
The title, of course, refers to the story in John 11 of a man named Lazarus who was raised from the dead by Jesus after four days. While the plot of the movie does not directly parallel the biblical story, it does draw on the themes of resurrection and second chances.
My newfound curiosity soon led me to discover a documented medical phenomenon known as “Lazarus Syndrome.” Also known as the “Lazarus phenomenon” or “autoresuscitation,” it is a rare medical condition in which a person spontaneously comes back to life after all attempts at resuscitation have failed and the person has been pronounced dead.
The phenomenon was first noted in medical literature in 1982 by Finnish anesthesiologist Dr. Kalevi Linko, who described it as the spontaneous return of circulation after resuscitation efforts have ceased. The term “Lazarus phenomenon” was later popularized by Dr. John Francis Bray in 1993, who used the biblical reference to describe these rare cases of patients who spontaneously return to life.
The Day The Angels Saved My Life
I know now that my angels kept me from going to work that day for a reason. I have also learned since that I still had work to do that was important enough to keep me safe from injury or worse.
I will never forget the day of the highway accident. It was September 3, 1999, and I had asked to be excused from work, which I never did. I was an office manager at a tool shop, working under a very arrogant accountant who had control issues with the employees.
I had worked there for several years without ever asking for extra time off, but he said no. He didn’t think I should have the day off because it was already a long weekend for us in Canada. The Labor Day holiday would have given me a four-day weekend instead of a three-day weekend.
He then threatened that I would lose my job if I took the day off because he didn’t approve of it and had no intention of changing his mind. But my gut was telling me very strongly that I simply could not go to work that day, I had to take it off. I didn’t know why at the time, I just knew I had to stay home.
So I did the only thing I could think of since my job security was in jeopardy – I went over his head to the owner and got the day off anyway! I later thanked the angels that I did that.
The accident happened about the same time I usually drive through the area on my way to work. I worked in Windsor, Ontario and lived in Valetta, which is almost an hour away. Every day I would get on the Queensline exit, east of Tilbury, and take the 401 to Oldcastle, where the 401 meets the highway. I have to admit I didn’t always drive the speed limit back then. I shudder to think what would have happened to me if I had driven my usual route to work that day!
Angels And Miracles On The Battlefield
I remember my grandfather telling my mother about the atrocities of World War I. He was a young soldier at the time, fighting for his country in the trenches of France. My favorite part was the fascinating stories he told about the Angel of Mons.
The story of the “Angel of Mons” comes from the Battle of Mons, which took place on August 23 and 24, 1914. During the battle, British soldiers reported seeing angelic figures or supernatural beings who gave them divine protection against the German forces.
Although some called the Angel of Mons a myth, the general public chose to believe that spiritual intervention had thwarted a German breakthrough. After all, miracles can happen anywhere, right? These events were later popularized by Arthur Machen’s fictional story The Bowmen.
The British Army, part of the British Expeditionary Force, faced overwhelming German forces and suffered heavy casualties. They were forced to retreat as part of the larger retreat to the Marne, known as the “Great Retreat”.
Some British soldiers reported seeing supernatural beings during the battle. These reports included sightings of figures resembling longbow archers, specifically the phantom archers from the Battle of Agincourt (1415), and also angelic warriors.
Some soldiers also reported seeing a figure resembling St. George, a major figure in Christian hagiography, revered for his unwavering faith, courage, and the legendary deeds attributed to him. His story has been influential in Christian mysticism and has become a symbol of chivalry and heroism.