Over half of Americans believe in a literal heaven, in a literal hell. Most people who hold these beliefs are Christian and assume they are the age-old teachings of the Bible. Ehrman shows that eternal rewards and punishments are found nowhere in the Old Testament, and are not what Jesus or his disciples taught. He recounts the long history of the afterlife, ranging from The Epic of Gilgamesh up to the writings of Augustine, focusing especially on the teachings of Jesus and his early followers. Ehrman shows that competing views were intimately connected with the social, cultural, and historical worlds out of which they emerged. -- adapted from jacket

What's the Truth About Eternity? The afterlife seems like the great unknown. Human imagination and Hollywood have come up with many speculations about what lies beyond. How can we set aside the misconceptions and find the truth? What are the straightforward, biblical answers everyone needs to know about heaven, hell, and the afterlife? Mike Fabarez examines 10 faulty beliefs that are surprisingly widespread—and look to God's Word alone for the facts. You will find the truth about common misperceptions like When I die, I'll go to sleep until the resurrection On my way to heaven I'll have to put in some time in purgatory Heaven will be boring with very little to do You don't need to guess about the future—God's Word is ready to inform your mind and settle your heart. Let this book guide you toward a deeper joy, faith, and understanding of eternity.

For thousands of years, philosophers, theologians, and poets have tried to pierce through the veil of death to gaze with wonder, fear, and awe on the final and eternal state of the soul. Indeed, the four great epic poets of the Western tradition (Homer, Virgil, Dante, and Milton) structured their epics in part around a descent into the underworld that is both spiritual and physical, both allegorical and geographical. This book not only considers closely these epic journeys to the "other side," but explores the chain of influences that connects the poets to such writers as Plato, Cicero, St. John, St. Paul, Bunyan, Blake, and C. S. Lewis. Written in a narrative, "man of letters" style and complete with an annotated bibliography, a timeline, a who's who, and an extensive glossary of Jewish, Christian, and mythological terms, this user-friendly book will help readers understand how heaven and hell have been depicted for the last 3,000 years.

This book taps into popular culture's insatiable appetite for the supernatural. Written in a popular style, Heaven and the Afterlife touches on many topics related to life after death, including amazing near-death experiences, accounts from the Bible, testimonies, theories, and what some of the world's religions believe. It will demystify the afterlife with information about heaven, hell, ghosts, angels, near-death experiences, and much more, helping readers gain a solid understanding of the often-confusing subject of life after death. The book culminates by presenting Jesus as the answer to eternal peace and how readers can spend eternity with him. Garlow and Wall write not only for believers, but also for seekers or anyone looking for straight, simple answers to the fascinating subject of the world beyond this life.

Recent books about heaven and hell have aroused the interest of committed Christians and curious seekers alike. But the wide range of viewpoints has also created confusion and left many people wondering what they are to believe. This user-friendly guide presents the most popular views on heaven, hell, purgatory, judgment, and related topics, followed by brief, easy-to-follow analysis. Readers will be equipped to make their own well-informed decisions about questions like these: What happens when we die? Where did the idea of purgatory come from? Will our bodies be resurrected someday? If so, does cremation offend God? Will unbelievers be judged by God and punished in hell forever? Or will they be annihilated? What about those who never heard the gospel message? This summary of the latest Evangelical teaching and traditional mainstream scholarship provides readers with tools to assess each position in the light of Scripture.

What happens when we die? Journey from the moment of death to the eternal joy in store for those who follow Christ. Interviews with those who claim near-death experiences, Catholic and scientific literature, and historic accounts of the saints reveal fascinating glimpses of the afterlife.