We are talking about stuff here about which we know pretty much nothing, so I believe we can be very easily fooled. With that said, I’ll throw out something strictly to spice up the debate:
If God is who the bible says he is, and one believes it, do you think God would “make a mistake” and accidentally let people get a glimpse of the afterlife when they are gonna get snapped back into our reality? If not, then is it just possible that Satan could fake the experience of your deceased friends meeting you there.
I’m not saying I believe that. What I am saying is that this could be interpreted to mean literally anything someone wanted it to mean. Heck, it could even be considered your strongest memories coming to the surface as the brain starts its death process.
IOW, it could mean absolutely anything and what you believe it is has to do solely with your view of this life and the afterlife.
I happen to think that nothing God does is accidental. He has a purpose for everything. We just don’t always know what that purpose is.