Heaven and the Afterlife , livre ebook

© 2009 by James L. Garlow and Keith Wall
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan. www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2010
Ebook corrections 5.3.2012, 03.22.2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0490-5
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
All scriptural emphasis in this book is the author’s.
Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations indentified NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.
Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.
DEDICATED TO ALL WHO BLESSED AND CONTINUE TO BLESS MY WIFE , CAROL , DURING HER STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME CANCER :
Dr. Afshin Bahador, MD
(His wife)
Dr. Shadi Omidi, MD
Dr. Francisco Contreras, MD
(His nephew)
Daniel Ernesto Kennedy (Contreras), MC
Dr. Andrew Hampshire, MD
Dr. Timothy Yeh, OMD
The people who prayed and are praying: The Skyline Pastors Prayer Partners The Skyline Intercession and Prayer Team The Skyline Church family, in general
——and ——
The thousands of friends who are praying for her. And finally, to my profoundly courageous wife, Carol.
TO ALL OF YOU LISTED ABOVE, I LOVINGLY DEDICATE THIS BOOK. JIM GARLOW

In loving memory of Louis McBurney, faithful friend, gracious guide, encourager extraordinaire, connoisseur of nonconformity. If it’s possible to improve upon perfection, heaven just got a little better and a little brighter with your arrival. KEITH WALL
Acknowledgments
B ooks are almost always a collaborative effort. This one is no exception. I am deeply indebted to an incredible team who helped so very much.
I am so grateful for Tracy Burger, my administrative assistant, who from her first day on the job—due to my wife’s unexpected battle with cancer—had to assume an exorbitantly heavy load. Her thoroughness, heart of service, and uncomplaining and joyous spirit are important components in how this book came to be. Thank you, Tracy.
A special thanks to Priscilla Hammond, who with such a gracious spirit helped in so many ways, too numerous to mention. In addition, a heartfelt thank-you to Ray Christenson, whose graphs and charts are used throughout this book.
Special thanks to April Williams, who has worked with me on so many projects, along with Bill Coe and Kate Murray, who were willing to open up their calendars on very short notice to research and write with great skill. And they did so with joy and delight. It is always special to work with persons with exuberant attitudes. In addition, thank you to Adam Palmer for some hastily requested research and writing. Thank you, April, Bill, Kate, and Adam.
I am deeply indebted to Craig Bubeck, with whom I have worked on numerous projects. Craig’s definitive writing, objective sense of expression, skilled wordsmithing, theological insights, persistence, and profound patience are “all over” this project. May we get to work together again! Thank you, Craig.
Words cannot express my appreciation to my co-laborer Keith Wall, who was patient with me beyond words as I faced one distraction, detour, and delay after another as this book was coming together. Keith’s research is thorough and systematic; his writing is paced and engaging. If you enjoy this book, the major factor will be Keith’s superb contribution throughout. In all candor, without Keith this book would not have the flow, the appeal, the grace, or the charm. The really “good” writing came from him. Thank you, Keith.
I thank God for Kyle Duncan, of Bethany House, who is the consummate gentleman, with the highest integrity. Kyle knows—as any editor or publisher must—when to extend grace and when to be insistent on deadlines. Kyle is the “dream editor/publisher” for any author. This is not my first project with Kyle; I hope it is not my last. This book required not only someone to think of it—that was Kyle—but someone to shepherd it—that was Kyle again—to its bumpy but glorious completion. Thank you, Kyle.
I am thankful for the people of Skyline Church who were gracious to listen to a sermon series—not once but twice—on the topic of this book, and who heard incalculable sermon illustrations that eventually became part of the book. They endured much in the writing and completion of this project. In addition, I am so grateful for their prayers that this book would, in fact, finally be written. Thank you, church.
The board of Skyline Church has always attempted to “fan the flame” of any gifting they have seen in me. I am grateful for their consistent encouragement during this elongated experience. Thank you, church board.
