At the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, Moses and Elijah appeared talking
with Christ (St. Matt. 17:3). This would have been impossible if they had
been “dead” according to the Protestant understanding of Psalm 115 [113].
In relating to the Pharisees the parable of the Lost Sheep, Christ stated that
“there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents” (St. Luke 15:10). Furthermore, in His discourse to the Sadducees,
Christ declared that the just dead are “equal to angels” (St. Luke 20:36) for
God “is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are
alive” (St. Luke 20:38). In Hebrews 12:1 the Old Testament saints are
called “a great cloud of witnesses” that surround the believers in Christ.
Hence, it follows that both angels and humans in heaven are aware of what
is happening on earth. This is because they possess the Beatific Vision
which enables them to see in God whatever knowledge is relevant to them.
That is, they become “multi-scient”: “Now I know in part; then I shall
understand fully” (1 Cor. 13:12). In their glorified state the saints are
capable of unimaginable things, including hearing multiple prayers in
various languages. The Devil himself, though he is finite, is aware of many
things simultaneously and is engaged in multiple activities.
Consider also the following passage:
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to
the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the
judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Heb. 12:22-
23).
In this text St. Paul explains to the faithful that although they are still on
earth, they are in communion with the heavenly Jerusalem and with the
dead saints, those righteous made perfect. The faithful on earth are not in
communion with the bodies of the saints buried in peace, but with their
souls. Death does not inhibit this communion.
Fifth objection: “The dead in heaven are totally focussed on God.
They are not concerned with our prayers or with what is happening on
earth.”
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