What Is for Real? The Truth About Heaven

Let me ask your forgiveness up front because I’m going to rant a little bit today. Some of you will accuse me of being callous; some of you will think I’m deriding family-friendly movies; some of you will think I don’t like little kids. None of these notions has any basis in reality. Let’s talk about what does.

In this space, truth matters, and Scripture is our sole source of truth. Truth is not experiential, so we must gauge our experiences against the plumb line of biblical revelation. Thus my struggle with the Christian community’s adulation of the film Heaven Is for Real.

No, I haven’t seen the movie or read the book. That is irrelevant to our discussion, though I am very familiar enough with the storyline. The problem is simple: It is extra-biblical revelation. All extra-biblical revelation should be regarded as a major caution flag, period.

Consider what the Bible says about visions of heaven:

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. – 2 Corinthians 12:1-7

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
– Isaiah 6:1-5

Both Paul and Isaiah, both great men of God, were overwhelmed with humility by their revelations. Paul could not even speak of his experience, even refusing to speak in the first person; Isaiah saw himself as the sinner he was in the presence of a holy and awesome God. Neither spoke of hovering over their bodies or of obtaining wings and halos, Jesus’ rainbow-colored horse, or of a pink diamond bedecking Jesus’ crown.

In fact, none of the people raised from the dead in Scripture shared what they saw in heaven (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:35; 2 Kings 13:21; Luke 7:13-15; Matthew 9:25; Matthew 27:52-53; Acts 9:36-42; Acts 20:9-12). This includes, of course, Jesus’ friend Lazarus, who was in the grave for four days before being resurrected (John 11:43-44). You’d think he would have a story or two if anyone did.

(By the way, if you have a few minutes, listen to what pastor and author David Platt says about Heaven Is for Real. I applaud his courage.)

My friends, let’s not be too quick to jump on any bandwagon bearing a “family-friendly” or “Christian” label. Be unafraid to test the spirits. Scripture should be all-sufficient for the Jesus follower. Let’s stop trying to add to it. I’ll ruffle more feathers on the topic of extra-biblical revelation soon.

 

2 thoughts on “What Is for Real? The Truth About Heaven

  1. Nancy Spitters says:

    I have often wondered what Lazarus saw when he died and was raised back to life. However, I do know that people still see visions of Jesus in places where people are seeking to know the true God. We all want to know that heaven is a real place. Even CS Lewis refers to descriptions of heaven – that it’s a place more real and solid than what we know now. Randy Acorn has a wonderful book about what the Bible points to and infers about the after life. I think we should be concentrating on opening the discussion with people because the climate of our culture right now is searching for clues about heaven. I recommended my neighbors seeing Heaven is for Real. They are of another culture and we have had spiritual discussions about many things – they do not believe in Jesus but if this will open a door to more discussion, why not? I do not focus on insisting people who are not believers line up with what the Bible has to say – I’m looking to start the conversation. Movies are stories and stories can lead to deep discussions about what the Bible has to say about the topic. Why not use this movie as a catalyst to deeper discussion?

  2. Cheri Henderson says:

    Nancy, you’re absolutely right about such media sparking conversations with unbelievers, and I applaud you for your outreach. That’s a very valid use of movies and books of this vein. I actually read Randy Alcorn’s book and wrote about it here: https://www.halffullandoverflowing.com/heavenly-minded-and-of-no-earthly-good/. He did take some creative license (resurrected pets, for instance), but I credit him for his extensive study of the Scriptures. Thanks for your input, and thanks for showing the rest of us how it’s done!