Martha Anne St. Claire's Near-Death Experience - Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife

This site uses affiliate links to Amazon.com Books for which IANDS can earn an affiliate commission if you click on those links and make purchases through them.

1. About Martha Anne St. Claire

Martha Anne St. Claire, M.A., (www.marthastclaire.com) (formerly Martha A. Cassandra Musgrave) is a near-death experiencer, gerontologist, counselor, educator, writer, angelic messenger, spiritual medium, energetic healer, and pet communicator. In addition, she is also a near-death experience speaker who has been globally active, since her last near-death experience, in 1974. She offers individual sessions and group events that nourish and facilitate personal and planetary healing and transformation. Martha’s down-to-earth, informative presentations have been enjoyed nation-wide, before multi-cultural audiences, through various organizations, at bookstores, churches, centers, expos, and fairs. She has served on the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) Board of Directors (2001-2003), working as the Friends of IANDS (FOI) International Chapter Coordinator. Her NDE research was published in (IANDS), The Journal of Near-Death Studies (Volume 15, No. 3, Spring, 1997).

2. Martha Anne St. Claire’s NDE

Martha Anne St. Claire lives in northern California where she had a profound NDE when she was twenty-three years old that changed her life and provided a prophetic glimpse into our planetary future. She also was born premature, nearly dying at birth, and she also had an experience at age seven. However, the experience described below was the most profound, as she recalls.

In 1974, while water-skiing with friends, it was her last run for the day. The waves were choppy and so rough that she was forced to let go of the tow rope. As she fell, the triangle piece of the tow rope wrapped around her left forearm, jerking her down harshly and dragging her behind the boat, just under the surface of the water. Her boyfriend was driving the boat, chatting and drinking beer with his friend who was supposed to be watching but wasn’t. They didn’t notice that Martha had fallen down.

As she struggled to hold her breath, she felt her spirit rise out of her body and then could see her body just under the surface of the water, being dragged at high speed. She saw her two friends in the boat talking to each other, oblivious to what was happening to her. She also saw her four-year old son playing on the shore with other friends. Martha’s spirit traveled into a dark tunnel where she could hear loud clicking sounds. She traveled fast toward the light at the other end, excited, feeling she was going someplace she had once been. She came out where there were flowers everywhere, brightly colored and gorgeous. She then found herself in the universe surrounded by brilliant stars and planets all around her and into infinity. Although she couldn’t see anything solid beneath her feet, she felt like she was standing on something and that she was home.

3. Martha’s Encounter with Melchizedek

a. Introduction to Melchizedek

Melchizedek was the king of Salem and priest of El Elyon (“God most high”) who is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram. In Psalm 110:4, David references the Messiah as being “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” In the Christian New Testament (Hebrews 5: 6-10, Hebrews 6: 20 and Hebrews 7: 1-21), Jesus Christ is identified as “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” quoting from Psalm 110:4. As such, Jesus assumes the role of High Priest once and for all. More information about Melchizedek can be found below.

b. Martha Meets Melchizedek

Suddenly, Martha found herself before Melchizedek. He didn’t identify himself, but she recognized him and knew she had always known him. In the beautiful light that seemed like “liquid divine love”, Martha experienced her true self, her full soul essence. “I felt free. It was wonderful seeing him! There are no words to describe my heavenly experience.”

Melchizedek was bearded, stood eight or nine feet tall, wearing colors of forest green, rich burgundy, and gold on his velvet robe with a scarf covering his head and forehead. They communicated through thoughts. He said, “Are you ready to come?”

She exclaimed, “Already?” She felt that she had made a previous contract or agreement about her coming to earth and that he was aware of it. She knew it wasn’t her time to die, that she hadn’t accomplished all she had committed to do. She understood that souls on Earth had chosen Earth, their parents, the time to be here, lessons to be learned, and unique situations that was designed for each person’s growth. She gained the understanding that we are not victims in the way we think we are; however, it takes great courage to be born on Earth, especially during this time. Above all, she knew we were given free choice.

