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Christianity Today, July, 2011

My Top 5 Books On Heaven

Picks from Paul Enns, author of 'Heaven Revealed'

Paul Enns | posted 8/01/2011 10:20AM

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Heaven
Randy Alcorn (Tyndale House)

This is without question the most thoroughly researched, biblically oriented publication on heaven. Alcorn shows how the new heaven and new earth reflect the culmination of God's original purpose for mankind—his kingdom restored on a new earth.

One Minute After You Die
Erwin W. Lutzer (Moody)

In dealing with both heaven and hell, Lutzer writes with passion and compassion. This book will minister to the brokenhearted believer, giving joy and hope of reunion with believing loved ones. The third and fourth chapters alone—on ascending to and arriving in heaven—are worth the price of the book.

A Brief History of Heaven
Alister E. McGrath (Blackwell)

Reminding readers that "imagining heaven" is a "God-given human capacity," McGrath traces the variant views of heaven over the centuries, providing insight on how people have understood heaven, culminating with the consolation of heaven and the longing for heaven as seen in the writings of C. S. Lewis.

Heaven: Better by Far: Answers to Questions About the Believer's Final Hope
J. Oswald Sanders (Discovery House)

Writing on a popular level, Sanders, who was twice a widower, speaks to the heart. He explains the transition to heaven and addresses other often-asked questions: Will we know one another? Is heaven a place or a state? What will we do there?

The Biblical Doctrine of Heaven
Wilbur M. Smith (Moody)

Smith takes the reader through a thorough biblical study, rebuffing modern philosophers and then addressing questions such as the intermediate state, our inheritance and occupations in heaven, and the new heaven and new earth.

Related Elsewhere:

Paul Enns is author of Heaven Revealed.

Heaven, One Minute After You Die, A Brief History of Heaven, Heaven: Better by Far, and The Biblical Doctrine of Heaven are available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers.

Previous Top 5 lists have featured technology, forgiveness, dating, poetry, C.S. Lewis, the historical Jesus, family ministry, the problem of evil, biographies of theologians, orphans, prayer, doubt, community, sports, parenting, Advent, life ethics, emerging movement, Islam, loss, Calvin, spiritual memoirs, neglected doctrines, spiritual memoirs, marriage, Lent, fiction books for the soul, managing your money, devotionals, how character shapes belief, food, atheism, China, presidents, world Christianity, ancient-future faith, the civil rights era, social justice, church history, popular culture, the Civil War, apologetics, atheism, and sex.

Christianity Today has more music, movies, books, and other media reviews.

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July 2011, Vol. 55, No. 7, Page 70

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Dwight Gingrich

August 05, 2011 7:31pm

Also worth reading is N.T. Wright's Surprised By Hope. While only in part about "heaven," it speaks clearly to the centrality of the coming resurrection of the believer ("life AFTER life after death") and to many other questions of the believer's eternal destiny. Wright and Alcorn are in essential agreement that the traditional heaven "up there" is not really what the New Testament describes; rather, it depicts a "new heaven and a new earth." Alcorn is more comprehensive in his examination, but Wright is the better writer, with more pungent prose and less repetition. Don't let your possible disagreement with other parts of Wright's theology cause you to miss this gem, which really did suprise me with hope when I read it a year ago during the resurrection season!

Mark Miwerds

August 05, 2011 6:34pm

I wouldn't mind a few of these so much if the church would get off its lazy behind and teach Christians what the Bible (as in the last book on the list) really has to say about these matters. Personally, I find the Christian masses ignorant and rather un-learned about half or more of what is in that book that often just sits on the top shelf collecting dust. About the only thing worse than the state of Christian Bible education to adults is the sorry state of America's public schools. Biblical illiterates here, real illiterates there. Why is it so many pastors and teaching staff can't seem to teach anything? Too busy begging for tithes/offerings, too busy holding their hands out, palm facing up.

Joon Park

August 02, 2011 1:23pm

And yes I realized Dr. Enns made this list, but just in case you missed that!

Joon Park

August 02, 2011 1:22pm

Also "Heaven Revealed" by Dr. Paul Enns!

Michael Constantine

August 02, 2011 12:06am

Joe, Those of us who read this assume that the Bible is our final authority. But we do like to read well-written books by respected men of God who help us grapple with the truth and come to a deeper, more profound understanding of it. Thanks to the editors for this list. I look forward to finding one and reading it.

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