'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven' Recants Story, Rebukes Christian Retailers

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Jan 15, 2015

'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven' Recants Story, Rebukes Christian Retailers

Alex Malarkey, the boy at the center of the book The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven has reportedly recanted his story, saying that he did not go to heaven after all. 

Malarkey was in a car accident at age six with his father Kevin who authored the book. After two months in a coma, Malarkey said he had been to heaven and spoken to Jesus. The now-sixteen-year-old says that the book is not true and admonished the Southern Baptist Convention-owned LifeWay Christian stores for selling it. 

In a letter sent to Pulpit and Pen for publication, Malarkey writes, “I did not die. I did not go to Heaven.

I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible.

It is only through repentance of your sins and a belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for your sins (even though he committed none of his own) so that you can be forgiven may you learn of Heaven outside of what is written in the Bible…not by reading a work of man. I want the whole world to know that the Bible is sufficient. Those who market these materials must be called to repent and hold the Bible as enough.” 

The letter is addressed “to Lifeway and Other Sellers, Buyers, and Marketers of Heaven Tourism.” LifeWay Christian Stores has not yet responded to the letter. 

Publication date: January 14, 2015



'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven' Recants Story, Rebukes Christian Retailers