90 Minutes In Heaven

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to have Don speak at my church, civic group, or my company / organization?

Yes. Don is available on a first asked first served basis. He does not distinguish between denomination, church size, or location. Don has had the opportunity to speak for civic groups, colleges and universities, retreats, seminars, conferences, revivals, as well as various other settings. You can find a more detailed list of requirements on the web site by looking under Speaking Requirements. Speak Up Speaker services are primarily responsible for booking his speaking engagements. Please contact Speak Up Speaker services to begin the process of having Don come to speak to your group.

How can I share my story with others? How can I get my story published?

If God has given you a story or situation that you feel will benefit other people, you should share it with others. Start right where you are by sharing with people you know. If you feel led by the Lord to put your story in writing; look for a Christian Writer’s Conference in your area. You can find the dates and locations on the Internet. Conferences are the best way to learn about writing. You may also have an opportunity to have get a face-to-face meeting with acquisition editors. Most of the meetings are very brief, so have your ideas refined. Do not be discouraged if you do not get an offer to have your story published. Having a book published is extremely difficult, and it often takes a long time for a publisher to take a chance on a story. Don’t give up! Even if you do not get your manuscript published, keep sharing your story and God will use your testimony to touch other people’s lives.

Where can I purchase Don’s Books, CD’s, and DVD’s?

All the products are available at bookstores in the United States and around the world.  Elsewhere on this web site you will find a link to our Books, CD’s, and DVD’s. Most of the products and ministry tools are available in an autographed copy. You will also find a list of International publishers on the web site for publications in other languages. The books and audio books are also available on many web-based bookstores. If you wish to purchase books in bulk, we recommend www.christianbook.com. You can purchase the books in bulk from this web site. If you wish to purchase the CD’s or DVD’s in bulk, please contact our Products Department at dpmproducts@yahoo.com.

Where can I purchase a copy of the cassette tape mentioned in 90 Minutes in Heaven?

Regrettably, we do not offer the testimony in cassette form any longer. The testimony is now available on CD and DVD. You can purchase a copy by clicking on Books, CD’s, and DVD’s on the main web page.

Are there animals or pets in heaven?

I only arrived at the gates of heaven, and the people who greeted me were the people who helped me get to heaven through their witness on Earth. I did not see any animals or pets in heaven. That does not mean they are not there. In fact, I have reason to believe that they will be. In the Bible’s creation sequence, found in Genesis 1, God creates animals before he creates humans. Following the creation of these creatures, he said they were very good. Indeed, they are good, and they bring us encouragement and companionship. It is hard to believe God would create something so majestic and beautiful and not have them in heaven. The book of Revelation tells us when Christ returns; He will come on a white horse.  Many theologians such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley and C. S. Lewis feel there will be animals in heaven. I do believe animals will be in heaven.

Do people who commit suicide go to heaven?

The answer depends upon the relationship they had with Christ before taking their own life. The truth is even Christians can suffer from great depression and heartbreaks. It is my opinion that people who commit suicide are not thinking rationally. When a person commits suicide, it is a lose-lose situation. Not only does the person lose his or her life, but the people in that person’s life are also left with a sense of loss. Suicide is a sin, but the Bible only lists one sin that is unforgivable, rejecting Christ. If a person has authentically accepted Christ as their Savior, than I think that person is not precluded from going to heaven. In reality, all of us will die with unconfessed sin in our lives. What washes away our sin is the blood of Christ, but we must remember the Lord gives life and takes away life. Even in the darkest of circumstances, it is NEVER our place to take our own lives.

God has blessed Don Piper Ministries through book sales and speaking engagements. How is the money used?

Don Piper Ministries is 501c3 Non-Profit organization. The money that is received from product sales and speaking engagements goes to support many other ministries. This ministry is active in supporting missions and churches throughout the United States. Don Piper Ministries is currently working with Native American tribes throughout the Southwest. We also support many homeless shelters and camps for underprivileged children. Don Piper Ministries is also a large supporter of the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company. You can find more information about these ministries on our web site by clicking Ministries at the top of the page. If you or your organization is interested in being considered for financial support by Don Piper Ministries, you should e-mail Scott Flenniken at scott@donpiperministries.com. He is the Director of Missions and Development, and he will get back in touch with you concerning your request. It is our intention as a Non-Profit organization to use the resources God has blessed us with to bless others.

What happens immediately after death?

