Imagine Heaven | After Life | John Burke - Author
Trace Church
342,531 views
What happens when we die? Is there real evidence for life after death? In this powerful message, bestselling author and pastor John Burke shares decades of research into near-death experiences (NDEs) and how they align with the truth of Scripture.
Drawing from over 1,500 documented cases, Burke tells stories from doctors, professors, and everyday people who clinically died, experienced the presence of God, and returned transformed. He shows how these encounters give us a glimpse of the beauty, love, and relational reality of heaven.
📖 This message is part of our "After Life" series at Trace Church, where we’re exploring how to live with hope and purpose in a broken world.
✨ Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or hopeful, this message will challenge what you think about life, death, and eternity.
⸻
👤 About John Burke:
John Burke is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas. Formerly an agnostic and engineer, Burke came to faith through his father’s cancer journey and a curiosity sparked by near-death experience research. He is the author of Imagine Heaven, Imagine the God of Heaven, and No Perfect People Allowed. His work bridges faith, science, and story to reveal the heart of God to people from all walks of life.
Author Bio: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/cont...
Facebook: Facebook: johnburkeofficial
Instagram: Instagram: johnburkeofficial
⸻
STAY CONNECTED
📍 Website: https://tracechurch.com
📘 Facebook: Facebook: TraceChurchCOS
📸 Instagram: Instagram: trace.church
🎧 Listen to the Trace Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof...
⸻
TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP
✅ Get Connected: https://tracechurch.com/next-steps/
🙏 Need Prayer? https://tracechurch.com/need-prayer/
💸 Give to the Mission: https://pushpay.com/g/tracechurch?src=fp
⸻
ABOUT TRACE CHURCH
Trace Church exists to help people find and follow Jesus. From in-person worship in Colorado Springs to digital messages across the world, we create space for people to experience life-giving, Gospel-centered teaching. Whether you are new to church or looking for a place to grow, we are here for you.
⸻
⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction and humor at a funeral
0:49 – Gallup poll: 1 in 25 Americans report a near-death experience
1:36 – Burke’s journey from skeptic to believer
2:54 – The book Imagine Heaven and 40 consistent NDE traits
3:43 – How NDEs align with Scripture
4:49 – Explaining extra-dimensional experiences
5:39 – Dr. Mary Neal’s kayaking accident and NDE story
7:55 – Mary’s description of feeling more alive after death
9:04 – Cardiologists and skeptics turned believers
11:05 – Dr. Pim van Lommel and the “dentures” story
12:21 – Verified observations during clinical death
13:03 – Possible NDEs in the Bible: Apostle Paul
14:29 – The spiritual body described in 1 Corinthians 15
15:53 – The beauty of heaven: color, time, dimension
17:05 – Earth as a shadow of heaven (Hebrews 8)
18:08 – Creation groans for restoration (Romans 8)
19:02 – Captain Dale Black’s description of heaven’s colors
20:06 – Joy and beauty in nature, even from trees and water
21:02 – The “welcoming committee” of loved ones
22:03 – Personal stories of recognition and relationship in heaven
23:16 – NDEs show a small glimpse—not the whole picture
24:00 – Jesus references the welcoming committee (Luke 16)
25:08 – Reunion with family and even pets
26:58 – Identity, joy, and shared love in heaven
28:03 – The God of Light and the life review
30:04 – People born blind describe the same light and love
32:04 – Vicki’s detailed life review despite blindness
33:40 – Nothing is hidden; all is revealed with grace
35:02 – God’s heart: second chances and redemption
36:28 – Atheist Howard Storm’s terrifying NDE turned salvation
38:02 – Howard and Dr. Mary Neal describe their life reviews
40:49 – Even small acts of love matter eternally
42:01 – Ripple effects of pain, tragedy, and kindness
43:05 – Every act of love matters to God
44:12 – Captain Dale Black’s emotional encounter with Jesus
46:59 – The gift of salvation and why love is the goal
49:01 – A final call to receive Jesus and walk with him
50:30 – Prayer and invitation to salvation
20 Comments
I bought so many copies for other people and kept some to give to people who needed it. I sent it to my former mother-in-law who was dying of cancer. I don’t think she read it. But she did hear Billy Graham on Tv a couple of days before her death and committed her life to Christ.
6 months after she died my former husband (and close friend) died suddenly from the Covid vaccine. He had already been saved… after he divorced me. He was on fire for Jesus.
Knowing what happens and how glorious it is truly gave me peace (the trite “He’s in a better place” is true.
At his celebration of life I had bought more books and said, “If you don’t truly know that he really is in a better place, I’d like you to take a copy of this book on NDE’s. I don’t know who took it. But there were none left!!! praise God!
