Caring for the dying
I have grown up WELS, attended parochial grade school, and kept up with Bible studies. I closely follow questions and answers and was recently distressed to read the question regarding people who are near death seeing loved ones, talking as with loved ones. As a nurse for many years, I have observed this happening. I have always felt happy for these people until I read the answer. I know the devil can masquerade as a being of light, and I now fear that all these people have been agreeing to go with the devil. I am wondering if I am now to tell people in those last moments that it is not their loved ones. Not only would that greatly distress me, but family members present would not allow it. If these are people who I have been working with for a while, I would read from the Bible. As a nurse working in public hospitals I frequently walk into a daily assignment where a person is actively dying. Looking back on all the deaths I have been present for where the person seems to be aware of and communicating with an already dead person, I feel very distressed that I may have encouraged people to go with the devil. Please help me with this. I feel terrible about this.
The question you referenced was in the context of Satan being associated with paranormal experiences as a final way of deceiving people, so the response went along those same lines.
Might God give Christians a first glimpse at their heavenly glory in the moments before death? God can do anything. God did that for Stephen even before the stones started coming his way (Acts 7:55-56).
You and I are limited in knowing exactly what dying individuals might be experiencing. I would encourage you to continue to carry out your important work, offering the care to your patients for which you have received training. I would also encourage you not to second guess your past actions. You and I do what we can—with the limitations we have—to serve others.