Although Melchizedek let her know that she could stay in heaven and not return to earth, she panicked at the idea feeling like she had failed in some ways. She could see that there was more to do for her soul growth, helping others, and for her son. Melchizedek felt she was being too hard on herself.

c. Reaching the Border to Heaven

She insisted that she wanted to go back. Then she was drawn toward a border that would lead her even more deeply into heaven, but knew if she passed through it, she couldn’t return to Earth. She saw many other things, including in the distance, an entrance to a cave glowing with light that led into another dimension where people were studying and learning lots of information.

Concerning that dimension she states, “In that space you know all and have access to the mysteries of the universe and more.” In another direction, she saw crystal-like buildings and temples with golden edges.

d. Revelations of Earth

She saw that Earth was a difficult place to be, but there was a divine plan, and things would eventually be better. A twenty-year span between 1992 to 2012 was a time of great transition of the Earth in preparation for the dawning of the Millennium.

She understood that Mother Earth is alive and that surges of light are sent down to help heal her because she suffers from the pollution she is exposed to and also that the increments of light cause bizarre weather patterns, even if great transformation. She saw more frequent earthquakes, large tidal waves, a polar shift, and the ice caps breaking up and melting. She saw the Earth’s surface changing, and many people dying, often in large numbers because they couldn’t handle the intensity of vibration and its consequences and they chose to do die because their souls needed further growth in another sphere. In some cases, she saw people who had prepared themselves spiritually, were protected, while those around them died. However, she also saw that each soul chooses the time of death She saw three days of darkness. She also understood that certain catastrophes could be lessened or delayed through the power of prayer.

She says we have spiritual amnesia, having forgotten the knowledge we possessed before birth; there is a higher consciousness for each of us and it is important that we connect with God through prayer and meditation to be awakened in our souls.

e. Martha is Shown a Possible Future

Melchizedek showed Martha what would happen if she chose to die. She saw the boat being stopped and her body being carried to shore where she was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation without success. Her boyfriend was crying and she knew he would feel guilty for the rest of his life. She saw her son and knew she couldn’t leave him yet. She didn’t want certain others to suffer because of her untimely death and because she had spiritual work to do, she chose to return to Earth, even if she so wanted to stay in the wonderful light.

f. Martha’s NDE Aftereffects

Martha found herself back in her body which had a will of its own, feeling stunned and weak in the river. Coughing and sputtering, she surfaced a distance from the stopped boat, and tried to yell, “Don’t you see, I’m drowning out here?!” Yet, even with the rope deeply meshed in her injured arm, she was in a state of utter bliss and transformation.

As they reached shore, her son said, “What took you so long, Mommy? I thought you were never coming back.” She knew that somehow he was aware of more than her brief boat trip on the Sacramento River Delta. (This is a condensed version of Martha’s NDE).

After her NDE, Martha’s entire life changed and the blissful energy stayed with her for some time. Martha could see auras around others and in nature. Spiritual gifts, she’d had in childhood, opened to her even more. She didn’t talk much about it because others were uncomfortable with her story or didn’t understand. This was before the term “near-death experience” had even become known.

The longing to share the divine spirit she experienced during her NDE, led her, in the years that followed, on an inner journey of spiritual practice that included ministerial training through the Unity Church and a private counseling practice as a spiritual medium, angelic messenger, and energetic healer for humans and animals.

