The boy who came back from heaven, a remarkable account of miracles, angels, and life beyond this world is written by Kevin and Alex Malarkey.

At the bottom of the front cover are the words True Story. The boy who came back from heaven recounts the story of six year old Alex Malarkey who was seriously injured in an automobile accident that left him paralyzed.  While in a coma Alex was taken to heaven and was given the grand tour. He returned to earth and his body so that he could share with all of us the story found in The boy who came back from heaven.  The book also records post-coma trips to heaven by Alex and even includes an angel appearance to Alex’s father Kevin Malarkey.

I almost stopped reading the book after reading the Introduction. Kevin Malarkey,an Evangelical Christian therapist in Columbus Ohio wrote:

I’m not here to beat a drum, convince you of a theological argument, or force you to validate Alex’s experiences. But I humbly offer a challenge: suspend your judgment for just a few chapters. I think your life may be changed forever.

If Alex’s story is to be taken as a TRUE story then why do I need to suspend my judgment? Should not the truth of the story be clear to all who read it?

According to Kevin Malarkey:

Heaven is real. There is an unseen world at work—an intensely  active spiritual realm right here o earth , all around us. And much of this activity keeps us from focusing on our future destination, the place where we will spend eternity. Alex has been there….

The only thing the book actually proves is that some people believe there is a heaven. The boy who came back from heaven may be a true story but it is a true story without one shred of provable truth . In other words, you are going to have to take the word of six year old (or 11 year old by the time the book is written) Alex Malarkey that what he shares is the truth.

The story begins when Kevin and Alex Malarkey are involved in a horrific automobile accident. Kevin, while talking on his cellphone, turned in front of an automobile coming in the opposite direction. The driver of the other car was a woman with two young children. Alex was injured far worse than anyone else. The accident left him paralyzed and in a coma for 2 months.

At the accident scene unconscious Alex saw:

• Five angels carrying his father outside the car. Four were carrying the body and one angel was supporting his head and neck. (the police report said Kevin Malarkey was ejected from the automobile)
• The devil sitting in the front seat of the automobile accusing Alex of causing the accident.

While in a coma Alex was taken to heaven. What did Alex see and experience while he was in heaven?

• His father was in heaven too, but only for a short time.
• Alex saw  the five angels that carried his father’s body outside the .automobile. The five angels stayed with Alex so his father could have time alone with God.  His prayed to trade places with Alex but God told him no. God sent his father’s spirit back to earth and Alex remained in heaven. God told him that he would heal him later on earth to bring more glory to His (God’s) name.
• While in the emergency room Alex watched everything that was going on from the ceiling. Jesus was standing right there beside him. Alex felt safe and he was not afraid to die.
• While in the emergency room Alex saw 150 pure, white angels with fantastic wings who were all calling his name. After awhile they said “Alex Go back.”  Alex did go back and Jesus came with him and held him  during his time in the emergency room.
• Alex found himself in the presence of God. God had a human-like body but a lot bigger. Alex was only allowed to see God from the neck down because the Bible says anyone who looks on the face of God dies.
• There is an inner heaven and an outer heaven . The outer heaven has a hole that leads to hell.
• There  are lots of colorful, beautiful things to see, and beautiful music too.
• Heaven is a lot like earth but it is perfect in every detail.
• Angels  are white, have wings, are are sexless.
• Some angels are short, 2 feet tall, and others are much taller.
• There are different types of angels with different jobs to do.
• There are lots of buildings in heaven, but Alex only really noticed the Temple. God never leaves his throne in the Temple. There is a scroll in a glass container that only Jesus can read.

After Alex came out of  a coma he continued to see other world beings. Angels were present in Alex’s hospital room.The angels helped Alex and the angels talked to Alex and he talked back to them.

One day Alex told his father that he had something important to tell him. He wanted to make sure his father would not be sad after hearing what Alex had to say. Alex said:

There are two days I look forwards to more than any others in my life. The first is the day I die. You see, I can’t wait to get home. It’s not that I want to die right now; I’m not sad…. The second is the day when the devil goes to the Lake of Fire. I can’t wait for him to be gone for good.

According to Alex demons and evil spirits came to visit him. He is thankful that his father taught him how to pray and how to take authority over the demons.

Alex had this to say about the devil, about demons  and evil spirits:

• They are evil, scary, and ugly.
• They accuse Alex of things, bring him doubt, make him feel sad, tell him he will never be healed and that God won’t protect him.
• The devil has three heads and all three heads have hair of fire. (is the devil a redhead)   Each of the heads speak different lies at the same time.
• The devil has beaming red eyes with flames for pupils.  His nose is nasty and torn up.
• The devil speaks English to Alex. His voice is screechy like a witch and changes into different sounds. The devil’s mouth is funny looking with only a few moldy teeth.
• The devil’s body has a human form but has no flesh.
• The devil wears a torn and dirty robe.
• The devil personally appeared to Alex. Sometimes the devil came along with other evil spirits but sometimes he came alone.
• Demons are often green and they have hair made of fire. Their skin and robes are just like the the devil’s. Their eyes are like the devil’s and they have long fingernails.

According to Alex demons walk around telling lies. In Frank Peretti style Alex says that there is a spiritual war going on—angels against demons.

Towards the end of the book Kevin Malarkey lets readers know that Alex has continued to take periodic trips to heaven. Readers are also told that Kevin himself had an experience where an angel name John appeared to him.

The angel John gave Kevin  a message:

I have anointed you with a message of hope…for the church….for the body of Christ…and for those who will be the body…..that He will be raised up and seen in His true glory…This is the word of the Lord given to you by the angel John.

Speak of Me, for Me, and about Me. Use Alex to show who I am. I have chosen him as a screen upon which to show myself. I am unity, the Trinity, a complete circle. Your story  will lead to praise and worship, there will be altar calls. Your bills are the least of my worries. I will be with you all the days of your life. I will speak to you, I will guide you, I am in you. I am about you, you be about me. My love is unconditional. My vengeance is restricted for the holy. My apostles died for Me, will you die for Me? I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.

Most of the book is Kevin Malarkey’s explanation of Alex’s trips to heaven and how God is using them to reach other people. One chapter is devoted to the things that Alex knew about his time in a coma. To many people this is proof above all proof. Alex talked of things that were not possible for him to know.

The story is what it is. Either you believe it or you don’t. Just like the book Heaven is for Real , you have the story of a young child being taken to heaven. Both boys waited for years before their story was put to print. Both stories show clear signs of being shaped by adult human hands. (whether by parents or book editors)

I have no doubt that the Malarkey family believes what is written here. Like many Christians they are desperate to know that their lives matter and that when death comes there is a new life that awaits beyond the grave.

As a non-believer the story said little that I would consider as proof that there is a God,  a devil, a heaven, a hell, or that life continues beyond the grave. I found myself angry, once again, at a god, who paralyzes a kid in an automobile accident so he can get some praise and glory. With all the suffering, sickness, disease, and death in the world it seems to me that God has plenty enough praise and glory.

My conclusion? Kevin Malarkey asked me to suspend my judgment as  I read the book. I could not do so and, in my judgment the book is a bunch of malarkey.(meaningless talk and nonsense)

I wish Alex and his family well.