Customer Reviews
Imaginative, but disturbed - By: Oli, 18 Nov 2007 
I consider myself to be a loyal Christian; I have heard Mr. Holloway speak & he seems a very genuine good man, but much of this book reads like it is the fantasy of a psychotic misanthrope. As a previous reviewer pointed out, Bible verses are taken quite selectively - Holloway quotes the sheep & the goats passage, but then says that what we do makes no difference, all that matters is whether we've accepted Jesus. The fact that Jesus Himselfin the sheep & goats passage says the precise opposite is not even mentioned.
Worse, the story is framed as a near-death experience when the overwhelming testimony of near-death experiences is that God is love & there is nothing to fearin the afterlife. When we see the light we do not, as Holloway describes it, see a manin the centre who callously turns us away. We are invited always, no matter how bad we've been, to merge fullyin radiant compassion. The only thing that can keep us apart from joy after death is our own fear & guilt. God Himself is only loving & gracious.
Fantastic - I recommend this book regardles of your views - By: M. A. Bateman, 17 Nov 2006 
I heard about this book, & sometime later my teenager daughter came home with it. Read it & by the end of the first chapter I wasin tears. If you want a wake up call, a call to action, an insight into what it will be like as both a Christian & non Christian on that great & final day - then this is the book. I dare you to read it.
Misleading scholarship - By: H. Bourne, 27 Feb 2006 I thought this book was awesome when I was a teenager, but on rereading now I'm older & wiser, I find it rather questionable. Unlike books like "The Great Divorce" (C.S. Lewis) or even "The Five People You Meetin Heaven" (Mitch Albom), this book claims to be an accurate representation of what the Bible says about the afterlife. However a little close reading will reveal that Holloway has glossed over troublesome verses & even troublesome truths: there is no comment about those who have never heard of Jesus, & other than to emphasize the "eternal"in "eternal punishment & eternal life", the story of the King judging the nations by "whatsoever you did for the least of my brothers" is completely ignored. The parable of the rich man & Lazarus is taken entirely literally, with no explanation of why the rich man went to Hell & Lazarus to Heaven.
There is also a rather disturbing passage wherein the non-Christian character observes that the rich man (wailing from the abyss) is crying outin anger, & wonders if this is sin, & ergo he is sinning constantly & requiring constant punishment. If he has the ability to sin evenin Hell, why doesn't he have the ability to repent? It's enough to make you lose your faith!
The most worrying thing is that Holloway presents his entire account as a truthful representation: ie. you have to believe that this is what will really happen, & that all non-Christians will be thrown to the pit & all Christians will be taken to glory. On further study I don't believe the Biblical case is nearly so clear-cut or even close to Holloway's vision.
I gave it two stars because it's still rather intriguing & quite entertaining if you're bored orin need of a rant.
Hard-Hitting and Understandable! - By: Sayle, 07 Jun 2005 
This is definetly one of the better books I have read. Although I consider this book not nearly as effective as Aftershock, the sequel, this is definetly worth reading, if not buying. If you want a good Christian book that EVERYBODY can understand & empathize with, buy Aftershock. However, it does offer a frightning look at life after death, & that we have to make our choices now.
High Impact - By: , 19 May 2005 The premise of the book is that there has been a traffic accident & three teenagers die - Dan, Becky & Emma. In the first three chapters we then look at judgement day from each of their different perspectives. Dan was a 'non Christian', Becky a 'lukewarm' Christian, & Emma a 'redhot Christian' before they died. We get an insight into each of their feelings at facing God & looking back on their lives, & are given a thorough teaching on judgement day at the same time. Although 'thorough teaching' maybe a misleading phrase - the book is a great read & very easy to comprehend. The author used to write for the Times as a sports journalist & it has that brisk style of a reporter. It is also hard hitting - it really made me think about how I'll think & feel when i have to face Jesus on the final day - & the fact that everyone I know will have to face him as well. The book pulls no punches, & could possibly be accused of being a little preachy at times - you can certainly tell the book was born out of the author's visit to the brownsville revival. The last chapter is a look at heaven & what it will be like. I think reading this book is an excellent way to practically "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2 It certainly makes you really think about stuff. I would highly recommend it - especially to teenagers.