4. Martha’s NDE Vision of the Future

Martha Anne St. Claire described her NDE visions of the future in the NBC television documentary entitled “Ancient Prophecies III.” Here is how she described them:

“Basically, I saw that there was a 20 year period from 1992 to 2012. Things will be greatly accelerated on Earth. All these things will be manifest by great Earth changes: earthquakes, floods, tidal waves, great winds. I also saw there were certain areas that would be particularly affected – the areas of the east coast, which will be a surprised regarding earthquakes. (Martha also saw cement rubble in NYC and now wonders if she was seeing the events of 9/11.) I remember very clearly Japan slipping into the ocean. I was shown there was going to be something akin to three days of darkness. I don’t feel it is from nuclear war. To me, it was more of a feeling of natural Earth disasters with smoke from volcanoes that would block the sun. We are all going to be on a roller-coaster ride, and yet, it is not forever. If we have darkness, it will pass. We will always have great light.” – Martha Anne St. Claire

More NDE prophecies can be found at the NDE and the Future research conclusions.

5. More Information about Melchizedek

As previously mentioned, Melchizedek was the king of Salem and priest of El Elyon (“God most high”) who is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible and several times in the Christian New testament. Melchizedek is also mentioned in other ancient texts.

a. The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls themselves have a fragment 11Q13 (11QMelch), dated to the end of the 2nd or start of the 1st century BC, where Melchizedek is seen as a divine being and Hebrew titles as Elohim are applied to him. According to 11Q13 text, Melchizedek will proclaim the “Day of Atonement” and he will atone for the people who are predestined to him. He also will judge the peoples. This Melchizedek fragment also reveals the Messiah to be a “redivivus” (reincarnation) of Melchizedek.

b. The Second Book of Enoch

In the Second Book of Enoch, a Jewish sectarian text of the 1st century AD, Melchizedek is mentioned. The last section of the work, the Exaltation of Melchizedek, tells how Melchizedek was born of a virgin, the wife of Nir, a brother of Noah. The text describes how the child came out from his mother after she had died and sat on the bed beside her corpse, already physically developed, clothed, speaking and blessing the Lord, and marked with the badge of priesthood. Forty days later, Melchizedek was taken by the archangel Gabriel (Michael in some manuscripts) to the Garden of Eden and was thus preserved from the Deluge without having to be in Noah’s Ark.

c. Philo of Alexandria

Philo (20 BC – 50 AD), a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, during the rule of the Roman Empire, identified Melchizedek with the Logos as priest of God, and honored as an untutored priesthood.

d. Josephus

Josephus (37 AD – 100 AD), a Romano-Jewish historian who witnessed the sack of Jerusalem, referred to Melchizedek as a “Canaanite chief” in War of the Jews, and as a priest in Antiquities of the Jews. Josephus also mentioned that the Pharisees, the Jewish sect which founded Rabbinic Judaism (to which Paul once belonged) were believers in reincarnation. Accordingly, Josephus writes how the Pharisees believed the souls of evil men are punished after death and the souls of good men are “removed into other bodies” and they “have power to revive and live again.” Josephus also mentions how the Essenes of the Dead Sea Scrolls lived “the same kind of life” as the followers of Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher who taught reincarnation. According to Josephus, the Essenes believed the soul is both immortal and pre-existent which is a necessary tenet for belief in reincarnation.

e. The Rabbinical Texts

In Rabbinic texts, Melchizedek receives little attention, perhaps because of the discussions of him in the New Testament and the speculations about him in Second Temple era Jewish documents, such as 11Q13 or 2 Enoch. This tradition, especially in Targum Jonathan, Targum Yerushalmi, and the Babylonian Talmud, Melchizedek is believed to have been the reincarnation of Shem – the son of Noah.

f. The Christian Gnostic Writings

Christian Gnostic writings affirms Jesus to be Melchizedek reincarnated. According to the collection of early Christian Gnostic scriptures (the Nag Hammadi Library), dating on or before the 4th century and discovered in 1945, they contain a tractate pertaining to Melchizedek where it is proposed that Melchizedek is Jesus Christ. Melchizedek, as Jesus Christ, lives, preaches, dies and is reincarnated. The Coming of the Son of God, Melchizedek speaks of his return to bring peace, supported by the gods, and is a priest-king who dispenses justice. This tractate about Melchizedek states the following:

“And you crucified me from the third hour of the Sabbath – eve until the ninth hour. And after these things I arose from the dead. My body came out of the tomb to me. […] They did not find anyone greeted me […] They said to me, Be strong, Melchizedek, great High Priest of God Most High.”

