Bible Question:
Will we know each other in heaven?
Bible Answer:
Yes, we will know each other in heaven. Probably the most significant passage in the Bible relating to knowing one another in heaven is found in 2 Samuel 12:22-23,
And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ “But now he has died;
why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (NASB) 2 Samuel 12:22-23
David had sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and as a result God took the life of the child (2 Sam. 12:14-15). David goes into mourning and 2 Sam. 12:22-23 reveals David’s agony and the fact that David knew he would see his son some day in heaven.
Another example is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus,
Now it came about
that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. “And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good
things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. (NASB) Luke 16:22-25
Jesus tells us that both men knew each other; one was in heaven and the other in hell. In fact, verse 25 says the rich man had memory of his past. How much we will remember is not mentioned but we will need some memory of the past in order to remember people from this life.
1 Corinthians 13:9-12 implies the same,
For now we see in a
mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. (NASB) 1 Corinthians 13:12
Conclusion:
I look forward to seeing my family and friends in heaven, but the most wonderful experience will be to see Jesus,
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. (NASB) 1
Thessalonians 4:17
Praise the Lord!
I don’t think there is any question but what we will know our loved ones (and others) in heaven. I’ll just mention those instances in Scripture that I can think of that support this conclusion.
- First of all I think of Saul, speaking to Samuel (from the dead) in 1 Samuel 28:5-19. Now this is a most puzzling incident, but my point is that
Samuel was dead and yet he was recognized as being Samuel.
- In 2 Samuel chapter 12 David’s son (from his illicit relationship with Bathsheba) dies. And yet in 2 Samuel 12:23 David says that while his child cannot return to him, he will go to be with the child. How could this be any comfort to David if he would not be able to recognize his child in heaven?
- At the transfiguration of our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8) both Moses and Elijah appeared, and
were recognized for who they were (both of whom had died long before this).
- In Matthew 27:50-54 we read of those who were raised from the dead at the time of our Lord’s resurrection. They even walked about Jerusalem. My sense (though it is not clearly stated) is that they would be recognizable (were we to know what they looked like many years ago). Can you imagine meeting David or one of the prophets? (My assumption, incidentally, is that they
ascended to heaven with our Lord.)
- In the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 the rich man seems to know Lazarus.
- In Luke 24:13-35 Jesus (who had died and been raised from the dead) appeared to the men on the road to Emmaus. They did not immediately recognize Jesus because “their eyes were prevented from recognizing them” (Luke 24:16). This certainly implies that they would have recognized him otherwise. Note, too, that
in John 20:26-29 Jesus appeared to His disciples, with Thomas (who wouldn’t believe in the resurrection till he saw Jesus). Jesus had Thomas put his fingers into the places where the nails and the spear had pierced His flesh. Thus, Jesus in His heavenly body bore the marks of His earthly body, and could be recognized as the Jesus they knew and loved.
- My assumption is that part of the comfort Paul gives in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is that we will not only join
those who have died before us (in the faith) in heaven, but that we will know them.
- Having said all of this we must also remember that our relationships in heaven will not be just like they were on earth. In Matthew 22:23-34 the Sadducees are trying to trick Jesus with the “whose wife will she be in heaven” question (vss. 24-28). Jesus makes it clear that the dead will be raised, but He also says that the marriage relationship between a husband and a wife will
not continue as such in heaven (verse 30). Thus, things will be different (although this in no way contradicts the fact that we will recognize people in heaven). The fact is that our relationships in heaven will be far superior to anything we have known on earth.
One last thing. We are all comforted by the fact that we will be with our saved loved ones in heaven, but the greatest joy of heaven is that we will be there with our Lord. He is always to be the
strongest attraction to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18; Revelation 21:1-4).
Related Topics: Heaven, Comfort
Are we going to know one another in heaven?
Christians who know and love each other on earth will know and love each other in heaven.
Do you reunite with your spouse in heaven?
HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SPOUSES, LOVED ONES IN HEAVEN
A. Yes to both. The reunion will take place, but not as husband and wife. We learn this in Jesus' explanation to the Sadducees: "When people rise from death, there will be no marriage.
What does Billy Graham say about knowing each other in heaven?
A: I have no doubt that in heaven your mother will recognize you, and you will recognize her—even if you never knew each other on earth.
Is there marriage in heaven?
Many Christians rely on Matthew 22:30, in which Jesus tells a group of questioners, "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”