Heaven

by Randy Alcorn

  256 John Calvin, quoted in Colleen McDannell and Bernhard Lang, Heaven: A History (New York Vintage Books, 1988), 155.

  257 Jonathan Edwards, Heaven: A World of Love (Amityville, N.Y: Calvary Press, 1999), 18.

  258 Richard Baxter, The Practical Works of 'Richard Baxter (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981), 97.

  259 Salem Kirban, WhatlsHeaven Like? (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Second Coming, 1991), 8.

  260 J. Boudreau, The Happiness of Heaven (Rockford, 111.: Tan Books and Publishers, 1984), 117.

  261 George MacDonald, quoted in Herbert Lockyer, Death and the Life Hereafter (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1975), 65.

  262 J. C. Ryle, Heaven (Ross-shire, UK: Christian Focus Publications, 2000), 34—35.

  263 Amy Carmichael, Thou Givest . . . They Gather, quoted in Images of Heaven: Refections on Glory, comp. Lil Copan and Anna Trimiew (Wheaton, 111.: Harold Shaw, 1996), 111.

  CHAPTER 35

  WILL THERE BE MARRIAGE, FAMILIES, A N D FRIENDSHIPS?

  264 Drake W. Whitchurch, Wakingfrom Earth: Seeking Heaven, the Hearts True Home (Kearney, Neb.: Morris, 1999), 95.

  265 C. S. Lewis, Miracles (New York Collier Books, 1960), 159-60.

  266 Charles H. Spurgeon, "Infant Salvation," sermon 411, September 29, 1861, The Spurgeon Archive, http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0411.htm.

  267 Randy Alcorn, "Do Infants Go to Heaven When They Die?" Eternal Perspective Ministries, http://www.epm.org/articles/infant.html.

  268 Augustine, quoted in Colleen McDannell and Bernhard Lang, Heaven: A History (New York Vintage Books, 1988), 58.

  269 Ibid., 60.

  270 Augustine, On the Christian Doctrine, 1:32—33.

  271 Augustine, quoted in McDannell and Lang, Heaven: A History, 64—65.

  CHAPTER 36

  WHOM WILL WE MEET, AND WHAT WILL WE EXPERIENCE TOGETHER?

  272 J. I. Packer, "Hell's Final Enigma," Christianity Today (April 22, 2002): 84.

  273 Jonathan Edwards, "The End of the Wicked Contemplated by the Righteous," The Works of Jonathan Edwards (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1974), 2:207—12, emphasis added.

  274 C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle (New York: Collier Books, 1956), 139.

  275 C. S. Lewis, The Magicians Nephew (New York Collier Books, 1978), 98-116.

  CHAPTER 37

  HOW WILL WE RELATE TO EACH OTHER?

  276 Jonathan Edwards, Heaven: A World of Love (Amityville, N.Y: Calvary Press, 1999), 27—29.

  277 Jonathan Edwards, quoted in John Gerstner, Jonathan Edwards on Heaven and Hell (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980), 21-22.

  278 C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York Macmillan, 1962), 150-51.

  279 Author unknown, Theologica Germanica, trans, by Susanna Winkworth, chap. 51, Believer's Web, http://www.believersweb.net/view.cfm?ID=254.

  280 Author unknown, Theologica Germanica, chap. 51.

  281 I wrote about my relationship with Jerry in the nonfiction companion to my novels that deal with Heaven. See In Light of Eternity (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 1999), 66—72.

  282 Elisabeth Elliot, Through Gates of Splendor (Wheaton, 111.: Tyndale, 1981).

  283 Babettes Feast, directed by Gabriel Axel (Panorama Film, 1987).

  284 J. C. Ryle, Heaven (Ross-shire, UK: Christian Focus Publications, 2000), 84.

  CHAPTER 38

  WHAT WILL N EW EARTH SOCIETY BE LIKE?

  285 Abraham Kuyper, The Revelation of St. John, trans. John H. de Vries (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1963), 122.

  286 Herman Bavinck, The Last Things: Hope for This World and the Next, ed. John Bolt, trans. John Vriend (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996), 160.

  287 Richard Mouw, When the Kings Come Marching In (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983), 47.

  288 Dave Hunt, Whatever Happened to Heaven? (Eugene, Ore.: Harvest House, 1988), 236.

  289 Cornelius P. Venema, The Promise of the Future (Trowbridge, UK: Banner of Truth, 2000), 481.

  290 See discussion at Eternal Perspective Ministries, http://www.epm.org/articles/characters.html.

  291 Anthony A. Hoekema, "Heaven: Not Just an Eternal Day Off," Christianity Today (June 6, 2003), http://www.christianitytoday.eom/ct/2003/122/54.0.html.