Immediately following the crash, Don was at the gates of heaven. There was no intermediate step for Don. Many people ask about the concept of purgatory. Purgatory is a long held tradition by some churches around the world. It is thought to be a place of purging where someone goes immediately after death if they are not worthy of heaven. There is no reference to purgatory in the Bible. Salvation and heaven are not earned. Purgatory implies that you have to earn your way into heaven. We can only be saved by God’s grace.

Another idea of what happens after you die is called, “Soul Sleep.” This idea implies that we go to a place of rest and stay there until everyone is resurrected together. The truth is, the bodies of those who are believers will be resurrected in a glorified state. We will then be reunited with our souls so that we may be perfected, as referenced in I Corinthians 15. There are references in the Bible of people who appeared who had died such as Moses and Elijah. This would indicate that they could not have been asleep. Immediately upon impact with the truck, Don was standing at the gates of heaven; he did not experience “Soul Sleep.”

What is the nature of relationships between God’s people in heaven?

First of all, the people Don encountered in heaven were people he recognized. It was not necessary for him to be introduced to any of the people. He knew them even though many had been quite elderly when they died, or in some cases, quite young. They looked neither old or young, they were ageless. There were people there who had been friends of his, and there were family members. The one thing they had in common was they had a positive spiritual impact on Don’s life. He did not see anyone at the gates he did not know. Don fully believes there were many more people inside the gates, and we will meet Moses, Peter, Paul, and other Biblical heroes. We will see them, and we will know them. We have eternity to fellowship with other believers.

Will we be married in heaven?

We may not necessarily be married, but we will be related. Don’s judgment is that the relationships in heaven are actually superior to the ones we experience on earth. Here we have misunderstandings and arguments, and that simply will not happen in heaven. It will be perfection and bliss. Losing a spouse or a child is very difficult, but you will know them in heaven even if the relationship is somewhat different. All of our relationships will be perfect. We will all be brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do people in heaven know what is happening on earth? Can they see me or talk to me?

This is a very difficult question to answer. I did not find myself looking toward Earth, but I was looking out at the most amazing view of heaven. It was as if I was standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. When at the Grand Canyon most people look out and take in the vast beauty instead of looking down.  In heaven you are seeing the faces of those who have gone before you, coupled with the beauty and majesty of heaven. The things of Earth no longer command your attention. Earth is filled with decay, sin, death, pain, and war. There are many good things on earth, but there are many bad things here as well. Since heaven is unaware of those things, it would be difficult to believe people in heaven would be aware of the chaos of Earth.  People still know and love us, but more importantly, they anticipate our arrival.

As far as communicating with them, we are able to remember them and think back on the good times we shared. But, I cannot testify to being able to receive messages from those who are in heaven. We should take great joy in knowing the people in heaven are eagerly waiting for others to join them there.

What do people do in heaven? What do they wear?

People were walking around and fellowshipping with each other. Often, heaven is compared to the most wonderful church experience you have ever had. So often, God may open the door to show us a little of what heaven is like on earth through a retreat, camp experience or an incredible worship service. In heaven, those types of experiences are eternal. We will learn more and more about whom we are and who God is. Heaven is a place to serve and be served. We will also share experiences with each other. Imagine eating all you want and never gaining any weight! There will be incredible banquets at the Lord’s Table. Heaven is full of singing, and we will all be part of God’s choir. We also get to greet people we know when they come to heaven. One of the most exciting parts about my experience in heaven, was that I was greeted at the gates by people I knew who had gone before me. Heaven is not boring! Heaven is a place of fellowship, singing, praising, serving, and learning.

The people I saw in heaven were wearing magnificent clothing. It was some type of brilliant cloth. It appeared to be like a robe, and it was quite beautiful, pure in its beauty.

What about angels? Do we become angels?

We have been asked about angels quite often. Some people want to know if we become angels when we die. No, angels are a separate class of being. God created angels for many purposes. Angels can appear on earth in human form. They are messengers, servants, and they have other tasks they perform. Humans are the only creation the Bible says were created in the image of God. God breathed into humans the breath of life, and we have living souls. As magnificent and wonderful as angels are, they have a different purpose in God’s kingdom. Angels will be with us in heaven, and we will worship God with them.

Will I go to heaven even though I do not profess to be Christian?

Don Piper Ministries is a Christian ministry that believes the only way to go to heaven is to trust Jesus Christ as your savior. 

