My Grandfather on my Father's side passed away when I was very young. My Step-Grandfather since then had passed away this Summer.. At family gatherings, we always talk about him. He was a very interesting and unique man. He was close friends with many popular people. Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack, for example.. He gambled at the BIG tables in Las Vegas. He was treated with great respect wherever he went. He never worked a day in his life, soughta speak...

Well, after Thanksgiving dinner, my Grandmother and I had our usual talks.. But today, things were a little different. She's having an easier time talking about his last moments...

She spoke about how he was in great pain and needed a machine which fed air into his lungs to remain alive... As things began to get worse and worse, he tried removing the air-piece from his face but my Grandmother, at his side, would keep putting it back on. It was only later that she realized he was trying to say he's had enough...

This went on back and forth for awhile.. Unfortunately, he was falling in and out of concienceness as his heart had begun to slow down and stop occasionally..

Keep in mind, now - that this was a very, very tough man. He was never afraid of anyone or anything. He was a bodyguard of a very, very popular person. He'd taken gunshots before...

I've heard so many instances of how people who died momenterally would come back to life to say they'd "seen a light - a tunnel of light" and how "an angel said it wasn't yet my time". This was very different...

The last time he came to for a moment, he had a petrified look in his eyes. He pulled my Grandmother close and said, "They're trying to get me. They're not human. I have to get out of here!" After saying this, in his horrible condition, he tried to get out of bed...

And that was the end...

My Grandmother told me he saw the Gates of Hell.. Until now, I've never had such a positive feeling that what we do in this life can certainly affect the afterlife.. I always try to do what's best and what I think is right.. I hope all of you do your best, as well, to live good, honest lives...

Damn. :* That's tough Sal :(

As for seeing Hell... whoa, I really don't know what to say. Since I personally don't believe in Hell, or Satan or pure evil.

But I do believe that we all should follow the rules we were taught the 1st days in school. You know, treat people like you want to be treated, be nice, ect all.

Its not about living anymore, its about humanity... we as a whole, day by day have been losing ours more and more.

I don't have any firm beliefs.. I don't know what to believe.. I dunno...

Wow Sal! I've heard things like this before. From people close to me too. Never about the gates of hell though. You usually only hear about the good side. Very interesting and deep story for you to share with us.

Wow, I don't really know what to say. I haven't been a believer either in the last few years, but there is always that possibility.

It certainly is a lot to think about...

That story is a little unsettling, Sal. Certainly makes you think about what comes next though.

Very interesting story. I hadn't heard any accounts of the Gates of Hell before. I was with my daughter when she passed away and the look in her eyes was as if she was looking at someone but she wasn't focused on anything. It was as if she was seeing something very far away. So I know that there is a calm...but your story seemed as if it was totally the opposite.

I saw something once on TV about someone seeing the gates of hell or something...but I always thought it was kinda fake...now maybe it wasn't.

I know I might get in trouble for saying this but I truely believe in hell.. if there is a heaven there must be a hell.
My step grandfather and step dad were pastors so they raised me knowing of both places.

I am glad you shared that story with us. It reminds me that I have to get my life straight.

Thanks Sal.

I really can't make a comment due to the fact that I believe that hell and satan are wonderful creations which are used for the sole purpose of getting people to behave and be controlled.

Only he knows what he saw Sal. Too bad we can't ask him. Then again.....you never know about that either.

Unfortunately I experienced the exact same thing with my dad a year ago as grandma did regarding the taking off of an oxygen mask. I didn't want to let him go either but he was ready and it didn't occur to me, also, until some time after he "passed". It's not pleasant to watch someone die.

I happen to believe in heaven and hell (& an after life) and what you described reminds me of the movie Ghost.

BTW...while on the subject I think a good thing to remember is my Beatles quote!

I don`t want to make these borderline experiences, I tell ya:)

Actually, I saw something about this on TV before. I wish I could remember the name of the show so you could research it for your own self-assurance.

But I can tell you what stuck with me: There were psychologists and such discussing near-death experiences. They said the majority of people who had been considered legally dead did not see a white light or get a warm and peaceful feeling until later. At first, they saw demons, fires, pain and suffering. The ones that the psychiatrists believed had really experienced an 'after-life' type of moment were the ones who saw Hell first, and were pulled from it.

You can take from that what you will, I just thought it interesting, and it was a few years ago. But it made me think that maybe you saw all the suffering first, so as to appreciate Heaven, when and if you made it beyond Hell....

On Dec. 23, 1997 a very good friend of mine died right in front of me. I will always remember the look on his face it was as if he was looking at something or someone beyond our world. Tom didn't have a peaceful look, but at the same time he didn't look scared. For the longest time I was troubled by this memory of Tom. I don't know if it was because of him dying or not understanding what he was trying to see.

I believe that we all go to Heaven, or wherever your religious beliefs are, after our death.

I'm a believer of both Heaven and Hell. But even so I am always sceptical about these sort of experiences. For the main reason that they all contradict each other. There appears to be only a few consistencies like bright light, but apart from that they all seem to experience different things. :confused: I don't know.

Well, I don't need no god or devil to tell me how I gonna end up i nthe afterlife to know what's rigth or wrong, and hell, I know I am meat, I know we all are just that .... - wonder how good a burger I'd be .... - That's the way i see it , and there's the way I wanna see it and what I choose to believe, cause if we were all soulless, life would simply be unbearable ( in fact, life can be unbearable even when you believe, but it's always better to believe .... )

TGND " And that was my take on the issue ! "

That's pretty heavy and scary to read first thing in the morning :uhoh: it must have been quite disturbing to learn of this Sal

Maybe he thought he saw angels and was afraid of dying?

I've seen many a program on this issue, and the general scientific consensus seems to be that when the brain begins to get starved of oxygen prior to the moment of death, it can make you see all sorts of weird and wonderful things.

Not suggesting for one moment that applies in this case however, it's just my own personal belief that science can explain a lot under these circumstances.

I belive in after live and maybe even heaven and hell. It does connect to my believes of Time and reliving our lives over again and reapting what we did over and over again but that is a long story that I don't wish to tell again. Plus its long to type.

One thought to leave you all with. When did time start when does time end?

one answer heaven/hell is the transtion area where we are when time loops.

Meaning heaven and hell is a waiting place for people until they are reincarnated.

That what I think if you could understand that.

That's a really depressing story. Maybe he was talking about the nurses and doctors who kept trying to keep him away from death... who knows. It's awful that he was so scared in his last moments alive. The way you described him, he didn't sound like a bad person.... I will not venture into any religious discussions here... right?

I think it is your own believes that defind what you can see in those circumstances.

It looks like your grandfather was really scared, of death or life, who knows?
But as I can't imagine something worst in this universe than mankind, I don't believe that the afterlife can be dark... At worst, nothingness and at best, maybe a good place for all.
God ans Satan, as they are described by religions don't mean anything for me.

We are the authors of our own realities... Don't you EVER forget that. What you think, what you believe, is what your life, and your afterlife ;), is made of...

I'm really sure your grandfather is well in the place he is. Call it Even ("Even! I'm in Even...") or Real World (Welcome to the real world Neo"), whatever. He is well.

Uh, I've been kind of a moralizer all along this post, haven't I? Sorry about that but I told you what I really think and believe ;)

"All you need is love" and I give you mine. :p

sorry, Sal, you can only hope that you prepare yourself well enough to avoid that kind of terror... At least you will be slightly more prepared... Best wishes...... Claire