Will Know Each Other in Heaven?

Will We Know/Recognize Each Other in Heaven?

One of the most common questions people ask me is, if after they arrive in heaven, will they be able to see and recognize all their friends and loved ones that have passed on before them.

It is certainly a highly logical and intriguing question. It is also a quite natural question that people ponder on when they suffer the loss of a very close loved one; and as they approach death themselves. 

I point out these facts, because it is apparent that the vast majority of people do not think about life after death, until it hits close home.

The answers to questions like these can only be ascertained from the Bible! After all, it is the only source about the subject of Heaven that exists!

Most Bible commentaries though offer very little information on what Heaven is like. But I believe the Bible does in fact offer to us a sufficient amount of information to satisfy our curiosity about this question. 

Jesus Body Was Recognizable

Our very best piece of Biblical data about the ability to recognize earthly acquaintances in Heaven; stems from the resurrected Jesus himself. 

Many people recognized Jesus after His resurrection. For instance, the women at the empty tomb were able to recognize Jesus. Mary Magdalene even told the Disciples that she had “seen him.” Thus, she did recognize him sufficiently enough to be able to identify him. (John 16:16-20)

Oh but you say; “Jesus wasn’t actually up in Heaven when Mary saw and recognized him.” Still, Jesus was in his “glorified” body which was the body in which he ascended up into Heaven! 

Later, in II Corinthians 25:4-7, Paul states that Jesus was seen and recognized by over 512 people in Jerusalem in his “Glorified” body which later ascended into Heaven! 

Then again, just eight days later, after having ascended into Heaven to His Father, Jesus reappears yet again in Jerusalem before his Disciples. On this occasion, Jesus allowed Thomas to actually “touch” his glorified body; which he could not allow Mary to do only one week earlier. 

The point is this: If Jesus was recognizable on Earth, even in His glorified body, we also will be recognizable in our glorified bodies in Heaven! Being able to not only see our loved ones; but also recognize them in their new glorious bodies, is a wonderful aspect about heaven that should excite every Christian!

I’m another instance; When Jesus was transfigured into His heavenly glory before the eyes of three of His disciples, "His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). And yet His disciples still recognized Him, and so did Moses and Elijah who came down from Heaven to meet with Him.

We Will have Glorified Bodies Like Jesus, and Recognizable

The Bible declares that when we arrive in heaven, we will "be like him [Jesus]; for we shall see him as he now is.”

I John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

This verse speaks of the type of bodies that Christians will ultimately receive, once they arrive in Heaven. We can’t yet fathom what they will look like or be capable of; but we can be assured that just as Jesus followers recognized him, our families and friends will be able to recognize us! 

Knowing each other in heaven is one of the great blessings every Christian has to look forward to. Not only will we be able to know one another and recognize each other, our relationships with each other will be vastly improved to the point of possessing all the loving characteristics of Jesus himself, for we will be like him!

The Apostle Paul, when writing to concerned Christians in Thessalonica about their very serious concerns and questions about their deceased loved ones; wrote:

I Thessalonians 4:13-14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, (unsure) brethren, concerning them which are asleep, (died) that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them (those already in Heaven) also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Herein, is a neat fact that is often overlooked by people wondering about their lost loved ones and whether they will ever be able to recognize them in Heaven. 

Here, Paul is offering these Christians words of comfort! He says that anybody in Heaven that we knew in life, “Jesus will restore their earthly acquaintances!” 

Paul ends his remarks to each and every Christian concerned about these “knowing” and “recognition” questions; with this very calming encouragement: “Comfort one another one another with this promise!”

Therefore, as Christians, we do not need to mourn as others, who do not have faith or assurance about our deceased loved ones!

Paul Addressed This Question Simply

Within the following scriptural content, Paul summarized the answers to our curiosities about whether or not we will Know and also Recognize each other in Heaven.

I Corinthians 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

He states that “while we are present” in this world, we can only understand the things of the eternal state in part. Our earthly minds simply cannot perceive the nuances of the marvelous things of God. He even alludes to the fact that we don’t even posses the nature to “know each other” fully while in this world.

I Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Here, Paul alludes to the many changes that God has providentially determined for the world and also even for us. Among these things to come is the fact that our mortal bodies shall be changed into immortal ones and upon that austere advancement, we shall attain the ability to “Know more fully,” everything; including our relationships!

I Corinthians 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.

Finally, as it is recorded here in verse twelve, Paul asserts that whomever we might have known “in part” in this world; we will “know more fully” in Heaven! 

So then, the Bible definitely does seem to indicate that we will be recognizable, and will also recognize others after death.

Heaven is a place of Perfect Knowledge

I imagine every Bible student knows the story of the rich man the beggar Lazarus. Often overlooked in this parable is the fact that the rich man in Hell, could recognize Abraham afar off, and identify Lazarus in his bosom. 

The rich man could even recollect the fact that he had five brothers back on Earth and desired of God to request Lazarus to be sent to warn them about Hell. 

Point - People in Hell have a full recollection of their families and their acquaintances in the world.  

Heaven is a place of Perfection. Almighty God is perfect! Jesus is perfect! The Bible says that “no Imperfection” can even enter into Heaven! 

Jesus mission to this world was essentially to offer imperfect man an opportunity to be perfected!

Ephesians 4:12-13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Therefore, for all the Christian’s that enter into Heaven; he will acquire not only acquire a new incorruptible body, but he will acquire a perfect knowledge! 

Amazing is it not, to contemplate that you could “Know everything” that you’d like to know! It is unconscionable to even theorize that we would Know less in Heaven than we know in this world! 

Will we be able to “Know and Recognize” our families or friends in Heaven! The answer to this question is an Absolute Yes! 

Focus on the Bible

January 11, 2021

by: Darrell G. Young