Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I know of no indication (explicit or implied) in the Bible that people who are separated from God after death (in either the intermediate or final state) can see people on earth. The closest instance of it that occurs to me would be from Jesus' parable of Lazarus and the rich man, in which the rich man speaks from hell ("Hades" in the Greek text) about his brothers on earth (Luke 16:27-28). However, he is apparently speaking from his knowledge or memory of his earthly life, since he says nothing about being able to currently see them.

June 24 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

Hell is a very controversial subject - but we should trust what Jesus taught on this subject - that every person will be either saved or lost. There is no neutral place, and there are no second prizes (Matt 13:41-43).

1. Mark 9:43 Matt 5:30 tells without any doubt that the physical body goes into the fire, and not some mystical soul. 

2. The lost do not go to any place of punishment upon death - but are reserved for punishment in the day of judgment. In the parable of the wheat and the tares Christ teaches the unmistakable truth (Matt 13:29, 30; 13:37-42). He said the tares are the wicked and they would be cast into the fire "at the end of the world." The idea of the wicked going into the fire at the time of death clearly contradicts Christ teaching. Knowing that the judgment will takes place after Christ return, how can anyone to be punished before that time? The Bible is clear, no one is burning in hell right now (2 Peter 2:9; John 5:28, 29) Everyone will be judged and receive his reward in the last day (Luke 14:14; Matt 16:27; Daniel 12:2; Rev 22:12). 

None of the lost will be cast into hell-fire until after the second coming of Jesus at the end of the world (Rev 21:8). The lost are pictured in the hellfire, suffering the punishment for their sins: "The second death." And death means death (Rom 6:23; 1 John 5:11, 12) – there is no eternal life of torment! (Rev 20:7-9).

3.The Bible tells that the fire devours the wicked right here on "the breadth of the earth (Rev 20:9; 2 Peter 3:7; Isaiah 34:8, 9). Hell, as a place of punishment, will be this earth turned into a lake of fire at the Day of Judgment. 

4. The wicked will be punished according to their works (Matt 16:27). This means there will be degrees of punishment - some will suffer longer than others (Luke 12:47). 

5. The earth is the final home for the righteous (Mat 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13). The wicked cannot continue to live on this earth because it has been promised, in its entirety to Abraham's spiritual seed (Rom 4:13). After being purged of all sin, it will revert to the first dominion, and to God's original plan. It will be finally what God intended it to be - a perfect home for a perfect people. 

Finally, to answer the question - NO, the people in hell cannot see us because no one is burning in hell at this very moment!

June 29 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kevin Smith

The rich man was being tormented in Hell. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment. He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him,”'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”

April 17 2022 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report