I Believe in Heaven: Real Stories from the Bible, History and Today

by Cecil Murphey, Twila Belk

Overview

What is heaven like?
When I die, will I go immediately to heaven?
Will I see my loved ones there?

Have you ever asked these questions? Maybe you can only imagine the answers, but now you can better know what to expect. I Believe in Heaven contains inspirational, true stories from the Bible, history and today that will give you hope, comfort and assurance about the place that awaits you. You'll read . . .

• Firsthand accounts of people who died and returned to tell their stories
• Biblical and historical evidence of life beyond this life
• Consistent reports of overwhelming peace, love and joy in another realm
• Insights into what happens in our final days and hours here on earth
• Trustworthy answers to questions people have about the after-life

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800796907
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/31/2013
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 - 10 Years

About the Author

Cecil Murphey has written or coauthored more than 135 books, including the bestsellers 90 Minutes in Heaven with Don Piper and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story with Dr. Ben Carson. Murphey is a recipient of the Gold Medallion Award, two-time recipient of the Silver Angel Award and Retailer's Choice Award, and the inaugural recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. His books have sold in the millions and have brought hope and comfort to countless readers around the world. Visit www.cecilmurphey.com.

Twila Belk, also known as the Gotta Tell Somebody Gal, is a writer and speaker who works full time with bestselling author Cecil Murphey. She coauthored (with Murphey) Because You Care: Spiritual Encouragement for Caregivers, Heavenly Company: Entertaining Angels Unaware, and I Believe in Healing: Real Stories from the Bible, History and Today. Belk lives in Davenport, Iowa. Visit www.gottatellsomebody.com.