Note: The […] indicates missing fragments or illegible wording.

Birger A. Pearson states:

“Furthermore, the tractate’s apparent identification of Melchizedek with Jesus Christ … is also documented elsewhere in early Christianity, particularly in Egypt. We are drawn to the conclusion that, in the revelation which the priest Melchizedek has received, he has seen that he himself will have a redemptive role to play as the suffering, dying, resurrected and triumphant Savior, Jesus Christ! … From what we read … it seems that the victory of Jesus Christ is the victory of Melchizedek and that, in fact, they are one and the same … I did and do understand the text of the first tractate to imply that Melchizedek was prophesied to return again, as Jesus.”

g. Christian Protestants

Christian Protestant denominations are generally in agreement with Martin Luther that Melchizedek was a historical figure and an “archetype” of Christ. Others, noting Hebrews 7 which states that Melchizedek was “without father, without mother, without genealogy” agree that Melchizedek could not be Jesus and instead identify him as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

h. Islamic Revelations

In Islam, there is no mention of Melchizedek in the Qur’an or in early Islamic exegesis or literature. Some later commentators, including Abdullah Yusuf Ali, however, did suggest a link between Melchizedek and Khidr – a revered figure in Islam whom the Qur’an describes as a righteous servant of God and who possessed great wisdom or mystic knowledge. Khidr is most often said to be a contemporary of Moses. In medieval Islamic tradition, Khidr is variously described as a messenger or a prophet. Abdullah Yusuf Ali referred to St. Paul’s allegory of Melchizedek in his Epistle to the Hebrews as a parallel to the Muslim view of Khidr. In Ismailism, however, Melchizedek is of greater importance as one of the “Permanent Imams”; that is those who guide people through the ages of history.

i. Edgar Cayce Revelations

But according to Edgar Cayce, the so-called “sleeping prophet,” Melchizedek was only one of the reincarnations of Jesus. Cayce revealed how it was necessary for the very advanced spirit of Melchizedek to reincarnate in order to reach Christhood as the man Jesus. The Cayce revelations show us why the Master spirit again incarnated after the experience as Melchizedek:

The Christ spirit incarnated as Adam, Enoch, Melchizedek, David, then Joseph the prince of Egypt. The Christ spirit then realized it was necessary to set a pattern for humanity and to show the way back to God through unconditional love and self-sacrifice. Thus, the Master spirit assumed his mission through his incarnation as Jesus. By resurrecting his body, he made the Jesus-Melchizedek priesthood eternal.

It is clear from the Epistles to the Hebrews that Melchizedek was not an ordinary human, assuming he even was human. However, a careful examination of the evidence concerning the existence of Melchizedek reveals him to be a previous reincarnation of Jesus. There are strong parallels between Melchizedek and Jesus: both are the Son of God, priest of the Order of Melchizedek, King of Righteous, King of Peace, a Messiah, appointed by God, eternal priesthood, and preexistent.

6. More Information about Martha Anne St. Claire

Martha Anne St. Claire received her B.A. in Human Resources from George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon, and her M.A. in Gerontology from San Francisco State University. She has been trained for ministry through the Unity School of Religious Studies in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, has practiced as a Reiki healer, has received her hospice volunteer certification through Legacy Hospital, in Portland, Oregon, and has been licensed for assisted living administration in California. She is particularly interested in healthy aging for seniors and end of life issues facing seniors and those in final transition.

