Most of the employees at the plasma place I visit, know that I am a Christian and a pastor. A few of the regular donors do as well. It is not unusual for our casual conversations to swing to a variety of religious topics. There is one worker who always asks me either what I preached on Sunday or what I intend to preach. And there is another who, over and over again, asks me about the book and movie “Heaven is for Real.” It is about a little boy who supposedly died, went to Heaven, saw incredible things and returned to talk about it. The family name is “Malarkey,” and that is exactly what it is – malarkey – total rubbish. The boy, who is no longer a little child, has confessed that the whole thing was a sham. But last Monday, that woman told me once again that the movie is still on cable television.
If YOU walked up to me next Sunday and told me that you “had an experience” in which you died, or were otherwise transported to Heaven…. If you told me you saw Christ and Gabriel; golden streets and pearly gates, and you were then returned to earth, I would probably be dumbfounded for a few moments. I may love you, and I may want to believe you, but my first thought would be that you’re pulling my leg. It isn’t that such a thing is impossible, but it is highly improbable.
Despite my incredulity about such things, and probably yours as well, that silly book sold hundreds of thousands of copies, and the cable channels are still showing its fictitious movie. Why? Because, despite people’s hatred of the truth, there is still a fascination with the mirage. People are wanting an intellectual explanation – they want proof one way or another – to the question of life after death. They are predisposed NOT to believe the Bible, but they want some scientist to tell them that when they die there is an evolutionary paradise to enjoy on some metaphysical plain.
We have in this scripture one such proof, but because it comes from the Bible, very few pay attention. If YOU told me about visiting Heaven, I would initially think that you are setting me up for some sort of joke. But when I read of the same thing in the Word of God, I believe it instantly, and I hope that you do as well. What Paul describes in this chapter is absolutely true. Let’s briefly consider three things: – the person in Paradise; the integrity of the incident and the object of the occurrence.
First, the PERSON in PARADISE.
I have not yet found a commentary which says that the person describe there was anyone but Apostle Paul. It could have been someone that Paul knew, but it seems very unlikely. He was clearly talking about himself as the chapter ends. And in verse 7 Paul seems to bring the subject back upon himself.
But why did he speak in the third person rather than directly about himself? Probably for the same reason that John refused to use his own name in the Gospel of John. Paul has just finished saying that if he was going to boast in anything it would be in his infirmities, not his personal triumphs. He repeats that in verse 5 and again in verse 9. These comments about visions and apocalypses (verse 1) are exactly opposite to infirmities. These revelations may been some the highest blessings Paul ever received after his salvation. But they also relate to the thorn in his flesh which came as a result. So Paul refuses to glory or give details about this spectacular event.
Humility should be one of the trade-marks of the genuine child of God. Years ago, when we were still living here in the apartment, as I came home, a car was pulling out. A man hopped out, and I recognized a man who I had talked to once before, claiming to be an evangelist. On that earlier occasion, he was begging for food and gasoline, and I gave him a few dollars. This time he gave me his latest sob story, but then boasted about the two hundred churches and schools that he had preached in since January. He talked about the revival tent that he was buying which would seat two thousand people. He said he’d just preached to the 350 students of Christian-school sponsored by 4th Memorial. Then he asked if he could preach for us when he’d be back again in September. When I told him that we didn’t support pseudo-Baptist-interdominational ministries, he puffed up like six-day-old road kill and began to chew on my hide. I can only imagine what he would have said had that man the experience that Paul had. He would have been crowing all over creation. But that was not Paul’s style.
When and how did Paul’s experience take place? Well, Paul didn’t want to give us details, so probably we shouldn’t dig too deeply. Let it suffice to say – some scholars think it happened when Paul was stoned in Lystra. Of course I’m referring to being crushed by stones – not anything else. Paul was literally stoned into unconsciousness and possibly death with rocks. On the other hand some scholars say that fourteen years earlier would have been before Lystra. It might have been during the three days that he was laying about blind in Damascus. Or it could have happened during this days of seminary on the back side of the desert. Whenever it actually took place, I think that it was Paul who saw and heard these things.
All right then, what about the INTEGRITY of the INCIDENT.
Now, isn’t this a little bit far-fetched? Come on, who else has been taken to Paradise or given a vision like this – other than the Malarkey boy? Paul isn’t sure if he was physically propelled into Paradise or if it was only his spirit which went there. He certainly thought that it was more than a vision – but that is the term he used. Can we trust this?
Of course we can because this is recorded in God’s Book. But momentarily taking the Devil’s side in the question, let look at the apparent facts. First, we have only the testimony of a single man; there were no other human witnesses. So, is the deposition of this man to be trusted? We’d better all become atheists if Paul, in God’s Word, cannot be trusted. And then there is the fact that for fourteen years Paul has not spoken about this. Luke, Paul’s physician, confidant and biographer apparently knew nothing about it, or else he was sworn to secrecy. Some might say that this proves that Paul made this up to suit his arguments here in Corinthians. But perhaps this was so spiritually intimate that he shared it now only with the greatest reluctance. I would agree with this last thought. Besides, wouldn’t a liar have far more embellished the story? Wouldn’t he have talked about streets of gold, angels and really new revelatory material? Verse 7 hints that there were many revelations involved, but Paul speaks of none of them.
He says that what he heard was “unspeakable” – perhaps physically incapable of translation. Besides that it was unlawful for some reason or other. Jehovah refused to permit Paul to repeat to us what he heard and saw. Why? Well, I’m not sure, but let me venture a guess: When the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence the herd might break that fence down to get to it. We’d probably be even less earthly good if we knew more about Heaven. Anyway, Heaven is not so much about the scenery, as it is the presence of God. The presence of God is not something which can be described – He must be experienced. And incidentally, doesn’t a ban upon publication tell us not to seek forbidden knowledge. Rather than spur us on to seek for a duplication of this blessing, doesn’t this tell us not to go beyond the revealed Word of God? Take it if God gives it, but don’t sinfully yearn for more than the Lord offers.
The mystery and incomplete nature of this account doesn’t shake my faith that it actually occurred as Paul describes it.
Well then what was the OBJECT of the OCCURRENCE?
Centuries earlier, there was another leader of the people of God – a man named “Moses.” At one point he was facing a real problem – he was 120 years old and without medicare. The effects of the curse were catching up with him, and he had only a few days live. So God took Moses to the mountain called “Nebo” in the range called “Pisgah.” And from there Moses could see the Promised land of Israel. Moses died a contented man.
Early in Paul’s career, he was beginning to grasp the crises of his calling. And God took him to his Nebo and let him see the promised land. There in Corinth were other saints of God needing this same encouragement. Doesn’t this part of Corinthians parallel Romans 8? The saints in both those communities were facing severe persecution, even death. “Hey guys, there is a Paradise of God – a Promised Land. There is a REST for the people of God.” “The sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
This event encouraged Paul in the midst of his trials. They also encouraged him to “set his affection on things above.” If he ever needed it, this proved to him the existence of Heaven. And it taught him that “this world is not our home.” “Our conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. “
Also in the context of chapter 11, it helped to explain some of Paul’s infirmities. That is Paul’s principle theme throughout this part of II Corinthians – infirmities. Some of us are feeling our infirmities, and others of us, are simply longing for Heaven. Here in this revelation we have assistance in both.