Doctor Sam Parnia Believes Resurrection Is A Medical Possibility
A story published in the online edition of Der Spiegel (a leading German newspaper) recently came to my attention. The caption under the photo said this:
Raising the dead may soon become medical reality
Here’s the lead of the story: “At some point, everyone’s heart will stop. For most, this is when they begin to die. Doctors succeed in very few cases at bringing the clinically dead back to life. However, more patients could be saved if medical professionals put existing knowledge about the treatment of cardiac arrest to better use, argues critical care physician Sam Parnia, 41, who is leading a revival of research in this field at the Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York.
“When Parnia was a student some 20 years ago, a patient he knew well died under his care. It was a key moment for the young doctor, who has since sought to understand and fight the process of death.” I emphasized the last phrase because it set me thinking. Don’t we all “fight the process of death?” And why is that? It is because death is an enemy.
But the word of the Lord through Paul gives us a sure hope and comfort in regard to this enemy. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26). Click here to read the story and interview, then return to my comments.
Dr. Bruggeman comments: While we applaud medical professionals and scientists for seeking to extend life and the quality of life, that in which the good Doctor Parnia is leading the way is not really resurrection at all, which he himself admits.
The critical difference between what the good doctor and scientists are attempting to do and what awaits believers in Jesus Christ is simply this. In explaining what awaits those resurrected from the dead, Jesus said in Luke 20:36 “Neither can they die anymore…”
The immortality promised by the Savior is accompanied with incorruptibility and all that it entails. For what kind of blessing would it be to possess immortality if one were still subject to disease, pain and all manner of suffering?
Imagine having a very painful form of cancer or leprosy or syphilis or lung disease, etc. and not being able to escape it through death! (That would indeed be a kind of “eternal hell” preached by many churches.) We see by the foregoing analysis how God was actually being merciful in giving Adam, Eve and all mankind the death penalty after sin entered the world.
The pain, the suffering, the evil that we are all subjected to in this life is all necessary for our learning. And oh, how it ought to cause us to glorify the Father for His marvelous Plan of unending life without pain, suffering or sorrow in eternity! This future awaits all believers in Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!