Boy who claimed he went to heaven recants

[Kathi]

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/boy-who-claimed-he-went-to-heaven-recants-108278459057.html

The best-selling book that documents a 6-year-old’s journey to heaven and back during the two months he spent in a coma is being pulled from shelves after the boy, who is now 17, recanted his story.

Alex Malarkey, the co-author of The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven with his father, Kevin Malarkey, was in a car crash in 2004 that left him paralyzed. The memoir, published in 2010 as part of the popular “heavenly tourism genre,” detailed his accounts of talking to Jesus Christ and meeting with the devil. Since its publication, the book has sold more than one million copies, according to the Washington Post.

 

[KevinK]

How damaging. Something like this casts doubt on all recounts of post-death experience.

That last name. That kind of coincidence reminds me of others, like a movie of John Lennon's life cancelled because the actor who was to play Lennon had the same name as his killer.

 

[Karl]

Post death experiences.

Those that had them either didn't say anything, like the widow of Nains son, Jairus's daughter, Lazarus or, as Paul said, he didn't have any words to express what he had seen and experienced, ..I personally tend to believe Paul.

The men recorded in the Bible who saw Heaven while they were alive all expressed a common theme, ...holy, holy, holy, ...something missing in all of these stories.

Post death experiences, uhmmmmm, I don't think so, if they went there and then came back then they weren't dead, Scripture says,

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Heb 9:27

Those Jesus resuscitated during His ministry fall into a special class of works to glorify the Father, ...He said I do all things to glorify my Father, also those that were touched by Him were touched by Him, today Jesus is in Heaven, not walking around on the planet so it wasn't a touch from Him and also what more is needed, He accomplished the work His Father had sent Him to do, when He said it is finished, it was finished.

I personally believe it's more deception that falls into the category of the lying signs and wonders to deceive the world that precede the AC.

 

[tim-from-pa]

How damaging. Something like this casts doubt on all recounts of post-death experience.

That last name. That kind of coincidence reminds me of others, like a movie of John Lennon's life cancelled because the actor who was to play Lennon had the same name as his killer.

Not tryin' to be cruel, but this is what itching ears want to hear. My (ex) church was into a lot of this heaven/hell "Malarkey" (appropriately named). Heaven is not our goal: the Kingdom of God coming to this earth is. No man has ever ascended to heaven, so said Jesus, and even if you want to believe that only entailed before his death, you still have people preaching that this was always the case (contrary to Christ's word), i.e patriarchs such as Abraham are in heaven based on Christ's parable about "hell". This is why there's such hell controversies as well. But people (for whatever reason that escapes me) want to believe in such an eternal, horrible place. Maybe that does not so much speak on truth as much as character? I don't know for sure.

I don't blame the kid -- he's a hero to me of sorts, because he adamamtly stated that the bible was the only source of truth, and that people that profit off these kinds of books should repent of this. My understanding from the articles I am reading is that the kid felt guilty peddling his book, but the pastor said this (lie) was "such a blessing" to a lot of people so kept it going. Like I always joked, "Reverend 'feel-good'" instead of wanting the truth. Simply and mind-blowingly incredible. I'm speechless beyond this point.

 

[Kathi]

People in this world want proof.They do not have any faith.They say "well then there must be a Jesus and a heaven because someone saw it".

 

[Deborah13]

How damaging. Something like this casts doubt on all recounts of post-death experience.

That last name. That kind of coincidence reminds me of others, like a movie of John Lennon's life cancelled because the actor who was to play Lennon had the same name as his killer.

Do you think there could be a difference in what one calls an experience. The difference between post-death and near-death?
In other words a person's heart may stop and they may stop breathing but until the brain stops functioning they are not dead.

 

[Kathi]

Drugs and a lack of oxygen can also allow someone to have those experiences.

 

[petester]

I am not trying to be sarcastic.seriously. I never new about this until just now but the last name?.....I mean that set off bells in my brain.Im also kinda screwy up there so maybe thats not much of a testament to my perception.

 

[Michael74]

I wonder what process Tyndale House follows to investigate such things before publishing them.

 

[Kathi]

I wonder what process Tyndale House follows to investigate such things before publishing them.

The boy told them that his experience was the truth.That kind of stuff sells books.The world likes to read it.

 

[petester]

For the money? OK I can appreciate that but it seems something like this at this time could put in doubt beliefs of anything.And Jesus is at the top of that list.I mean why did they admit to it now? Why not ride the scam and keeping receiving that money? I am not knowledgeable in such things but the royalties from the marketing of this could pay out for decades.SO why admit now?.Methinks to cast doubt in those that previously were not decided on their belief.

 

[Michael74]

There must be a better way.

 

[KevinK]

Of course we should question all such experiences, and avoid taking anything at face value. But remember I'm discussing this from the viewpoint of someone who's had a similar experience.

 

[Deborah13]

For the money? OK I can appreciate that but it seems something like this at this time could put in doubt beliefs of anything.And Jesus is at the top of that list.I mean why did they admit to it now? Why not ride the scam and keeping receiving that money? I am not knowledgeable in such things but the royalties from the marketing of this could pay out for decades.SO why admit now?.Methinks to cast doubt in those that previously were not decided on their belief.

The boy was only six at the time and his life had been radically changed by this car accident. I doubt he had any thoughts about making money. His family were church goers. I can see how a little boy could imagine and dream up all kinds of things to try to make sense of it all. It was his father who ran with it.
The boy is now 17 and he very bravely chose to tell the truth, with his mother's approval. Doesn't say anything about how his dad felt about it. The boy says, that he lied in order to get attention. Frankly, I wonder about that reasoning but he clearly feels guilty about it and is doing his best to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

 

[petester]

Oh thanks Deborah. Maybe its a good point for the young man and his character. May God Bless him for his admittance.

 

[Michael74]

...I'm discussing this from the viewpoint of someone who's had a similar experience.

Have you seen heaven Kevin?

 

[Kathi]

For the money? OK I can appreciate that but it seems something like this at this time could put in doubt beliefs of anything.And Jesus is at the top of that list.I mean why did they admit to it now? Why not ride the scam and keeping receiving that money? I am not knowledgeable in such things but the royalties from the marketing of this could pay out for decades.SO why admit now?.Methinks to cast doubt in those that previously were not decided on their belief.

Guilt?The Holy Spirit convicting him?

 

[KevinK]

Have you seen heaven Kevin?

Unfortunately, just Hell.

 

[Kathi]

Unfortunately, just Hell.

You saw Hades?No one is in hell right now so you could not see it.

 

[Michael74]

Have you seen heaven Kevin?

Okay, I just ran a search, and read of your vision in the other thread. I remember an assistant pastor at a local church who had a similar vision. He said it scared him into being an evangelist. He was now more afraid of God than he was of man's opinions, so he ignored what men thought of him, and obeyed God instead.

So now that is 2 people who have told me that they had such a vision.