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, Christ tells his disciples he is going to prepare a place for them. Thomas asks the same question most of us would. Where is it, and how do we get there? Jesus responded without hesitation. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

What does this mean for those who do not follow Christ? As Christians, we believe the Bible teaches the only way to go to heaven is through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. We believe he did what he said he would do, he died and rose from the grave, and he is now preparing a place for us in heaven. Even though many great religions profess an after-life, that there is a place called “paradise” or “heaven,” Christ alone represents the one who conquered death to go to heaven. We profess Christ out of love for all the people of the world, and we hope they too will come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Christianity would not be possible if it were not for Judaism. Jews are the chosen people of God and therefore they have a special relationship with God. We are often asked if there will be a separate judgment for Jewish people. We acknowledge it is possible. The truth is we still believe you must profess Christ as your Lord and Savior in order to go to heaven. Jesus gives us a better life now and eternal life with him. With great love and respect for those of other faiths and religions, we point people to Jesus. We believe there is a heaven, and we believe Jesus is the way.

If an infant should die in infancy, will this person be in heaven?

Note:  A similar question relates to those who are severely mentally retarded even though they might be older. They do not have the mental capacities to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him. What we learn about infants can also be applied to situations where people are severely mentally handicapped.

Although the Bible does not specifically declare that infants who die will go to heaven, there is a weight of Biblical evidence which points in this direction.  We can safely say that   infants who die will be safe in the arms of Jesus and will spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Some reasons for reaching such a conclusion are as follows:

  • The Lord Jesus Christ died for all of Adam's race (for all mankind), including every infant that has ever been born.
  • A person is condemned for rejecting Jesus Christ and for refusing to believe in Him:  "He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18).   An infant is not capable of rejecting Jesus Christ.   An infant is incapable of committing the sin mentioned in John 16:9.
  • Consider the compassionate heart of God for those who are lost:  "Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4--this is God's desire).   "Not willing that any should perish" (2 Pet. 3:9).  "Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish" (Matt. 18:14).  "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked" (Ezekiel 33:11).  While these verses do not refer specifically to infants, they do teach us that the loving and merciful heart of our God desires the salvation of all men.
  • We know that the Lord Jesus had a tender and compassionate heart for the little children and was much displeased when His disciples were hindering them from coming to Him (Mark 10:13-14).  We are sure that our Savior has this same kind of compassion, not only for children, but for young infants also.
  • King David had a child by Bathsheba which died in infancy. David's words are significant:  "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?  But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:22-23).  The clear sense of this passage is that David believed that he would be reunited with his child in the next life.   He knew the baby, having died, could not come back to this life, but he believed that he would go to him. While we can't be dogmatic that such a passage teaches infant salvation, yet it does seem to point in that direction.

The "age of accountability" is a term not found in the Bible, but it is an expression that has been used to refer to the age that a person reaches when he is able to understand the gospel (or whatever revelation God has given to him) and when he is held accountable before God for believing or rejecting that gospel (or whatever revelation God has given to him).  It is obvious that an infant has not yet reached that age. It is evident also that there are certain people who have such serious mental disabilities that they will never be accountable in this way. Most people have been given by God the mental capability and capacity that when they reach a certain age they are able to make a decision for or against the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are able to say YES or NO to God.

It is wrong for us to set an arbitrary age for every person: "The age of accountability is reached for every person when they have their 5th birthday." It is wrong to make such a statement. Children develop mentally in different ways, and therefore only God knows the age of accountability for each individual. Our responsibility is to instruct and train up and teach our children from their youngest days, and trusting God to do the work in their hearts, in His time and way, which only He can do.

Those who die before the age of accountability will be taken care of by the loving and compassionate Savior who died for them.

I am certain that children/babies who died before they accepted or rejected Christ are in Heaven, But I am not certain that they will remain children or babies in Heaven. Adam and Eve were never babies. It is my further belief that if Adam or Eve had never fallen and been cast from the Garden, they would have never aged. Birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and death are earthly manifestations. Since there is no aging in Heaven, there are probably not any humans that we would call babies or children there either. There is simply no age. We will all be ageless. I believe that humans in Heaven will be fully developed, yet ageless. We were created in the image of God (Gen 1:27) in order to have a relationship with Him.

Babies are wonderful creatures indeed, but a relationship with them is decidedly one- sided. The exciting fact is that in heaven we will know as we are known. So that even though there will not necessarily be babies or children in heaven, we will know those who died as babies or children on earth as the fully developed humans in heaven. All the times that were missed by their apparent premature departure from earth, will be forgotten in Heaven, replaced by eternal fellowship.