Heaven: Top Christian Books Ranked by Importance (2024)

This list of books on Heaven is ranked by a composite importance scale considering scholarly value, relevance, popularity, impact, and originality. It was generated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence connected to the Internet. ChatGPT is getting better and better at tasks like this.

ChatGPT is an excellent tool for certain tasks and now that the standard free version is connected to the Internet one of those tasks is creating a list of Christian books on a certain subject. Prompted by a request for recommended books on Heaven from Dane Ortland, Since I had just shared a quote from Keller on this subject, I was interested and decided to put the AI to work. I have previously used ChatGPT to provide lists of top books on the resurrection, and top books on suffering.

Before we get to the books below, I also replied as follows:

Here is the chapter on heaven from my book about the resurrection. I also think if you are going to write about heaven you have to write about hope and in particular hope in suffering. Kellers book on walking with God thru pain and suffering is great on this and I expand on some of his ideas in a series of posts.

To use ChatGPT as a research tool, I used the following prompt:

Can you search the internet and find several lists of top books on heaven from a Christian perspective then collate the books on all of these pages into one list of at least 20 books that you then rank on a composite importance scale which includes aspects like scholarly value, relevance, popularity, impact and originality. can you check that each book has a specific web page about it and include a link to that book adjacent to it in the list. Please check none of the books are hallucinations

Here’s how ChatGPT replied:

“I’ve compiled a list of the top books on heaven from a Christian perspective based on several sources, including recommendations from Eternal Perspective Ministries, Christianity FAQ, Christianbook.com, and 9Marks. Here are the top 20 books, ranked by a composite importance scale considering scholarly value, relevance, popularity, impact, and originality:

1. Heaven by Randy Alcorn

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– Comprehensive exploration of biblical teachings on heaven.

2. Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright

– Discusses resurrection and Christian mission with scholarly insight.

3. The Glory of Heaven by John MacArthur
– Expositional study of biblical teachings on heaven.

4. Heaven: Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada
– Inspirational insights from a woman with a unique perspective on suffering and faith.

5. The Case for Heaven by Lee Strobel
– Investigative approach to the evidence of heaven’s existence.

6. The Bible and the Future by Anthony A. Hoekema
– Theological insights on eschatology and the new earth.

7. 55 Answers to Questions About Life After Death by Mark Hitchco*ck
– Addresses common questions about the afterlife from a biblical perspective.

8. Heaven Better By Far by J. Oswald Sanders
– A profound look at heaven from a respected theologian near the end of his life.

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9. Heaven and Hell by Edward Donnelly
– Contrasts biblical teachings on heaven and hell.

10. Answers to Your Questions About Heaven by David Jeremiah
– Provides biblical answers to common questions about heaven.

11. The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell by Paul Helm
– A theological examination of eschatological topics.

12. The Message of Heaven & Hell by Bruce Milne
– Pastoral and biblical exploration of heaven and hell.

13. The Day I Died: My Breathtaking Trip to Heaven and Back by Freddy Vest
– Personal near-death experience recounting a vision of heaven.

14. Touched by Heaven: Inspiring True Stories of One Woman’s Lifelong Encounters with Jesus by Nancy Ravenhill
– True stories of encounters with Jesus.

15. Face to Face with Jesus: A Former Muslim’s Extraordinary Journey to Heaven by Samaa Habib and Bodie Thoene
– Testimony of a former Muslim’s encounter with Jesus.

16. One Minute After You Die by Erwin W. Lutzer
– Discusses what happens immediately after death from a Christian perspective.

17. The World to Come by Isaac Watts
– Classic 18th-century work on heaven and the afterlife.

18. Miracles in the ER: Extraordinary Stories from a Doctor’s Journal by Robert D. Lesslie
– Accounts of miracles and divine encounters in the ER.

19. Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
– Popular account of a child’s visit to heaven during surgery.

20. The Heaven Answer Book by Billy Graham
– Billy Graham’s reflections on heaven and answers to common questions.

These books offer a broad range of perspectives and insights into the concept of heaven from a Christian viewpoint, catering to both scholarly interests and popular readership.”

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