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"Will we recognize each other in Heaven?"
| John Hoole | August 17 & 24, 2003 |
Can you imagine your first glimpse of heaven? I imagine that first view of heaven will cause us to gasp in amazement and delight. I am sure it will be unlike anything we have ever seen or imagined. The first gasp will be followed by many more as we turn and see yet many other sights that take our breath away. Heaven will be an endlessly wonderful place.
Why will heaven be so beautiful and wonderful? Because the One who's prepared it for us is so skillful and creative. He knows exactly what you like, and you won't be disappointed. When Paula and I knew our child was on the way, we picked out the right décor, and set up the crib just so, selected the perfect blankets. The quality of the place we prepared for them was limited only by our skills and resources and imaginations.
Since our Lord isn't limited in any of those categories, and since he loves us even more than we love our children, what kind of place can we expect him to have prepared for us? It will simply be the best place ever made by anyone and for anyone. Our home is being built for us by the Carpenter from Nazareth. Building is His trade. He knows how to build. A good carpenter envisions what he wants to build. He plans and designs. Then he does his work, carefully and skillfully fashioning it to exact specifications. He takes pride in the work he has done and delights to show it to others. And when it's his own children or his bride whom He has made it for, He takes special delight.
Jesus didn't say to his disciples, "I've already prepared a place for you in heaven," but, "I'm going there to prepare a place for you." This means heaven has undergone some remodeling between the time He spoke and the time we join him there.
I mentioned in an earlier lesson that Satan hates for us to think about Heaven. He tries his best to divert our attention to other things, or else he will spread lies about heaven.
Revelation 13:6 tells us of Satan's man, the antichrist,
6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.Satan blasphemes:o God
o God's Name
o God's dwelling place
o God's people.On one hand, the devil tries to get us to think Heaven is a really boring place, where we sit on clouds, playing our harps, and singing every hymn we have ever known over and over again for all eternity. On the other hand, he tries to get people to believe heaven really doesn't exist. It's just a bunch of wishful thinking, "pie in the sky" Freud called it. He gets popular people like John Lennon to sing:
"Imagine there's no Heaven. It's easy if you try.
No Hell below us, Above us only sky."In our past few lessons, we have noted and addressed a number of questions as it relates to heaven. Today, we are going to address the question: Will we recognize each other in Heaven?
Another of Satan's great myths about heaven is that we will be so different there, we won't really be us. We do know from the Scriptures that Heaven will be a whole lot different from where we live now. But exactly how different will we be? Will we exist in such a different form that we will be unrecognizable to each other? In other words, if I walked up to you in heaven, would you know my name? Will you who have known me here know me in heaven?
WILL WE RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER IN HEAVEN?
This is a frequently asked question in Christian circles. And, of all the questions on heaven, this is one where there is probably more agreement among us. And yet, an affirmative answer to the question of recognition in heaven, has great implication in some of the other question raised about heaven. If we say "yes, we will recognize each other in heaven," that answer will affect or impact our answer on each of these questions.:
o Will we carry our current personalities over to heaven?o Will we be gender - male and female - in heaven, as we are here?
o When we are in heaven, will we remember the lives we lived on earth?
o Will we express individual traits and emotions in heaven?
o Can we enjoy heaven knowing a loved one didn't make it there?
Your answer to these questions will be affected by your answer to: Will we recognize each other in heaven. If you don't see the relationship between the answer to this question and the others yet, hopefully you will as this lessons unfolds. For instance, we have already addressed one of those question. Will we be male and female in heaven? More people question the continuation of gender than they question the matter of recognition of loved ones in heaven. And yet, I would submit that if you say "yes," we will recognize each other in heaven, then you almost must say "yes" to the continuation of gender. How easily or accurately can recognition take place if a person is desexed?
Acceptance of recognition in heaven assumes the continuance of our mind, only it will be a more capable mind and not limited by a sinful nature. But then, that begs for the continuation of the memory of our lives here. If you say you and I will recognize, in heaven, the acquaintances we knew on earth, you are saying that you remember things about them that you knew on earth.
o physical features, voice, personality, gender, etc.But, as soon as you admit to memory in heaven of things that occurred on earth, are you not answering "yes" to each of the five questions mentioned above?
The Biblical idea of recognizing each other in Heaven finds its way into many of the songs we sing.