I am so blessed to be able to serve with the most wonderful group of pastors at Skyline Church, who never once complained when they heard me groan in my attempts to meet various writing deadlines. They always encouraged. They were my cheerleaders. Thank you, pastoral staff.
I owe a debt of thanks to family members—my wife, children, grandchildren, mother, brother, sister, in-laws, extended family—that tolerated my “hiding away” in an attempt to finish what became a rather lengthy journey. Thank you, family.
I praise God that in his infinite wisdom he came up with a place called heaven . Thank you, God.
I am thankful for the sacrificial death of Jesus that provides me—in fact, all of us—the way to this glorious place. Thank you, Jesus.
A most grateful, Jim Garlow San Diego, CA April 2009
A thousand thank-yous to Alan Wartes for his insights, research, and editorial expertise—a truly skilled and steadfast partner in this project. Jenny Mertes and Karen Linamen also made valuable contributions to the manuscript, talented word wizards both. Christopher Soderstrom of Bethany House employed a deft hand and cool head under less-than-ideal circumstances.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those who shared their stories—those who appear in the final manuscript and those who don’t. The openness of everyone who talked about their experiences is genuinely appreciated.
Many thanks to my family—Robin, Juliana, and Logan—for patience and perserverance above and beyond the call of duty.
—Keith Wall
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Part One: THROUGH DEATH’S DOOR
1. The Undiscovered Country The Veil Between Life and the Afterlife Is Thinner Than We Think
2. There . . . and Back Again The Near-Death Experience: A Miracle of Modern Medicine
3. Hints at the Hereafter For Most People, “Near Death” Is a Doorway to Indescribable Light and Love
4. A Taste of Torment Not All Roads After Life Lead to the Light
Part Two: WHAT LIES BETWEEN WORLDS
5. Things That Go Bump in the Night Yes, Virginia, There Really Could Be a Ghost in the Attic
6. Grace-Filled Guests A Visitation From a Deceased Loved One Is a Gift to Be Accepted Gratefully
7. Calling Long Distance Death May Be the Last Word in Life . . . But Can Communication Continue?
8. Angels Among Us God’s Messengers Provide Protection and Provision
9. More Than a Pitchfork and a Pointy Tail The Great Adversary, Satan, Prowls Like a Hungry Lion
10. Demons in the Dark Emissaries of Evil Bring Chaos and Confusion
Part Three: CROSSING OVER: THE UPWARD CALL
11. A Delightful Detour The First Heaven Is a Temporary Stopover Before Permanent Paradise
12. A Rewarding Experience God’s Children Have Nothing to Fear of Judgment Day
13. Beyond Halos, Harps, and Hymns Permanent Heaven Is a Place of Riches, Rest, and Rewards
Part Four: CROSSING OVER: THE DARK DESCENT
14. Going From Bad to Worse Hades Is a “Horrible Holding Tank” for Those Awaiting a Final, Fiery Destination
15. Called to Account The Great White Throne of Judgment—Where Punishment Is Handed Out
16. The Heat Is On Hell Is an Indescribable Punishment for Those Who Reject Salvation
Part Five: HELL-AVOIDANCE STRATEGIES
17. The Ultimate Escape Hatch Universalism Suggests That All Will Be Saved in the End
18. Disappearing Acts Annihilationism Proposes That Those Without Faith Will Cease to Exist
19. The Celestial Waiting Room Is Purgatory Really a Stopover on the Way to Heaven?
20. Recycling Plan If Millions of People Believe in Reincarnation, Could There Be d Something to It?
Part Six: CONFIDENT BEFORE THE KING
21. Forever and Ever, Amen God Wants You to Be Comfortable With Him in This World and the Next
Notes
Back Ads
Back Cover
PART ONE Through Death’s Door
1 The Undiscovered Country The Veil Between Life and the Afterlife Is Thinner Than We Think
It is impossible that anything so natural, so necessary, and so universal as death should ever have been designed by Providence as an evil to mankind.
JONATHAN SWIFT
I t is fitting that we begin with a true story involving three main characters