This is a rather difficult question to answer because I do not want to offer any thoughts that are not found in the scriptures.  I have been a Hospice patient volunteer for 20 years.  During that time, I have witnessed several patients who, near death, seemed to be able to see something or someone that those around them cannot see.  I once walked into a room where a Hospice patient was pointing to the corner of the ceiling in his bedroom.  His wife asked me what he was pointing at.  I could only reply that he possibly sees something that we cannot see.

There is a very good and striking example of this behavior found in Acts 6:8-7:60. Stephen was a godly man who gave a good account of the work of the Lord and the rejection of the Jewish nation to his Jewish audience.  The people were incensed by his words and killed him, making him the first martyr mentioned in the Church age.  Let’s read about his death in Acts 7:54-60 that tells us, “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” 

Just prior to his passing, Stephen was allowed to peer into glory, there to see the glory of God and the Lord Jesus standing at His right hand.  What incredible peace this scene gave to Stephen.  So much so, that he was able to pray for those who were stoning him, asking the Lord to “lay not this sin to their charge.” 

Was this occurrence a one-time event, or has the Lord allowed others a glimpse into glory to give peace and comfort during their time of passing?  Some have used the phrase, “dying grace” to describe the work of the Lord in the heart of a believer who is facing eternity in their immediate future.  This means that the Lord will minister to our hearts according to our needs when it comes our time to leave the planet earth and go to be with the Lord when we leave our bodies in death.  We read in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”  This shows us, without a doubt, that when we leave our bodies in death, we are immediately taken into the glorious presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I was struck by the words of C.H. Stanley’s notes as he commented on Psalm 116:15 which says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”  He wrote, “The Lord watches over their dying beds, smooths their pillows, sustains their hearts, and receives their souls.”  Surely, our loving Lord’s presence is with us during this time of transition, and He knows what we need to be comforted and strengthened for this event that we have never taken part of before. 

The occurrence of seeing someone or something before dying is common enough that it has been given the name of a “deathbed vision” (DBV).  It is defined as a vision or experience that the individual has before dying. It may occur immediately before death or days or even weeks prior. Patients have reported visions of dead family members, religious figures, and/or beautiful scenery.  Some attribute this to hallucinations experienced before dying. 

As I stated earlier, I do not want to verify or deny anything that is not found in the Word of God.  I think we can affirm that to see into glory previous to death is an incident that has happened and could possibly happen to many believers who are being comforted by the Lord just before death. 

I encourage you to read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 to receive great comfort in the reality that all believers will be raptured together when the Lord returns to the air to receive us to Himself.  May that truth give us all peace that we believers will one day be with Him…and “thus shall we ever be with the Lord.”  (CC)  (658.6)