Ancient Near Death Experiences in Gnostic Mandaean Scriptures

The role of the Gnostic Heavenly Messenger is to give the mystic experience of Light to souls and eventually guide them back up to the Place of Light, the Mandaean term for the highest heaven where the Great Life (God) resides. The mystical encounters recorded in the scriptures of the Mandaeans may seem at times like ancient near-death experiences (NDE's), the visions of souls who were embraced the Light long ago.