Martha’s life purpose is to bridge heaven and earth, bringing divine love, awakening, insight, and comfort regarding end of life, death, and dying issues, as well as, to assist in bringing healing and support to the dying and those in grief. She seeks to bring education, inspiration, and awareness to the global community and to assist in lessening humanity’s fear of death. Martha would love to come speak to your group about the wonders of the near-death experience and its meaning for you on earth now, and more. Martha’s life purpose is to bridge heaven and earth, bringing divine love, awakening, insight, and comfort regarding end of life, death, and dying issues, as well as, to assist in bringing healing and support to the dying and those in grief. She seeks to bring education, inspiration, and awareness to the global community and to assist in lessening humanity’s fear of death. Martha would love to come speak to your group about the wonders of the near-death experience and its meaning for you on earth now, and more.

Martha is also available for recorded phone consultations, offering skilled, practical guidance and heavenly insight. She can assist with current life issues and help to bring clarity and direction to situations or decisions, as well as bring healing to one’s past and nourishment to one’s soul. Martha has a natural gift of spiritual mediumship. As a counselor and Angelic Messenger, relaying what she receives for you, your loved ones, pets, and others, she often brings clients life-changing comfort and connection regarding loved ones who have passed over.

Martha seeks to awaken soul memory and divine consciousness within, vanquish any fear of death, and to work in global community to accelerate and co-create Heaven on Earth. You may read testimonies here.

Aspects of Martha’s career, and her personal near-death experiences have been featured on:

Afterlife: What Happens When We Die [DVD]. This documentary by Paul Perry Productions answers questions about the afterlife which are scientifically explored through modern research into NDEs. Through interviews with noted researchers like best-selling author on the subject, Raymond Moody, M.D. Ph.D. and Jeffrey Long, M.D., and testimonials from people that have had NDEs, and featuring re-enactments, this documentary explores the evidence of the afterlife using insightful interviews, case studies, event re-creations and rich rendering of classic spiritual art on the subject. Afterlife is a provocative and inspirational examination of the science, and evidence, of life after death.

Ancient Prophecies III [Youtube.com]. This documentary examines the dire predictions from the Book of Revelation, Nostradamus, Jeanne Dixon and prophecies from near-death experiencers Martha Anne St. Claire (formerly Martha A. Cassandra Musgrave), Elaine Durham and Jessica Carde. The documentary takes a hard look at the correlating global catastrophes from today’s headlines and speculates that all the foretold signs leading to the Apocalypse are starting to converge. You can read more information about NDE prophecies of the future on this website. This documentary was produced by Greystone Communications in 1995 and distributed by NBC. The film was occasionally aired on prime time television. A VHS format version of this documentary used to be available on Amazon.com but is now currently unavailable. Nevertheless, this wonderful documentary can now be viewed on YouTube.com.

Near Death Experience: In The Realm of God (YouTube). This documentary featuring Martha was filmed at the 3rd Spiritual Retreat for Near Death Experiencers, St Louis. Other media appearances by Martha include: Portland’s AM Northwest, Portland’s News Channel 8, Oregon’s News Channel 12, Hard Copy, Ancient Prophecies III (NBC), The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, Life After Death (Vision TV, Canada), and on Austin’s KVET radio. Written articles and reference sources for Martha’s work include: Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Cats Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Esquire, Light of the Dawn Newsletter (Japan), The Uniguidance Newsletter (FOUG), Lessons from the Light by Dr. Kenneth Ring and Evelyn Elsaesser Valarino, The Paranormal Sourcebook by Charles E. Sellier & Joseph Meier, What It Feels Like by A.J. Jacobs, and The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation by Janice Holden, Bruce Greyson, and Debbie James. See this web page for a more in depth description of Martha’s media appearances.

Martha has in-depth experience in shamanic ritual and practice, Tibetan Buddhist and Christian traditions, and with the genuine healing gifts of various Brazilian and Filipino psychic surgeons. She has enjoyed traveling to over twenty-four countries and is looking forward to more international adventure, especially where it’s warm and sunny!

Books

Messages from Heaven: Amazing Insights on Life After Death, Life's Purpose and Earth's Future

Patricia Kirmond

Table Of Contents