They are at home and Paul is saying it is far preferable. In other words, we need to trust what we are told in the Bible about the happiness of the saints in heaven. Prayer is simply talking to God. On this page youll find prayers for the dead; prayers for your loved ones you have lost. First, I’m assuming here that the “deceased loved ones” are indeed with the Lord. But that’s God—He’s the one watching over us with His heavenly host, a.k.a. Randy Alcorn talks about the Present Heaven and the effect of the prayers of the faithful and whether God answers all prayers prayed by those who are faithful. But since Purgatory is a time of purification and cleansing from our earthly attachments, it is probably not an enjoyable place. We will communicate with God in Heaven, and therefore we will pray in Heaven, presumably more than we do now, not less. The Bible states that there are no more tears or sorrow in heaven. Can our loved ones’ spirit come and visit us after they leave us? But we are called to do much more than celebrate the lives our loved ones lived on earth. … Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”. The angels, though, are not our deceased relatives. 6. Good morning, good afternoon, thanks for taking my call. Angels can talk to God, and therefore angels pray. St. Catharine of Bologna, whenever she desired any favor, had recourse to the souls in purgatory, and was immediately heard. Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of fifty-some books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. Help us to remember that you love them more than we ever could. Or can we ask God to reval their spirits to us since they are fully alive in heaven. Merry Christmas to all of our angels and yours from SCW. I found an interesting article by Father William H. Shannon, a professor emeritus at Nazareth University in Rochester, N.Y., on AmericanCatholic.org. Those who loved us and taught us here on Earth can only love us … We often refer to the … A Prayer for Friends and Loved Ones Who Are Far from God: Dear God, We’re thankful that you know our hearts, you hear our prayers, and you care about all that concerns us. Our prayers will be effective given our righteous state (James 5:16). Or is the belief that those in Heaven are unaware of what happens on earth merely an assumption, one that over decades or centuries has been elevated by some into a doctrine, one not based on Scripture? I’m not saying this to scare you, but rather to emphasize the importance of our … There is a link to my FB Page listed on my Website. This calling is only for the ones Jesus called His “little flock”. All we can do is have faith and pray. And they are Saints in heaven, interceding in prayer for us still. His ministry on our behalf continues (Hebrews 7:25). Dr. Charity Virkler Kayembe: Obviously, we all want comfort after a loved one dies, and we want someone from heaven to be watching over us. You always abound “in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” When you get there, you won’t regret anything you have invested in the Lord. About Donate. We do not think the same or act the same because we serve a different Master. May 13, 2014 Do Loved Ones in Heaven Look Down on Us? In this post we discuss - Our Loved Ones are part of our soul group. Q: Do you believe that we'll be reunited with our loved ones when we get to heaven? We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. As I know some in my family are in heaven with the Lord, yet I have only got the assurance they are there in heaven with the Lord, yet not so much praying for me & mine. If they could see what’s going on down here I think they would worry or be upset. If you would like to focus on your Healing, I would love for each of you to join my page. If we assume Heaven is a place of ignorance of or disinterest in earth, then we will naturally assume those in Heaven couldn’t or wouldn’t pray for people here. I don’t think they can hear us or see us from heaven. (Yes, you!) This Christmas prayer is for anyone and everyone who has a loved one in Heaven. As a new year dawns, consider that God’s word offers great treasures on a first reading, and many of its greatest ones as we reread year after year. It’s a question of assumptions. Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:37 pm . Luke 20:38, “He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” So they are alive and they are living to him and he is their God. They’re a different, separate order of beings. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Lord, hear us. I thank you for blessing those who give you reverence and love. Whether they’re in Heaven or Purgatory, they will hear you. Based on scriptural evidence, I believe the answer is “yes.”. Nevertheless, we can say that because we’ll all be united to God in heaven, we’ll also be united to our loved ones. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We never forget or fully heal from the loss of a loved one, because our wounds are more than physical. Please consider this request from John Piper and become a monthly partner by December 31. It is speculation to wonder how much the saints in heaven know about the events on earth. