The connection between Colton's experience and that of Akiane Kramarik extends beyond this vision of “Jesus.” Both of them describe heaven as a place replete with indescribable color. Interestingly, this is something common to the experience of many occultists who have “visited heaven” or have had a brush with death; “euphoria, music, and color surpassing anything known in the natural physical state” often describe the event.[7]
Mr. Burpo also seems to accept an explanation of the Trinity based upon a child's song and (apparently) Mormon doctrine. When asked to describe God the Father, Colton says he is “really, really big” (page 100) so big he can hold the whole world in his hands. Colton goes on to say this physical God sits next to Jesus while nearby sits the Holy Spirit who is “kind of blue” (page 103). The Bible presents a different point of view.
According to the apostle John, No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him (John 1:18, cf. John 6:46, 1 John 4:12). This is so because God is the King eternal, immortal, invisible (1 Timothy 1:17) who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see (1 Timothy 6:16). Indeed, no one may see [God] and live (Exodus 33:20).
Furthermore, the description of the Trinity provided by Colton via Mr. Burpo has more in common with Mormon doctrine than orthodox Christianity. Members of the LDS organization believe God the Father is in the form of a man; the Eternal Son in his deity is likewise flesh and blood, and the Holy Spirit is “both a substance, a fluid, and a person”[8] (which sounds “kind of blue”). Hence, Mormons would have no problem with the description of the Trinity provided in Heaven Is For Real.
The apostle Paul tells us that, in [Christ] all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9, NET). Paul means that access to everything God is and does is available only through Christ. Jesus is the “permanent manifestation”[9] of deity and any purported revelation that undermines that truth is demonic. God would not fall back upon mere theophany unless Jesus was inadequate in some way. He is not and so we must vigorously affirm that the invisible God is manifest in Jesus alone. In short the only way it is possible to see God is in Jesus Christ (John 14:9 etc.).
Mr. Burpo also accepts Colton's fanciful recital of “the coming war” as gospel truth. The child claims he saw a future event wherein “there's going to be a war, and it's going to destroy this world. Jesus and the Angels and the good people are going to fight against Satan and the monsters and the bad people. I saw it.” Colton goes on to say the battle is against literal dragons and monsters and is fought with swords and bows.
Apparently it escaped the notice of Mr. Burpo that Colton's statement on “the Battle of Armageddon” came some three years after his stay in the hospital and only after he had viewed the video presentation of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, replete with “fantasy/medieval battle scenes,” swords, armor and all sorts of monsters and other mythical creatures. Clearly, Colton's “memory” of that “heavenly vision” is tied directly to his viewing the video. It is mind boggling that anyone would base their understanding of Scripture on this kind of foolishness.
In Revelation chapter 19 Christ is depicted as riding forth on a white horse (no mention of a rainbow pony) to strike the nations with the sword that proceeds from his mouth. This illustrates how “Christ destroys the evil nations not with a literal sharp sword but with the proclaimed word that comes out of his mouth (cf. 1:16; Isaiah 11:3-5). But what words come from the Messiah's mouth? The Christian proclamation of the slain lamb, who is named "Faithful and True" (cf. Ephesians 6:17). That is, by the preaching of the gospel about Christ's faithfulness to God, the claims of the anti-Christian kingdom and its rulers are exposed as lies and deceptions; and by its message, God's condemnation of the nations is found to be true (cf. Hebrews 4:11-12).”[10] There is nothing in the Bible that should be interpreted as a “last battle” fought by men armed with actual swords against literal dragons and monsters.
Another feature of Colton's alleged celestial visit is that the entire episode lasted just three minutes even though Colton tells of happenings that would have taken hours or even days to occur. Mr. Burpo says this must indicate heavenly time is different from earthly time. However, there is no scriptural basis for this opinion. According to Scripture, time is part of the created realm and the entire universe - including heaven - is subject to it (Genesis 1:1, 14). God has accredited the ineradicable nature of time in the created realm by his use of it throughout history (Exodus 9:18, Deuteronomy 11:14, 2 Kings 4:16, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Acts 14:17 and so on). Indeed, the whole of Scripture presents reality as unfolding in lineal time. In other words, time in God's realm is movement from point A to point B along the continuum and is measured in recognizable increments. Truly, this is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name: "Only if these decrees vanish from my sight," declares the LORD, "will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me' (Jeremiah 31:35-36, cf. Psalm 104:19-23). In short, day, night and the regular turning of the tide are evidence of God's trustworthiness. There is no biblical evidence he lays that consistency aside in heaven. Rather, “there is time in the present Heaven”[11] and God ever accommodates himself to “human time” even though he is not constrained by time (2 Peter 3:8).