Charles H. Gabriel (1856 - 1932) - third verse of "O That Will Be Glory"Friends will be there we have loved long ago;
Joy like a river around me will blow.Virgil P. Brock
He was a guest at the home of Homer Rodeheaver (Evangelist Billy Sunday's choir director) While there Mr. Brock was inspired, after seeing several beautiful sunset, to write "Beyond the Sunset" (1936), which speak of reunion with friends.Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who've gone before;
In that fair homeland, we'll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset forever more.Carl Blackmore (1934), in "Some Golden Daybreak'" - Verse 3
Oh, what a meeting, there in the skies,
No tears nor crying shall dim our eyes;
Loved ones united eternally,
Oh, what a day-break that morn will be.Other songs we know include this same theme of reunion with family and friends. Songs like:
Shall We Gather At The River (verse 1)
My Home, Sweet Home (verse 2)
Sweet By and By (verse 1)I'm sure there are many other songs that echo this theme. And I haven't even tried to think of choruses which speak of reunion.
The older I get, the more I enjoy having family over, or going to reunions. Less than two months ago, we had a reunion to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday. There were many who came from the places where my father and mother had pastored. Some of these people I hadn't seen for over 40 years. It was one of the better reunions we have had.
A few days before Christmas an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York. He said, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough. We're sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her." Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. "What do you mean, they're getting a divorce" she shouted. "I'll take care of this." She immediately called Phoenix, and said to her father, "You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"
The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Christmas and they're paying for their own flights.
This desire to be with loved ones will not cease when we arrive in heaven. Not only are we looking forward to being with those who have preceded us, but they are probably looking forward to your arrival with anticipation.
One 92-year-old lady said, "I hope I die pretty soon or my friends are going to think I didn't make it."
Real people engaged in real communication will be a vital part of the life of heaven. Without it, isolation is the alternative. Fellowship in churches on earth, around Christ, is a foretaste of our fellowship in heaven.
I want to present to you 7 reasons for believing that we will recognize each other in heaven.
1. The Word of God definitely implies it.2. The story of the rich man and Lazarus confirms it.
3. The transfiguration scene illustrates it.
4. The Apostle Paul anticipates it.
5. The blessed hope of Christ's return ensures it.
6. The nature of heaven requires it.
7. The recognition of Christ settles it.
1. The Word of God definitely implies recognition in heaven.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV) says;
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.In this verse, there is a very strong implication that we shall know one another in Heaven. Paul compares the present with the future, and reminds us that in this life our knowledge is limited. But he goes on to say that when we enter the fuller life in Heaven, those limitation will be removed. And for sure, this verse says our knowledge will not be less, but more in heaven.
How does God know us? He knows us completely, intimately, thoroughly, inside and out, with nothing hidden but everything seen as it really is. If we are going to know like He knows us, we will know each other much more fully in heaven than we do now.
When John Evans, the Scotch minister, was asked by his wife, "Do you think we will know each other in Heaven" he responded, "My dear, do you think we shall be bigger fools in heaven than we are here?"
The verse we just read says we will not be dumber in heaven, but smarter. I don't see any Scriptures that says or implies that there will be a "memory wipe," that will cause us to not recognize our loved ones and others we have known. It would be no consolation to anyone, if, when we arrive in heaven, we are all total strangers.
Bill Graham was asked, in a letter:
"Do you think we will recognize each other in Heaven? My husband died last year, and it would horrify me to think that we might not know each other because God had given us different appearances or something."Billy Graham answer it this way:
"While the Bible doesn't answer all our questions about Heaven, I have no doubt we will recognize each other there. In fact, the Bible indicates we will know each other more fully than we do now.The Apostle Paul declared, 'Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.' " (1 Corinthians 15:52)In Philippians 4:4, Paul speaks of our names being in the "Book of Life."
In Revelation 3:5, Jesus proclaims to the Church at Sardis:
"He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I shall not erase his name from the Book of Life, and I shall confess his name before My Father, and before the angels."My name, your name, and all of those who have professed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are in the Book of Life. Though our bodies will be changed some (1 Corinthians 15), I still will carry my name throughout all eternity.
Yes, I believe that we shall know each other in heaven, and I am looking forward to spending all eternity with my Christian friends.
2. The story of the rich man and Lazarus confirms there will be recognition in heaven.
Personal recognition beyond this world is also true about wicked people.
