There's been a curious upsurge in interest about the afterlife lately, but we're too often limited in our concept of heaven. The reality is we all do have questions about heaven: What does a resurrected person look like? What does a resurrected earth look like? Do we get our heart's desire in heaven? In What on Earth Do We Know about Heaven?, Randal Rauser considers twenty thought-provoking questions, each of which winds back to the core concept of heaven: what it is and what it isn't. Rauser uses Scripture to remind us that God's ultimate purpose is that the whole creation will be transformed and renewed, guiding readers through a vision of a glorious afterlife, consisting of a perfected earth, perfected bodies, perfected human culture, and perfected relationships.
From the Back Cover
What heaven is, what it isn't--and why it matters
There's been an upsurge in interest about the afterlife lately, but according to Randal Rauser, we're too often limited in our concept of what heaven really is. God's ultimate purpose goes beyond "pie in the sky in the sweet by-and-by." Rather, the whole creation will be transformed and renewed. "Heaven," Rauser says, "is earth multiplied by perfection."
What will that be like? What implications does it have for life now? This eye-opening book takes you through a series of creative and thought-provoking questions, ultimately leading to the biblical vision of a glorious afterlife consisting of a perfected earth, perfected bodies, perfected human culture, and perfected relationships. This stunning picture of the future will also transform how you understand and even live your life in the here and now.
"As with any unknown, the concept and reality of heaven present us with great mystery--but also great blessing. Our challenge is wrapping our brains and our Bibles around the questions. Randal Rauser's book does a beautiful job of both, guiding us toward answers to our most common questions while also helping us connect how our present lives should be influenced by those truths."--David D. Swanson, senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, FL; author of Everlasting Life
"I love Randal Rauser because he loves to ask questions, especially hard and controversial questions. And not only does he like to ask them, but he is courageous enough to offer responses. This book on heaven follows that very pattern, and even if you do not agree with all of Randal's answers, you will find yourself enjoying how much he stretches you in the process."--Kelly M. Kapic, professor of theological studies, Covenant College
"What a fascinating book! Randal Rauser has a wonderful way of looking at issues from a different but very interesting perspective--and he clearly does that in this volume. The questions he asks are intriguing. The answers he suggests are thought provoking. The approach he takes is engaging. This book will motivate you to think more deeply about an issue you've always wondered about: What is heaven really like?"--George W. Sarris, actor; author; Engaging the Culture blogger, ChristianPost.com
About the Author
Randal Rauser (PhD, King's College London) is associate professor of historical theology at Taylor Seminary, Edmonton, Canada. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including God or Godless?, Finding God in the Shack, and The Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver, and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails. He is a popular speaker who seeks to bring the truth of Scripture to bear on today's real-life issues. He lives in Alberta and blogs at RandalRauser.com.
Description:
There's been a curious upsurge in interest about the afterlife lately, but we're too often limited in our concept of heaven. The reality is we all do have questions about heaven: What does a resurrected person look like? What does a resurrected earth look like? Do we get our heart's desire in heaven? In What on Earth Do We Know about Heaven?, Randal Rauser considers twenty thought-provoking questions, each of which winds back to the core concept of heaven: what it is and what it isn't. Rauser uses Scripture to remind us that God's ultimate purpose is that the whole creation will be transformed and renewed, guiding readers through a vision of a glorious afterlife, consisting of a perfected earth, perfected bodies, perfected human culture, and perfected relationships.
From the Back Cover
What heaven is, what it isn't--and why it matters
There's been an upsurge in interest about the afterlife lately, but according to Randal Rauser, we're too often limited in our concept of what heaven really is. God's ultimate purpose goes beyond "pie in the sky in the sweet by-and-by." Rather, the whole creation will be transformed and renewed. "Heaven," Rauser says, "is earth multiplied by perfection."
What will that be like? What implications does it have for life now? This eye-opening book takes you through a series of creative and thought-provoking questions, ultimately leading to the biblical vision of a glorious afterlife consisting of a perfected earth, perfected bodies, perfected human culture, and perfected relationships. This stunning picture of the future will also transform how you understand and even live your life in the here and now.
"As with any unknown, the concept and reality of heaven present us with great mystery--but also great blessing. Our challenge is wrapping our brains and our Bibles around the questions. Randal Rauser's book does a beautiful job of both, guiding us toward answers to our most common questions while also helping us connect how our present lives should be influenced by those truths."--David D. Swanson, senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, FL; author of Everlasting Life
"I love Randal Rauser because he loves to ask questions, especially hard and controversial questions. And not only does he like to ask them, but he is courageous enough to offer responses. This book on heaven follows that very pattern, and even if you do not agree with all of Randal's answers, you will find yourself enjoying how much he stretches you in the process."--Kelly M. Kapic, professor of theological studies, Covenant College
"What a fascinating book! Randal Rauser has a wonderful way of looking at issues from a different but very interesting perspective--and he clearly does that in this volume. The questions he asks are intriguing. The answers he suggests are thought provoking. The approach he takes is engaging. This book will motivate you to think more deeply about an issue you've always wondered about: What is heaven really like?"--George W. Sarris, actor; author; Engaging the Culture blogger, ChristianPost.com
About the Author
Randal Rauser (PhD, King's College London) is associate professor of historical theology at Taylor Seminary, Edmonton, Canada. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including God or Godless?, Finding God in the Shack, and The Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver, and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails. He is a popular speaker who seeks to bring the truth of Scripture to bear on today's real-life issues. He lives in Alberta and blogs at RandalRauser.com.