I Saw Hell and Then Met Jesus: Jordan Samuel's Near-Death Experience

Jordan Samuel's Near-Death Experience and the Life-Changing Encounter He Says He Had with Jesus

For most of his life, Jordan Samuel believed hell was nothing more than a myth. Like many people, he thought that if he lived a decent life and treated others well, everything would work out in the end.

"I went my whole life not believing that hell was real," Jordan recalls. "I didn't want to believe in all that dark stuff. I thought there was no hell."

Today, he passionately says the opposite. Jordan believes he experienced both hell and heaven during what he describes as a near-death experience, an encounter that completely transformed his life.

Note: Near-death experiences (NDEs) are personal testimonies. While many people find them inspiring, they should not be considered equal to Scripture. Christians are encouraged to evaluate every experience in light of God's Word.

A Childhood Full of Questions About Jesus

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Jordan grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, raised by a single mother. He attended a Catholic school where he became known for asking difficult questions about Jesus.

"I wanted to know," he says. "How could one man come and die for me? Who is this Jesus?"

Instead of receiving answers, Jordan says he was repeatedly sent out of class. After being removed from class for the third time, frustration took over.

"I remember saying, 'I never want to know this Jesus guy. Whoever He is, He only gets me in trouble. Nobody wants to answer my questions.'"

That decision marked the beginning of years spent ignoring God.

A Family Broken Apart

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Life eventually became stable after Jordan's mother remarried. For nearly fifteen years, he says they enjoyed a happy family life.

Then everything changed.

His mother and stepfather divorced, leaving Jordan devastated. Unable to cope with the emotional pain, he began searching for escape. His rebellion quickly intensified. He admits to underage drinking, drinking and driving, stealing vehicles, stealing car stereos, and eventually becoming involved in selling drugs.

"I loved the thrill," Jordan says. "Almost getting caught... but not quite."

For four years, his life spiraled further away from God. Trying to Turn His Life Around Eventually, Jordan decided enough was enough. He quit selling drugs and landed a well-paying job with an oil rig company.

"I was making really good money. I had a nice house. Things finally seemed to be coming together."

But one decision after work changed everything. Jordan smoked marijuana using a pipe that, unknown to him, had been laced with crack cocaine. He says he immediately felt something was terribly wrong.

"I could feel my heart slowing down... then fluttering."

Convinced he was dying, Jordan believes his spirit left his body.

Jordan's Vision of Hell

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Jordan describes first seeing what appeared to be everything he had once desired.

• Beautiful women.
• Money.
• Success.
• Cars.
• The pleasures of the world.

Then, without warning, everything changed. The car stopped. The women transformed into terrifying demons. The ground shook violently. Behind him, he heard horrifying screams.

"It was red and black everywhere," Jordan recalls. "People were burning. I heard screaming. It was the worst fear I've ever experienced."

He also remembers hearing what he describes as demonic laughter. Filled with terror, Jordan believed he was trapped in hell!

As Jordan lay dying, he says something unexpected happened. He cried out to God.

"My heart gave one last beat, and I just said, 'I believe.'"

Then everything changed. Jordan says he suddenly found himself in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Meeting Jesus

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Jordan describes Jesus as radiant beyond words.

"He was dressed in white. He wore a crown. His eyes were like fire—but full of light."

Overwhelmed by His holiness, Jordan says all he could do was worship.

"You're at the Lord's feet because He's perfect. You worship Him because He's Almighty. You worship Him because He saved us."

For Jordan, it was unlike anything he had ever imagined.

Standing Before God

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Jordan says Jesus then brought him before the Father. What followed was both painful and healing. He says God revealed hidden sins from his past, things no one else knew.

"I could actually feel what God felt."

Overcome with conviction, Jordan cried out for forgiveness. Instead of condemnation, Jordan says he experienced overwhelming mercy. Then he heard words that changed his life forever.

"All is forgiven."

Jordan says God replaced his broken heart with a new one.

"He told me He loved me. He showed me every moment I thought I was alone... and how His hand had been on my life the entire time."

He realized that what he had called luck had actually been God's protection.

Returning to Earth

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Suddenly, Jordan says he was back in his trailer room. The experience felt incredibly real. Without knowing why, he reached for a Bible for the first time. When he opened it, it fell to Psalm 34. As he began reading, he says it perfectly described what he had just experienced.

"It was everything that had happened to me. Only God could do that."

A Completely Changed Life

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Jordan's girlfriend at the time, Danica, immediately noticed something was different. Jordan says his transformation wasn't gradual. It was immediate.

"His voice changed," she says. "His eyes changed. His body language changed. Everything about him was new."

The man who once wanted nothing to do with Jesus now wanted everyone to know Him.

Today, Jordan and Danica are married with two children and spend their lives sharing the Gospel around the world.

The Message Jordan Wants Everyone to Hear

Looking back, Jordan believes God's love was pursuing him even during his darkest years. His testimony isn't centered on fear, it is centered on grace. He says Jesus rescued him when he believed he had no hope. Jordan had these final words to say about his Near-Death Experience.

• "God loves the broken."
• "He loves the lost."
• "He never gives up on them."
• "He leaves the ninety-nine to find the one... and He found me."

What Does the Bible Say?

While Christians may differ on how they interpret near-death experiences, Scripture clearly teaches that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.

John 14:6 — "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

Romans 10:9 — "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Luke 15:4-7 — Jesus describes the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to rescue the one that is lost.

Psalm 34:8 — "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."

Whether or not someone accepts Jordan's account as a genuine near-death experience, his story points to a central biblical truth: God's mercy is available to anyone who turns to Christ in faith. The Bible repeatedly declares that no one is beyond the reach of His grace, and that Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10).

Story from The 700 Club/Christian Broadcasting Network