#43 Proving that the Saints in Heaven Hear Our Prayers - Joe Heschmeyer
Sep 21, 2023
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Joe Heschmeyer, a Catholic apologist and author, discusses the objections to praying to Mary and the Saints. He addresses concerns about the saints' consciousness, ability to hear prayers, and similarities to necromancy. Topics covered include soul sleep, biblical passages supporting the awareness of saints in Heaven, how saints hear our prayers, and debunking misconceptions about praying to saints.
The saints in heaven are able to hear and pray for us based on biblical evidence.
Our earthly limitations and understanding do not apply to the spiritual perception and powers of the saints in heaven.
Praying to saints does not open a channel to demonic forces and is biblically legitimate.
Deep dives
Can the saints hear us?
The podcast explores the biblical evidence that suggests that the saints in heaven are conscious and are able to hear and pray for us. The book of Revelation provides examples of the saints and angels offering prayers and interceding for others. The passage in Luke 9 about the transfiguration of Moses and Elijah also supports the idea that the saints in heaven are aware of earthly affairs. Additionally, passages from Baruch and Second Maccabees (available in early Christian Bibles) indicate that the deceased can continue to pray and intercede for the living. The objections about the saints' ability to hear individual prayers simultaneously and across languages are addressed by understanding the spiritual nature of heaven and the saints' heightened powers of perception. Overall, the biblical evidence strongly suggests that the saints in heaven are aware of our prayers and intercede for us.
How do the saints hear our prayers?
The podcast delves into the philosophical and metaphysical aspects of how the saints in heaven are able to perceive and hear our prayers. It highlights how our understanding of sensation, seeing, and hearing is limited by our earthly experiences and physical bodies. The concept of time in heaven is also explored, emphasizing that the saints' experience of time is different from our temporal understanding. The podcast references the hierarchy of power between the saints, angels, and demons, establishing that the saints and angels are more powerful than the demonic forces. Misconceptions about the limitations of the saints' ability to hear individual prayers simultaneously or across languages are debunked, as they are based on human limitations and a flawed understanding of heavenly realities.
Is praying to saints dangerous?
The podcast addresses the objection that praying to saints can open a channel of communication with demonic forces. It argues that this objection is unfounded and contradicted by biblical evidence. The episode explores how praying to the saints is not a sin, contrary to what some interpretations suggest. The passages in Deuteronomy 18, 1 Samuel 28, and 1 Chronicles 10, often used as references against praying to the dead, are analyzed and shown to be misinterpreted and misapplied. The argument that praying to saints bypasses praying directly to God is refuted by examples in Scripture, such as Mary's interaction with the angel Gabriel. Overall, the podcast dismisses concerns of danger and emphasizes the biblical legitimacy and benefits of praying to the saints.
Beholding God in Heaven and Transformation
The podcast discusses the idea of beholding God in heaven and how it transforms individuals. The speaker emphasizes that when individuals see God, they will be transformed to become like Him. The podcast highlights that this transformation is not just about Jesus appearing, but rather about the Father appearing. The speaker points out that the saints in heaven are currently beholding God, and this experience makes them godlike. The glory of the saints and their intimate union with God should not be underestimated.
Seeing and Hearing God in Heaven
The podcast explores how the saints in heaven see and hear God. The speaker acknowledges that God, being a pure spirit, is invisible and cannot be seen with physical eyes. However, the podcast emphasizes that the saints perceive God with their spiritual eyes and intellect. The speaker explains that the spiritual perception of God is similar to the way one sees and understands an idea. The podcast also mentions the concept of the 'light of glory' through which the saints in heaven behold and experience God. It is this spiritual perception that enables the saints to know and intercede for the world, regardless of language or manner of prayer.