What will we do and see in Heaven?
I. What will we do in Heaven?
What do you think Heaven will be like? Do you ever wonder what you’ll be doing there, or what your loved ones who have gone there before you might be doing? Have you ever looked into some of the details we’re given in Scripture about life in Heaven?
There is a mistaken notion in the minds of many people that Heaven might be somewhat boring. It seems that some people think of Heaven as a place where we'll sit around all day, playing harps, floating on clouds, and engaging in repetitious religious ceremonies. That couldn't be further from the truth.
Unfortunately, because so many people believe this error, Heaven isn't really a place that they're looking forward to. The focus of their thinking then becomes more centered on obtaining the comforts of Heaven during their earthly lives, and their minds get stuck in a "here and now" mentality. Maybe you’ve caught yourself making that mistake as well.
Revelation 22 gives us some hints about what we'll be doing in Heaven.
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:3-5)
These verses tell us that we will "worship" Jesus in Heaven. He is the "Lamb" that is spoken of in this passage. For some people, the concept of worship is one that is strictly centered around music and ritual. A more developed understanding of worship, however, sees it as the opportunity to serve, honor, and glorify Jesus in all aspects of your life. That is the essence of worship. It is a lifestyle, not merely a scheduled or programmed religious exercise.
This means that every time I give someone a ride to the store because they don't have a vehicle, I'm engaging in an act of worship because I'm doing this activity from the desire to serve, honor, and glorify Jesus. This is also true as I seek to provide for my family, or encourage friends when they're discouraged, or lend tools to my neighbor. Each example is an expression of worship as they are prompted by faith in Jesus and engaged in for His glory.
Regarding our futures in Heaven, I believe this concept continues to hold true. In eternity, believers will serve, honor, and glorify Jesus in all aspects of their lives. That will be our lifestyle, and that mindset will carry through in all of our activities.
We're also told in Revelation 22 that the Lord's servants will "reign" with Him "forever and ever". What kind of activity does reigning bring to mind? It seems to me that the Lord will give His people the opportunity to serve along side Him and oversee aspects of life in His eternal kingdom. This isn't a privilege God needed to offer us. On the contrary, it’s something that He chooses to do by virtue of the fact that He is "giving" and “generous” by nature. He has chosen to share the privilege of reigning with Him with His children.
When Heaven is referred to by the term "Paradise", an image is conjured up in our minds of a beautiful and perfect place. We also see that kind of picture illustrated in the early chapters of Genesis when Adam and Eve were given the privilege of living in the Garden of Eden.
Eden was perfect. It was beautiful and it was untainted by sin. When we look at what Genesis tells us about life in Eden, I believe we are given a picture or a foretaste of what life will be like for us in Heaven. We're told that Adam worked while he lived in Eden. Even before sin entered the human race and the earth was cursed and put in bondage to decay, Adam glorified God by working the soil and caring for what God had entrusted to him.
I enjoy working outside and caring for my property. Even though I presently live in a world that is tainted by sin, I still enjoy caring for what God has entrusted to me. I can only imagine what it would have been like to do that work in a perfect environment that wasn't subject to extreme heat, frigid cold, thorns or weeds.
Adam's labor was a joy. He was assigned a task by God, but it was purposeful work that Adam delighted in engaging in. I believe our experience in Heaven will resemble Adam's experience in Eden. We will live and work in a perfect environment and our labor will be a purposeful and enjoyable expression of worship to Jesus.
II. Will we see and recognize our friends and family members in Heaven?
Throughout our lives, the Lord brings people into our paths for which we develop a deep love. In His providence, He blesses us with family members and friends who have made a deep impact on our lives, and in many cases, encouraged us in our walk with Him.
The longer we live on this Earth, the more familiar we become with the pain and sorrow of experiencing our loved ones die. Grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, children, and friends. We loved them during their time on this Earth and our hearts deeply grieve when their days come to an end. Thankfully, that isn't the end of the story.
Because God is gracious and loving by nature, He has offered us hope beyond this world. Through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we are assured of our eternal life in God's presence forever. Even though our bodies will one day wear out and stop functioning, we have been promised that if we have an abiding trust in Jesus, we will live forever with a new, incorruptible body. In Heaven, we won’t only be spiritual in nature. We will literally have perfectly fashioned, defect-free, and disease-free, physical bodies.
