Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory: Rethinking the Things That Matter Most
Overview
Will heaven be boring? How can a good and loving God send people to hell? Is there such a place as purgatory? And if we’re saved by grace, why would purgatory be necessary?
Questions about the afterlife abound. Given what is at stake, they are among the most important questions we will ever consider. Recent years have seen a surge of Christian books written by people claiming to have received a glimpse of the afterlife, and numerous books, films, and TV shows have apocalyptic or postapocalyptic themes. Jerry Walls, a dynamic writer and expert on the afterlife, distills his academic writing on heaven, hell, and purgatory to offer clear biblical, theological, and philosophical grounding for thinking about these issues. He provides an ecumenical account of purgatory that is compatible with Protestant theology and defends the doctrine of eternal hell.
Walls shows that the Christian vision of the afterlife illumines the deepest and most important issues of our lives, changing the way we think about happiness, personal identity, morality, and the very meaning of life.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
Discover more solid scholarship on the afterlife in Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment.
- Answers modern questions about the afterlife based on solid, biblical scholarship
- Presents an ecumenical and Protestant understanding of purgatory
- Argues that a proper understanding of the afterlife changes the way we think about important aspect of life
- Heaven, Trinity, and the Meaning of Life
- Consolation Measures When the Dream Has Died
- If God Is Love, Why Is There a Hell?
- If We Are Saved by Grace, Why Do We Need Purgatory?
- Saving Souls and/or Bodies: Personal Identity in the Afterlife
- Wiping Away Every Tear? The Afterlife and the Problem of Evil
- Ultimate Motivation: Heaven, Hell, and the Ground of Morality
- His Mercy Endures Forever—Even beyond the Grave?
Top Highlights
“To choose heaven is to choose earth at its best, as God ultimately intends it to be.” (Page 40)
“A sixth truth is that heaven will preserve and celebrate the best of human culture. We see this indicated in the following: ‘The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into [the city]’ (Rev. 21:26). Earlier in the book, we learn that heaven will include people ‘from every nation, tribe, people and language’ (Rev. 7:9; cf. 5:9). This suggests that part of the fascination and delight of heaven will be composed of enjoying the multifaceted products of human creativity represented by every nation, tribe, and language under the sun.” (Pages 34–35)
“What this means is that God is the Creator of everything, and the ultimate purpose or reason for which everything exists is to be rightly related to God. The implications of this are staggering, to say the least. It means that history is going somewhere and that the human story has an Author and Director who far exceeds what any finite person or group of persons can conceive, plan, or orchestrate. Moreover, he has the power and the wisdom to bring the story to the glorious end for which he created it.” (Page 25)
“heaven, namely, that it will answer our deepest longings for happiness and satisfaction.” (Page 27)
“The full impact of Easter is yet to be seen and felt.” (Page 32)
This book will answer an entire handful of the big questions and deserves a wide readership indeed.
—John G. Stackhouse Jr., Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology and Culture, Regent College
This is a wonderful book that inspires hope by clearly showing what God's love for humanity means for us.
—C. Stephen Evans, University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor University
The book is sure to generate much lively discussion and deepen understanding.
—Paul Copan, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Jerry L. Walls is an expert on Christian views of the afterlife and a sought-after speaker. He has written for Christianity Today, is the author of Heaven: The Logic of Eternal Joy and Purgatory: The Logic of Total Transformation, and is the coauthor of Why I Am Not a Calvinist.
Reviews
0 ratings
Anthony Iasci
2/4/2016
Purgatory, i believe is made up by the Catholic Church.The bible does not mention or use the word purgatory. I have not read this book. I saw it on my Logos page. Jesus has the final say, who gets into heaven and who doesn"t.
Paul A. Nierengarten
4/29/2015
I've read this and there is much to consider in Walls’ good work. It leans more toward philosophically based arguments, but even if one disagrees with his arguments and conclusions concerning purgatory I don’t doubt Walls’ heart and intention to rightly discern the word of truth and make a meaningful contribution to the Church. There is a lot of meat to deal with and I believe it is a great interaction with the doctrine from a Protestant perspective. Walls certainly accomplished what he set out to do. Agreement is not required for this to be a good work and worthy of our time. For those who are interested in the discussion, you will find substantive treatment to sharpen your theological acumen on this topic.
