Dr. Don Clark of Creation Moments addresses questions posed by Jim and David that were inspired by both the movie and the book Heaven Is For Real, relating to the presence of animals in heaven, the death of animals before The Fall and the precedent set by God for animal sacrifice …
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I appreciate the available podcasts and enjoy listening to Dr. Clark. Thank you. I must comment that it was mentioned during this discussion that there were no contradictions with scripture in the book “Heaven Is For Real.” That is a very dangerous statement and I disagree because there are many. We should not allow ourselves to be swayed by this book because of our curiosity and allow these words from a child and his father to take precedence over God’s sure word. We should filter it through God’s Word. Contradictions: 1. apostles were the last to see resurrected Christ (acts 1:22; 1 Cor. 25:7-8; etc) 2. 2 Cor. 12:4 says Paul saw things he could not repeat. For Colton to repeat things is not consistent with scripture. 3. Heb. 11:6 and rom. 10:17- we come to faith through the word of God not by hearing people’s stories and simply believing there is a heaven and God. Be careful of the testimonies mentioned in the book. Also, God has told us everything he wants us to know about heaven in His book! 4. Others: rainbow colored horse? Rev. 19:11 Says His horse is white. And there are more comments in a short article by David Cloud, Way of Life Ministries. Google the article and take just a few minutes to read his comments and scripture references.
Wendy, I agree with your basic premise whole heartedly. “We should filter it through God’s Word.” Indeed we should. However, I disagree with your analysis of what might be construed as contradictions. When we interpret Scripture without the original, historic Hebrew context we often get it wrong. For example …Christ’s horse at his second coming is (and will be) white. A white horse is the time-honored Hebrew symbol for conquest. When Jesus comes again He will not come as the Lamb, or riding on a donkey as he did on what we call “Palm Sunday” (a symbol of mercy), but as a conqueror coming to claim His kingdom on a white horse. Who’s to say that Jesus doesn’t have a whole herd of rainbow ponies? Colton’s observation may sound childlike to us, but my fondest hope is that we’ll all be childlike when we arrive in His presence. The apostles were likely the last to see the resurrected Jesus in Galilee and probably in the company of 500 or more who had heard that Jesus would appear there on the day of his ascension into heaven. To use Paul’s claim that he heard things (NIV translation) that man is not permitted to tell assumes a knowledge of what he was referring to that nobody can lay claim to today. Paul’s “things” may have been totally unlike what Colton repeated. I see no contradiction there, only assumptions.
Wendy, thanks so much for tuning in and listening to the podcasts. And thanks especially for leaving us your thoughts! Feel free to discuss anytime. 🙂