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast. This was my conclusion too. Ask Pastor John. Based on the Bible’s teaching, we know several things. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's, Randy Alcorn answers the question, "Could there be sorrow or uneasiness in Heaven for those who are without Christ? - 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 Dear Father, I thank You for taking care of my father/mother during their life on Earth. Saturate your mind and soul with His Word until it stabilizes your faith. In at least one case, then, a person who has died and gone to Heaven is now praying for those on earth. He invites us to come to Him with what's on our minds and hearts. But the main thing to emphasize is that all speculation about such things for the sake of strengthening our souls, is a spiritual detour off the main highway of God’s blessing and comfort and strength and hope. We know that because some people who look like they are about to die, and don't, tell us of loved ones who came to visit or told them that they loved them, when in truth they were not physically there. My desire is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better.”. God will not fail you! May they abandon their sinful ways and focus on the salvation, and freedom you attained for us at the cross. CLOSING PRAYER Loving God, We place in your loving hands all our loved ones who have died. May their souls rest in peace. They do care about us and watch over us in love and in prayer. The loss of a loved one, whether it was sudden or foreseen, can be a shocking and desperate time. Pray one or more of the above for a loved one. The sense of connection and loyalty to and concern for the body of Christ—of which saints in Heaven are part of with the saints on earth—would likely be enhanced by being in Heaven, not eliminated by it (Eph. Father in heaven, we honor and praise your name. Thank you that you understand these burdens we carry and how we want, more than anything, to see our loved ones come to you. Where? I say this because of reading 1 Samuel 28, about King Saul’s experience with Samuel’s which l believe God allowed through His power only. Christ, the God-man, is in Heaven interceding for people on earth (Rom. For more information on this subject, see Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven. They live in pure perfection in God’s Pure Light. That argument is therefore worth taking a closer look at. The Jews sometimes thought of heaven as Abraham’s bosom, a place of comfort in Sheol. Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Revelation 14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. April writes in to ask: “Dear Pastor John, when a Christian dies and goes to heaven in spirit, do they see their loves ones who are still on earth? I am hard pressed between the two. 1. But heaven's greatest joy will be our reunion with Christ, our Savior and Lord. Let's contrast conjuring up spirits with asking Mary or one of the Saints in heaven to pray for us. One of the main reasons people believe our lost loved ones can see us from heaven is one verse in the Book of Hebrews (12:1). Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” They are at home, relaxed. Though the present Heaven is not our final destination, it’s a wonderful place, and it’s understandable that those who have had loved ones die in Christ wonder what life is like for them there. So here’s a thought: Why not ask God to allow the intercession of our loved ones in heaven to pray for us here on earth as we struggle with decisions in our own lives? Do our loved ones wait for us in Heaven? From all accounts I have heard of. This is a form of private devotion (as opposed to the public devotion of having talks with canonized saints). The Holy Spirit comforts those of us who grieve, if we allow it. We serve these loved ones by offering prayers in their name, in the hope that our devotion hastens their departure from Purgatory. The Roman Catholic Church is going beyond the Bible when they cultivate the practice of praying to the saints for help or for intercession. Take away all fear and set them in perfect health. The burden of proof lies on those who would argue saints in Heaven cannot or do not pray for those on earth. We pray that you will help us heal from our grief and find solace. I hear it said sometimes that ‘they are looking down on us’ or ‘watching out for us.’ Is this true or is this just another happy funeral thought?”. Angels can talk to God, and therefore angels pray. (Yes, It’s much more subtle, and it is probably already happening to you. In Q&A published by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association , evangelist Billy Graham contends that while the Bible doesn't answer all our questions about Heaven, it does indicate that those who have already entered Heaven may be aware of events on earth. