Will we all know one another in heaven?
Let’s minimize to the chase with a one-word reply: Sure!
The 2-word reply could be, “For positive!”
And the five-word reply could be, “You possibly can depend on it!”
However being a clever and discerning reader, you will have greater than the phrase of a pastor on this. You’ll want to see it in your Bible.
So let me supply seven Scriptures that I’ve used to assist individuals who marvel if they are going to be reunited with their believing family members in heaven. All of those level to our realizing each other within the resurrection, and a few of them level to believers realizing each other instantly after dying.
1. David and his son
King David had a son who died in infancy. When the little boy died, David mentioned, “I’ll go to him” (2 Samuel 12:23).
David knew that he would see his son once more within the presence of the Lord, and realizing that he could be reunited with the son he cherished introduced him consolation in his bereavement.
2. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Our Lord mentioned that many will come from the east and the west and recline at desk “with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob within the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).
Abraham was the daddy of Isaac and the grandfather of Jacob, and in heaven he enjoys the corporate of his son and his grandson, whereas Jacob enjoys the corporate of his father and his grandfather.
3. Jesus and the disciples
Jesus instructed his disciples, “I can’t drink of this fruit of the vine till that day after I drink it new in a brand new means in my Father’s kingdom with you” (Matthew 26:29, emphasis mine).
The eleven, who shared the Final Supper with Jesus on earth, will eat and drink with him in heaven. Peter, James, John, and the others will probably be named and recognized in heaven as clearly as they have been named and recognized on earth.
4. Moses and Elijah
When the glory of Jesus was revealed within the transfiguration, we’re instructed that “Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with him” (Matthew 17:3).
That is fascinating as a result of when Moses and Elijah appeared, they didn’t have the resurrection physique. They have been souls made seen because the angels have been made seen to the shepherds, and because the souls underneath the altar have been made seen to John (Revelation 6:9). Though they have been nonetheless ready to be clothed with the resurrection physique, Moses and Elijah have been recognized. They have been recognizable, and so they have been in a position to have interaction in dialog. That tells us quite a bit in regards to the aware pleasure of fellowship that believers share instantly after dying within the presence of the Lord.
5. The gathered souls in heaven
The author to the Hebrews speaks of “the spirits of righteous individuals made good,” that’s, the souls of believers within the presence of Jesus. These souls, he tells us, are gathered in “the meeting of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23). Proper now, in heaven, the spirits of the righteous made good are gathered. Gathered means group, and group means relationship.
6. Paul and the Thessalonians
Paul makes it clear that the believers he cherished on earth will probably be his pleasure in heaven. “For who’s our hope or pleasure or crown of boasting within the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). When Paul says this, he clearly anticipates that relationships solid on earth will proceed in heaven.
7. The reunion of believing family members
When Paul writes to believers who grieve the lack of a cherished one, he provides them this consolation: “We who’re nonetheless alive will probably be caught up along with them within the clouds to satisfy the Lord within the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17, emphasis mine).
“Them” refers to believing family members who at the moment are within the presence of the Lord. A spouse who grieves the lack of her believing husband has the consolation of realizing that when the Lord comes, she is going to meet her husband once more. Little kids who grieve the lack of a believing father or mom can discover consolation within the prospect of this joyful reunion once we will probably be reunited with those that have gone earlier than us into the presence of the Lord.
That’s greater than sufficient to settle the difficulty for me, and I hope that it’s for you as properly. Christians who know and love one another on earth will know and love one another in heaven.
[This article is adapted from Pastor Colin’s February 2017 column in Mature Living Magazine.] Content material taken from UnlockingTheBible.org; used with permission.
Colin Smith (@PastorColinS) is senior pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church within the northwest suburbs of Chicago and a Council member with The Gospel Coalition.
Picture Credit score: ©Getty Pictures / monkeybusinessimages
