I've been in a season in life where I've been reflecting on my mortality to a greater extent and attempting to prioritize activities that will have eternal value over the things of this world. As a result, books on death and heaven have especially drawn my attention.
Many thanks to Baker Publishing Group for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis
What Does the Bible Actually Say about What Heaven Is Like?
- Fascinating biblical and Holy Land insights about heaven and the afterlife
- From an expert biblical scholar, educator, and Holy Land guide
- Includes full-color photos
There are times when eternity presses in and we feel drawn to know more about the place we or our loved ones will be going when this life ends. We don't want guesses or pious platitudes; we want specifics. We want certainty. Heaven, paradise, the new heaven and new earth, the new Jerusalem. Whatever you call it—and the Bible uses all those terms—there has to be real, solid information in the pages of Scripture that paints the full picture, right?
In a word, yes. And What We'll See in Heaven was written to bring these biblical pictures of our heavenly home together in one book. Drawing on his decades of teaching, study, and travel in the Holy Land, John A. Beck points us to the many Bible passages that unpack the realities of heaven using the things of this earth the original Middle Eastern audience would have understood, including
- royal settings, such as throne rooms and banquets
- daily living, such as the design of a Galilean home and the nature of Roman citizenship
- the natural world, such as relationships between animals and humans
- the human experience—those things we see, do, and experience every day that will be reflected in our life to come
Whether you're experiencing the grief of bereavement and long to know what your loved one is seeing and doing, or you're just curious about the eternal home that awaits you, this book will bring comfort, peace, and encouragement.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
Using familiar images presented throughout the Bible of how heaven has been described by biblical writers, John A. Beck takes readers on a journey to the Holy Land. Breaking down the teachings of heaven to include paradise, the new heavens and the new earth, and the new Jerusalem, this book offers a thorough examination of what each vision entails. Working backwards from these ultimate destinations, we also have the opportunity to explore what believers can hope for based on the history and culture of the Holy Land, along with humanity's relationship with the natural world.
It's helpful that the author is clear about what illustrations are definitively included in the Bible and what concepts may be attributed to interpretation and speculation. This distinction keeps the work grounded in what we can know based on what God has revealed through His Word. The commentary between Genesis and Revelation is invaluable in pointing out how much of the Bible is written to push back against the polytheistic beliefs of the time, serving as a reminder that heaven is meant to bring us to completion in the One God who is above all things. Readers who are interested in learning more about glimpses of heaven through the Bible while accompanied by stunning photographs of the Holy Land will appreciate the theme of continuity as each passing day, we draw closer to approaching the throne of God.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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