Table of Contents

How to Read This Book 7

Introduction: What Is Heaven? 13

Part 1 Stories and Testimonies of Heaven

"Not on Our Guest List" Marie C. Senter 17

Priceless Memories Stan Cottrell 19

A Suicide: The Story of Tamara Laroux 20

Fear to Freedom: The Rosemary Trible Story 22

Hospice Deepened My Faith Michael W. Elmore 25

The Coma of Marietta Davis 28

Death Before Life After Life 29

Seven Days of Death 32

"I See Jesus" Dr. Emmanuel Rudatsikira 33

Maureen's Meeting with Jesus Don Buxcey 34

Louis Tucker, a Catholic Priest 36

Angelic Trio David Michael Smith 37

A Christian Soldier's Near-death Experience 40

The Strange Case of George de Benneville 41

The Hinge Point Lonnie Honeycutt Vicki H. Moss 43

The Resurrection of Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu 45

Listen to the Thunder Barbie Porter 49

Close to Death: The Story of Carl G. Jung 51

"He Won't Make It Through the Night" Terry Leininger Donna Frisinger 52

Only Kidney Stones: The Story of Dean Braxton 55

A Soldier Named Er 57

Traditional Accounts of Heaven 57

The Account of Hung Hsiu-ch'uan 61

Beyond Human Imagination 61

Pope Gregory and Last Things 62

Movie Star Near-death Experiences 65

Mom's Final Gift Ann Van De Water 66

Near-death Experiences from the Past 69

The Throne Room Susan M. Watkins 73

"I Get to Go Home Today" 75

He Died Three Times: The Kenneth Hagin Story 76

"I Am with You" Susan Avery 78

Swimming in the Crystal River Barbara Wells 80

The Life Beyond Death: The Story of Arthur Ford 82

Daddy Talked? Susan Dollyhigh 84

Holding Her Hand Marilyn Wallberg 88

Vision of the Heavenly Choir Karen Whiting 89

A Descent into Hell: The Story of Howard Storm 91

"Go Back and Be Happy": The Story of Julie Papievis 93

The Face of Forever Kristi M. Butler 96

Seven Minutes Jenny Farrell 97

Proof of Heaven: The Story of Eben Alexander 98

Freddy Vest's Amazing Trip 101

My Desperate Prayer Loo-Gen Seah-McCrea 103

What He Saw: The Story of Marvin Besteman 105

To Heaven and Back Ann Knowles 107

Touched by Gabriel Marcia Gaddis 110

A Visit to Hell: The Story of Ronald Reagan 112

My Mother's Heavenly Visit Marlene Kelly 115

Garrett's Secret Christy Johnson 117

Waiting Right Here: The Story of Barbara McVicker Dye 120

A Glimpse of Eternity Diana Leagh Matthews 122

Do Not Resuscitate Susan K. Stewart 123

John Bunyan's Vision 125

I've Been There Ed Long Jr. Anna L. Russell 126

Stoning Stephen Ann Sullivan 128

Stories from a Hospice Chaplain Gary Roe 129

Home Karen Jordan 135

Without Words 136

To Heaven and Back: The Story of Dr. Mary C. Neal 138

You'll Never Go Alone Ginger Garrett 141

A Self-made Man Scott Hutcheson Penny Shreve 143

Heaven Is for Real: The Story of Colton Burpo 146

Roll Call Russell Tidd Sr. Barbie Porter 149

Reprise Phil Leftwich 151

It's Not Time Yet Marie Weaver 154

The Little Boy Who Went to Heaven: The Story of Alex Malarkey 156

Not Yet Louise Lankford-Dunlap 159

The Day I Died Pat Laye 161

90 Minutes in Heaven: The Story of Don Piper 163

Part 2 Questions about Heaven

What Does the Bible Mean by "Heaven"? 171

How Can We Explain Heaven? 175

What Is Paradise? Is It Different from Heaven? 177

What's the Difference Between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven? 179

What Does the Bible Say About Death? 181

What Will We Do in Heaven? 185

When Do We Receive Our Rewards? 187

What Form Will the Rewards Take? 191

Will There Be Different Punishments in Hell? 193

Are There Different Levels of Heaven? 195

What Are the New Heavens and the New Earth? 197

Who Will Go to Heaven? 201

When We Die, Do We Immediately Go to Heaven? 203

What Happens to the Wicked? 211

What Is Hell? 217

Will There Be Time in Heaven? 219

Can Our Dead Loved. Ones See Us Now? 223

Could We Be Happy in Heaven if Our Loved Ones Are in Hell? 225

Will We Have a Different Body in Heaven? 227

Will We Recognize Others in Heaven? 231

Do Babies Who Die Go to Heaven? 233

Will There Be Animals in Heaven? 237

Do Christians Believe in Reincarnation? 241

Will We Be Sexual Beings in Heaven? 247

What Are Near-death Experiences? 249

What Causes Near-death Experiences? 253

What Typically Happens in Near-death Experiences? 259

What About Those Who Say They Went to Hell? 263

Doesn't the Bible Speak of "Once to Die"? 265

What Are the Aftereffects of Near-death Experiences? 271

What Are the Characteristics of Near-death Experiences? 275

What Is "Nearing Death Awareness"? 281

What Do Individuals Do as They Approach Death? 283

What Should We Consider When Communicating with the Dying? 287

Can a Deceased Loved One Actually Appear to a Person? 289

Last Words of the Famous and Infamous 291

Endnotes 295

Acknowledgments 301

Editorial Reviews

In a fast-moving text, Murphey (coauthor of the bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven) and Belk take the reader through a series of vignettes from people who have had out-of-body and near-death experiences, as well as close encounters. A quote from religion scholar Carol Zaleski sums up the book: “Life and afterlife flow together as an unending stream of fresh opportunities for personal growth.” After examining many stories from the Bible and the Church Fathers, and from history in general, the authors attempt to answer such theological questions as “Do babies and animals go to heaven?” and “Can Christians believe in reincarnation?” What begins as a spiritual look at the experiences of people who have seen Heaven and returned to tell about it turns into an examination of the nature of God and the Christian faith. The authors do a good job of describing the nature of near-death experiences and summarizing research on them. This book will appeal to readers who have read Murphey’s 90 Minutes and want to dig a little bit deeper. Agent: Knight Agency. (June 3)

Publishers Weekly

I Believe in Heaven: Real Stories From the Bible, History and Today by Cecil Murphey and Twila Belk (Regal, $14.99, softcover) is a collection of stories about people who have been to heaven and back, from biblical times to current day. It also includes numerous question and answers about heaven. Murphey has authored and co-authored many best-selling books, including 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven is Real with Don Piper. Belk works full-time with Murphey and has co-authored other books as well.

Christian Retailing

In a day of economic upheaval, family collapse, and moral disintegration, people are looking for hope; and many are looking beyond this life. is there life after death? What will it be like? Who else will be there? In an effort to provide hope, Murphey and Belk have gathered more than 65 stories of near-death experiences—stories from the Bible, history, and today—to reinforce the Bible’s assurance that there is life after death. The book’s second half answers more than 35 frequently asked questions about near-death experiences, heaven and what we will do there, hell, purgatory, reincarnation, rewards, and more.

Brief profiles describing the person in each story serve to increase the stories’ credibility.

CBA Retailers + Resources - David Mundt

The recent renaissance of interest in heaven is inspiring. After all, the death rate here on earth is 100 percent. Cec Murphey and Twila Belk’s new book couldn’t be more timely. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Cec and I wrote a book about my trip to heaven several years ago. I’ve glimpsed heaven, and you're going to like it a lot! I Believe in Heaven is an excellent book that will help you and those whom you love be prepared. Read and enjoy...you’ll love what happens next! 
- Don Piper, Bestselling co-author of 90 Minutes in Heaven

From the Publisher