I Died & Went to the Bank

The “died and went to heaven” section, at your favorite religious bookstore, is cluttered with sensational and contradictory accounts of people who claim to have seen heaven or hell, and lived to tell about it. Paul the Apostle had a similar experience but he kept it to himself and we are not told of the details. I’m guessing no money was made from advanced publicity. In one account several years ago, a man died, went to heaven and came back to life. He then wrote a book containing many ambiguous details. A copy can be obtained for around fifteen dollars. The book has sold a million copies, the man has made the lion’s share of royalties, been invited to interviews and speaking engagements and there’s a movie script being developed as we speak. It can be legitimately stated that for this man, Heaven is indeed… as real as it gets. / Another man noticed that the visit to heaven industry could benefit from some opposition, so with a real book deal in mind, a custom fit consumer was readied for rebuttal. So this man writes a book denouncing the man who “died and went to heaven” and is now hoping to make inroads into publishing glory in his own right by promoting his marketable review. If this man can successfully present a titillating response, then a whole new audience can obtain a copy for around fifteen dollars. This man too, will be invited to radio shows, television interviews and will profit financially from entertaining a curious and biblically illiterate Christian community. Gullible people eat this stuff up and for those who benefit from this spiritual dribble; it appears that “heaven is indeed… a real cash cow.” .... “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows) such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 2 Co 12:2-4