Heaven: Better by Far- Answers to Questions About the Believer's Final Hope [Paperback]

J. Oswald Sanders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Sanders combs the Scripture to learn about the Christian's final home: 'So incredibly glorious is heaven that we are compelled to express it in...symbols of granduer and majesty.'

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DR. J. OSWALD SANDERS (1917-1992) was a Christian leader for nearly seventy years and authored more than forty books on the Christian life. He left a promising law practice in his native New Zealand to serve as an instructor and administrator at the Bible

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Discovery House Publishers (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929239725
• ISBN-13: 978-0929239729
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #983,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly, Insightful, Reflective, August 15, 2005

By 

Dr. W. G. Covington, Jr. (Edinboro, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heaven: Better by Far- Answers to Questions About the Believer's Final Hope (Paperback)

Robert K. DeVries tells us in the foreward that Sanders' motivation for writing this book was that as he neared the end of his life, he was researching his future destination. In so doing he brought passion to the work, supplemented by the skills of a scholar. There are various types of books on heaven, some very subjective in their approach, others from a more analytical view. This book presents a look at the evidence, but with zeal and enthusiasm.

He has done a commendable job of reviewing the literature of what other scholars have said on the subject and adds his own research to what he has found. He even presents varying viewpoints on different issues before saying where he stands and why.

The vast majority of this book is excellent. Toward the end I find a weakness. He interprets certain passages in the Bible as symbolic which I see as literal. I think he is just wrong. Other sections of the book, however are quite good.

3.0 out of 5 stars Conservative "Safe/Popular" Christian View of Heaven, November 8, 2011

By 

jackiekaulitz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heaven: Better by Far- Answers to Questions About the Believer's Final Hope (Paperback)

This is a biblically conservative view of heaven that comes in an appealing question/answer format. This book teaches the post popular views on heaven and is "safe" for most Christians, including modern Reformers. I do like that the author often addresses (but then dismisses) other questions and views on heaven. I rated this book 3 stars because:

- The authors answers were a bit too short and sometimes a bit shallow and sometimes provide no answer at all

Example: Is heaven a place or a state? - "Yes and no" "Heaven is a location somewhere in the universe, not a material place we can locate" "It is not a place in the material sense like Jerusalem. It will be different from our present space-time environment. It is where God is. He does not occupy space. He had no body. Would this not imply that heaven is a state rather than a place? However, we will have spiritual bodies. This seems to require a location. [The author ends here with no further discussion. No real answer and only 2 1/2 short pages of discussion on this question]

- The authors' opinions were not always solidly backed up with scripture
- I don't agree with all the author's views

The book is about:
Myths about heaven
Humans do not become angels after they die
We will have purified relationships in the afterlife
Can we communicate with the dead?
Is Purgatory real? - No.
What about infants and retarded? - Author teaches "Age of Accountability"
What will heaven be like?
What about our rewards?
What about our resurrected bodies?
Will there be time in heaven?
What will we do in heaven?
What music will be in heaven?
Is salvation universal? - No.
What about the second advent and judgment? - Author teaches conservative view that believers don't face judgment for moral sins but a rewards based judgment
New heavens and earth
New Jerusalem
Wedding Supper of the Lamb
How to gain entrance to heaven

A better 4-star book readers may wish to consider is Heaven by Randy Alcorn (though I don't fully agree with this book either!) but the scriptural references in Alcorn's book are stronger and more frequent and the book is like 10 times thicker! Alcorn's book is a conservative view of heaven from a Pre-Trib End Times view. Even if you don't agree with this view, the rest of the book is pretty scripturally right on.

This book is not horrible like those completely false "I astrally projected to heaven through a near deal experience" books, so I will reserve the 1 stars for those "Heaven is For Real" and "Heaven Is So Real" books where Jesus has a Rainbow Brite horse with rainbow mane and tail.