Will we be able to recognize our family and friends in heaven?

[Quasar92]

Many people say that the first thing they want to do when they arrive in heaven is see all their friends and loved ones who have passed on before them. In eternity, there will be plenty of time to see, know, and spend time with our friends and family members. However, that will not be our primary focus in heaven. We will be far more occupied with worshipping God and enjoying the wonders of heaven. Our reunions with loved ones are more likely to be filled with recounting the grace and glory of God in our lives, His wondrous love, and His mighty works. We will rejoice all the more because we can praise and worship the Lord in the company of other believers, especially those we loved on earth.

What does the Bible say about whether we will be able to recognize people in the afterlife? King Saul recognized Samuel when the witch of Endor summoned Samuel from the realm of the dead (1 Samuel 28:8-17). When David’s infant son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David assumed that he would be able to recognize his son in heaven, despite the fact that he died as a baby. In Luke 16:19-31, Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man were all recognizable after death. At the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were recognizable (Matthew 17:3-4). In these examples, the Bible does seem to indicate that we will be recognizable after death.

The Bible declares that when we arrive in heaven, we will “be like him [Jesus]; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Just as our earthly bodies were of the first man Adam, so will our resurrection bodies be just like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:47). “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:49-53). Many people recognized Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:16-20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7). If Jesus was recognizable in His glorified body, we also will be recognizable in our glorified bodies. Being able to see our loved ones is a glorious aspect of heaven, but heaven is far more about God, and far less about us. What a pleasure it will be to be reunited with our loved ones and worship God with them for all eternity


Quasar92.

 

[Solomons Porch]

Many people say that the first thing they want to do when they arrive in heaven is see all their friends and loved ones who have passed on before them. In eternity, there will be plenty of time to see, know, and spend time with our friends and family members. However, that will not be our primary focus in heaven. We will be far more occupied with worshipping God and enjoying the wonders of heaven. Our reunions with loved ones are more likely to be filled with recounting the grace and glory of God in our lives, His wondrous love, and His mighty works. We will rejoice all the more because we can praise and worship the Lord in the company of other believers, especially those we loved on earth.

What does the Bible say about whether we will be able to recognize people in the afterlife? King Saul recognized Samuel when the witch of Endor summoned Samuel from the realm of the dead (1 Samuel 28:8-17). When David’s infant son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David assumed that he would be able to recognize his son in heaven, despite the fact that he died as a baby. In Luke 16:19-31, Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man were all recognizable after death. At the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were recognizable (Matthew 17:3-4). In these examples, the Bible does seem to indicate that we will be recognizable after death.

The Bible declares that when we arrive in heaven, we will “be like him [Jesus]; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Just as our earthly bodies were of the first man Adam, so will our resurrection bodies be just like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:47). “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:49-53). Many people recognized Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:16-20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7). If Jesus was recognizable in His glorified body, we also will be recognizable in our glorified bodies. Being able to see our loved ones is a glorious aspect of heaven, but heaven is far more about God, and far less about us. What a pleasure it will be to be reunited with our loved ones and worship God with them for all eternity


Quasar92.

The first and ONLY face I wanna see is Jesus my Lord, then everything else will fall into place, for I will then be complete.

 

[Galatea]

I'm going to be contrary here, but that is nothing new. I absolutely believe we will know our saved loved ones who have gone Home. And, like you said, what is more amazing is we will know right away who is who- although we never met them in the flesh. The disciples never met Moses and Elijah, but they knew who they were. I find this fascinating. We will get to meet our ancestors (those who are saved). I think it will be neat to talk to my great grandfather 500 times removed.

When I said I am going to be contrary, here goes: I highly doubt we will be singing and going to church for all eternity. Worshipping God can be doing all sorts of things, including spending quality time with your loved ones or new friends you meet in Heaven. After all, God is pretty concerned about love. He wants us to love one another, which is real worship. So, I believe we'll be spending loads of time with people we love.

I love imperfectly here on Earth, so I'm looking forward to loving perfectly in Heaven.

I love Jesus, with all my heart. But I can not lie, the first person I want to see is my sister.

Personally, I believe that any time a saved person dies, Jesus comes to get them and takes them home. I have some biblical reasons for this, so it is not all moonshine. At the moment of death, I think Jesus is there to usher us into Heaven. And I trust that when He brings me home, after talking to me for a while, He will let me see my sister. He is very good and merciful and I have faith this is so.