On the other hand, “magical time” is “beyond time, independent of time”[12] and in the holographic mystical state “4000 years ago is the same as tomorrow.”[13] And to the practiced sorcerer “one moment can be an eternity.”[14]
Colton's claim that Jesus has a rainbow colored pony calls to mind “My Little Pony” and “Rainbow Brite” the little girl who can “bring sparkles of color to the darkest day and put a bright smile on little girls faces” who is often seen gliding “through the air on her magical flying horse, Starlight.”[15] Although the rainbow is a sign of God's covenant promise to never again destroy the Earth by flood (Genesis 9:13-16), New Agers and Neopagans, have given it a different meaning. To the New Age devotee, rainbows “represent a bridge between the individual and the Universal Mind, which in the branch of the New Age which regards itself as esoteric Christianity is referred to as Saint Kumara, one of the terms for Lucifer. In this context the rainbow is termed the Antahkaranah” the rainbow bridge between man and Lucifer who, they say, is the oversoul.[16] For this reason I am likewise uncomfortable with Colton's obsession with rainbows (page 107) following his out-of-body experience.[17]
Colton also claims that the angel Gabriel sits at the left hand of God's throne (page 101). According to the Bible, to sit at the left-hand or the right-hand of a person of authority is an honor. For instance, the mother of James and John asked Jesus to allow her sons to sit at the left and right hand of the Lord in his kingdom. But Jesus said, to sit on my right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father (Matthew 20:23). To say the angel Gabriel sits at the left hand of the father is to ignore the fact we live in the age of the Son of Man.
The old covenant age was the age of angels. Angels led the people of God through the wilderness, went before them in battle and delivered the law to Moses (Acts 7:38, 53, Galatians 3:19, Hebrews 2:2). Indeed, in the old covenant era, Satan, a fallen angel, was allowed to stand in the presence of God and accuse the brethren (Job 1:6-12, Zechariah 3:1-2). With the coming of the new covenant age, the age of the Son of Man, Satan was cast out of heaven (Luke 10: 17-20, Revelation 12:9). We no longer have an accuser who stands before God but an advocate in Jesus Christ our Lord, the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
Thus, angels do not occupy a place of special honor before God in the new covenant age. They no longer act as mediators for mankind. For these reasons it also would be impossible to see Satan while in heaven (page 134). To suggest otherwise is to return to the old covenant condition. Certainly, this is a circumstance the devil would like to see
and there is no doubt he would like to confuse believers on this issue.
Finally, spiritism or consulting the dead is strictly prohibited by the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:11, cf. Leviticus 19:31, 20:6). Scripture does not detail the forbidden practice but simply says it is detestable to God.
Necromancers often attempt to contact the spirits of dead ancestors, seeking advice and protection for the living. It may seem cute to claim that a little boy was taken under the wing (excuse the pun) of his long dead great-grandfather in the hereafter but there is no such thing as “white magic necromancy” or “Christian consulting the dead.” The practice is satanic under any circumstance.
Hence, there are no exclusions to the biblical injunction against necromancy. Nor is there any reason to believe that such communications with (pretended) departed spirits are less offensive to God now than in the time of Moses.
Furthermore, there is no exception made for someone who has a near death experience (or dies) and communicates with the dead while in the condition of near death or “dead” and returns to tell about it. Nor is an exception made for someone who supposedly “travels” to heaven in a vision and returns. Thus, Paul said nothing about speaking with departed saints. John's account is related in highly symbolic terms and so we cannot consider his communication with the elders to be normative – or even an account of an actual communication with a departed saint. Moreover, the story of King Saul and the witch of Endor is instructive to us today as an example of a man who rebelled against God's revealed word but still sought the blessings of the Almighty. Frankly this is similar to the attitude of present day Christians who turn their back on Scripture in favor of extra biblical revelation.
In light of the clear commandments disallowing communication with the dead (with no provision for exceptions), we are obligated to reject all forms of necromancy out of hand. Thus, we must immediately reject the legitimacy of an alleged visit to heaven wherein interaction with departed saints is professed - no matter how prettily the picture is painted.
On the other hand, necromancy that has been “christianized” by a child's story of visiting heaven, meeting important Bible figures, staying at the “heavenly home” of a long departed great-grandfather and so on, is just the sort of thing the devil might use to force the nose of the occult camel under the church tent.
As in the case of the practical problems with the story, there are other items in the book that raise theological red flags (such as “power shot down from heaven” by the Holy Spirit, Colton's “sister” being anxious to see her parents in heaven etc.) but the issues already treated are adequate to show that Heaven Is for Real is theologically unsound.
· Four ·
The Primary
Theological Problem
The fundamental problem with Heaven Is For Real is that it constitutes extra biblical revelation.
Extra biblical revelation is any kind of knowledge or experience that provides information concerning God, his work or his will for the corporate body, that is not drawn directly from Scripture. It is equivalent to saying “thus sayeth the Lord” and the implication is that the new information is gospel truth.
The writers of the heavenly holographs are telling us that the Bible is better understood in light of their special spiritual experiences. They are telling us that the Bible is inadequate and the past 2000 years of Christianity have been sub-par because no one knew Jesus has a rainbow colored horse. They tell us that their heavenly journey has finally put to rest certain pesky doctrinal disputes and revealed God's will as never before. In the book and in publicity interviews, Mr. Burpo gives every indication that he accepts Colton's story as unquestionably true. He claims to be delighted with the revelation that everyone in heaven is about 30 years old. He is satisfied that Colton's description of Jesus has settled the issue of Christ's physical appearance once and for all.
