The Coming Glory: Hope Now for Life After Death

by Paul Swets

Overview

Everyone will die. Yet we rarely talk about death or what comes after death. One reason is that we don't know what the Scripture says about the coming glory.

Paul Swets' father did know. As his father neared death, the family gathered around his bed and waited in silence. Suddenly, with unusual strength, Paul's father sat up in bed, clapped his hands, and with a shout of triumph said, “I'm dying!”

How do we get to that point of joyful anticipation? Knowing God's promises! In The Coming Glory: Hope Now for Life after Death, Dr. Swets clearly presents the promises in Scripture about life after death—promises that answer seven common concerns of those facing their own death or that of a loved one. In pre-publication copies of this book, those suffering grief have found enduring comfort and hope.

Scripture, hymns, engaging content, large print, chapter summaries,
discussion questions, and recommended resources make The Coming Glory accessible to every reader.

Swets is passionate about helping readers be strengthened in their faith and filled with hope as they anticipate the coming glory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633571631
Publisher:	Crosslink Publishing
Publication date:	06/18/2019
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	175
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Paul W. Swets served hundreds of families when their loved ones were near death. With his experience as a pastoral counselor, he comes alongside the reader with comfort, encouragement, and hope for the life after death.

Dr. Swets has degrees in Psychology, Theology, American Culture and Effective Communication.

Table of Contents

Reader Comments vii

Dedication xiii

Foreword 1

A Note to the Reader 3

Chapter 1 How Can I Prepare for My Departure? 9

Chapter 2 What Happens Right after Death? 27

Chapter 3 How Can I Get Ready for the Return of Christ? 37

Chapter 4 What Will Our Bodily Resurrection Be Like? 53

Chapter 5 How Can I Face God's Judgment? 71

Chapter 6 What is the Meaning of the "New Heavens and New Earth"? 87

Chapter 7 What Comfort Do I Have Now? 101

Notes 119

Summaries 135

A Lament 139

Additional Resources 147

Acknowledgments 151

About the Author 155

Editorial Reviews

…concise, well-crafted treatments of key eschatological themes.

Rev. Dr. William C. Brownson

Having lost my spouse, I turned to sources of comfort and assurance. I found answers in The Coming Glory.

Dr. Rodger Rice

Swets points readers to the gospel and to the person at the heart of it—Jesus.

Rev. Dr. Han-luen Kantzer Komline

…a gentle word for a difficult time.

Jonathon Brown

So encouraging! I couldn’t put it down.…

Marty Greendonner Retired teacher

In The Coming Glory, Paul Swets gives an elegant and yet direct account of Christian hope for the dying.

Dr. J. Todd Billings

GLORIOUS!! I’m thinking of the people who will be comforted and encouraged through the last stage of their earthly journey, and their loved ones too.

Rev. Dr. Suzanne McDonald

2019-12-30
A motivational manual focuses on the Christian concepts of death and the afterlife.

This slim volume from Swets (Finding Happiness, 2015, etc.) takes a very simple and straightforward approach. The author, a pastoral counselor, assembles virtually everything in Christian Scripture pertaining to death and the afterlife. "Life is a battleground. Death is an enemy," Swets writes. "If you have been hurt in this fight, or if you feel you have already lost the battle for faith, do not despair. Victory is still possible." The author quotes from the Gospels, the Epistles, and the book of Revelation, in all cases stressing the notes of hope and continuation. In this sense, Jesus' words in the Gospel of St. Matthew form the guiding sentiment: "For I am with you always, to the end of the age." The book's organization invites easy consultation: Sections are short and relevant Scriptural passages are offset in italics. And Swets' scriptural interpretations make all the customary logical and deductive jumps that Christian eschatology requires. "The Bible does not tell us a great deal about this intermediate state," he writes at one point, discussing the transition from earthly flesh to resurrected eternal life. "Lack of detail is part of the grand mystery of God." And lack of detail applies to the whole discussion here. "Historical fact lays the groundwork for our hope," Swets asserts. "We are not talking about wish fulfillment or mystic vision or conjecture. God's power raised Jesus Christ—body and soul—from the dead. This is the historical basis for the hope of our own bodily resurrection." Of course, no historical facts attest to the resurrection of Jesus or any other person; mystic visions and conjectures are what the author has to deal with. The Christian faithful, for whom this work is obviously written, will already be familiar with both its verses and interpretations. But there's a comfort and ease to having all of the relevant passages collected in one handy volume.

An inspirational but familiar guide to the promises of eternity offered by Christian Scripture.

Kirkus Reviews