Chapter and verse are for our benefit and so reading "through" the 
beginning  of Chapter 12, starting back in Chapter 11 we have...


By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the 
Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho 
fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot 
Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received 
the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me 
to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and 
Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked 
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the 
violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made 
strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the 
aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were 
tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better 
resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and 
of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were 
tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and 
goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was 
not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of 
the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, 
did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, 
that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore we also, 
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside 
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with 
endurance the race that is set before us,  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 has sat down at the right hand of the 
throne of God.

Seems to me a laundry list of examples of peoples trials and triumphs were 
listed stating they did not receive the promise   but God  indeed had 
something better in mind for us, and the "cloud of witnesses" is a point of 
historical reference on which we can look upon knowing we, although may 
endure hardship, will indeed receive the promise.  Also note the early list 
of events and how they all mention they had "faith", it didn't say they 
were being comforted by the watchful eye of those who earlier passed on. 
Faith I think we can safely presume is that in and from God. To me taking 
those three words and stretching it to be  watchful eyes from above is 
unhealthy. If you notice the continuance shows Jesus to be the focus of our 
faith and and not those who have gone before us. I'd have to see supporting 
Scripture to see this. I think we have to look at it from God's perspective 
as much as we possibly can. He is our focus, our point of faith and 
comfort, our joy, our peace and not those we loved in this world who have 
passed on. That doesn't mean we stop looking on their memory as a loving 
thing, or that we don't find our selves changed by them or that they stop 
living   in our hearts, but I'm not sure God would approve of them being a 
point of comfort,  peace, thinking they are watching over us in stead or 
along with him, or even the thought they take part in our aid here? I'm 
sorry, I can not respect that thought. It is nice to think, to help make 
our emotional shortcomings easier to deal with, but that doesn't make it 
truth. I'd like to see more Scripture reference on this please.

Brad