What is heaven? Most of us have very little idea. As a Christian James Paul knew that heaven was something he was supposed to look forward to but he really didn’t! The images he had been given of disembodied spirits in an amorphous shapeless future did not appeal at all. So he prayed that God would help him to understand heaven better and long to be there. This book is a result of that prayer, and the process of research that followed. And it’s full of surprises! The author has lived and worked at a branch of L’Abri Fellowship for many years, where he’s been communicating with young people and giving honest answers to challenging questions in straightforward language. He brings all his experience of clear communication to this book which is written in an engaging style, using helpful images and metaphors to explore what the Bible teaches about heaven, and it’s nothing to do with disembodied spirits floating on clouds. Strongly influenced by CS Lewis’ idea that heaven is “more real” than our experience on earth (as explored in the well-known Narnia Chronicles and his novel The Great Divorce) he explores the idea of heaven as an additional dimension of reality. He suggests that instead of asking “How do I get to heaven?” the more important question is “How can I be a part of heaven coming to earth?” He demonstrates that the future depicted in the Bible is not about escaping to an otherworldly heaven but the restoration in a new creation of a united heaven and earth. This perspective challenges us to re-evaluate the way we live now. This is not only a book for Christians but for anyone who is curious about heaven and wants to learn more. Highly recommended.

Dr James Paul paints a picture of heaven that anyone who appreciates the beauty and richness of THIS life will find enormously encouraging. Heaven is not a place that humans escape to...it's a dimension of reality we can begin to inhabit this side of death by the grace of God, before we experience its fullness at the resurrection. Dr Paul makes a compelling case from Scripture, and his experience of working at L'Abri (recently featured on Songs of Praise), to present heaven as something both familiar and yet transcendent. If you struggle to find hope in the usual images of heaven as clouds and fat babies, then this book is for you. If you're worried that 'going to heaven' means leaving behind everything you enjoy on earth, this book is for you. If you want to get a sense of the hope of the Christian faith, this book is for you.