Bible Question:

Watching from Heaven - Can the people in heaven see what is happening on earth?

Bible Answer:

Some Bible scholars believe that the answer to the question, “Can the dead in Christ see us now on earth?” is yes. But other Bible scholars disagree. So, we will examine a few verses  that provide some reasons to believe that people in heaven may be watching us.  However, there are no verses that definitely state people can and are watching us from heaven.

Is Heaven Watching Us?

Luke 15:7, 10 may reveal that angels are watching us from heaven. These two verses reveal that the angels in heaven know when people are saved. Verse 7 says,

. . . there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

This seems to suggest that all of heaven is watching us on earth. Now it is possible that God the Father makes an announcement to all of heaven that someone has repented and believed in Christ. If so, then that may be how heaven knows someone repented. It is also possible heaven is watching and can see what is happening. If angels can see what happens on earth, then perhaps believers in heaven can also! However, this verse does not provide definite proof.

Do Moses & Elijah Watch From Heaven?

Luke 9:30-31 provides a second possible reason that people in heaven may see us from heaven. The passage reveals that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were talking about the future events that would occur on earth.

And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:30-31 (NASB)

This occurred when Moses and Elijah were on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus. It suggests that they may have known what was happening on earth. But they may have just learned about it from Jesus while on the mount with Him. We are not told they had been watching events on earth from heaven.

Can Saints Watch Us From Heaven?

Revelation 6:9-10 is another possible passage may reveal saints are watching us from heaven.

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:9-10 (NASB)

Here we are told the saints in heaven, during the tribulation, will ask when God will avenge their blood of those who had killed them while on the earth. It may suggest that they know what is happening on the earth. But again, the verse does not specifically say so.

Conclusion:

Some believe that other passages are convincing proof that people in heaven see what is happening on earth. Two of those passages are 1 Samuel 28:8, 11-19 and Hebrews 11:39-12:1. The difficulty with those passages is that they are not as strong as the ones quoted above. The word “cloud” in Hebrews 12:1 can also be translated as “mass” or “crowd.” So, there are no clear statements that the saints in heaven are actually watching.