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Heavenly Untruths Believers in Christ are not supposed to lie or perpetuate lies, but some do. In fact the days we live in lies are as popular as the truth, in some circles they are more welcomed. But it becomes offensive and insulting when one shares an experience that was not true about the most holy place the Bible calls heaven. Its unfortunate that we see believers get more upset at those who don’t believe than those who make a lie out of the truth! The fact is everyone who claims to have died and gone to heaven should be scrutinized. As I have said before, the only way we can prove one has vacated the body in death is by rigor mortis setting in which results in the muscles becoming rigid. AS Christians we should be suspicious of someone having such an experience that was exclusive to the Apostles ( Paul and John). Somehow the church believes that what happened to anyone in the Scripture can happen to any of us today; even going to heaven.Our modern church has accepted this “heavenly tourism,” visiting the place for saints who have passed from this life, some claim to daily go there.But the real problem is with the many who claim to have come back. There are numerous stories, books and movies being produced of those who have visited heaven. The Bible speaks of only two men who went to heaven and spoke of it in Scripture, both were apostles.P aul's Trip to Heaven:2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago・whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows・such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man・whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows・was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.・ Paul was not allowed to give any details as he said it was illegal for him to speak on his experience (which he speaks of in the third person). He was given a thorn in the flesh as a reminder of this great revelation he was privileged to have. Paul the Apostle was given the more revelation to teach the church than any other apostle yet He was not permitted to speak about Heaven. Why do we believe others who claim they have been there to write books with their new revelation. How can this be from God?it is clear from Acts 20:6, 13-14 that Paul was generally in quite excellent physical shape, being able to travel by foot or horse for many miles in a day Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh”: we read inGala. 4:13 “You know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first…” V,15 “ if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” Paul required a scribe to write for him. He did not write any of his epistles by himself, Paul’s Epistle to Galatians is an exception, Gala. 6:11 “see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.” This why most diagnosis Paul's thorn as an eye problem. His eye problem didn't bring him to heaven, but it was given to him afterwards to keep him humble from what he saw and heard. Notice, no details were ever given. Business Insider reports 'The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven' Now Says He Made The Whole Thing"The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven" never actually went. In 2004, Alex Malarkey and his father, a Christian therapist, were in a bad car accident that left the 6-year-old boy paralyzed and in a coma for two months. On the book's Amazon page: "When Alex awoke from a coma two months later, he had an incredible story to share. Of events at the accident scene and in the hospital while he was unconscious. Of the angels who took him through the gates of Heaven itself. And, most amazing of all ... of meeting and talking with Jesus."Alex Malarkey, a young boy who coauthored a book with his father first published in 2010. It describes what Alex experienced while he lay in a coma, going to heaven and returning to earth. It became a best-selling book. Alex is now 16, wrote an open letter to Christian publishers retracting his story. saying he made the whole thing up. Posted on the Pulpit and Pen Web site, Alex states: “I did not die. I did not go to Heaven.”Referring to the injuries that continue to make it difficult for him to express himself, Alex writes, “Please forgive the brevity, but because of my limitations I have to keep this short…. I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible.” Two major Christian bookstore outlets, Lifeway and Tyndale House, have announced that it will stop selling “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven.”Alex’s mother, Beth Malarkey, posted a statement this last April on her own blog that the book was untrue and had questions about its promotion: “It is both puzzling and painful to watch the book ‘The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven’ not only continue to sell, but to continue, for the most part, to not be questioned.” She goes on to say that the book is not “Biblically sound” and that her son’s objections to it were ignored and repressed. She also notes that Alex “has not received monies from the book nor have a majority of his needs been funded by it.”She ends in obvious frustration, writing: “Alex’s name and identity are being used against his wishes…. How can this be going on? Alex’s mother has tried to speak out and contact book-sellers previously. Someone ran with the story to make it a book. How many times do we see books become popular and then we find out they are not what they say. Does anyone return the money or repent of what was done? How does this book continue to sell, and not be questioned?... Alex did us all a favor admitting this. Alex and his family may be embarrassed in doing this, but the church should be even more embarrassed that they did not vet his story by the Bible. So many want to believe these modern travelers because they have trouble accepting the bible. After all the true stories are so far in the past. Which really means they have a crises in faith – for faith trusts the word of truth without seeing or hearing of another's current experience to validate the Bible. And yet this is just one, one of so many others stories circulating promoted by Christian companies making merchandise on Heaven. Those who say they went to heaven will all want to be there one day. However, Unless they repent their stories may be all they have. |
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