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

This is an understandable question, but I would say that they do not. In Isaiah 65:17, God says that, in the new heaven and the new earth that He will create, the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Any continued involvement or knowledge (or even the desire for knowledge) on the part of the redeemed with what occurred (or is occurring) on this fallen earth would have the potential for introducing sorrow into their joyful eternity in God's presence. Concern in that regard would seem to me to be analogous to Lot's wife looking back as she fled Sodom. The same would be true with respect to why there will be no grieving in heaven for those who were not saved (in addition to the fact that doing so would be to question God's judgment).

January 15 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

The bible records at least two people whose souls [spirits] knew what was happening on earth through the events of Jesus' Transfiguration.

"About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen" (Luke 9:28-36).

Moses and Elijah needed to know what was happening in Jesus' life in order to have an intelligent conversation about his upcoming death, resurrection and ascension back to heaven.

However, we don't know if their knowledge was all encompassing for eternity or whether they were given a glimpse into human life through this window of time. Both men were prophets of God, so it is likely they were given a message to deliver to Jesus and their knowledge of life on earth was limited to the context of their message.

In the Old Testament, King Saul used a medium to conjure up the spirit of Samuel from the dead (1 Samuel 28:8-20). They talked and Samuel prophesied that Saul and his sons would die the next day [which is exactly what happened]. Samuel asked why his rest had been disturbed. It could be that God gave Samuel the knowledge he needed to respond to Saul including what would happen to Saul and the nation of Israel in the near future.

In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus told by Jesus (Luke 16:19-31) the rich man did not know what was happening in the lives of his 5 brothers, but he was dreadfully worried they were going to suffer the same fate as himself in Hades.

In Revelation 6:9-11, the souls of the Martyrs called out in a loud voice, asking God how long it would be until He judged the inhabitants of the earth and avenged their blood. They knew that judgment was coming but they didn't know when.

In summary, my view is that the souls of believers in heaven are unaware of what is happening on earth unless there is a God-given mission for them to know. The New Testament teaches that these souls are resting [sleeping in death] from their labours and struggle of human life in this sinful, corrupt and dying world. They are celebrating their salvation with praise and worship of God (Revelation 7:9-17).

January 15 2021 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

If by ‘people’ you mean humans who were taken to heaven alive like Enoch (Gen 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), or Moses who was resurrected (Jude 9), yes, I would think they are fully aware of what is going on here on earth. 

As far as the dead are concerned, I'm extremely doubtful that any of the desists are aware of anything. According to the Bible, the dead rests in the grave awaiting the resurrection: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). 

The Bible also makes abundantly clear the dead lack awareness of any kind: “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.” (Eccl 9:5, 6) 

Also please see these texts (Ps 6:5; 115:17;146:4; Ezekiel 18:4; James 2:26; John 5:28, 29).

January 18 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report