“Evangelicals congratulate themselves on their willingness to submit to the final authority of scripture. Yet they also have cherished beliefs that they defend to the hilt . . . Quite rightly, George Sarris insists that even these beliefs should be subjected to the test of scripture. In this work he engages in detailed and challenging scrutiny of the biblical teachings on hell, eternal punishment and condemnation. Even those who do not agree with his conclusions need to pay attention to his arguments.”
- Nigel G.
Wright, Principal of Spurgeon’s College, London
Council Member of the Evangelical Alliance, UK
Heaven’s
Doors . . . Wider Than You Ever Believed! is a book about unlimited power and unfailing
love working together to accomplish the greatest plan ever conceived. It’s a book about God’s plan to ultimately
get each and every person through heaven’s doors.
The
Myth
For the first 500 years after Christ,
most Christians believed that God would ultimately redeem all of His creation. Hell
was real, but it didn’t last forever, and it had a positive purpose.
Then beliefs changed. For the last 1,500 years, most Christians
have been told that the majority of the billions of people who have lived on
this earth will remain separated from the love and mercy of God for all
eternity. The moms and dads, grandmas
and grandpas, sons and daughters, relatives and friends who have not exhibited
the “right kind” of faith here in this life will be shut up in a place called
hell to suffer forever.
But is that really true? Will most of the people God created in His
image never walk through heaven’s doors?
That
was a question I wrestled with after God's love captured my heart and
transformed my life when I was a student in college. After graduating, I
served on the staff of a large campus missionary organization and later
attended one of the finest seminaries in the country – a school the Rev. Billy
Graham helped found. I wanted to tell others about this wonderful Being
who had done such marvelous things in my life.
But a voice deep inside kept saying something was wrong with the
prevailing teaching about hell within the Christian Church.
Endless,
conscious torment for anyone didn’t seem consistent with what I knew about
God's character. It didn’t seem consistent with what I knew about real
love.
As a result, I decided to address the issue with extensive research to find out for sure what the Bible actually teaches about hell. What I discovered was that hell, as a place of never-ending suffering, is not a Biblical concept. And it has not always been taught by the Christian Church throughout its history.
As a result, I decided to address the issue with extensive research to find out for sure what the Bible actually teaches about hell. What I discovered was that hell, as a place of never-ending suffering, is not a Biblical concept. And it has not always been taught by the Christian Church throughout its history.
It’s
a myth that was forced on the Christian Church by a power-hungry Roman emperor,
was supported by a highly respected but misinformed cleric, and has endured for
centuries because it became the status quo.
How Wide Are
Heaven’s Doors?
Why would an all-powerful, all-loving, all-wise God allow
billions of people to suffer forever in hell?
Maybe He doesn’t!
David Konstan, Professor of Classics,
New York University; Professor Emeritus of Classics and Comparative Literature,
Brown University wrote,
George
Sarris has performed a splendid service in tracing the Christian view of
universal salvation, which has deep roots in the Bible and in the Church
Fathers. . . . Sarris’ book is gracefully written, deeply thoughtful,
and based on careful scholarship; it deserves the widest audience.
Perry G. Phillips, Author/Lecturer; MA
Institute in Holy Land Studies; MDiv Biblical Theological Seminary; PhD Cornell
University added,
My view has changed.
I find ultimate restoration as a reasonable position . . . I thank you deeply for opening my mind on
eternal punishment/ultimate restoration.
I invite you to read what history and the Bible really say
about God’s ultimate plan for you and for those you love.
Heaven’s doors may be wider than you ever believed!
Heaven’s Doors will be released
on March 15. Pre-release orders are currently available on
Amazon.com.
