I lost my cat Adah in June, and a loss like that makes big questions about what comes after this life feel a lot closer. So when I got the chance to read On Earth As It Is In Heaven, a two-volume memoir by Jill D. Wilcox, I wanted to see how she'd handle questions that heavy. The story starts with a mother standing on a city sidewalk after her husband has left, and it grows into something much bigger.
I started volume 1 at my work desk. I pulled both books out just to get a feel for how they'd read, and the story grabbed me quickly. It opens with drama, and it doesn't take forever to get there. Below, I'll cover what the books are about, who I think they fit, and the questions a careful reader should ask before picking them up.
Disclosure: I received these books free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
⚡ Key Takeaways
- 📖 On Earth As It Is In Heaven is a two-volume Christian memoir by Jill D. Wilcox, best for readers who want a faith-centered story full of hope.
- 🕊️ The author says it's based on a three-day spiritual experience she had at age 30.
- 🌑 Volume 1 opens with drama, and volume 2 is darker and far more intense.
- ⏱️ The paperbacks are medium-sized, and I read about two chapters in 30 to 40 minutes.
- 🎁 It could be a meaningful gift for someone who feels like life can't get better.
What Is On Earth As It Is In Heaven About?
On Earth As It Is In Heaven: My Transcendent Spiritual Odyssey is a memoir told across two volumes. The author, Jill D. Wilcox, says it's based on a three-day spiritual experience she had when she was 30 years old. She describes herself at that time as a fallen-away Catholic Christian, and she says she has spent almost 40 years trying to put into words what happened to her. The books are her testimony.
The story opens on a cold winter morning in Boston. A young mother is standing on a sidewalk with her daughter's hand in hers, staring at the closed door of their brownstone. Her husband is gone, and her world is falling apart. From that low point, the book's description says the story turns into a three-day encounter that changes everything.
The description says the two volumes lift the veil between what we can see and what we can't. It follows a weary person through fear, darkness, grace, and what the author calls astonishing beauty. The author also says she has since returned to church and serves there full time as a parishioner. Outside of writing, she's a wife, mom, grandmom, and Realtor.
Who Is This Book For?
I'd point this toward readers who like faith-based memoirs and stories about heaven, hope, and second chances. It's also a fit for people who are curious about spiritual experiences and want to read one person's account with an open mind. The book's description says it's Bible-based, and it's written for Christian readers who are looking for hope.
Grief is one season where it could land well, since a story about love and what comes after this life can comfort someone who's hurting. A hard stretch in a marriage is another, because the story begins with a woman whose husband has left. My favorite fit, though, is any time you feel like things can't get any better. I've been there. I've gone through dark times where I wanted to give up, then wanted life to get better but didn't have the energy or motivation to get there, and I fell away from church for a bit before coming back.
Life has been much better for the past five or six years. My husband and I got back on our feet, and our finances finally stabilized, which had been a huge thing that kept bringing us down. I think this book works in any season, but it speaks most to someone in the middle of something hard. There's always someone out there going through something similar or even worse, and this book is proof.
It would also be a thoughtful gift for a friend who's been through a loss or a woman who loves faith-based books. Because it comes in two volumes, it's a better pick for someone who enjoys a longer read than for someone who wants a quick devotional.
What You Might Be Wondering
Is this a Bible study or a devotional?
No, it's a memoir that reads like one continuous story, so you read it start to finish instead of a page a day. Scripture is built in, though, and I liked how it's handled. Small subscript numbers in the text point to the Appendix at the end, which marks dialogue that paraphrases Bible passages. Direct quotes from Scripture are marked with an asterisk. The author encourages readers to use whatever Bible version they prefer if they want to explore further, so you don't need a specific translation.
Does it lean toward a certain denomination?
A little, yes. The author describes herself as a "fallen-away Catholic Christian," and the book does lean on some Catholic values. I can't relate to that side of it, because I grew up Pentecostal. As an adult, I attend Baptist churches too, but I still consider myself Pentecostal. It's worth knowing going in, especially if your church background is very different from hers.
Should I be careful with a book about supernatural experiences?
This is a fair question, and a careful reader should ask it. Books about heaven and visions come in many styles, and some people feel uneasy when a personal experience is treated like a teaching. The author presents hers as a testimony, a witness to what happened to her, and not as a new doctrine. I'd read it the way you'd read any testimony: with interest, and with your Bible nearby to compare what you read with what Scripture says.
Is it heavy?
