A Question About Heaven

[Bethers]

Something I have always wondered...When we get to Heaven, will we be able to recognize our friends and family members? My husband and I have pondered this several times. Maybe the answer is already in the bible, I am not sure. What is everyone's thoughts on this?

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I think so! Sorry I have no Bible references....but I think we'll keep our memories, so we'll be able to recognize our friends and family. God knows they are important to us

 

[Solidlyhere]

The OP wonders: "When we get to Heaven, will we be able to recognize our friends and family members?"

Jesus said that the whole concept of Husband and Wife ceases to exist in Heaven (the 7-Husband widow).
This means that even if you met your Husband in Heaven, you wouldn't recognize him AS your Husband.
It is a small leap to assume that you wouldn't recognize that "new" person at all.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Solidlyhere maybe that just means that no one will be married in heaven? It doesn't mean they won't know/recognize their earthly husband/wife...they just won't be married to each other

 

[RND]

Something I have always wondered...When we get to Heaven, will we be able to recognize our friends and family members? My husband and I have pondered this several times. Maybe the answer is already in the bible, I am not sure. What is everyone's thoughts on this?

I think we will be known even as we were known.

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Paul is saying this in relation to reacting "perfection."

 

[Solidlyhere]

Monica said: "I think we'll keep our memories, so we'll be able to recognize our friends and family."

Does this mean that you think that our Heavenly bodies will look exactly like our Earthly bodies?
I assume that we will look differently.
If so, even if we have a memory of them, we won't recognize them (because they won't look the same).
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Edit.

A Second thought about it:
Matthew 22:30 (the 7-Hubby widow) says: "People will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like angels in Heaven."
To me, this means, I will be like an angel.
An angel has NEVER been married.
Therefore, it will be as if I had never been married.
So, if I was never married, I wouldn't recognize my wife.

 

[Gary51]

Does the Bible actually say we are going to heaven... and if so when will that be?

 

[christianmomof3]

Does the Bible actually say we are going to heaven... and if so when will that be?

I have not seen that verse.
Can someone please show where in the Bible it says people go to heaven or will go to heaven and when?

 

[Uphill Battle]

1 Thes 4:13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

2 Samuel 12:22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

neither passage is explicit, but it seems we will know the people in heaven.

the relationships will not be the same, there is no marriage in heaven, but that doesn't preclude that we won't know our loved ones in heaven.

 

[Bethers]

I can understand that marriage wouldn't be a part of heaven. There would really be no need for it there. (no need for procreation, etc) I just really would like to see my grandmother and other friends and family once we're in Heaven...It would be awesome if we could all reconvene and rejoice together at God's throne.

 

[ThomasDa]

Heaven?

Where in the Bible does it ever say anything about us going to heaven?

Why must we start these discussions on a false premise?

In Mat.5:5 we are told that the meek will inherit the earth. Does that that mean the meek are going to get a different reward than some others? I don’t think that can be shown from scripture.

When Christ returns He will “land,” if you will, on the Mount of Olives according to Zech.14:4 “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.”

In Rev. 22:12 Jesus says that when He comes that He will bring His reward with Him. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Now in Jo. 14:2-3 Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place or office for us, but He is going to bring it with Him when He returns. He does not say anything about us going there to receive it.

 

[RND]

Now in Jo. 14:2-3 Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place or office for us, but He is going to bring it with Him when He returns. He does not say anything about us going there to receive it.

What is the purpose then of the resurrection? Why will we "meet" Him in the air?

 

[ThomasDa]

If we are dead we will be resurrected to meet Him in the air. If we are alive we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, also to meet Him as He returns. 1Cor. 15:50-54

 

[RND]

If we are dead we will be resurrected to meet Him in the air. If we are alive we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, also to meet Him as He returns. 1Cor. 15:50-54

Sure, I understand. What's the purpose of the resurrection?

 

[RND]

Sure, I understand. What's the purpose of the resurrection?

Your quote was:

He does not say anything about us going there to receive it.

Then why the need to be resurrected and taken in the air? Wouldn't it make better sense to just stay here on earth?

Doesn't being ressurected and meeting the Lord in the air suggest a "trip" of some sort?

 

[ThomasDa]

We need to be resurrected because we are DEAD. Most of us are not at the Mt. of Olives where He is going to return to earth. So you see we will be going some where.

 

[RND]

We need to be resurrected be couse we are DEAD. Most of us are not at the Mt. of Olives where He is going to return to earth. So you see we will be going some where.

Why?

Again, you said:

He does not say anything about us going there to receive it.

Are you now saying that we will indeed be going somewhere when He returns? If so, why are we going "somewhere?" Are we going somewhere to receive a Heaven mansion? If not, then what is the purpose of the resurrection?

 

[ThomasDa]

I don't know how else to say it. If we are dead we need to be resurrected to live, and recieve eternal life and to recieve any other gift He will give us. And since we are not at the Mt of Olives where He will come to earth we will have to go there,so that..Jo.14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. That is when and where we will recieve our reward...At the return of Christ and at the time of our resurrection.
That's as plain as I can say it.
Hope that helps.

 

[RND]

I don't know how else to say it. If we are dead we need to be resurrected to live, and recieve eternal life and to recieve any other gift He will give us. And since we are not at the Mt of Olives where He will come to earth we will have to go there,so that..Jo.14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. That is when and where we will recieve our reward...At the return of Christ and at the time of our resurrection.
That's as plain as I can say it.
Hope that helps.

From these verses we can see that those that place their trust and faith in Jesus are raised on the last day.

John 6:39
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

You seem to be suggesting that we are raised up to take a quick trip to the Mount of Olives and that when Christ returns He immediately sets up His reign on earth.

My question then would be how is that veiw reconciled by the fact that when Jesus returns nothing will escape destruction and hence there will be nothing left?

2 Pe 3:10 ¶ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2 Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?


Also, according to Revelation 20:4, 6 we live and reign with Christ a thousand years. Where does this occur? On earth or in Heaven?

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

[ThomasDa]

Here's a little more on "why the resurrection."

God told the truth, like He always does, when He said in Gen. 2:17 that Adam would die.
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Satan, in Gen. 3:4, lied like he always does, when he said they would not die; Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die

As in Adam ALL die, 1Cor. 15:22. Also in the same verse ALL shall be made alive in Christ. We would not need to be made alive if we were not DEAD, i.e. lifeless, without life and any other way you can think to say it.

Death is like sleep according to scripture. Note: Dan. 12:2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt” and 1Cor. 11:30 “ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” and many other places.

The soul is the living being,(check your concordance,) not some thing that goes on living after one dies. Ezk. 18:4,20 “ Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.” verse 20 “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself

The dead are not aware of anything; Ecc. 9:5 For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.

Man is subject to the same death as an animal; Ecc. 3:19-20 For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

That is why we need to be resurrected. Because we are dead and have no power to resurrect ourselves.