“Will We Recognize Each Other in Heaven?”
A question like this was asked recently on Crosswalk.com. I thought it was a good one worth taking a look at here as well.
When the Sadducees asked Jesus about marriage in heaven, Jesus was very clear. He said, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30), and as we looked at on Tuesday, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the resurrection he stated “…we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Cor. 15: 52,53), and again as John declared, “when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
Paul writes the Galatians “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) But this does not necessarily mean there are no genders in heaven. Nor does Jesus’ statement (above) that “they will be like the angels” conclusively mean we will be genderless. Even angels are referred to in scripture as “he” at times — e.g. “His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow” (Matt. 28:3) describing the angel who rolled back the stone covering the (temporary) burial site of Christ.
Certainly things will be different! Yet, evidence remains that in some way we most certainly will recognize one another.
When David’s son died in infancy, he consoled himself saying, “I will go to him” (2 Samuel 12:23). Jesus stated that “many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8:11).
At the transfiguration Peter, James and John all saw and identified that it was Moses and Elijah who appeared and conversed with Jesus. “…there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:3).
Paul looked forward to that day when he would see the Thessalonians with Him in heaven, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). And he comforted grieving believers saying, “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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Best of all, we know we will see and recognize Jesus! As John stated (above) “we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) and that’s something to look forward to!
Press on…
Got question? Use the Contact page and send It to me. We’ll search the Word for God’s answer.
thebrokenrunner 
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