‘I Believe in Heaven’

Book Review

by Patti Richter

I Believe In Heaven: Real Stories from the Bible, History and Today

Written by Cecil Murphey

& Twila Belk

Heaven will be the ultimate healing.

I think that’s why I enjoyed the new book, I Believe in Heaven, even more than its companion volume, I Believe in Healing. Both books (Regal Books, 2013) were compiled and written by veteran author Cecil Murphey and his writing assistant, Twila Belk.

I Believe in Heaven; Real Stories from the Bible, History and Today follows the same two-part format as the earlier published healing book. More than 65 personal glimpses of heaven stories are followed by a 124-page question and answer section. Murphey, a theologically-trained former pastor and missionary, provides solid responses to the most commonly asked questions about heaven, presenting various positions when needed.

None of the Part One stories from history and today conflict with what Christians know and believe. The Bible stories of heaven appear in the Part Two section, along with many other scriptural references that help answer various questions, such as: What is Paradise? Is It Different from Heaven?

The personal stories often include names of places, hospitals, and other verifications. Many of the accounts offered similar testimonies of experiences and sights. The combined impact of these stories is powerful, making a reader feel as if heaven is mere inches away, just the other side of a thick curtain. This effectively increased my own anticipation of heaven, and made me glad for those I know who’ve died with faith in Christ.

One writer told the story of Ralph, a long-time church member and elder who slipped into a coma as he neared the end of his battle with cancer. After several days, the man surprised everyone by awakening from the coma and beginning to talk. “I saw the gates of heaven; I can’t describe the beauty and majesty of everything I saw . . . I have to tell you that Jesus is very real,” he said. For two days he shared his visions with nurses and visitors. Then he died with a smile on his face.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen.” I Believe in Heaven can build up the faith of believers and strengthen the faith of those with doubts.

Blue Ribbon News special contributor Patti Richter of Heath is a journalist who writes news and feature stories, book reviews and more for Christian publications.