Helpful book on heaven. Right out of the gate, author Derek Thomas poses this question, "Where will you be five minutes after you have been declared dead?" (15). It is a question of profound importance! "Christians have an answer that is certain and clear. Consciousness and all that goes with it continues in another realm, where Jesus exists in bodily form. And this place is called heaven" (16). Thomas goes on to distinguish the new heavens and new earth from the intermediate state along with a host of other potentially confusing issues regarding certain notions of the end times. The book was originally a collection of sermons he delivered a number of years back and his pastoral wisdom and wit comes through clearly. Some memorable quotes:
"Death is like getting on a train, or bus or an airplane that will take us to heaven" (37). "Knowing what happens to us after we die makes us bold...Christians die with courage because they die with confidence." (52). "Jesus is the prototype of the resurrection body. Paul writes in Phil. 3:21 that God will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body" (106). "Whatever our occupation in heaven, there will be maximum satisfaction, enjoyment, and pleasure, of the kind we have only glimpsed here and now. Laughter, accomplishment, fulfillment-being who we were made to be, achieving our full potential, and discovering a contentment that is wonderful (that is, full of wonder), is what heaven is about" (110).
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