Yes, and volume 2 more than volume 1. Volume 2 is darker and way more intense. It gets a little out there at times with the visualizations, like being in literal hell, and those parts made me pause. It almost seems like a never-ending nightmare, but it ends up turning into something very positive. If you're in a raw season or sensitive to disturbing imagery, go in knowing that.
Is it realistic for a busy reader or a small group?
The books are medium-sized, the chapters are medium length, and the text is a great size, not tiny. They still take time. I read about two chapters per sitting, which took 30 to 40 minutes, and that includes interruptions and zoning out when something made me stop and think. Depending on how fast you read, it could take you longer. A small group could read one volume at a time and talk about each part, though that's my suggestion, not something the books are set up to do.
What makes it different from other heaven books?
Many heaven books focus on a short event. This one is spread across two volumes and starts with the author's life falling apart before the experience begins. It's also a personal testimony that shows the ups and downs, the good and the bad. And the author says it took her almost 40 years to find the words.
What Stood Out to Me
The storytelling is what I liked most. It's detailed and easy to follow, and it's told in a way that lets you actually picture what's happening. I like to visualize things as I read, so that worked well for me. There are some large, complex words here and there, but nothing too bad. With context, they're easy to figure out, and you can always look them up.
I also love that it's faith-centered. As a Christian woman, I'm drawn to books that focus on God and Scripture. The message about people stayed with me too. It says no one is perfect, even those who strive to be, and that God can work through anyone. That gives me hope, and it's motivating.
One scene in volume 2 stuck with me, on page 129. The author describes being in hell, with demonic moaning, a rumbling and shaking ground, and people reaching out to her, some wanting to be saved and others trying to pull her down. Others sit along the walls holding their heads and blocking their ears, and many are bound in chains. It's a scene and a place I never want to see.
The books themselves are nice. They're paperbacks that feel solid, with soft, smooth covers. The colors and visuals on the covers are nice, with not too much going on, but just enough. I do have to keep them away from my rabbits, because they'd chew them up.
How You Can Use It
The simplest way is to read it in order, one volume after the other. Pick a quiet time, plan on about two chapters per sitting, and keep a notebook or the notes app on your phone nearby. If something stops you and makes you think, write it down. When you hit a subscript, flip to the Appendix to see which Bible passage the dialogue paraphrases, then look it up in your favorite version.
If you want to read it with others, one volume at a time works well for a small group or a friend you check in with. You could meet after each section and talk about what stood out and what you'd want to look up in Scripture. It also works as a book to hand to a friend once you finish.
My Favorite Takeaways
The first is that no one is perfect, not even the people who work hard at it, and God can still work through anyone. The second is the hope. I can relate to wanting to give up and then wanting life to get better without having the energy to get there, and this story shows that someone else has been through it, sometimes even worse.
The third is that the book doesn't clean anything up. It shows the ups and downs, the good and the bad, and that makes the hopeful parts easier to believe.
Where to Get On Earth As It Is In Heaven
This is a good fit for anyone going through something and feeling like it can't get better. It could help most in a season of grief, a hard stretch in a marriage, or a time when you feel far from God. It would make a meaningful gift for a friend or family member who's hurting and who likes to read. Prices change, but they're currently about $16 each on Amazon, or around $32 for both volumes, and for the size and story, it definitely feels worth it. I received my copies free, so I checked the price on Amazon.
Your next step is to visit the purchase page for On Earth As It Is In Heaven to see the options for both volumes.
On Earth As It Is In Heaven FAQs
Is On Earth As It Is In Heaven a true story?
The author, Jill D. Wilcox, says the books are based on a three-day spiritual experience she had when she was 30 years old. She calls it her testimony. It's presented as a personal memoir, so it reflects her experience and how she understands it. Readers who want to weigh it carefully can read it alongside their Bible, as with any personal testimony.
How many books are in the series?
There are two volumes. They're titled On Earth As It Is In Heaven: My Transcendent Spiritual Odyssey Volume 1 and Volume 2. The author says the story is meant to be read as one continuous account across both. You can see the options on the purchase page.
Who should read On Earth As It Is In Heaven?
It's written for Christian readers looking for hope, especially people who like faith-based memoirs and stories about heaven and divine encounter. It could also speak to someone who's grieving, feeling far from church, or going through a painful stretch in life. If you want a short devotional or a study guide, a different format may suit you better. This is a story to read in order.
Is the book Bible-based?
The book's description calls it Bible-based. Dialogue that paraphrases Bible passages is marked with subscripts and listed in the Appendix, and direct Scripture quotes are marked with an asterisk. It's a personal testimony and not a teaching book, so I'd read it with your own Bible beside you. If you're unsure about anything, ask your pastor or a trusted friend who's read it.
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