What Happens After Death? Three Books About Heaven

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Last Updated on 17. February 2026 by Andi

What awaits us after death? Three authors and three approaches: theological depth meets journalistic investigation and authentic accounts of experience. Which book is right for you?

What happens after death? Why the question matters

The question of eternal life has occupied humanity for thousands of years. Is there life after death? If so, what does it look like?

Have you ever thought about it? One day you will die. That is why I want to encourage you to start thinking about it today. We Christians believe that there is eternal life after death, and that Jesus is the answer to how we can face our day of death without fear.

Three renowned authors approach this question in different ways:

• Lee Strobel in “The Case for Heaven”: factual, journalistic, evidence-based
• Randy Alcorn in “Heaven”: deeply biblical and theologically grounded
• John Burke in “Imagine Heaven”: experiential accounts and biblical interpretation of near-death experiences

📗 Book review: “The Case for Heaven” – A Journalistic investigation

“The Case for Heaven” is a journalistic nonfiction book in which Lee Strobel interviews various experts: scientists, theologians, philosophers, and people who have had near-death experiences. His goal: to provide good reasons to believe in life after death.

“Near-death experiences are strong evidence that there is life after death and that the universe is governed by an infinitely loving intelligence.”

Jeffrey Long, physicist and near-death researcher (p. 73 in “Dem Himmel auf der Spur”)

🔍 Key Points:

• Interviews with leading researchers and apologists
• Critical examination of near-death experiences
• Science, philosophy, and the Bible in dialogue
• Ideal for seekers, skeptics, and the curious

Tip: A DVD version presenting the main content of the book is also available.

📘 Book review: “Heaven” – A biblical perspective on eternity

“Heaven” is a comprehensive theological work about eternal life and the new earth as described in the Bible. In it, Randy Alcorn clears up romanticized ideas about heaven (clouds, harps, angels) and instead presents a vivid, physical, renewed life with God.

“Everything will be glorified, even nature itself. To me, that is the biblical teaching about eternity: that what we call heaven is life in the perfect world God intended for humanity.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, physician and preacher (cited at page 83 in “Heaven”)

🌟 Key Points:

• Heaven consists of two phases: the intermediate state & the new earth
• The new heaven is real, tangible, physical, full of joy and purpose
• More than 1,400 Bible passages support these conclusions
• Encouraging, especially for Christians, grieving people, and counselors

📙 Book review: “Imagine Heaven” – Near-death experiences compared with the Bible

“Imagine Heaven” connects numerous documented near-death experiences with biblical statements about life after death. In it, John Burke highlights surprising similarities between the reports of very different people and what the Bible says about God’s presence and eternity.

I was initially skeptical because there have already been several cases where alleged near-death experiences turned out to be fake. However, this book convinced me. John Burke approached the topic scientifically, collected more than 100 experiences, and compared them with biblical statements. He describes his cautious approach as follows:

“Can people invent stories or embellish details to sell more books? Yes, of course. That is why I tried to select stories from people who had little or no personal financial interest: surgeons, pilots, professors, neurosurgeons—people who probably do not need the money but would risk their credibility if they were telling fairy tales.”

John Burke in “Imagine Heaven”, p. 15

✨ Key Points:

• Evaluation of hundreds of near-death experiences worldwide
• Comparison of these reports with biblical statements
• Accessible approach for believers and skeptics
• Comforting and hopeful for people facing loss or fear of death

⚖️ Comparison: Which book about heaven is right for you?

🔍 Criterion	“Heaven” – Randy Alcorn	“The Case for Heaven” – Lee Strobel	“Imagine Heaven” – John Burke
📖 Goal	Theological deepening of the concept of heaven	Evidence for life after death	Experiential accounts & biblical interpretation
📝 Style	Textbook-like, Bible-based, profound	Factual, interview-based, accessible	Narrative, practical, easy to understand
📚 Target audience	Believing Christians, counselors, Bible readers	Skeptics, curious readers, rational seekers	Seekers, grieving people, and interested readers
📏 Length	335 pages	366 pages	362 pages
🌱 Perspective	New heaven & new earth in biblical perspective	Critical examination of near-death experiences	Common elements of worldwide experiences

📚 Reading recommendation based on your situation

✅ “The Case for Heaven” is right for you if you…

• are skeptical or unsure whether life after death exists
• enjoy interviews and scientifically oriented arguments
• are looking for a book suitable for non-Christians as well

✅ “Heaven” is right for you if you…

• seek a deep, biblically grounded understanding of heaven
• want to reflect on life after death as a Christian
• need a perspective for grief, eternity, and hope

✅ “Imagine Heaven” is right for you if you…

• would like to read authentic experiential accounts
• want to know what people around the world have experienced at the point of death
• are looking for a hopeful and easily understandable introduction

💬 Conclusion: Three Books – One Hope

All three books approach heaven in different ways but share the same goal: to find hope and truth. Whether you are firmly grounded in faith or searching, these books open different perspectives on one of life’s most important questions.

My recommendation: Start with Lee Strobel or John Burke for an accessible introduction, and then read Randy Alcorn for theological depth. And do not forget the Bible, without which we would have nothing but speculation.