For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Charlotte Marko
In I Thessalonians 4:16, the Bible States, that in the second coming of Christ, the dead in Christ shall rise up first and we, the living, will rise up to meet them. Does this mean that the saved will be "sleeping" in their graves until the time of the second coming of Christ? Do we not immediately go before The Lord for His judgement upon the death of our earthly bodies? To whom does the dead in Christ refer?
Jennifer Rothnie
That gets into the difference of God's perspective, which is outside of time, and man's perspective. To those that die, the Resurrection seems to happen immediately (I Cor 15:51-53), and we are present with the Lord (II Cor 1:5-10) - yet this is simultaneous with all other believers (Heb 9:27-28). There seems to be no awareness of centuries spent in the dust, even if the living are still aware of the passage of time.
Norman Ravnaas
I notice just about all the references are from the NT, but the foundation of all biblical understanding is established in the Torah ("Instruction/Teaching", also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im ("Prophets") and Ketuvim ("Writings")—hence TaNaKh.
To look at this question/subject an understanding needs to be developed beginning with all the accounts as they develop through scripture and then the hard part, the cultural understanding of the people at the time of the recording of those accounts. There is not a short and easy answer to this topic and you will be forced to consider view points that may be uncomfortable and different from what you now hold.
If you are serious to venture into this just remember this YHVH's promises and care are just as sure to the sleeping (dead) as to the living, Daniel makes that quite clear.
QOHELETH (ECCLESIASTES) 9
VS 10 All that your hand finds to do, do it
with your might; for there is no work or
planning or knowledge or wisdom in the
grave where you are going.
Danny Hickman
Why would anyone want to look upon their loved ones from heaven?
That's really weird! Me in heaven looking down at my three daughters going through their daily lives. I think I'd feel like a peeking tom.
Maybe I could petition the heavenly authority for the option of not being able to look back at this... the whole idea is weird to me.
A whole lot has happened to me since my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and others passed away. I was mugged twice when I was a younger man. If they could see me walking into it, WHY DIDIDN'THEY WARN ME??
Oh, I forgot... they could see, but they couldn't do anything to warn me, they could only watch while I was being assaulted!
That is just simply weird to think that heaven is a place where souls (people) can see their loved ones doing all kinds of things and can only look. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO DO THAT?
I don't get it! And I'm glad I don't!