If This Isn't Heaven, I Don't Know What Is

Biblical Reasons Why We Should
And Practical Suggestions on How We Can

Create Heaven on Earth


Books perhaps more controversial have been written, but the controversy arose because they denied the divine character of the Bible or imputed some conspiratorial or dishonest motives to the institutional church. Many churchmen will be offended by this book, but not because that's the purpose of the book. At one time I sincerely believed everything I  now criticize, and I did not defend those doctrines simply to make money. What I believed then and I believe now I believe because I believe the Bible teaches it. My desire is that more people believe the Bible.

This is the most controversial religious book written in the last few hundred years which affirms the inerrancy of the Bible. It aims to alter completely the heart and soul of Christianity as it is perceived by millions of people.

What is Christianity All About?

If an extraterrestrial anthropologist from another galaxy were to study American Christianity for more than a couple of months, that anthropologist would undoubtedly conclude that the be-all and end-all of Christianity is being raptured and going to heaven. Or dying and going to heaven.

Being a Christian means being able to say "I'm going to heaven." Being a Christian means being able to answer the question, "Where will you spend eternity?"

This book would certainly confuse that alien anthropologist, because this book challenges that whole "heavenly" mindset. That extraterrestrial observer would be scrambling to find a copy of the Bible so he could test the claim of this book, that the Bible hardly says anything at all about going to heaven when we die, or being raptured into heaven.

Christians should do the same thing, like the Bereans did: "search the Scriptures."

Instead, many Christians who believe they will be resurrected and go to heaven will simply be offended at this book, without searching the Scriptures with a profound commitment to discern the will of God. And yet it is not the purpose of this book to say anything at all about what happens after death. Believe anything you want about what happens when you die. But if you're going to read this book, be prepared to re-think what you're doing in this present life.

This book begins with Jesus' command to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." It argues we are to work as well as pray. It concludes that our fundamental purpose in life is to create heaven on earth, and to praise God and give God the glory wherever and whenever earth mirrors heaven.

"This life sucks; when's the rapture?"

This attitude is far too common among Christians today. Getting raptured and going to heaven is one of the least important things in the Bible. It's like smoking. They say every minute of smoking takes one minute off your life. Every minute you long for heaven adds another minute of misery to your life and the life of others.

God did not make a mistake by putting your soul in a physical body and holding your body prisoner for 80 years here on earth. This book will force you to study hundreds of verses of Scripture to gain a completely new perspective on life.

This is a book of "spiritual exercises." It's like doing 1,000 push-ups. Ouch. Can you imagine how sore you would be?

No pain, no gain.

I unconditionally guarantee that you won't like reading parts of this book. You will be offended. You will be put-off. And the more you read, the sorer you'll become.

But I unconditionally guarantee that if you keep grunting and keep sweating and look up all the Bible verses and pray about it, you will be spiritually stronger than when you began these exercises. You will appreciate the Bible more, and you'll be working and praying more fervently along the lines our Lord taught us, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

And if the Church -- the Body of Christ -- were to work through these exercises and become spiritually fit, we would be astonished at how much God's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.

But you will be offended. Reading this book will hurt. You will say, "This is ridiculous. I quit." You may even come up with some holy, spiritual-sounding rationalizations for not doing these exercises. "This isn't what Pastor So-and-So teaches."

Look up the Bible verses. Then keep reading. And praying.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:5

I guarantee you'll like the results. And I'm as confident as humanly possible that God will like the results.


I believe the Bible from cover to cover. Find out more about me.

Many people say they believe the Bible "from cover to cover," and have a bumper sticker that says "The Bible has all the answers." But I wonder if they're asking the right questions. Click here, and note especially the link to the article The Bible is a Textbook on Everything

To really believe the Bible means to "search the Scriptures" as the Bereans did. You no longer have the luxury of simply believing everything Pastor So-and-So tells you. You have a Biblical obligation to read the Bible for yourself. Sure, ask your pastor about what you read in this book, but if you don't agree that what he says is what the Bible says, don't let him say "You'll just have to take my word for it." Search the Scriptures.


I have run into two kinds of learners. One kind learns through controversy. Another kind likes to soak up a gentle leading. I'm of the former; I like controversy. If someone says, "What you believe is wrong," I rise to the challenge: "Oh yeah? Prove it." I enjoy being proven wrong. That's how I grow. I enjoy a vigorous discussion. I like the adversarial process of our legal system: it's a great way to get to the truth.

Others don't like controversy. They like security. They just want to be told what's true so they can rest in the truth. This can be good: Jesus said we must become like a little child. It can also be bad, because we are trusting and can be misled by those who are not worthy of our trust. Ultimately there is only one Teacher that is worthy of our trust, and that's Jesus the Word. And there comes a time when we must grow up and become adults and "search the Scriptures" as the Bereans did.

If you like controversy, click here.

If you want to search the Scriptures, click here if you believe things are going to get worse and worse before we get raptured to heaven, and there's no need to work to create heaven on earth.


Table of Contents

continued click here for next chapter