Seeing Earth From Heaven

Seeing Earth from Heaven

There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

— Luke 15:7

We want something else which can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.^a

— C. S. LEWIS

Since martyrs in Heaven know that God hasn’t yet brought judgment on their persecutors (Revelation 6:9-11), it seems evident that the inhabitants of the intermediate Heaven can see what’s happening on Earth, at least to some extent. In Revelation 18:20, when Babylon is brought down, an angel points to events happening on Earth and says, “Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.” That the angel specifically addresses people living in Heaven indicates that they are aware of what’s happening on Earth.

Further, there is “the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: ‘Hallelujah!’ ” and praising God for specific events of judgment that have just taken place on Earth (Revelation 19:1-5). Again, the saints in Heaven are clearly observing what is happening.

Because Heaven’s saints will return with Christ to set up his Kingdom on Earth (Revelation 19:11-14), it’s hard to imagine that they would be ignorant of the culmination of human history. The depiction of saints in Heaven as blissfully unaware of what is happening on Earth seems inconceivable. After all, God and his angels (and the saints themselves) are about to return for the ultimate battle in the history of the universe, after which Christ will be crowned King. People on Earth may be oblivious to Heaven, but people in Heaven are not oblivious to Earth.

When King Saul wrongly appealed to the witch of Endor to call the prophet Samuel back from the afterlife, the medium was terrified when God actually sent him. But Samuel remembered what Saul had done before Samuel died, and he was aware of what had happened since (1 Samuel 28:3-8, 16-19). Though God could have briefed Samuel on all this, it seems likely the prophet knew these things simply because those in Heaven are aware of what happens on Earth.

When Moses and Elijah were called from Heaven to the Transfiguration on Earth, they “appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). Moses and Elijah appear to have been fully aware of the drama they’d stepped into, of what was currently transpiring on Earth, and of God’s redemptive plan about to be accomplished.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” creating the mental picture of the Greek competitions, which were watched intently by throngs of engrossed fans sitting high up in the ancient stadiums. The “great cloud of witnesses” refers to the saints who’ve gone before us, whose accomplishments on the playing field of life are now part of our rich history. The imagery may also suggest that those saints, the spiritual “athletes” of old, are now watching us and cheering us on from the great stadium of Heaven that looks down on the field of Earth. (The witnesses are said to surround us, not merely to have preceded us.)

In Heaven, Christ watches closely what happens on Earth, especially in the lives of his people (Revelation 2–3). If the sovereign God’s attention is on Earth, why wouldn’t the attention of his people in Heaven be focused here as well? When a great war is taking place, are those in the home country uninformed and unaware of it? Do those who know the writer, producer, and cast of a great drama—and who have an interest in the outcome—refrain from watching it?

Angels saw Christ on Earth (1 Timothy 3:16). There are clear indications that the angels know what is happening on Earth (1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Timothy 5:21). If angels, why not saints? Surely God’s people in Heaven would be as interested in spiritual events happening on Earth as angels are. Wouldn’t we expect the body and bride of Christ in Heaven to be intensely interested in its counterpart still living on Earth?

Christ said, “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Notice it does not speak of rejoicing by the angels but in the presence of angels. Who is doing this rejoicing in Heaven? Logically, it would include God, but also the saints in Heaven, who would deeply appreciate the wonder of human conversion—especially the conversion of those they knew and loved on Earth.

If people in Heaven rejoice over conversions on Earth, then obviously they must be aware of what is happening on Earth — and not just generally, but specifically, down to the details of individuals coming to faith in Christ.

Many assume that people in Heaven must not be aware of anything on Earth or else they wouldn’t be happy. But people in Heaven are not frail beings whose joy can be preserved only by shielding them from what’s really going on in the universe!

Happiness in Heaven is not based on ignorance, but on perspective. Those in the presence of Christ will share God’s perspective. God is full of joy, despite his awareness of what’s happening on Earth, and despite his displeasure with certain things on Earth. Surely God’s happiness is the prevailing mood of Heaven. We need not assume that happiness in Heaven is based on ignorance of Earth.

Do you know anyone now in Heaven who may be interested in whether you are following Christ? As they rejoiced at your conversion, do you think they may be celebrating your growth and obedience?

Father, thank you for the evidence that people in Heaven are aware of events on Earth and are cheering us on, rejoicing in your ongoing work of spiritual transformation. Thank you, too, that they have your perspective, and therefore nothing can diminish their happiness in you. We’re also grateful that they, too, are longing for the final deliverance of the earth from sin and suffering and the Curse. Thank you that Jesus did the work that assures our ultimate deliverance from the Hell we deserve to the Heaven we don’t deserve. We praise you for purchasing our redemption, even at such a price!