Will there be tears in heaven?

Answer

The Bible does not specifically mention tears in heaven. Jesus talks about the joy in heaven when a sinner repents, “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”, (Luke 15:7,10) “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”, (Luke 15:7,10). The Bible teaches that even now, those who have faith in Jesus Christ “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory”, (1 Peter 1:8)—if our earthly lives are filled with such joy, imagine the joy in heaven. In contrast, Jesus described hell as a place of weeping and “gnashing of teeth” “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.”, (Luke 13:28). Therefore, based on Scripture, it appears that tears will be present in hell, while heaven will be free from tears.

God’s promise has always been to remove His people’s sorrow and give them joy. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”, (Psalm 30:5). And “those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” «They that sow in tears Shall reap in joy. », (Psalm 126:5). As in all else, Jesus is our model in this. Our Lord is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” «looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. », (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus’ weeping gave way to awaiting joy.

There is coming a time when God will remove all tears from His redeemed ones. “He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken” «He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. », (Isaiah 25:8). The apostle John quotes Isaiah’s prophecy as he records his vision of heaven in Revelation 7:17. At the very end of time, God fulfills His promise: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes” «And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. », (Revelation 21:4). What’s interesting is the timing of this event: it happens after the Great White Throne Judgment (RRevelation 20:11-15) and after the creation of the new heavens and new earth “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”, (Revelation 21:1).

Consider this: if God wipes away every tear after the new creation, that means tears could still be possible up to that point. It is conceivable, though by no means certain, that there are tears in heaven leading up to the new creation. Tears in heaven would seem out of place, but here are a few instances in which we could speculate that tears might fall, even in heaven:

1) At the Judgment Seat of Christ. Believers will face a time when “the quality of each person’s work” will be tested “every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”, (1 Corinthians 3:13). He whose works are found to be “wood, hay, or straw… will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames” (verses 12 and 15). Suffering the loss of a reward will certainly be a sad time—could it be a time of tears in heaven, as we realize how much more we could have honored the Lord? Perhaps.

2) During the tribulation. After the fifth seal is broken, the persecution of believers during the tribulation intensifies. Many are slain by the beast or Antichrist. These martyrs are depicted in Revelation 6 as being under the altar in heaven, waiting for the Lord to enact vengeance: “They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?'” (verse 10). These souls are in heaven, but they still remember the circumstances of their death, and they seek justice. Could these individuals be

Shedding tears while keeping vigil? Perhaps.

3) Contemplating the eternal destiny of loved ones. If individuals in heaven possess awareness of earthly events, it is conceivable that they may become aware when a beloved person rejects Christ and enters an existence devoid of God. Naturally, this would be a distressing realization. Will those in heaven witness the Great White Throne Judgment and potentially weep for those who face damnation? Perhaps.

Once again, we are engaging in speculation. The Bible does not mention tears in heaven. Heaven is envisioned as a realm of solace, tranquility, companionship, magnificence, adoration, and jubilation. If tears are shed for the reasons previously discussed, they will all be eradicated in the eternal realm. “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God «Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. », (Isaiah 40:1). And “he who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” «And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. », (Revelation 21:5).