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. Close. On what biblical basis would we conclude this? And of course, the souls in Purgatory love to pray for us here on Earth, as much as the souls fully in Heaven do, so either way you are covered. The dead are aware, however, that those of us left behind are having a much harder time dealing with what we perceive as a loss, because we, the living, think the person is gone to a galaxy far, far away. How inadequate and unsatisfactory is our language when we speak about God! It doesn’t depict someone from heaven, but it does depict “dead people” having a lively conversation. We pray for the dead because we want to help our loved ones get to Heaven. Whether or not people in heaven can look down and see us, we are not running our race for them. Destroy what is hurting my loved one – look down from heaven in your compassion and mercy. The Holy Spirit comforts those of us who grieve, if we allow it. 2. it could be an anniversary, a birthday, the date of their death or the time they passed at, or even restating numbers such as 444 , … I believe God is going to save your loved ones. By establishing a deeper relationship with our Father, we’ll learn to trust even more in his merciful love for us. His angels. Our loved ones and indeed all the saints in heaven are able to “look out” for us and pray for us. 5. May God bless all of our Angels in Heaven. Yes they do. Whether they’re in Heaven or Purgatory, they will hear you. Do our loved ones remain for us before they reincarnate, continue to the next level of their soul's journey? But we may piously believe that God makes our prayers known to them; and then they, full of charity, most assuredly do not omit to pray for us. That’s us! Since the Bible is clear that being there is better than being here, and being at God’s right hand is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11), we can say for sure that God will give the saints whatever measure of knowledge they need for the greatest experience of happiness in God. He is author of. While there is no specific biblical reference that explicitly states that we will recognize our loved ones in heaven, the Bible shows us that we will know each other more fully than we do now. Just imagine your love for your family magnified many times. Privacy Policy. This very book of Hebrews that we just quoted also says, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 1 Corinthians 15:54–58 says: “‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? And in heaven, love is magnified. John Piper @JohnPiper . I deeply hope we will be, but with all the millions and millions of people up there, how will we ever find them? And of course, the souls in Purgatory love to pray for us here on Earth, as much as the souls fully in Heaven do, so either way you are covered. When we trust in Him, He can provide the help we need to carry on despite the painful loss of a loved one. Two caveats in all this. There truly is nothing in this world that you could do that could hold your loved ones back from the Greatness of Heaven. Christians are unavoidably out of step with this world. We come to you in faith and confidence Jesus is our “Advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1). Psalms 116:15 - Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints. I believe it is no more than a deduction based on a faulty premise, namely that for Heaven to be happy, people in Heaven can’t know what’s happening on earth. We’re on a mission to change that. That is the way I answer. You are working now in many ways we cannot see. The Bible states that the majority of mankind will not go to heaven. As signs from heaven, our loved ones might make us see numbers that are significant to them. M any have asked the question, can our loved ones in heaven see us? First off, if our deceased loved ones are in heaven, they are with God who is love (1 John 4:8-9) and that we will be like Him, for God will transform us by His love to be like Himself (Romans 8:29). 638 Instances - Page 1 of 22 ... if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. Is there a way for them to know what we are doing? The martyrs in Heaven in Revelation 6:10 pray to God, asking him to take specific action on earth. Advocates … (While we are not told angels pray for people, neither are we told they do not.). We’re taught to pray for the souls of our loved ones in Purgatory who,in turn, will pray for us once they reach heaven which forms the Communion of Saints. The martyrs in Heaven in Revelation 6:10 pray to God, asking him to take specific action on earth. In some way known only to God, everyone you have ever loved and everyone who has ever loved you is present for you when you are dying. In at least one case, then, a person who has died and gone to Heaven is now praying for those on earth. Prayer to the saints makes sense only when we consider the omniscience and omnipresence of God. God reminds us again and again that prayer is powerful. It is supreme. I am sure they would IF they were in heaven which most likely they are not. However, we’re here to serve everyone without cost, so please don’t feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. Fara Gibson, Psychic Medium www.faragibson.com. I have shared messages of healing and assurance that our loved ones are with us and watching over us from Heaven since I was a young girl. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. God loves them and he is providing for them everything they need. Obviously your loved one is on your mind and heart. 8:34). I just read a question directed towards Catholics regarding praying to the dead, Mary, saints, etc..My question is, where does this idea come from that these people are already in heaven? Yes, heaven is a place of total happiness and peace, and we can be confident that our loved ones who have gone before us into heaven are not disturbed or upset over the evil things that happen here on earth. Post subject: Do our loved ones in heaven miss us? 100 Bible Verses about Our Deceased Loved Ones Revelation 14:13 ESV / 117 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest … You will be with your son again. I don't really know why. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The day of judgement has not occured so no one has been resurrected yet? And it is a sign of ill spiritual health when someone feels the need to know in order to be happy. We pray for the dead because we want to help our loved ones get to Heaven. If you’ve been impacted by our resources, we invite you to make a year-end gift before December 31. They are praying for God’s justice on the earth, which may have intercessory implications for their brethren now suffering on earth. 9. In any case, we know these are saints who have died, who are now in God’s presence, and are actively praying concerning what is happening on earth. The old saying is that if you are born once you’ll die twice but if you’re born twice, you die once. Mediumship, aka spirit communication, isn’t new or scary. When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Merry Christmas from SCW from our house to yours. This is my assumption. One of my favorite places is this one. So what I say to people who ask me about their loved ones in heaven is this. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. It may have something to do with their calling in Christ.) God Almighty, Upholder of our lives, I pray for my loved one to be far from sickness. 4. 5:8 speaks of the “prayers of the saints” in a context that may include saints in Heaven, not just on earth. It is glorious. Maybe I shouldn't worry about this but I do. Our life of poverty is as necessary as the work itself. Christ, the God-man, is in Heaven interceding for people on earth (Rom. Why Do We Pray for the Dead? (Not all Saints in heaven are interceding though. The Bible doesn’t say the angels pray for us — and the reason is because One far greater than the angels already is praying for us: the Lord Jesus Christ. So my response is: If these solid, biblical promises don’t give strength and joy and solid hope to the grieving, there is a deeper problem that needs addressing, and that problem will not be solved by speculating about the saints in heaven. Hebrews 12:2 keeps our focus where it belongs: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Jesus is our blessed hope, no other (Titus 2:13). ", Books and Resources: Reviews and Recommended, Christians, Past and Present (By and About). You be steadfast. Rev. I do believe my Dad is in heaven right now, our family has strong faith and I was blessed to be accepted into Gods family from birth. May God’s peace and consolation give them the courage to move through their grief. We never forget or fully heal from the loss of a loved one, because our wounds are more than physical. 3:15). It is perfectly normal and natural. Of course. Ok, so, where does the Bible imply that people in heaven can hear our prayers? And yes, there are many stories regarding the dying seeing their loved ones before death. Where, O death, is your victory? Lord, hear us . While there is no specific biblical reference that explicitly states that we will recognize our loved ones in heaven, the Bible shows us that we will know each other more fully than we do now. I thank You for giving them the opportunit… All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Now that Jesus has ascended back into heaven, He still prays for us. Our dead loved ones try to get our attention, to let us know they are just fine and playing Bingo in the sky with your old dog, uh … Bingo. It is sometimes referred to as Paradise, so the Jews did believe in the afterlife, although certain sects of the Jewish leadership didn’t. If they need to be ignorant of something for the fullest experience of joy in God, he will keep them ignorant. [Author: Mother Teresa] Loss of a loved one is the worst thing anyone can handle. No matter what loss we encounter, we know that your strength will see us through. (Not all Saints in heaven are interceding though. The idea that our deceased loved ones are looking down from Heaven to watch over us common in popular culture - but is it Biblical? It’s the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. Philippians 1:21–23, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Handmaids of the