Luke 16:22-24 (NIV)
22 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'The rich man was in the place of torment, but, looking across a great divide, he instantly recognized Lazarus, the beggar. He also somehow knows who Abraham is. Now, Hades is not heaven, but if a wicked man recognizes people after he dies, so also will people in heaven know people they had known on the earth. If lost souls in hell have the power of recognition, how much more will the saved be able to recognize each other. People in the next world - both the unsaved in hell and the saved in heaven - retain all their senses and recognition.
3. The transfiguration scene illustrates recognition in heaven.
In Matthew 17, we find the story of the Transfiguration of our Lord. Jesus took Peter, James and John up Mt Tabor, where He was transformed before their eyes. Before them, Christ showed his glory and deity. This scene is generally accepted as strong evidence of Heavenly recognition, because of who else was there. I mentioned Matthew 17 amoment ago. Let's read the same account from the gospel of Luke.
Luke 9:28-36 (NIV)
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
30 Two men, Moses and Elijah,
31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."
36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.As Jesus was being transformed, suddenly Moses and Elijah show up. The disciples immediately recognize them as Moses and Elijah. It has been nearly 1500 years since Moses had died, and about 900 years since Elijah left the earth in a chariot of fire. There is no indication that there were any introductions.
Here we find a very strong suggestion that when you and I, redeemed sinners, get to Glory, we will immediately have the power to recognize everyone there without being told who they are. I doubt there will be any need for name tags in heaven.
Let me add a post script with regard to Moses and Elijah. In the Old Testament, there is mention of Elijah being taken into heaven (see 2 Kings 2:11-12). There is, however, no mention given at all concerning Moses being in heaven. That is, not until Jude 9, where Michael the archangel is in conflict with Satan over the body of Moses.
By this, I am saying that it is not surprising that Elijah is seen in his body. But, the body of Moses has not yet been resurrected, and won't be until after the end of the 7-year Tribulation. So Moses is either in a spirit form, or has been given a temporary body until the resurrection.
The interesting thing to me, beyond the fact that the disciples knew it was Moses and Elijah, without any apparent introductions, is that Peter was not startled by the fact that Moses was in heaven. The appearance of Moses seemed to Peter to be completely biblical to him.
4. The Apostle Paul anticipates recognition in heaven.
Several times in his writings, Paul tells us that the joy of Heaven will be increased by the presence of his many friends, and especially of those whom he had the great joy and privilege of winning to Christ
1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?Compare that with 2 Corinthians 1:14 (NIV):
14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.Paul looked forward to his arrival in heaven. Among other reasons, one is because he would see his beloved Thessalonians. How could Paul write these things if he did not firmly believe that there would be a mutual recognition in Heaven? Paul was filled with glad anticipation of being reunited with those who sat under his ministry.
5. The blessed hope of Christ's return ensures recognition in heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 is a very familiar passage to us.
15 According 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.
16 For 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.
17 After 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.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonian Christians because some of them had died, and those still living were concerned about their welfare when Christ returned. And he writes this letter to comfort them, by letting them know their loved ones will not be left behind. Paul assures them by telling the exact sequence of events that would occur at the Rapture. He tells them that the godly dead will rise first, then those still living will be caught up to the clouds. But he makes a point of saying that those living will be caught up together with those who had died. They and their deceased loved ones will meet again in the clouds, and from that moment on, they will be together with each other and with the Lord. Then, in verse 18, he tells them to comfort each other with this teaching. Yes, they will recognize and be together with their loved ones.
Christians have always believed in family reunion in heaven because the alternative would rob heaven of it's joy, and would fail to satisfy the universal longing of the human heart. There would be little comfort in their anticipation if it meant that being together we would not know or recognize our loved ones. In this passage, Paul says that the first day of eternity is going to be a great big reunion.
Imagine how great you will feel to see your spouse, child, or parents who have passed away. I think this is a wonderful description of heaven. But, for it to be wonderful, we need to be able to recognize each other. Heaven may be more than the ideal that we can imagine here and now, but, for certain, it will not be less.
6. The nature of Heaven requires recognition in heaven.
Heaven is revealed in the Bible as a social place - and we are social creatures. Mankind is the only part of God's creation that was made in the likeness of its Creator. One of those likenesses is that we, like God, can love and enjoy others. We were created to be social, interrelating people.
Consider 7 things about the nature of heaven that requires heaven to be a place where we will recognize each other.
A. Heaven is the Christian's home
Can you conceive of a home where those who live there do not know each other?
2 Corinthians 5:6 (NIV)
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.As the song says, "I've a home prepared where the saints abide, just over in the Glory Land." And those living there will be at home there, and know all the rest of their extended family.
