There are vast differences in death bed experiences. The book “Turning Toward Joy” by Dr. David Jeremiah has an interesting illustration of this. In 1899 two famous men died. One was an unbeliever who spent his life attacking the Bible and Christian faith. Robert Ingersoll was famous as a lecturer on immortality, for which a Harvard University Ingersoll lecture series was named. His death devastated his family. When his death came, it left his family with no hope. What is more amazing about Ingersoll is that he lectured on immortality and yet didn’t know how Christ would make this possible for him.
Contrasting this, evangelist Dwight L. Moody died the same year. Instead of despair, his family celebrated since he had been in poor health. On his death bed at his last moments, he exclaimed, “earth is receding, heaven is opening and God is calling”. His family told him he was dreaming, but he said it is no dream, “I have been within the gates and saw the children”.
Christians who believe in an afterlife in Heaven should not worry about a departed loved one. That is if they know that s/he will spend eternity with God.
Robert Ingersoll could have been saved even on his deathbed. But he apparently died in ignorance. Although a learned man, he was ignorant of the real meanings in the Bible having spent his time maligning it and Christ, rather than making them a part of his life.
It is possible to be saved by Christ any time as long as there is a breath and a mind still functioning. Remember the man, a murderer, on a cross beside Jesus? Just before he died, he realized that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Jesus then told him that he would be in Paradise with him. Even on a deathbed, I cannot imagine anyone closer to death than this man dying on the cross. And this man didn't even have time to ask for forgiveness as far as we are told. Therefore we have to conclude that Jesus will forgive anyone at any time.
However, it would be taking a big chance to wait until our dying hours to come to Him. Many people die without ever being on a deathbed, they simply keel over from a stroke, or are killed in an accident. We never know when will be our last day, so we should not wait even an hour to come to the Lord as our savior.