  292 Ibid.

  CHAPTER 39

  WILL ANIMALS INHABIT THE N EW EARTH?

  293 Gary R. Habermas and J. P. Moreland, Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality (Wheaton, 111.: Crossway, 1998), 106.

  294 John Gilmore, Probing Heaven (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991), 132.

  CHAPTER 40

  WILL ANIMALS, INCLUDING OUR PETS, LIVE AGAIN?

  295 Steve Wolberg, Will My Pet Go to Heaven? (Enumclaw, Wash.: WinePress, 2002), 57.

  296 C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York Macmillan, 1962), 139-41.

  297 C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, quoted in Wayne Martindale, ed., Journey to the Celestial City: Glimpses of Heaven from Great Literary Classics (Chicago: Moody, 1995), 140.

  298 Joni Eareckson Tada, Holiness in Hidden Places (Nashville: J. Countryman, 1999), 133.

  299 John Piper, Future Grace (Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah, 1995), 381.

  300 This and subsequent quotations in this section from John Wesley's sermon "The General Deliverance, Sermon 60" can be found, with comments by Randy Alcorn, at Eternal Perspective Ministries, http://www.epm.org/articles/wesleysermon.html.

  301 C. S. Lewis, The Magicians Nephew (New York: Collier Books, 1978), 167.

  302 Ibid., 172.

  CHAPTER 4 1

  WILL HEAVEN EVER BE BORING?

  303 Mark Buchanan, Things Unseen (Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah, 2002), 76.

  304 James M. Campbell, Heaven Opened (New York: Revell, 1924), 123.

  305 Victor Hugo, "The Future Life," quoted in Dave Wilkinson, "And I Shall Dwell," sermon preached at Moorpark Presbyterian Church, February 18,2001, "Sermons from Moorpark Presbyterian Church," Moorpark Presbyterian Church, http://www.moorparkpres.org/sermons/2001/021801.htm.

  306 Wilbur M. Smith, The Biblical Doctrine of Heaven (Chicago: Moody, 1968), 195.

  307 Campbell, Heaven Opened, 123-24,190.

  308 Anthony A. Hoekema, "Heaven: Not Just an Eternal Day Off," Christianity Today (June 6, 2003), http://www.christianitytoday.eom/ct/2003/122/54.0.html.

  309 Cornelius P. Venema, The Promise of the Future (Trowbridge, UK: Banner of Truth, 2000), 481.

  310 Bruce Milne, The Message of Heaven and Hell (D'owners Grove, 111.: Inter Varsity, 2002), 321—22.

  311 Paul Marshall with Lela Gilbert, Heaven Is Not My Home: Learning to Live in Gods Creation (Nashville: Word, 1998), 30.

  312 Ibid.

  313 Ibid., 30-31.

  314 Hoekema, "Eternal Day Off."

  315 Marshall with Gilbert, Heaven Is Not My Home, 173.

  316 Arthur O. Roberts, Exploring Heaven (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2003), 148.

  CHAPTER 42

  WILL THERE BE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, A N D SPORTS?

  317 C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce (New York: Macmillan, 1946), 80.

  318 Arthur O. Roberts, Exploring Heaven (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1989), 63—64.

  319 Colleen McDannell and Bernhard Lang, Heaven: A History (New York: Vintage Books, 1988), 47.

  320 John Gilmore, Probing Heaven (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991), 252.

  321 C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefy on Prayer (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1963), 92-93.

  322 C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle (New York: Collier Books, 1956), 179.

  323 Chariots of Fire, directed by Hugh Hudson (Warner Bros., 1981).

  CHAPTER 43

  WILL OUR DREAMS BE FULFILLED AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES REGAINED?

  324 Randy Alcorn, Safely Home (Wheaton, 111.: Tyndale, 2001), 378-79.

  325 Joni Eareckson Tada, quoted in Douglas J. Rumford, What about Heaven and Hell? (Wheaton, 111.: Tyndale, 2000), 31.

  326 Peter Toon, Heaven and Hell: A Biblical and Theological Overview (Nashville: Nelson, 1986), 204.

  327This principle is explained more fully
in my book The Treasure Principle (Sisters, Ore.:

  Multnomah, 2001), 48.

