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5047
Smith, Near-Death Experiences, Sophia Institute Press, Chapter 6, Stephen Not the Smith, Pages 86-88, 2024
13
Weak Evidence
6
Low Compatibility
Bureaucratic error in Hell
Stephen's account contains concerning elements alongside biblical truths. The reality of Hell and its torments aligns with Scripture. However, the portrayal of Hell making bureaucratic errors contradicts biblical teaching about divine omniscience and perfect judgment. The mistaken identity suggests randomness rather than divine justice. More seriously, Stephen's failure to repent after seeing Hell contradicts the purpose of such divine warnings. His later appearance caught between demons and angels with uncertain fate suggests salvation can be lost after death, contradicting Hebrews 9:27 about judgment after death being final. Pope Gregory's interpretation that some receive such visions but increase their condemnation by ignoring them is biblically sound. The account serves more as a warning about hardness of heart than authentic heavenly revelation.
Stephen was traveling on business to Constantinople when he fell sick and died. With no surgeon available to embalm him, he lay dead all day and night. His soul was carried down into the dungeons of Hell where he saw many things he had heard about but little believed. He waited upon a hellish judge/bureaucrat who eventually admitted Hell had made an error - they wanted "Stephen the Smith" not this Stephen. He was immediately restored to life. Stephen the Smith in Constantinople died at that very hour. Despite seeing Hell's torments, Stephen failed to amend his life. He returned to Rome and died about three years later in a plague described as "arrows from heaven." Pope Gregory notes this as an example of someone who saw Hell but did not profit from the warning. Later during the soldier's NDE, Stephen was seen attempting to cross the bridge to Heaven but slipped, with demons pulling him down while angels pulled him up, his eternal fate left unknown.
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