'Heaven is for Real-- a 4-year-old boy’s glimpse into the afterlife' Tops NY Times Bestseller List

Christian Post ^ | 02/26/2011 | Wesley Ernst

[SeekAndFind]

Heaven is for Real – the story of a 4-year-old boy’s glimpse into the afterlife – has topped the New York Times Best Sellers List for seven consecutive weeks – setting a new record for book publisher Thomas Nelson, Inc.

During the week of March 6, Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back will be listed as the #1 "nonfiction paperback" and #1 "print hardcover and paperback combined.” The book’s authors include Pastor Todd Burpo, his wife Sonja, and their son Colton. Lynn Vincent, a New York Times best-selling writer, also contributed to the book.

"It has been incredible to watch the contagious enthusiasm of readers drive the success of Heaven is for Real," said Michael Hyatt, Thomas Nelson chairman and Chief Executive Officer, according to a statement.

“Colton's story gives a wonderful glimpse into what lies ahead for believers, and encourages us to embrace our childlike faith.”

The book is based on the true story of a pastor’s son in a small town in Nebraska.

Colton Burpo suffered from a life-threatening illness when he was just 4 years old. While undergoing surgery, the young boy slips into unconsciousness and enters heaven. He ultimately survives and begins to recount an out-of-body experience to his family – who remain skeptical at first. Soon, they come to believe the child’s story.

Though the story is told through Colton’s eyes, the book is written by his father, Todd Burpo, in cooperation with Lynn Vincent.

Throughout the story, the message is simple: heaven is a real place; Jesus really loves children; be ready, there is a coming last battle.

Since its release in November last year, the book’s sales continue to surpass expectations, says the book’s publisher.

It is currently ranked #6 by USA Today, #4 for nonfiction paperback by Publisher's Weekly, #4 for nonfiction paperback by National Public Radio, and #3 by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

At the time of this writing, Heaven is for Real has reached its one millionth print.

[RegulatorCountry]

You’ve got to understand the concept that Paradise represents in Judaism, as well as the concept of Hell in Judaism. They’re both Sheol. There are levels. The uppermost “level” is Paradise or “Abraham’s Bosom.” It is or was a very pleasant place, where you are gathered unto your people, it’s just not heaven, those in Paradise or Abraham’s Bosom were not in the presence of the Lord.

The lower levels of Sheol, on down to the depths of it where the fallen angels/demons were/are bound, is cognate with our conception of Hell. In Christian thought, well, Protestant certainly but I wouldn’t deign to speak for Catholics, Jesus led the souls out of Paradise or Abraham’s Bosom and into Heaven when he was resurrected. So, he did see the thief in Paradise. Does this make some degree of sense?

There are many devout, believing Christians who are vague on this one, and just accept on faith that the Word is truth. You seem to have a need to make it all mesh, to make logical sense. I’ve in the past been the same way. Ultimately, though, the miraculous nature of God made man, who died and was resurrected as the final, atoning sacrifice for the sin of mankind, that had corrupted the entirety of Creation, does not conform to materialist thought and hence attempting to apply logic to it with our limited ability is an exercise that will eventually frustrate. You’ll find yourself needing to fall back upon faith in God and acceptance based upon that faith.

But, there’s enough here in this reply for you to launch a web search and get started verifying what I’ve written, if you need to do that, and you appear to me have that need. There are those who view things differently, and always will be, so you’ll encounter disagreements. Understand that disagreement upon interpretations is permitted on all things outside salvation; the salvific is central to all Christianity and there can be no disagreement there. If you believe, pray upon it. Use your best judgment otherwise.

[bigheadfred]

Agreed. It places them in a preeminent position for them to still be alive, IMO.

[DouglasKC]

Agreed. It places them in a preeminent position for them to still be alive, IMO.

Yep...if they didn't need the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ to get to the kingdom then nobody does and scripture isn't right:

Act 4:10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Act 4:11 This is the 'STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.'
Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

[choirboy]

I thought the dead are dead until Christ returns for the final Judgment.

This from Matt 27:52-53 -- 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

This was from the account of the death of Jesus on the cross. This passage contradicts your comment above.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Which is why I am confused. I am finding more contradictions than consistencies.

[choirboy]

Where does it say in Scripture that “...the dead are dead until Christ returns for the final Judgment...”?

My guess it’s someone interpretation . . . and unless someone’s claiming infallibility in this regard your opinion is a good as theirs. And these interpretations are usually done by those who denigrate the Catholic Church and it’s claims of infallibility.

[RegulatorCountry]

Did your reading of Malachi 4 lead to a better understanding of why many believe the Two Witnesses to be Enoch and Elijah?

Neither died, according to the Bible, and were taken, caught up, carried away by God. All men are appointed once to die; their deaths are yet to be. Both prophets of the Lord, Enoch a Gentile and Elijah a Jew. A certain symmetry there that we’ve seen before, Biblically speaking.

I’ve been under the impression that this was the unanimous opinion of Early Church Fathers in the first three centuries. I’ve seen cites from the bishop of Halberstadt, name Haymo (840-853 AD), who quotes a translation of Malachi 4:5 as saying Enoch and Elijah will appear before the day of the Lord.

Seems pretty convincing to me, but only time will tell.

[BooBoo1000]

I hope people reading your post realize that it is just your
feeble attempt at humor.If you have read the book and have trouble with it's message O.K. but please leave the weak attempt to down play the little boy alone.

[Fledermaus]

I agree. Don’t think I want to go to heaven. From what the Bible tells us God has a serious labor problem. Starting to think the Devil is in the teachers union.

I know, I know, good and evil and all that. But come on. If he’s so frickin’ powerful then why didn’t he just Fredo Satan instead of sending him to Las Vegas so he could F the family?

[bigheadfred]

I just wonder about things sometimes.

Some things are clear. Some not so much. At least to me.

[NavyCanDo]

I received the book Heaven is For Real 2 days ago and am a third of the way through, at the part where Colton is having surgery. As a parent of a young boy myself I had a huge lump in my throat for the last two chapters as Colton was slipping away. I could not imagine what horror these parent must have gone through. Sad to see a few insensitive posters here saying this is a for profit stunt.

[marbren]

I loved the book! It gave my faith walk with our Lord Jesus Christ some growth in the area of intercessory prayer. My preconceived box of prayer ideas has been stretched, which is a good thing.