“They… are like angels in heaven.” Mark 12:25
Jesus said, “a spirit does not have flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39). Angels are spirits without bodies, though they occasionally appeared to people in the Bible with some sort of temporary body.
In what way will we be like the angels in heaven? God has given us life in this world through the union of a body and a soul. Death is the separating of the soul from the body.
So, the activity of angels gives us a model for thinking about the kinds of things that our believing loved ones can do, right now, in the presence of Jesus, while they are waiting for the resurrection. We have a precedent for this in the words of Jesus, who says that in at least one regard, we will be like the angels in the resurrection (Mark 12:25).
Angels see, and so do believers in heaven.
“In heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10).
Angels speak, and so do believers in heaven.
“There was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:13-14).
Angels rejoice, and so do believers in heaven.
“There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).
Angels worship, and so do believers in heaven.
“The voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’” (Rev. 5:11-12).
Angels inquire, and so do believers in heaven.
“Even angels long to look into these things…” (1 Peter 1:12, NIV).
As you think about loved ones who have died in the Lord, take heart that they are actively engaged in the presence of Jesus.
