Loved
Ones
In Heaven
How shall we recognize our
loved ones in heaven?
puricarefiles
How sure are we that we will
recognize our loved ones who have gone to heaven ahead of us?
What does the Bible say about this?
It is our most anticipated desire to be reunited with our
loved ones in Christ who have departed before us.
The Bible has many texts to prove that those who died in
Christ are in heaven, waiting for the resurrection of their physical
bodies.
In the Old
Testament, departed believers are often referred to as being “gathered
to his people” (Genesis 25:8;35:29; 49:29; Numbers 20:24; Judges 2:10).
Believers who leave this world will be recognizable and
known in the next life.
King David offered words of comfort regarding the loss of
his own infant son.
David
said, “But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him
back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).
David expected to see his son in heaven and be able to
recognize him.
Jesus gives an account of Lazarus and a rich man in Luke
16:19-31. Both men died.
Lazarus was
by “Abraham’s side,” (verse 23).
And the rich
man was, “in Hades, where he was in torment.”
We are told, “He
looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side” (verse 23).
The rich man could still recognize Lazarus. Abraham even
recognized the rich man, though he was in torment.
Elijah and Moses were clearly recognized by Peter, James,
and John at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:4-5).
These are proofs in the Bible that we will recognize the departed saints dear to us in the next life.
There is a forthcoming event that we are looking
forward to with expectancy, when the Lord will come to take us and the bodies
of our departed ones – the Rapture (1
Thessalonians 4:13-18).
The apostle Paul addresses what will happen when Jesus
returns for His followers.
Paul begins by
declaring, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those
who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who
have no hope” (verse 13).
Only those who believe in Christ and His finished work on
the Cross looks at the afterlife with hope - the rest of the unbelieving
mankind are excluded in this promise.
Paul clearly
says that believers will be reunited with those who have preceded them in
death: “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” (verse
17).
Exceeding Joy Awaiting
There would be exceeding joy as we
recognize one another in our heavenly glorified bodies.
Jesus also
taught, “I say to you 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).
In the Millennial kingdom, the Old Testament saints will be
known and recognizable.
We can expect that other believers will be known and
recognized by us as well.
Jesus was recognized by more than 500 people following his Resurrection.
Although he had the ability to disguise himself, He was
clearly recognized at other times (Luke 24:13-16).
When Thomas the
doubter saw Jesus, he immediately responded, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Since believers will have glorified bodies like the one
Jesus has, we have convincing proofs that we will recognize one another in
heaven (Philippians 3:21).
Knowing what our eternal future is, how do we establish
relations with the One who is the Way to heaven?
Ephesians 2:8 declares, "For
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God."
We can be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in
Jesus Christ alone. All our works, no matter how righteous, have nothing
to do with salvation.
We must believe that Jesus died in our place and rose from
the dead (Romans 10:9-10).
It is only faith in Jesus' death and resurrection that can
save us.
If you acknowledge to God that you are a sinner and in need
of salvation through Jesus Christ say this prayer.
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my
sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I
now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You. I
receive Your free gift of salvation.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my
sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to
rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to
your Word, I am now born again, has
eternal life, and I am now Your child.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You,
and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the
Bible.
Please use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
If you have just put your trust in Jesus Christ, you have
been born into God’s family.
As a spiritual baby, you need to grow by feeding on God’s
Word – the Bible (1 Peter 2:2).
You must have a good modern translation Bible and begin
prayerfully reading it. Start in the New Testament, such as the Gospel of John
or Paul’s letters to the Ephesians.
Also, you need to join a Christian fellowship where the
Bible is taught and where God is truly worshiped.
God bless you as you begin your new life with Him!
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lyrics
And
they sing the song of Moses,the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb,
saying great, great and marvelous
are your works, Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are your ways, Lord
O King of the saints,
Who shall not fear you o Lord?
Hallelujah,
oh hallelujah
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