 

[Hidden In Him]

What a pleasure it will be to be reunited with our loved ones and worship God with them for all eternity

Amen. And yes, we will be able to fully recognize our loved ones and one another, only in a younger form. Even the oldest in appearance are said to look as if they are in their early thirties, and even those of great spiritual age still look "young-looking." What an awesome experience it will be to see people we watched grow old in Christ be young again. Wow what a joy that will be. To see that they are not only alive for evermore from the dead, but young again too, having been restored to eternal newness of life In Him.

It will sort of be an ever recurring reminder of the verse "Death where is your sting?"

 

[RDKirk]

I don't see any reason we won't recognize everyone in Heaven. I expect to recognize all the saints past and present in Heaven.

However, I don't believe we will have any greater affection for one over any others in Heaven.

 

[SpiritofaDove]

I'm not going to lie either and maybe I'm sinful in my thinking, the first person I want to see when I get to Heaven is my son. After all the suffering went through while he was on earth, to see him whole and healed in Heaven, that faith is what got me through losing him, knowing I would see him again one day. I often wonder will I know him, will he know me. Will he be a man, not a child? I have lots of those questions but seeing him again and that hope, is the only thing gets me through some days.

 

[Solomons Porch]

I'm not going to lie either and maybe I'm sinful in my thinking, the first person I want to see when I get to Heaven is my son. After all the suffering went through while he was on earth, to see him whole and healed in Heaven, that faith is what got me through losing him, knowing I would see him again one day. I often wonder will I know him, will he know me. Will he be a man, not a child? I have lots of those questions but seeing him again and that hope, is the only thing gets me through some days.

I was thinking of you earlier on this, knowing about your son. When you see his beautiful face he will be perfect and at peace, he will be glad to see you, mama, he will hug you tightly. He's beyond happy right now and wants the same for you, he would tell you don't cry, you are gonna be with me again some day, I love you.

 

[Galatea]

I'm not going to lie either and maybe I'm sinful in my thinking, the first person I want to see when I get to Heaven is my son. After all the suffering went through while he was on earth, to see him whole and healed in Heaven, that faith is what got me through losing him, knowing I would see him again one day. I often wonder will I know him, will he know me. Will he be a man, not a child? I have lots of those questions but seeing him again and that hope, is the only thing gets me through some days.

I don't think that is sinful at all. God knows you love your son and want to see him again. God loves His son. I don't think it is bad at all, God is very good and very loving. His mercy endureth forever.

"Weeping lasts for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

God bless you, very much.

 

[CrystalDragon]

I'm going to be contrary here, but that is nothing new. I absolutely believe we will know our saved loved ones who have gone Home. And, like you said, what is more amazing is we will know right away who is who- although we never met them in the flesh. The disciples never met Moses and Elijah, but they knew who they were. I find this fascinating. We will get to meet our ancestors (those who are saved). I think it will be neat to talk to my great grandfather 500 times removed.

When I said I am going to be contrary, here goes: I highly doubt we will be singing and going to church for all eternity. Worshipping God can be doing all sorts of things, including spending quality time with your loved ones or new friends you meet in Heaven. After all, God is pretty concerned about love. He wants us to love one another, which is real worship. So, I believe we'll be spending loads of time with people we love.

I love imperfectly here on Earth, so I'm looking forward to loving perfectly in Heaven.

I love Jesus, with all my heart. But I can not lie, the first person I want to see is my sister.

Personally, I believe that any time a saved person dies, Jesus comes to get them and takes them home. I have some biblical reasons for this, so it is not all moonshine. At the moment of death, I think Jesus is there to usher us into Heaven. And I trust that when He brings me home, after talking to me for a while, He will let me see my sister. He is very good and merciful and I have faith this is so.

Sorry to hear about your sister. *hugs* I like your optimism on the matter though, I feel it's a comfort for those who think that heaven just means "worshipping in church and singing praises for all eternity", myself included.

 

[4x4toy]

No doubt in my mind

 

[Galatea]

Sorry to hear about your sister. *hugs* I like your optimism on the matter though, I feel it's a comfort for those who think that heaven just means "worshipping in church and singing praises for all eternity", myself included.

It's alright. I know where she is. Yes, I don't believe eternity will have us plucking harps. We'll be working, I have no doubt.

 

[inquiring mind]

Why wouldn’t we have resurrected bodies that will be recognizable, although transformed from what they are here on earth (1 Corinthians 15:12–57). That’s Heaven as far as I can comprehend; identifiable and in a perfect resurrected state. No, we can’t begin to know, but I have faith that it will somehow be everything we hope for… and more. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)