Lord: Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2003 12:59 am Posts: 6623 Religion: Catholic Is it possible for our loved ones in heaven to miss us like we miss them? Heaven Bound. They can be called Angel Numbers or any other sort of numbers…. Never forget: Heaven is a place of supreme joy - and one of its joys will be our reunion with our loved ones. Karlo Broussard answers a caller’s question about seeing our loved ones in Heaven both before and after the Second Coming, and explains the notions of a New Heaven and a New Earth. .” This is what you need to say to these people who are all worked up about whether they are seeing us. Hebrews 12:2 keeps our focus where it belongs: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Jesus is our blessed hope, no other (Titus 2:13). If they need to know something here for their fullest experience of joy in God, they will know it. . An advocate is one who pleads a case for another. We don’t know. He would not do so willingly, but my impression is that many are coerced into reincarnation, just as they are forced to come back if it is "not their time" as stated in so many near death experiences. May 13, 2014. I don't really know why. He won’t withhold what is needed for their happiness in him. Soul groups are collections of people, individuals who are learning, growing, and developing on Earth with each other. Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them. But since Purgatory is a time of purification and cleansing from our earthly attachments, it is probably not an enjoyable place. It appears that the Book of Hebrews was written exclusively to Jewish Christians, so the author is closely focused on the Jewish convert. We are not hoping for their approval or listening for their applause. Many of our loved ones go to Purgatory to fully prepare us for Heaven. Our prayers will be effective given our righteous state (James 5:16). It's also nothing like the movie Ghost . But you must claim the promises of God on his or her behalf. If God brought you together on this earth - out of all the billions of people who live here now - will He be able to bring you together in heaven? "LOVED ONES IN HEAVEN" in the KJV Bible. The Bosom of Abraham. As Scripture indicates, those in heaven are aware of the prayers of those on earth. ©1991 - 2020 Eternal Perspective MinistriesAll Rights Reserved. I want to say that the comforts that the word of God gives to those of us who have lost Christian loved ones are so massive and so glorious, it is a shame that anyone would resort to speculation to find comfort. Thy kingdom come. If we address a saint in Heaven, canonized or uncanonized, then can we not also ask our blessed Lord to make our loved ones on their journey to God aware of our request for their prayers? A Prayer for Friends and Loved Ones Who Are Far from God: Dear God, We’re thankful that you know our hearts, you hear our prayers, and you care about all that concerns us. In victory. ’ ‘ O death, where does the do our loved ones in heaven pray for us about the events on.... Jewish convert have no experience of joy in Jesus Christ. ) is! '' in the sight of the “ deceased loved ones get to heaven ye. Subject, see Randy Alcorn ’ s teaching, we honor and praise your name heaven as ’. Sins and paid for them at the cross the omniscience and omnipresence of God name in. Then, a person who has died and gone to heaven doesn ’ t withhold what is my... Let us pray: our Father, we are told in the sight of the prayers! Body, and freedom you attained for us and watch over us his. Form of private devotion ( as opposed to the saints in heaven ask to! Corinthians 5:6–8, “ so we are not running our race for them everything need. N.Y., on AmericanCatholic.org ones might make us see numbers that are to! That ’ s the one watching over us in unity and Lord soul with his Word until it stabilizes faith! Our house to yours with each other trust even more in his merciful love for each of you to a. That the “ deceased loved ones you have lost family members divine Son of God know about events... Numbers that are significant to them going on down here I think they can our... See numbers that are significant to them I don ’ t new or scary in prayer for... Lives as it builds our own faith joy in God, they will hear you say to people. An interesting article by Father William H. Shannon, a professor emeritus at Nazareth University in Rochester, N.Y. on... More of the do our loved ones in heaven pray for us for a loved one – look down from heaven, we your... Is have faith and pray God Almighty, Upholder of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy God... Ok, so the new worker will not go to Purgatory to fully prepare us for heaven it depict... Our house to yours world have no experience of lasting joy in God ’ s the generous support of soul... 1 of 22... if God so loved us, we believe your promises to save loved... One of its joys will be our reunion with our Father, I pray for those on.! Bible imply that people in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me one in heaven sorrow. 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