People have often asked me the above question, and since the home-going of Dorothea on October 29, 2010, I have been asking myself the same question. In answering this question, I am determined to stay within the orbit of Scripture, and here goes my answer:
- Hebrews 11-12 carry high relevance to this question. In chapter 11, we find the “Hall of Faith”, with many of God’s saints of the past being lauded for their great faith, such as Enoch, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Rahab. In chapter 12 following these words, we read, “Therefore, since we are surrounded (not preceded) by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (verse 1). Note that the persons mentioned in chapter 11 are said “to surround us,” not merely to have preceded us or gone before us. Also the “great cloud of witnesses” means many deceased saints are “surrounding” and thus watching the saints on earth, perhaps not only the superheroes of the Old Testament but probably family members and other acquaintances who have gone to heaven, who are watching us on earth, looking over heaven’s balcony to observe our behavior. They are like “spectators in a vast arena” who “watch us progress.” [1] The clear implication is that this surveillance of those who love us so deeply is an incentive for holy living.
- Luke 15:7,10 – These two verses from the lips of Jesus clearly teach that someone is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents on earth. Who that “someone” is, is not fully identified, except it is not the angels, but one in the “presence” of the angels, meaning, I believe, some saint who knew the non-repentant person on earth, and then seeing him come to Christ on earth, rejoiced exceedingly. My best conjecture: that person would be his mother, father, or pastor, etc.
- 1 Samuel 28:16-18. Following his death, the prophet Samuel appeared to Saul on earth and seemed to be aware of the events in Saul’s life on earth.
- Moses and Elijah “appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:31). Therefore, they seemed to be “in the know” regarding the upcoming departure of Jesus from earth (resurrection and ascension).
- Moreover, the angels in heaven seem to know what is going on in the earthly realm (see 1 Cor. 4:9) and if angels know, why not redeemed saints in heaven?
- Revelation 6:9-10 – These verses refer to Christian martyrs from the Great Tribulation who are aware of the circumstances of their persecutors on earth and cry out, “How long, O Lord…dost not thou judge and avenge our blood on them who dwell on the earth.” (v. 10).
- Revelation 19:1-6 – Finally, people in heaven are aware of the destruction of Babylon on earth (the final One World Religion) and cry out “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and forever.” (v. ).
- G. Campbell Morgan, whom many have acclaimed the greatest Bible expositor of the last hundred years, wrote these words, “The Lord at times pulls back the curtains of heaven to let the saints see some wonderful happenings on the earth.”
DO PEOPLE IN HEAVEN PRAY FOR THOSE ON EARTH? We are never once told to pray to the saints and the Virgin Mary, but only to God. “Yet the saints in heaven may well be praying for us.”[2] Christ, the God-Man, in heaven constantly prays for His children on earth (Hebrews 7:25-26; Romans 8:34). Revelation 6:10 plainly declares that some who have died and are in Heaven are praying concerning what’s happening on earth. Surely our love and concern for members of the body of Christ will be enhanced, not diminished, in heaven (Ephesians 3:15), and we will pray more in Heaven than on earth. And if people in Heaven are allowed to see at least some of what transpires on earth (as we have seen), then it would seem strange for them not to intercede in prayer.[3]
Since the saints in Heaven may be watching and praying for us on earth, we ought to be careful to live right. That the saints in Heaven may be observing us on earth, what difference does that make in the way we should live? Dr. Peter Kreeft, a foremost authority on heaven, answers that question with his own question, “Well, what difference does it make to you if you believe you are being watched by a thousand living human eyes?”[4]
Please note: There are some who believe the main idea of Hebrews 12:1 is that we have been preceded by super-saints of the faith, and we should seek to mimic their behavior, following their lead in godly conduct on this earth. I used to follow this view, but upon closer examination of the language of Hebrews 12:1-2 and because of corroboration by other texts, especially the words of Jesus, I believe we are being Watched from heaven, by wonderful saints we once knew, and that such knowledge spurs us on “to finish the race set before us.”
A Final and Crucial Word: Our chief concern should not be “Are we being watched by the saints from heaven?” but that we are definitely being watched by God Himself – and it is before Him we must appear one day to give an account of our lives on earth and receive a reward to cast at Jesus’ feet or have no crown at all with which to crown Him (Rev. 4:11; Rev. 22:12). Therefore, as the writer of Hebrews exhorts, “Let us throw off every thing that hinders and the sin that so easily besets us, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us,” and all the time “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finish of our Faith.” (Hebrew 12:1-3)
WONDERFUL ASSURANCES FOR THOSE WHO LIVE SURRENDERED LIVES:
- “ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…” 2 Chron. 16:9
- For “ He who would love lifeAnd see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12).
- The name of God is Jehovah Roi – the God who sees me – in that case a forsaken pregnant mother Hagar- Genesis 16:13
- His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me – Matthew 10:29-31.
- Jesus saw the disciples being tortured in the storm – Mark 6:48.
- “I will guide you by My eye.” (Psalm 32:8).
- Jesus saw Nathan – John 1:47.
Conclusion: All who know me realize that I only speak dogmatically when the infallible Scriptures speak clearly and repeatedly. My slogan has always been that of the prophet Micaiah who said, “ … As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.” (1 Kings 22:14). What the Lord saith, I will say and nothing else.” I have followed this principle in addressing the mystery of “Am I Being Watched from Heaven?” I realize that even conservative expositors do not agree on the interpretation of Hebrews 12:1-2; Revelation 6:10, etc., and while I give my understanding at this point, I do so cautiously and with deep humility.
There is one doctrine to which I do not subscribe, the doctrine of infallibility, and I don’t believe even the Pope would have thought up this doctrine if he had been married. Right? One thing I have always conceded, if the Scriptures are abundantly and repeatedly clear on any subject and I state it as true still I give those who disagree with me the right to be wrong, and to those who disagree, I say, “Put up according to the Scriptures or Shut Up.”
Illus: I was lecturing on prophecy in NOBTS when a student raised his hand to say, “But Dr. B, Dean Kennedy does not agree with you,” to which I lovingly replied, “I would not argue with Dr. Kennedy but give him the right to be wrong.” Amen.
[1] The Wycliff Bible Commentary, eds. EF Pfeiffer and EF Harrison, 1962, quoted in Ron Rhodes The Wonder of Heaven, p. 235.
[2] Randy Alcorn, Heaven, p. 71.
[3] Ibid. p. 71.
[4] Ron Rhodes, Wonders of Heaven, p. 238.