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Professor Becker, professor of mathematics at Rostock, sees his double as a harbinger of his own death
Identifier
027187
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
As quoted in The Night Side of Nature – Catherine Crowe
Becker, professor of mathematics at Rostock, having fallen into an argument with some friends of his in reference to a disputed point in theology, ongoing to his library to fetch a book which he wished to refer to, saw himself sitting at the table in the seat which he was accustomed to occupy. He approached the figure, which appeared to be reading, and looking over its shoulder he noticed that the book open before it was the Bible, and that with one of the fingers of its right hand it pointed to the passage, "Make ready thy house, for thou must die."
He thereupon returned to the company present, relating what he had seen and, in spite of their arguments, expressed his conviction that he was about to die, which he did on the following day at six o'clock in the evening.
He had already attained a considerable age.
Those who would not believe in the appearance, said he had died of fright; but whether he did or not, the circumstances are sufficiently remarkable