Can Believers in Heaven Send Messages to Earth
The concept of believers in heaven sending messages to earth is not explicitly supported in Christian scripture or systematic theology. While the Bible speaks of heavenly realities and the future hope of believers, it does not describe a mechanism for direct communication from the deceased in heaven to those on earth.
Christian theology generally distinguishes between earthly and heavenly realms. Jesus himself noted the difficulty of comprehending "heavenly things" if "earthly things" are not understood [1]. The focus of biblical teaching regarding communication between realms tends to be on God's revelation to humanity, often through appointed messengers or divine testimony [5]. The apostles, for instance, were authenticated by signs and wonders, establishing their divine mission and the authority of their message [6]. This authentication was crucial for people to receive their message on God's authority [5].
Some biblical passages are sometimes misinterpreted in this context. For example, Augustine, in discussing the Lord's Prayer petition "Thy will be done in heaven and in earth," interprets "heaven and earth" as spirit and flesh, praying for the concord of both in doing God's will [2]. He also addresses the question of whether those who did not believe in life can believe in Christ in hell, indicating a clear separation between the states of the living and the dead [3]. The idea of "things in heaven and on earth" bowing to Christ's name (Philippians 2:10) refers to the universal submission to Christ's authority, not to active communication from the deceased [3].
The New Testament emphasizes that believers' citizenship is in heaven, and their minds should be focused on heavenly matters and Christ's return [8]. However, this focus is on the future hope and spiritual orientation of living believers, not on receiving messages from those who have passed on. The "world to come" is not subjected to angels, but to Christ, further emphasizing a divine order that does not include deceased believers sending messages [9].
While there are instances of angelic communication or divine revelation in scripture, these are distinct from the idea of deceased believers sending messages. For example, the book of Revelation describes an angel flying with the everlasting Gospel, which some interpret as a providential dispensation or a specific group of evangelists, not as communication from deceased saints [4].
The power granted to the apostles, such as "binding and loosing," is understood by some theologians like Charles Hodge to be granted to all Christians or Christian associations, particularly in matters of church discipline, rather than a power to communicate with the dead [7]. The emphasis is on the authority given to the church on earth, not on communication from heaven.
Sources
- John “If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? -- John 3:12”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 6 [III.]--THE THIRD PETITION. HOW HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE UNDERSTOOD IN THE LORD'S PRAYER. (part 1): The third petition is, "Thy will be done in heaven and in earth;" or, as it is read in many codices, and is more frequently made use of by petitioners, "As in heaven, so also in earth," which many people understand, "As the holy angels, so also may we do thy will." That teacher and martyr will have heaven and earth, however, to be understood as spirit and flesh, and says that we pray that we may do the will of God with the full concord of both. He saw”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — CHAP. IV. -- 10. You perceive, therefore, how intricate is the question why Peter chose to mention, as persons to whom, when shut up in prison, the gospel was preached, those only who were unbelieving (part 3): name that is above every name, for this end, I that in His name every knee should bow, not only of things in heaven and on earth, but also of things under the earth.1 But if we accept this opinion, according to which we are warranted in supposing that men who did not believe while they were in life can in hell believe in Christ, who can be”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 14:6: Another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel - Whether this angel mean any more than a particular dispensation of providence and grace, by which the Gospel shall be rapidly sent throughout the whole world; or whether it mean any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians, whose professed object it is to send the Gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth, we know not. But the vision seems truly descriptive of a late institution, entitled The British and Foreign Bible Society, whose object it is to print an”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 10: in which the divine testimony is given. Paul says that God bears “witness both with signs and wonders” ( Hebrews ii. 4 ). And, secondly, that the proximate end of these manifestations of supernatural foresight and power was to authenticate the divine mission of the messengers of God. This being established, the people were called upon to receive their message and to believe on the authority of God, by whom they were sent. The third proof, that the Scriptures teach that faith is a reception of truth on the ground of testimony, is found in ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 38: adherence to the true gospel, by success in preaching (Paul said to the Corinthians that they were the seal of his apostleship, 1 Cor. ix. 2 ); and by signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Such were the gifts and qualifications and credentials of the original Apostles; and those who claimed the office without possessirig these gifts and credentials, were pronounced false apostles and messengers of Satan. When Paul claimed to be an apostle, he felt it necessary to prove, (1.) That he had been appointed not by m”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 79: loosed in heaven.” The first remark to be made on these passages is, that whatever power is granted in them to the Apostles, is granted in Matthew xviii. 18 to all Christians, 762 or, at least, to every association of Christians which constitutes a Church. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be establ”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 3:20: 3:20 By contrast, believers who know their home is in heaven (see Eph 2:19) with the Lord Jesus Christ fill their minds with thoughts of heaven (see Col 3:1-2; cp. 1 Cor 15:19; 1 Pet 2:11) and Christ’s return (see 1 Cor 1:7; Titus 2:13).”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 2:5: For--confirming the assertion, Heb 2:2-3, that the new covenant was spoken by One higher than the mediators of the old covenant, namely, angels. Translate in the Greek order, to bring out the proper emphasis, "Not the angels hath He," &c. the world to come--implying, He has subjected to angels the existing world, the Old Testament dispensation (then still partly existing as to its framework), Heb 2:2, the political kingdom of the earth (Dan 4:13; Dan 10:13, Dan 10:20-21; Dan 12:1), and the natural elements (Rev 9:11; Rev 16:4). and even individuals (”