Rev. Tom Lovorn, Th.D.
Q. What language will we speak in Heaven? Bill Grosz, N. Chesterfield, Va.
A. This is a question that is often asked, but the Bible doesn’t specifically answer it. However, there are some Scripture hints that lead to several possible answers.
The most obvious answer is that we’ll speak the language God taught to Adam and Eve as he walked and talked with them in Genesis 3:8. Was that ancient Hebrew? The handwriting which God wrote on the Babylonian palace wall in Daniel 5:25 seemed to be a mixture of ancient Chaldee and Hebrew. But, it was so old none of Belshazzar’s wise men could interpret it. Then, Acts 26:14 tells us God spoke to Saul, whom we know as Paul, in the Hebrew tongue. So, ancient Hebrew is one possibility for our Heavenly language. If so, God will have to teach it to us as he did to Adam!
Another possible answer to your question is that we will each speak our native heart language but we will be able to understand each other. This was the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2:6. You will recall that Philippians 2:11 says every tongue will profess that Jesus Christ is Lord. So, that sounds like we’ll speak our own languages. Revelation 1:15 tells us the voice of Jesus sounded like many waters. I think that was Jesus speaking in all the languages of the world at the same time. When I heard many languages praising God together at an international conference, it sounded to me like the roar of a waterfall.
Finally, Zephaniah 3:9 says God will give the people a pure language that we may all call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one voice. Some have said that may be the “tongues of angels” Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:1. Others suggest our Heavenly language will be music, which is understood in any language; or perhaps it will be the language of love – God’s love returned to him and others. We know from John’s writings that Jesus is the Word sent from God to men. John 10:16 promises one fold and one shepherd where we’ll all hear the voice of Jesus. Since 1 Corinthians 12:13 implies that we will have all the knowledge we need, we’ll surely have no trouble communicating in Heaven!
• The Rev. Dr. Tom Lovorn is pastor of God’s Storehouse Baptist Church in Richmond and he writes a weekly question and answer column for The Progress-Index. Columns are real questions from readers around the world. “Dr. Tom”, a Petersburg resident, is a long-time columnist with The Progress-Index and a former pastor in the Petersburg community.
