As a theologian, I have always been fascinated by heaven, and sometimes I try to imagine how angels rejoice. I took a special interest in this topic after reading the parable of the lost sheep in the Bible. I wanted to learn more about heaven rejoicing and therefore conducted a lot of research by reading different theology books and talking to religious leaders and Bible scholars. Last week, in an online forum that I moderate, we talked about heaven rejoicing, and one of the members asked what heaven rejoicing means. Another wanted to know what makes angels rejoice in heaven. Having done comprehensive research on this topic and talking to numerous Bible scholars, I had all the right answers at my fingertips. So, what makes heaven rejoice?
Luke 15:7 and 10 tell us that heaven rejoices when a sinner repents. In this passage, Jesus shares the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. He said that just like the owner of the sheep or the coin rejoiced after finding their lost things, so do God and his angels after a lost soul finally comes back to him. So, heaven rejoices because a sinner repenting is a sign of God defeating the devil.
In this article, I invite you to join me as we delve into the topic of heaven rejoicing. Keep reading to discover what heaven rejoicing means, what makes angels rejoice in heaven, and much more!
What does it mean heaven is rejoicing?
The concept of heaven rejoicing is mentioned by Jesus when he talked about the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15. In verse 7, he said there is much joy in heaven when a sinner repents. Christians believe that this means everyone in heaven, including the angels, celebrates when a sinner confesses their sins and repents.
Though the Bible does not tell us how heaven rejoices, Christians suggest that the angels probably stop what they are doing and celebrate when a sinner repents. They argue that the celebration, in this instance, is probably different from their regular experience of worshiping God. The verse also means that there is more joy in heaven, not just over thousands or hundreds of people’s salvation but one single sinner that accepts Christ.
What makes angels rejoice in heaven?
The angels rejoice in heaven because the sinner is very valuable to God; just like how the lost sheep is valuable to its owner in the parable of the lost sheep. In this parable, Jesus said that the owner diligently searched for the lost sheep until they found it. And after finding the sheep, the owner rejoiced with his friends and neighbors.
In the same way, a sinner is like a lost sheep since they are separated from God. God searched for the sinner diligently and tried to rescue them. And when God finally achieves this, heaven rejoices, including the angels. The angels rejoice in heaven not because they are astonished by the change in the sinner but because there is a great victory from the sinner’s repentance.
Bible verses about heaven rejoicing
The concept of heaven rejoicing is mentioned in Luke 15:7 when Jesus responds to the tax collectors and the Pharisees who accused him of eating with sinners. After sharing the parable of the lost sheep, he said there is a lot of joy in heaven when a sinner repents.
The same concept of heaven rejoicing is again mentioned in Luke 15:10 when Jesus talks about the parable of the lost coin. At the end of this parable, Jesus again says there is joy among the angels in heaven after a sinner repents. Though Zephaniah 3:17 does not mention heaven rejoicing, it reminds us that the Lord rejoices over his people with joy and gladness.
Psalms 148:2 is an invitation for all hosts of heaven and God’s angels to praise him. This demonstrates heaven rejoicing. We can also see heaven rejoicing in Job 38:7, which says that the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy. Christians believe that the morning stars in this verse refer to the angels.
Does heaven rejoice when someone dies?
The Bible does not clearly tell us that heaven rejoices when someone dies. It only mentions that heaven rejoices when someone repents. However, some people assume that heaven rejoices when someone dies a Christian because the soul goes back to the Father.
Even Jesus told his disciples that if they loved him, they would rejoice after his death since he was going back to his Father, who was greater than him. (John 14:28). Paul also shared the same sentiments in Philippians 1:23 since he said that when one dies as a Christian, we should rejoice, for they are going to a better place.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
