Someone claimed my book would attract the attention of agents better with a professionally designed cover. I thought the content was more important than the cover, but I relented and agreed to let a professional graphics designer work on it. I rejected several ideas before I found one acceptable. Then several changes were required before it was one that I thought was good enough. The cover of a book should correspond in some way with what the reader can expect from the content. So the result is a new cover for the paperback version that reflects many features of heaven the eyewitnesses told us. There are still many differences from the reality, but there is enough to make it interesting and meaningful.
The first thing many notice in heaven is the green grass, more vividly green than any grass here. On the cover image, there is abundant grass like in heaven but it is yellowish and not like the grass of heaven. I think that was necessary to avoid too much green in the image. The flowers along the stream are typical of heaven but flowers are everywhere there. There are many trees, many different varieties, some unlike trees here. The trees along the River of life have many different crops of fruit all within reach, but those are not illustrated on the cover.
Central to the picture is Jesus because He is central to heaven. He is everywhere and everyone wants to meets Him. Some have said heaven is all about Jesus and His Father. Without Jesus there is no heaven. He also loves children so Jesus is holding a child in the picture. Colton Burpo said He really loves children and said it so much his father had to tell him that he got the message. The white robes of the people in the picture are typical of heaven dwellers, but we have been told we will have many different garments there, some like we would wear here.
There is no sun in the sky but it is colorful, like a summer sunset someone said or like the aurora. Even though there is no sun in heaven, it is lighted by the glory of God. The sky in the cover is like that.
The lion pair, horses, and herons or cranes represent that all such creatures God made are in heaven. The children love riding and talking with the horses. Yes, in heaven we can talk with the animals since all conversation is mind to mind. Voices are not required, so creatures that do not have the gift of speech can still talk with us. I think I see some faint images of sheep near the lion pair. You can see no one has any fear of the lion pair. In heaven no animals hurt any others or people.
In the distance is the huge throne of God. Colton Burpo said, “it is really, really big, because God is the biggest there is.” Richard Sigmund said it is the biggest building in heaven; it is several hundred miles wide and fifty miles tall with a domed roof. Oden Hedrick said it is a large round building about three hundred miles across and eight hundred miles high. It is so large it can be seen from anywhere in heaven. From under the throne flows the River of Life. It flows out the East Gate and throughout heaven, as we see here in this picture. There are many animated fountains in heaven. It looks like there is one between the water and the throne in the distance.
As you read the book you can see all of this and much much more. You will be able to imagine a lot more than you can now about what heaven is like. But remember, “heaven is beyond imagination”. There is much more you will have to be there to witness and enjoy.