Here are a few scriptures to think about in view of the sudden interest in individuals who claim to have died, visited heaven, and then come back to write books about it.
In Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), the rich man desired that Lazarus would return from the dead to warn his brothers about the place of torment that he had gone to. Abraham told him that his brothers have Moses and the prophets to listen to. The rich man replied that if someone returned from the dead, they would surely repent. Here is the reply of Abraham. Remember, these are the words of Jesus.
"If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead."
Luke 16:31 NASB
Jesus is telling us that the scriptures contain sufficient information to show us our sin and guilt, and the resulting wrath of God that we will all face someday when we appear before His judgment seat. They contain the information we need so that we will repent and place our confidence in Christ. We do not need a book written by someone who claims to have experienced heaven to prove that it is a real place, or to validate what the scriptures teach about the afterlife. Jesus has told us that if we do not listen to the scriptures, we will not listen to someone who has returned from the dead either. Plain and simple.
Consider Paul and his heavenly vision found in 2 Corinthians 12:1-9.
And I know how such a man-whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-
was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
2 Corinthians 12:3-4 NASB
Why do you suppose the Apostle Paul was not permitted to share with us through the scriptures, or any other way for that matter, the things that he had seen and heard in paradise? Why is it that these individuals claiming to have had heavenly revelations, have the freedom to speak and write of what they saw and heard?
Furthermore Paul was given a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble because of the things that had been revealed to him (2 Cor 12:7-9). Have these heavenly travelers of today been given a thorn in the flesh as well?
Finally we have the beloved disciple John, who had a revelation of things to come. He saw visions of heaven as well. He describes the worship, the holy city, the marriage supper of the Lamb, and many other glorious things involving heaven and the things to come. Notice how he closes his account of what God revealed to him.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18-19 NASB
We do not need new revelation of heaven, and what it is like. Once again, the scriptures give us sufficient information. I can't help but notice that some of the things described in books of this sort, have no scriptural basis at all. The image of Jesus portrayed is just that, an image unlike the one presented to us in Rev 1:13-16. Where in the bible do we see reference to a rainbow colored horse? Where do we see a description of satan's moldy teeth and bony arms? These authors are treading on dangerous ground, painting pictures in our minds of things that cannot be reconciled with scripture.
I write this because I see a trend to rush out and grab the latest bestselling book. We seem to be gravitating toward the sensational, while leaving solid biblical teaching behind. This is a dangerous place to be as Christians. I fear many are rushing headlong into deception. Many of these kind of books are pushing a new age type of universalism, and people are falling for it.
We need to immerse ourselves in the Scripture, as a safeguard against error. Test all things by the Word of God.
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