If we begin to accept extra biblical revelation we immediately find ourselves on a slippery slope. Where do we draw the line? At what point do we stop revising our doctrine to accommodate the new revelation? In truth, once we begin the process it is impossible to stop for there is always someone with a new “revelation” who believes they should have the final word. If we accept without any biblical warrant the idea that Jesus has a rainbow colored horse, on what grounds do we reject the claim from a similar source that Christ's mediation has been supplanted by "angelic" representation?[18] There is no consistent cause for doing so.
This is the fundamental reason we must reject all revelatory experience as spurious; to accept the Burpo narrative is to violate the integrity of the biblical canon. If Colton really did go to heaven and speak directly to God then it is time to revise the Bible and bring it up to date, for the Burpo tale contradicts the Bible at many points. This is the real problem with every story of a trip to heaven; they demand to be placed on par with Scripture, indeed to supplant it. You can't have it both ways. Either God's word is our final authority and the Burpo story is false or the Burpo story is true and supersedes the Bible. For Bible believing Christians the answer is clear: we stand upon the absolute authority of God's written Word. Conflicting information must be rejected as originating in human imagination or satanic deceit. The irony is, those who demand a place for extra biblical revelation are the first to reject the biblical punishment for false prophets. Yet, it is their position on the issue that would require its unchanging application (Deuteronomy 13:1-4 etc.).
Make no mistake; if we accept or even tolerate their story we are guilty of the same rebellion as they. It is not revelatory experience but Scripture that is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). No personal spiritual experience is fresher or more intimate than Scripture. God doesn't need to give us private revelation to help us in our walk with him. If we ignore this fact we will be tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14 NIV).
I am not saying the Holy Spirit no longer speaks to Christians; he most certainly does. But he speaks to us and directs us individually and always in agreement with the Bible. He no longer inspires individuals with the Word of God as a means of directing the lives of others.
The current ministry of the Holy Spirit does not add to the Bible nor constitute new revelation. We cannot develop or “enhance” Christian doctrine using extra biblical experience or a “word from the Lord” no matter how wonderful the story may be. God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3).
The Holy Spirit illuminates a man's mind so he may know Christ. The Spirit enables him to apply the Word to his own life and arena of activity and to mature in Christlikeness. Mature Christians are enabled to offer godly advice and instruction (1 Timothy 4:13, 5:17, Hebrews 13:7). But with the passing of the first century and the realization of the new covenant (1 Corinthians 13:10), no one is commissioned to disclose “new truth” by virtue of mystic experience. We have been given exactly what we need in the written Word, the ministry of teaching and the individual elucidation of the Holy Spirit (cf. Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:11).
The Burpos should have recounted Colton's story to a mature spiritual authority and asked for counsel but they should not have gone public with their tale. As the preceding pages of this booklet have shown, Bible based counsel would have quickly uncovered the ungodly nature of the narrative. This would have forestalled the damage that has been inflicted upon those who have been deceived by Heaven Is For Real.
· Four ·
Conclusion
In conclusion, Heaven Is for Real does not rise to a reasonable standard of credibility by any estimation. Mr. Burpo's explanation for his son's experience is unbelievable and the theology presented in the book is contrary to sound Bible doctrine. Furthermore, the mes
sage of the book serves to turn one's attention away from Jesus Christ and focus it upon experience and emotion. Rather than inspire readers to place faith in Jesus alone, it guides people to locate their source of encouragement outside a living relationship with Christ. People claim the book will: convince readers heaven exists, make “the future more hopeful,” and “[reaffirm] how important faith is in our lives.”[19] Many of the reader reviews found online claim the Burpo tale has “renewed [their] faith in God and the afterlife in heaven.” Yet, these blessings are to be sought in a relationship with Jesus Christ and in the study of Scripture not through extra biblical revelation.
Are we now so spiritually impoverished we must seek God “speaking to us in this twenty-first century through the unblemished eyes of a child”?[20] Unblemished? The Bible says otherwise: Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me (Psalms 51:5, NIV). It is derisory to believe a tall tale simply because it comes from a child. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child (Proverbs 22:15) and it is wrong to promote the cultivation of foolishness by encouraging this sort of imaginativeness. Moreover, Scripture tells us that childish leadership is a sign of God's displeasure. I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them (Isaiah 3:4) says God to unfaithful Israel. “This also was fully accomplished in the succession of weak and wicked princes, from the death of Josiah to the destruction of the city and temple, and the taking of Zedekiah, the last of them, by Nebuchadnezzar.”[21] It is accomplished today in the church when Believers look to children for leadership and theological insight.
Heaven Is For Real, The Book Isn't: An Astounding Refutation Of A Story About A Trip To Heaven And Back Page 2
