Walls - Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory: rethinking the things that matter most

2015 by Jerry L. Walls

Published by Brazos Press

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www . brazospress .com

Ebook edition created 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-2257-2

Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are from the 1984 edition of the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Never resorting to overbearing jargon or convoluted arguments, Walls provides readers with insights that are clear, concise, and penetrating. He sorts through the various stances on a number of issues related to the afterlife in a way that is respectful and courteous. This book, which makes the afterlife as solid and as real as this lifenot stiff, sentimental, or founded upon fearwill be a more than welcome addition to a Christians library.

Devin Brown , author of A Life Observed: A Spiritual Biography of C. S. Lewis

Jerry Walls offers an insightful, accessible defense of heaven, hell, and purgatory. Though still unpersuaded about the latter, I would urge the reading of this book, first, for the important theological and philosophical insights it affords concerning hell (the realm of the illusory triumph of the creatures will) and heaven (the new, transformedthough still physicalearth and heaven that are permeated by Gods presence and blessing); indeed, much wisdom on these doctrines alone is to be found herein. Second, concerning purgatory, Protestants have a unique opportunity to more fully understand the arguments for and then to properly assess the merits (!) of this doctrine. The book is sure to generate much lively discussion and deepened understanding.

Paul Copan , Palm Beach Atlantic University

Jerry Walls shows once again that on the four last thingsdeath, judgment, hell, and heavenhe is by far the most thoughtful evangelical philosopher. His mastery of Scripture, historical theology, and the philosophical literature is unmatched.

Francis J. Beckwith , Baylor University

To Beatrice

She, with a smile that left my faculties
Quite vanquished, said to me:
Turn and give heed;
Not in my eyes alone is Paradise.
Dante