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To Heaven and Back in 90 Minutes! Really?
On January 18, 1989, at the scene of a terrible car accident, Don Piper, a Baptist “pastor,” was pronounced dead. 90 minutes later, he woke up singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus!” During the 90 minutes of unconsciousness, he claims he went to heaven and back. Since that time, a movie has been made entitled: 90 Minutes in Heaven (now showing) and a best-seller book has been written having already sold over 2 million copies.
Though we cannot know what went through his mind during his state of unconsciousness, we can know from the Scriptures that he did not go to heaven and back. Mr. Piper claims that he was given a glimpse of glory specifically so he could tell people about it, and use that as a conduit to talk about Jesus serving as our only way into heaven. He claims to have seen his grandfather, his great-grandmother, and friends who had passed on before him.
This is strange seeing the apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak, much less return and make a movie about it and write a best-seller book selling over 2 million copies! – 2 Cor. 12:2a, 4. Paul said nothing about seeing any of his grandparents or friends while there. And, we don’t need a man to go to heaven and back 1900 year later to tell us there is no other name by which we can be saved but the name of Jesus – Acts 4:12.
The apostle John, also guided by the Holy Spirit, heard a voice like the sound of a trumpet, inviting him up into heaven to show him what would soon happen. And, what did John see? He saw a throne standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne,” and it was not John’s great- grandfather – Rev. 4:1-2!
Mr. Piper further claims, in his 90 minutes in heaven, that he heard music sounding like the rushing of angel wings, only a thousand times more impressive. It would be interesting to know when Mr. Piper ever heard the rushing of angel wings! Mr. Piper also claims he talked with God and asked Him why He did not keep him up there in heaven with Him and why he had to be sent back.
To top it all off, while he was still recuperating in the hospital, Eva, his wife prays and quotes Jeremiah 29:11 and applied it to her husband. The passage reads: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Even the casual Bible student can see in the context of the verse that God is plainly speaking of the plans He has for those in Babylonian captivity once they are brought back from exile.
Speaking of Jeremiah, he warns against false prophets when he quoted God as saying: “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying ‘I had a dream, I had a dream” – Jeremiah 23:25.
Before He ascended on high, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit who would guide the apostles into all truth – John 16:13. Paul warned not to believe any man or even any angel who said anything different after that – Galatians 1:6-8. Peter tells us that God’s divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence – 2 Peter 1:2-3. Jude writes exhorting his readers to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints – Jude 3.
Beloved and gentle readers, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” – 1 John 4:1.
