I've heard people say that they believe a loved one (spouse, brother, friend) who has passed away can look down from heaven and see us (or, usually more particularly: look down to see the person with this belief).
Is there any biblical scripture that supports this? Not Isaiah 65:17, perhaps 2 Corinthians 5:1?, Psalm 85:11? Psalm 23?. There are many accounts of the Lord looking down from heaven and of angels delivering messages from heaven, but mankind is neither God nor angel.
May God bless you in the love of Christ!
2007-06-21 06:57:12 · 15 answers · asked by In God I Trust (a.k.a. infohog) 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I appreciate all of the responses, but the question was specifically requesting biblical sources, which currently narrows the responses down to two (kait and ironsharpener).
Pew Potato, I hope you don't believe the twisted inferences you quoted - each point is riddled with twists and some with outright lies.
I now remember one reason why I rarely ask questions in this forum - it's tough to select only one as the "best" answer. If I could divide the selection in two I would.
2007-06-21 12:23:35 · update #1
Answer: Hebrews 12:1 states, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses..." Some understand the "cloud of witnesses" as being people looking down on us from Heaven. That is not the correct interpretation. Hebrews chapter 11 records many people whom God commended for their faith. It is these people who are the "cloud of witnesses." They are "witnesses" not in that they are watching us, but rather in that they have set an example for us...they are witnesses for Christ, and God, and truth. Hebrews 12:1 continues, "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
The Bible does not specifically say whether people can look down on us who are still on the earth. It is highly likely that they cannot. Why? One, they would sometimes witness us sinning. Two, they would sometimes see things that would cause them grief. Three, people in heaven are so occupied with worshipping God and enjoying the glories of Heaven that they truly have no interest in what is happening here on earth. The very fact that they are free from sin, in heaven, and in God’s presence is enough for them to be happy. While it is possible that God allows people in heaven to look down upon their loved ones, the Bible gives us no reason to believe this actually occurs.
Recommended Resource: What the Bible Says about Heaven & Eternity by Ice & Demy.
2007-06-21 08:02:29 · answer #1 · answered by Freedom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm with you,,,it>my Bible doesn't support this theory,,nor does it support the delusion that when someone dies,,,"they are in a better place" or "are with God now" My Bible,,,when you die,,,,your body goes into the ground,,your spirit goes into a "sleep-like state" (not really asleep, you are dead) until the second coming when "Jesus will descend from Heaven on a cloud and 'the dead in Christ' shall arise to meet Him and be ajoined with their new Heavenly Body.
2007-06-21 07:07:57 · answer #2 · answered by creeklops 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is probably true to a degree, but its not known how much a person (who is in heaven) is aware of. In addition, the Bible says a person in hell can be aware of what is going on here on earth and heaven (to a degree). But I know this much: every dark thing done in secret--God is aware of in plain view--nothing escapes His view.
Hopefully for his/her sake, the family member got to heaven in the first place...which is not the most common road...
2007-06-21 07:09:18 · answer #3 · answered by wake up 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe that "heaven" is a place, and logically and scientifically a place "above" doesn't make sense, if it exists at all. I acknowledge that we are embodied spirits, so when we transition to another life, it would most likely be a spirit life, and who knows what that means. However, everything in life is cyclical -everything. Today is the first day of summer (again) and the sun came up this morning (again) and the flowers are all in bloom, etc. etc. etc. We are alive and we will all die and resurrect in another life. The cycle goes on.
2007-06-21 07:07:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are three heavens.
Atmosphere
Outer space
Place where God lives
The Bible doesn't say anything about looking down from the third heaven, but I definitely think you could do just about anything in the third heaven
2007-06-21 07:03:07 · answer #5 · answered by cubby 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't think that people can see down from heaven. I used to believe that. My mom always told me that as a child. I think it was just for comfort. I really don't think that when we die we will care what happens here on Earth...that's God's job.
2007-06-21 07:01:18 · answer #6 · answered by CAT 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have wondered this as well, but I think that they really can't - but we can see them when we get to heaven.
2007-06-21 07:00:09 · answer #7 · answered by artbyheather04 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but it's an awfully comforting thought when, say, you wish your dead father could be watching your high school graduation because you know how proud he would have been. Which is probably how a lot of religious ideas started--people need to fill in the blanks in their lives with comforting thoughts.
2007-06-21 07:00:28 · answer #8 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋
It is a good question. personally I believe that when we die we are dead untill the rapture and judgement day.
2007-06-21 07:04:59 · answer #9 · answered by ogphatboi 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, and if you could really look down from heaven, how close would you have to be to know its the person you wanted to see. How can one see without physical eyeballs
2007-06-21 06:59:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