Promises and Secrets
A website for those not afraid to examine their beliefs, compare them to the real world, and make sure they fit.
Heaven is for Real, but...
VIEWPOINT
But, we don't go there, ever. Sorry. If the Bible gives no indication that we go to Heaven when we die, why should we believe someone who did not die, but claims to have gone where no one else has gone, then comes back to tell us stuff that Paul was not permitted to tell when he had his vision?
FACT
Claims of visiting Heaven abound.
VIEWPOINT
What do you think?
BLUE VIEWPOINT
Heaven is real, but you can't get there from here.
As we discussed in the main Heaven page, the Bible never says we will go to Heaven when we die. In all the scenarios from the Bible, all dead, near-dead, and returned-from-the-dead (think Lazarus) people will die a natural death and stay dead until they are resurrected at the second coming of Christ. Paul refers to those who have died as "asleep". So how is it that all these modern people go to "sleep" and return with a story that describes things that the Bible indicates are not possible and, even if they were possible, are not to be related or told to anyone?
Paul "visited", but...
Paul stated that he visited the Third Heaven, didn't even know if it was real or in vision, but could not tell anyone what he saw because "man is not permitted to tell" (2 Corinthians 12:4
4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
). Note that the words were not that Paul is not to tell, but "no one" is permitted to tell. Now, if we were to compare what these modern "revelators" say to what Paul tells us, what are we to think? Perhaps the time is approaching that Jesus is letting more people tell those forbidden things (and get rich doing it), because His way is just not working. Maybe Paul did not know what he was talking about, so we should not listen to anything he says. However, I think I will stick with Paul and Jesus.
The real reason?
Maybe I would feel differently if Greg Kinnear and TriStar Pictures refused any payment and were doing this in order to spread the word about Heaven and not make any money off the concept. The concept, by the way, cannot be substantiated or disproven. We just have to take the word of an 11-year-old who is recounting his memories from when he was four. Perhaps he was too young to remember that he was told that "man is not permitted to tell." Or maybe the memories were not from someone having visited Heaven at all, but someone sneaked into somewhere else.
This calls for investigation
For my own edification, I will be comparing the film and book with real life. But, don't just take my word for it. If you want another Biblical viewpoint, try Answers in Genesis. This article was written by John MacArthur, well-known radio personality and pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. While I do not agree with all his views, I think he is right on the money with this one.
Disagree? Find an error? Contact us at glenjjr@gmail.com and give us your view.
YELLOW VIEWPOINT
Heaven - Opposing View
Tell us your side.
