We Shall Behold Them

Excerpted from Dr. David E. Seip’s upcoming book, Heaven.

We say in the Apostles’ Creed: “… He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.”

Jesus said, in John 14:2, 3 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

We are assured that after this life there is a life beyond. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins that we might be restored to the Father, redeemed and forgiven, children of God and heirs of a coming kingdom. Life beyond the grave is eternal and it is to be lived in the presence of Jesus. But as we pass from this life into the next is our attention directly exclusively upon Paradise and then Heaven? It is said in the Bible, what soever you sow in this life you will reap in the life to come. There is a close connection between this life and the next. What we are in our spirit today is formed by our experiences of the past. These thoughts live within us and we cannot be severed from them. Our spirit lives in the past by recollection just as it lives in the present by consciousness, in the future by hope. So it stands to reason the spirit in the future world—just as in this—must stand in unison with the past.

If at death, all of our past were removed from remembrance we would be made into a new creature, rather than as a being who has had a previous life and history. If this world and life is the soul and spirit’s time of probation, and if the future life were merely its reward, then it stands that we must be conscious of the reason of that reward. There is no reason to receive a recompense of service performed in this life if we are not conscious of the service we performed. In other words, when we stand before Christ, how can a reward be given to us for what we have done in this life (as Paul describes it in 2 Corinthians 5:10) if we become unaware of what we did?

John Henry Stilling (who, in truth, was not always sound in his theology) had this to say about the departed:

“Many suppose a certain kind of continuance of their thinking faculties after death, but do not believe that with these faculties they will remember their earthly existence.  They dream of an existence that is entirely new, which is better than the present, but upon which this life has no influence, and with which it has no connection.  This whole idea amounts to just the same as entire annihilation at death; for if I cannot recollect this life—its fortunes and misfortunes, my wife and children, my friends, my weaknesses and my good deeds—in short, nothing at all, then I am no more the same I, no more the same person, but I will be a being entirely new!  The Lord in mercy preserve us from such a future state!  But thanks to his name forever, that the Bible, and the common sense and feeling of men in all ages and in all places, teach directly the contrary.”

Jesus gave us a parable (Luke chapter 26) which can presume is related to a real life event, since it is the only one of his parables that contains the name of the main characters involved. The rich man, when he calls out in torment to father Abraham for mercy, he was summoned to remember that in his lifetime he had received good things, while Lazarus received only evil. Additionally, Jesus tells us that the rich man remembered his five brothers who were still live upon earth, and that they were eternally in danger. In order to remember that fact, the rich man must have remembered the experiences of the brother; their conduct and God’s displeasure. We might also reasonably assume that memory in the afterlife becomes more vivid.

Scripture further reminds us that the departed remember the earth. Referring to Matthew 25:34 we recall that at the Final Judgment (the Judgment Seat of Christ) Christ reminds the departed righteous on his right hand of the loving deeds they performed on his behalf on earth. Why would Christ remind them of good performed on earth if all memory is erased?

In the final judgment, the actions of both the righteous and the condemned will be brought to consciousness. Psalm 63:1l says of the wicked, “for the mouths of liars will be stopped.” All memory must pass before Christ. The condemned will stand before Christ speechless. How can an account of our actions be given if there is no recollection, and how could the departed sense praise or condemnation without remembrance of this life? Paul expected to rejoice in the presence of Christ in the afterlife. He said to the church at Thessalonica, “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). And the apostle John also wrote in Revelation chapter 6 about his vision of heaven, “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.” (Revelation 6:9). And then in verse 10, we learn that they remembered the earth when they cried out, “How long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And also in Revelation 5:9 the redeemed sing a song of remembrance of Christ, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” They recall the condemned condition out of which they were saved. They recall his death and the people upon the earth. So long as they have memory of these things they are capable of adoring Jesus. And since we will adore Jesus in the afterlife, we must continue to remember what he did for us upon the earth.

But what now of the saints who have gone before us? Are they conscious of us here on earth? Do they have a love for us still? The answer to both of these questions is yes. And that is because of the nature of love when it is in its purest state. Pure love cannot die; it cannot be interrupted. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:8, “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”

Solomon said in Song of Solomon 8:6, 7, “love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” Love cannot be ended by death. It lives on in purity. The elevation of our spirit at death can only enhance it, and perfect it. Though a loved one depart this life before the other, the cord which unites them cannot be broken. And if there is love beyond the grave, we may further believe that the departed are interested in us. If the rich man in Sheol showed love and concern for his five brothers, how much more can we be assured that the saints are concerned for us on earth.

The ancient church believed this to be true. We recipe in the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the communion of saints.” Cyprian, and early church father, said to his church in Carthage, when he sought to encourage them when facing the death of many brethren through disease, “Why hasten we not to see our country, to salute our parents? There is a vast multitude of them that are dear to us, await our arrival: a multitude of parents, brethren and children, who are now secure in their own salvation, and anxious only about ours.” Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

From Abel to Abraham; from Abraham to Malachi; from Christ to John, and from John till now, what a mighty stream of the Lord’s saints have been sweeping onwards from among every kindred and tongue and nation underHeaven! And they will all be there. What a mighty gathering of patriarchs and prophets, apostles and evangelists, martyrs and confessors of the faith we will behold when we get to Sheol and beyond. And what mighty volumes of praise will roll upwards from that vast throng, to the throne of God!

There we will see crowds from the poor and despised of earth — those who slept upon dirt, dwelt in miserable hovels who day by day ate the bread of poverty, and by night watered their couch with tears, but whose sins were washed away in the ocean of the Redeemer’s blood — their hearts steadfast with God. There we will see the afflicted and distressed, though no longer sick; the forlorn and the friendless; the despised and the outcast — men and women who waded through the waters and forced their way through the fires to reach their crown, or who endured the
biting pangs of want, rather than accept the glittering wages of sin.

Reverend Dr. John James said, “It is no dreaming fantasy to expect, that in another world we shall preserve our identity—shall know and be known even as in this. Let the mourner in Zion continue “patient in well-doing;” “looking for and hasting to the coming of the Lord,” when shall
begin the reunion of kindred spirits, whom in this world death had separated. Parent to child, sister to brother, husband to wife, friend to friend, shall then be restored-a blessed communion of
saints, whom nor sin nor sorrow shall sever more.”

Bishop Dr. M. Simpson said, “What a meeting on the other shore! If we could see there this morning how our hearts would enlarge. Multitudes around the throne to day. I am charmed with that thought, There’s a central figure I am more charmed with — the Man on the Throne. His king dom shall triumph over all. The time will come when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. I think of the men gone before — fathers, mothers, little children that cloud up yonder. I think I can see them . Oh, there is a cloud of witnesses. I urge on my way, run my race, ever looking to Jesus, who is alone the finisher of faith . Oh, may this audience all follow Jesus and be a part of that grand gathering that shall meet on that other shore!”

D.L. Moody said, “If there is anything that ought to make heaven near to Christians, it is knowing that God and all their loved ones will be there. What is it that makes home so attractive? Is it because we have aa beautiful home? Is it because we have beautiful lawns? Is it because we have beautiful trees around that home? Is it because we have beautiful paintings upon the walls inside? Is it because we have beautiful furniture? Is that all that makes home so attractive and so beautiful? Nay, it is the loved ones in it; it is the loved ones there.”