B. Heaven is the Father's House.
John 14:2 says:
"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."Can you imagine the children in the Father's house not being able to recognize and know each other? No, we will most assuredly know each other in our Father's home.
C. Heaven is spoken of as a Family Circle.
Ephesians 3:14-15 (NIV)
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.What a strange family it would be if we had no power to recognize and converse with one another. John says in 3 John 1:4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Does that mean then that when John died and went to heaven, that the joy he attained on this earth was to be forever forgotten?
D. Heaven is described as a city.
If you are a Christian, you are not currently residing in your real home. All Christians are citizens of another city.
Philippians 3:20 (NKJV) says:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.We will one day be taken to our real home, but while we are here, we are to be ambassadors of Christ in a foreign land. Like Darrell Jones said to me a couple of weeks ago, we are here on a MAPS (Missions Abroad and Placements Service) trip, helping to expand the Kingdom of God.
Abraham understood this. Hebrews 11:10 tells us that Abraham looked for a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 12:22 (NIV)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,Will the citizens of this heavenly city be strangers one to another? No! I think the nature of Heaven requires us to know each other.This last verse also speaks of angels. Don't you think the angels know each other by name. Certainly God's children will also know each other. And we will be called by the name we have now.
E. Heaven is a kingdom.
The King - Jesus Himself - will be there, and we shall see and recognize Him in all His beauty.
Isaiah 33:17 (NIV)
17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.
In fact, we shall be like Him.
1 John 3:2 (NIV)
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
As his subject, we will recognize the King. Will we not also recognize other subjects of this King?
F. Our names are written in Heaven.
Luke 10:20 (NIV)
20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
In the Bible, names represent personality and character traits. If our names are in Heaven, we must already be known there. If we are already known, will we not also know others when we arrive there.
G. Heaven is spoken of as gathering with our families.
There is an oft repeated phrase in the Old Testament. It shows up first with reference to Abraham.
Genesis 25:7-9 (NIV)
7 Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years.
8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre,
The phrase, "he was gathered to his people," is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. Abraham died when he was 175 years old. He had purchased his burial plot for himself and his wife Sarah. It was located near Mamre, which was close to Hebron. It also happens to be the same place where 3 men visited Abraham and Sarah, one of which was no doubt Jesus Christ, with the other two being angels.
Notice the sequence of events mentioned here. Abraham dies, and is "gathered to his people," and then his body is buried. He was gathered to his people before his body was buried. So, being gathered to his people, is not speaking of the body. Another reason why the phrase "he was gathered to his people," is not talking of his body is the fact that his body was buried nowhere near his ancestral site of Ur of the Chadeas.
So, the phrase "and they were gathered to their people," meant more than merely being buried with them. They were gathered to their loved ones in the abode of departed spirits. That phrase was a source of comfort when the prophetess Huldah told Josiah he would be "gathered to his fathers" (Judges 2:10) But what comfort would it be if he could not recognize his "fathers?" Was he to dwell in eternity, among his own family, as a total stranger? I don't think so.
So we have looked at 7 characteristics of the nature of Heaven, each of which adds to the fact that we will recognize each other when we arrive there.
7. The recognition of Christ settles our being recognized in heaven.
When we receive our glorified bodies, they will be like that of Christ following his resurrection. This suggests that despite some outward appearance changes, the inner identity of the person will shine through.
The fact that the Lord rose from the dead, and was then recognized, absolutely guarantees that we shall be recognized and we will recognize others in our new bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:6 (NIV) tells us:
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Even before it was revealed that we would have resurrected bodies like that of Christ (Phil. 3:21) people in the Old Testament still understood they would recognize each other in heaven. When the son of David and Bathsheba grew ill and then died, David mourned until his death. But when he received word that his child had died, David wiped the tears away from his eyes, and found comfort in a hope that he expressed in the words: He cannot come to me, but I will go to him. (2 Samuel 12:23).
David's words tell us that he knew without a doubt that he would see his child again. Most definitely, we will recognize each other in Heaven.
Yes, we will see and recognize our friends and family members. I don't think there is any doubt of that. But we will also encounter those whom we may not have liked so well. We may meet again some of those we have wronged, or have wronged us.
The real issue is not will there be recognition in heaven, but, rather, will I see you in heaven? You can only be assured of this by trusting in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. This, and this alone, can guarantee that you will be involved in the joys of recognition in heaven.
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