Are People In Heaven Aware Of What Happens Today On Earth?

By Randy Alcorn

One of the common questions about Heaven I’ve heard over the years is, “Do people in Heaven know what's presently happening on earth?”

In my book Heaven (where I address this question more fully), I quote Revelation 6:9-10, which says:

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”

If the martyrs in Heaven know that God hasn’t yet brought judgment on their persecutors, it seems evident that the inhabitants of the present Heaven can see what’s happening on Earth, at least to some extent.

One way to think about it is this: Christ watches closely what transpires on Earth, especially in the lives of God’s people. If the sovereign God’s attention is on Earth, why wouldn’t the attention of his heavenly subjects be focused here as well? When a great war is transpiring, are those in the home country uninformed and unaware of it? When a great drama is taking place, do those who know the writer, producer, and cast—and have a great interest in the outcome—refrain from watching?

In an interview with Pastor Todd Wagner, I share more thoughts related to this question.

photo credit: window and reflection via photopin (license)