Is 90 Minutes in Heaven biblically based? Is Heaven is for Real biblically accurate? What about 23 Minutes in Hell?

what does the bible say?

Jesus did raise people from the dead (Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 7:11-17; John 11), and some were even raised during His death (Matthew 27:50-53). Additionally, Peter and Paul raised some back to life (Acts 9:36-42; Acts 20:7-12). However, there are no biblical examples of a person dying and returning with lengthy stories of an afterlife experience. Moreover, only two “visions” of heaven are given in the New Testament, which are Paul’s and John’s. In Paul’s case, he could not identify if what he experienced was an in-person visit or a vision (2 Corinthians 12), and in John’s case, the visions were so important and sacred that he warned if anyone were to add or take away from the book of prophecy, “God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book" (Revelation 22:18-19). In both Paul’s and John’s experiences, they were shown things they were told not to tell, which is contrary to the type of instructions we hear from many modern-day heavenly experiences (Revelation 10).

from the old testament

• The Old Testament does not describe near-death experiences or detailed timelines of Heaven or Hell. There are visions (e.g., Ezekiel 1, Isaiah 6) and references to Sheol (the abode of the dead), but these are symbolic, prophetic, or theological, not literal travelogues of the afterlife.

from the new testament

• Jesus raised three people from the dead during His earthly ministry (Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 7:11-17; John 11), and several were raised at the time of His death (Matthew 27:50-53). Even the apostles sometimes raised the dead to life (Acts 9:36-42; Acts 20:7-12). However, in each case no account is given of the testimonies of heaven or hell for those raised. This neither proves nor disproves today’s modern afterlife accounts.
• The two visions of heaven given in the New Testament are those of the apostles Paul and John. Paul experienced a vision of the “third heaven” or the heaven where God dwells that is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12. He claimed he did not know if it was a vision or if it really happened. If he did not know, it would seem to raise speculation if those who have had similar experiences today (if real) know for certain.
• In Revelation, the apostle John experiences a vision of the future, including experiences in the heavenly realms. He, likewise, recorded his experiences as God commanded, yet did so with great reverence and respect. Both Paul and John saw things they were not allowed to tell (Revelation 10). Further, John ended his account with God’s warning not to add to or take away from the words, stating, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).

implications for today

In recent years books such as 90 Minutes in Heaven (Don Piper, 2004), 23 Minutes in Hell (Bill Wiese, 2006), and Heaven is for Real (Todd Burpo, 2010) have become highly popular, selling millions of copies of books through offering readers extended accounts of time in heaven or hell in an out-of-body experience. Are these kinds of books biblically accurate? Taking the above biblical passages into account, it appears possible that a believer could have a “vision” of heaven and that God could even raise a person from the dead. However, these two events are not recorded in the Bible as taking place at the same time in the same person. No such accounts are given of a person visiting hell and returning to life, though John gives descriptions of future judgment in his vision in Revelation. Believers should view today’s afterlife accounts with great caution. While it is possible God gives someone a vision of heaven, there are no accounts of a person literally going to heaven and returning (except Jesus, of course). Further, those who had these visions in the New Testament were very careful to give God glory and to use the event to encourage believers. In all cases, today’s claims of afterlife stories have no way to be verified and at most, “maybe” happened. Therefore, any such accounts must be carefully evaluated and seen at most as only a possible vision rather than a true visit to heaven. As 1 Thessalonians 5:21 warns, “test everything; hold fast what is good.”

Recap

understand

• The Bible gives no verified accounts of someone dying, visiting heaven or hell, and returning.
• Visions of heaven by Paul and John included instructions not to tell anyone, which is different from those who have written books or shared their stories about their near-death experiences.
• Modern near-death stories should be tested against Scripture and viewed cautiously.

reflect

• How does knowing that the Bible gives no verified accounts of someone dying and returning from heaven or hell affect your trust in modern near-death stories?
• What helps you discern between a genuine vision from God and a potentially sensationalized story?
• How might focusing on what God says about eternity rather than human near-death experiences shape your understanding of the afterlife?

engage

• How do Paul’s and John’s visions of heaven challenge or inform our understanding of what God allows humans to see about the afterlife?
• How does God’s rarity in giving sacred visions coupled with instructions not to share freely compare to modern near-death accounts?
• How can we test modern afterlife stories against Scripture while still showing compassion to those who share them?