The book and listening to the stories still gives me comfort, 3 years later.
I have a great photo of him dancing with his mother at our wedding. I like to imagine him doing that!
As I read Imagine Heaven, my soul was overwhelmed with comfort. It was as if God Himself whispered through the pages, reminding me that I am never alone. His promises are real, His presence undeniable. The book brought me such profound peace that I knew I had to share it—I bought copies for my mother and three dear friends, praying they would feel the same beautiful assurance of eternity. Truly, God is amazing!
I turned around, looked up, saw a white light and immediately I was pulled into the light, the closer I got the light grew brighter and I started to hear cries and screams, then I was back in my body with my family around crying.
Imagine Heaven | After Life | John Burke - Author
Trace Church
342,531 views
What happens when we die? Is there real evidence for life after death? In this powerful message, bestselling author and pastor John Burke shares decades of research into near-death experiences (NDEs) and how they align with the truth of Scripture.
Drawing from over 1,500 documented cases, Burke tells stories from doctors, professors, and everyday people who clinically died, experienced the presence of God, and returned transformed. He shows how these encounters give us a glimpse of the beauty, love, and relational reality of heaven.
📖 This message is part of our "After Life" series at Trace Church, where we’re exploring how to live with hope and purpose in a broken world.
✨ Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or hopeful, this message will challenge what you think about life, death, and eternity.
⸻
👤 About John Burke:
John Burke is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas. Formerly an agnostic and engineer, Burke came to faith through his father’s cancer journey and a curiosity sparked by near-death experience research. He is the author of Imagine Heaven, Imagine the God of Heaven, and No Perfect People Allowed. His work bridges faith, science, and story to reveal the heart of God to people from all walks of life.
Author Bio: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/cont...
Facebook: Facebook: johnburkeofficial
Instagram: Instagram: johnburkeofficial
⸻
STAY CONNECTED
📍 Website: https://tracechurch.com
📘 Facebook: Facebook: TraceChurchCOS
📸 Instagram: Instagram: trace.church
🎧 Listen to the Trace Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof...
⸻
TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP
✅ Get Connected: https://tracechurch.com/next-steps/
🙏 Need Prayer? https://tracechurch.com/need-prayer/
💸 Give to the Mission: https://pushpay.com/g/tracechurch?src=fp
⸻
ABOUT TRACE CHURCH
Trace Church exists to help people find and follow Jesus. From in-person worship in Colorado Springs to digital messages across the world, we create space for people to experience life-giving, Gospel-centered teaching. Whether you are new to church or looking for a place to grow, we are here for you.
⸻
⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction and humor at a funeral
0:49 – Gallup poll: 1 in 25 Americans report a near-death experience
1:36 – Burke’s journey from skeptic to believer
2:54 – The book Imagine Heaven and 40 consistent NDE traits
3:43 – How NDEs align with Scripture
4:49 – Explaining extra-dimensional experiences
5:39 – Dr. Mary Neal’s kayaking accident and NDE story
7:55 – Mary’s description of feeling more alive after death
9:04 – Cardiologists and skeptics turned believers
11:05 – Dr. Pim van Lommel and the “dentures” story
12:21 – Verified observations during clinical death
13:03 – Possible NDEs in the Bible: Apostle Paul
14:29 – The spiritual body described in 1 Corinthians 15
15:53 – The beauty of heaven: color, time, dimension
17:05 – Earth as a shadow of heaven (Hebrews 8)
18:08 – Creation groans for restoration (Romans 8)
19:02 – Captain Dale Black’s description of heaven’s colors
20:06 – Joy and beauty in nature, even from trees and water
21:02 – The “welcoming committee” of loved ones
22:03 – Personal stories of recognition and relationship in heaven
23:16 – NDEs show a small glimpse—not the whole picture
24:00 – Jesus references the welcoming committee (Luke 16)
25:08 – Reunion with family and even pets
26:58 – Identity, joy, and shared love in heaven
28:03 – The God of Light and the life review
30:04 – People born blind describe the same light and love
32:04 – Vicki’s detailed life review despite blindness
33:40 – Nothing is hidden; all is revealed with grace
35:02 – God’s heart: second chances and redemption
36:28 – Atheist Howard Storm’s terrifying NDE turned salvation
38:02 – Howard and Dr. Mary Neal describe their life reviews
40:49 – Even small acts of love matter eternally
42:01 – Ripple effects of pain, tragedy, and kindness
43:05 – Every act of love matters to God
44:12 – Captain Dale Black’s emotional encounter with Jesus
46:59 – The gift of salvation and why love is the goal
49:01 – A final call to receive Jesus and walk with him
50:30 – Prayer and invitation to salvation