  328 Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998), 376.

  329 To see the Hubble Deep Field image, go to "Image: Hubble Deep Field North," Eternal Perspective Ministries, http://www.epm.org/hubbledeep.html.

  CHAPTER 44

  WILL WE DESIGN CRAFTS, TECHNOLOGY, AND NEW MODES OF TRAVEL?

  330 Paul Marshall with Lela Gilbert, Heaven Is Not My Home: Learning to Live in Gods Creation (Nashville: Word, 1998), 176.

  331 C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1963), 121-22.

  332 Randy Alcorn, Edge of Eternity (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 1999), 311.

  CHAPTER 45

  REORIENTING OURSELVES TO HEAVEN AS OUR HOME

  333 Donald Bloesch, Theological Notebook (Colorado Springs: Helmers and Howard, 1989), 183.

  334 C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan, 1962), 115.

  335 W. Graham Scroggie, What about Heaven? (London: Christian Literature Crusade, 1940), 93—95.

  336 A. W. Tozer, The Size of the Soul (Harrisburg, Pa.: Christian Publications, 1992), 17—18.

  337 C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader" (New York: Scholastic, 1952), 24.

  338 Ibid., 180.

  339 Variously attributed to Henry Scott Holland and Henry Van Dyke; source uncertain.

  340 C. S. Lewis, Letters to an American Lady (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1967), 117.

  341 Calvin Miller, The Divine Symphony (Minneapolis: Bethany, 2000), 139.

  CHAPTER 46

  ANTICIPATING THE GREAT ADVENTURE

  342 Jack MacArthur, Exploring in the Next World (Minneapolis: Dimension Books, 1967), 16.

  343 C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle (New York HarperTrophy, 1994), 228.

  344 Sir James M. Barrie, Peter Pan, in Peter Pan, and Other Plays (New York: AMS Press, 1975), 94.

  345 Paul Helm, The Last Things (Carlisle, Pa.: Banner of Truth, 1989), 10.

  346 C. S. Lewis, Perelandra (New York: Simon 8c Schuster, 1996), 10.

  APPENDIX A

  CHRISTOPLATONISM'S FALSE ASSUMPTIONS

  347 Luciano Floridi and Gian Paolo Terravecchia, eds., The Free On-line Dictionary of Philosophy (FOLDOP), version 2.4, SWIF, http://www.swif.uniba.it/lei/foldop.

  348 Plato, Phaedo, quoted in Walter A. Elwell, ed., Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984), 859.

  349 Arthur E. Travis, Where on Earth Is Heaven? (Nashville: Broadman, 1974), 16.

  350 James M. Campbell, Heaven Opened (New York: Revell, 1924), 114-15.

  351 John A. Sarkett, "How Did We Lose the Rest of the Story?" chap. 9 in After Armageddon: A Bible Study on the World Wide Web, 1996, http://208.234.11.183/aa/9.shtml.

  352 Leon Morris, The Book of Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987).

  353 Leland Ryken, "The Rhetoric of Transcendence," in Wayne Martindale, ed., Journey to the Celestial City: Glimpses of Heaven from Great Literary Classics (Chicago: Moody, 1995), 19.

  354 C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, rev. ed. (New York: Macmillan, 1982), 41—42.

  355 Paul Marshall with Lela Gilbert, Heaven Is Not My Home: Learning to Live in Gods Creation (Nashville: Word, 1998), 32-33.

  356 Anthony A. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979), 249.

  357 Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 1158-64.

  APPENDIX B

  LITERAL A N D FIGURATIVE INTERPRETATION

  358 Colleen McDannell and Bernhard Lang, Heaven: A History (New York: Vintage Books, 1988), 80-81.

  359 Ibid., 82-83.

  360 Ibid., 84.

  361 Ibid., 89.

  362 Randy Alcorn, "Additional Thoughts on the Millennium," Eternal Perspective Ministries, http://www.epm.org/millennium.html.

  363 John Gilmore, Probing Heaven (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991), 114.

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  ...... Edge of Eternity. Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 1999.

  ..... In Light of Eternity. Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2000.

  ...... The Law of Rewards. Wheaton, 111.: Tyndale, 2003.

  ...... Safely Home. Wheaton, 111.: Tyndale, 2001.

  ...... The Treasure Principle. Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah, 2001.

  Alighieri, Dante. The Inferno.

  Augustine. The City of God.

  ...... Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

  ...... On the Christian Doctrine.

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  Translated and edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.

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