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:50-53)
This is good news for all who are in Christ. If your family and friends have a relationship with Him, they are promised this new body in which they will be living in the presence of Jesus for all eternity. Likewise, if you have genuine faith in Jesus, the same will be true of you.
But this begs the question, "When we receive these new bodies, will we know and recognize each other?" This is a fair question and the Bible gives us various hints to help us understand the correct answer.
One of those hints is found in Matthew 17:1-4 In that passage, we're told of a miraculous event that took place during the earthly ministry of Jesus. That Scripture speaks of the transfiguration of Christ.
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:1-4)
During Christ's earthly ministry, His divine glory was intentionally veiled from human sight. At the transfiguration that Matthew tells us about, some of the apostles were given a glimpse of Jesus that others were not yet permitted to see. As this event was transpiring, we're also told that Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus.
It would appear from Peter's remarks that both Moses and Elijah were identifiable to him. Somehow, he was able to determine that they were who they were. This seems to hint at the fact that we will be recognizable to each other in Heaven.
Another example worth noting took place after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). (John 20:15-16)
It seems that even though Jesus' appearance looked somewhat different after He rose from the grave, He was still recognizable to His followers. Initially, through her tears and sorrow, Mary assumed that Jesus was a gardener, but after He addressed her by name, she was immediately able to recognize who He was.
All this to say, I believe we will be able to recognize and know our friends and family members in Heaven. Furthermore, I believe we will rejoice in the goodness and grace of God who has allowed us the privilege to be reunited with those we have loved on this Earth. But even greater than the joy of seeing and recognizing our earthly loved ones, will be the delight of being able to see Jesus face to face and to hear Him call us by name as One who loves us and is familiar with us in every way.
III. Can people in Heaven see those who are still down on earth?
The Lord has blessed our lives with many people whom we value and love deeply. When they die, it's natural to miss them and to wonder what they're doing. It's also natural to miss their presence in our lives and wish for an opportunity to see them or interact with them in some way again.
When loved ones die, I often hear people say things like, "Now they will be looking down upon us and watching over us." I can understand why people would want this to be so, especially when grieving the death of parents or grandparents who provided care and comfort for them during their lives. But is this a concept that the Bible teaches?
One particular Scripture that has sometimes been assumed to be teaching the concept of our dead relatives watching over our lives from Heaven is found in Hebrews 12. In that chapter, we're told of a "cloud of witnesses." What does that mean? Who is this Scripture speaking of?
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, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
To understand the context of Hebrews 12, we need to read Hebrews 11. In that chapter, we're given the names and examples of notable people throughout history who have lived by faith in God. Their lives serve as powerful testimonies of what it means to walk by faith and humble trust in our Lord.
The writer of Hebrews refers to these people as a "cloud of witnesses" not to indicate that they are watching us from Heaven, but to indicate that their lives serve as powerful testimonies or "witnesses" to the blessings of walking by faith in the Lord and the benefits of trusting in Him to care for us, even in the midst of our most difficult moments.
Furthermore, it's important to remember that Scripture teaches that it is Jesus Himself who faithfully watches over us, not our deceased relatives.
For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25)
So while it seems pleasant to think that our loved ones can see and observe our lives from Heaven, there doesn't seem to be Scriptural support for that concept. We’ll have plenty of time to fill them in on all kinds of details in the future when we join them. In the meantime, we can rejoice in the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is faithfully shepherding and overseeing our souls. His eye is on us. His presence is with us and He desires to actively guide and direct the course that our earthly lives take.
One last thing…
It wouldn’t be fair to mention these details about Heaven without acknowledging one additional thing. Specifically, the fact that it’s the desire of God’s heart that you join Him there.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Our God is the perfection of mercy. In His great compassion, He looks upon mankind with sincere love and has offered us the only means by which we can experience the blessings of eternal life in His presence.
Our sin separates us from God. For that reason, Jesus, God the Son, came to this earth to atone for our sins and defeat the power of sin. In His resurrection, He proved that He was victorious over sin’s power. And if we will trust in Him to forgive us of our sins, we will be given the gift of His righteousness and reconciled with God.
Is that an offer you’re willing to acknowledge and accept? Heaven literally hangs in the balance.
© John Stange, 2025