Will We Know Each Other in Heaven? (Repreached)

2 Samuel 12:15-23

The picture that the bible paints of heaven is altogether wonderful.  And we who are believers more than likely can confess that we do not think about heaven enough, although there is something about it that makes us want to be there.  It awakens a deep emotion in the heart of every believer, a perfection or maybe a feeling of going home because we are pilgrims in this world and heaven is our home and that is where we are going.  But there is one question that bothers people, and that is this:  will we know one another in heaven.

I (Paul Dowling) believe that the bible tells us or at least very strongly hints to us that we will know one another in heaven.   Many of the great men in history believed that we will know one another in heaven.  But, one might say, can you give any evidence from the bible?  Here are several points:

-David's comfort is based upon knowing one another in heaven.  In 2 Sam 12 the passage is about David's sins, and a baby boy is born by adultery, and God in his perfect justice has determined that the child will not live.  The child becomes very sick and dies.  There is no profit from this sin for David.  David prays while the child is alive, weeps and fasts for 7 days and then the child dies.  And then David breaks his fast, washes himself, ceases to pray and the servants don't understand so he tells them why he is not broken more now than when the child was alive. V23  "But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."  There is no more  reason to pray, we don't pray for the dead.   But now he is dead, why should I fast any longer?  Can I bring him back again?  There is only comfort in those words for David if he would know his baby son in the next world.  I don't think there is much comfort in saying that he would go to him but he won't know him when he sees him, what comfort is there in that?  None at all.  David says I will go to him, its comforting to him to think that and say that because he believes that he will know his son when he says them.  David hoped to meet his child again in another world.  The separation would not be forever.  

-Because the apostle Paul expected to recognize the Thessalonian converts at Christ's second coming.  1 Thess 2:17-20  "But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.  Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"    What does this mean?  Paul is saying that he wanted to come and meet the converts but he was hindered, he couldn't come.. separated in presence but not in heart.  Paul is hoping for and looking forward to seeing them at Christ's second coming.  Its not much comfort to think that we are separated now but at Christ's second coming you will be there but I won't know you.  What comfort is there in that? None.


-Because Paul comforts Christians who have lost loved ones by telling them that at Christ's second coming those loved ones will come with Christ.  1 Thess 4:13-18 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words."   The passage plainly teaches, don't sorrow for Christian friends and loved ones who have died in Christ as others who have no hope, because Christ will bring them with him.  Comfort one another with these words.  You will be with them and Christ will be with them.  You are not parted forever, you will meet again.

These three passages are robbed of their meaning of comfort if we do not know one another in heaven.  The comfort is that we shall know one another in heaven.  

-Because Peter, James, John and Saul recognized those already in heaven who came from glory to earth in spirit.   In the old testament king Saul in 1 Sam 28, he was a sinful man and after God had left him because of his disobedience, Saul went to the witch of Endor and asked her to use her demonic powers and summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel who was already dead.  When she went through her process, when the prophet Samuel's spirit appeared, the witch is absolutely terrified because it really is the spirit of Samuel.  Normally it was demons that came, so the witch is terrified  because the spirit of Samuel was sent by God.  And Saul recognizes Samuel that came from eternity.

Peter, James and John were brought by the Lord Jesus up to  mount Herman, the mount of transfiguration, and on that mountain the Lord Jesus is glorified and he meets with the spirits of two men, Moses and Elijah.  Peter, James and John had never met Moses or Elijah, Moses had died 1,400 before Peter, James and John were alive.  Elijah was translated to heaven 800 years before they were born.  The three disciples had never seen these men before but when Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ, Peter knew it was Moses and Elijah.  How is that possible?  Because in eternity not only will we know those we have known on earth, but we will know and recognize those we have never met on earth.  In eternity we will know more, not less.  We will know those who we didn't even know.  We will recognize them.  

-Because heaven is more and not  less than this fallen creation.  What is heaven?  Paradise restored.  The church of Jesus Christ will be in heaven.  What is the church?  The bible says concerning the church, the fellowship of the saints, the household of God.  The perfect fellowship of the saints in heaven.  If saints don't recognize one another, that would be a funny kind of fellowship.   The family of God, all his sons, all his daughters by adoption meet around the throne together for the first time in all history.  Are we expected to believe that this family won't know one another?

What about close relationships?  Certain aspects of marriage will not be the same in heaven.  Matt 22:30   The relationship between Christ and his church will render unnecessary a human illustration.  Does this mean then that your husband or your wife will be no more to us than anyone else?  For every good thing will be better in heaven than on earth.  If God has given you relationships on earth, your future relationships will be closer than now but different.  It is impossible that we should lose anything good where everything good abounds.

Heaven is more than earth, we won't know less in heaven than on earth.  We won't be robots in heaven.  Do  you know people in this fallen world?  do you know your family here on earth?  of course you do.  Do you know people down here where your knowledge is restricted and limited by sin? yes we do.  How much more will you know people in Paradise restored.  Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.  Now we know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known.   Now my knowledge is dark, it is in part, but then face to face.  Then I shall know as also I am known.  Heaven is the fulfillment of true reality.  

What about now? at this present moment?  The bodily resurrection has not occurred but the spirits of those who have passed on in Christ are with God in heaven.   The spirit is invisible but only to the physical eye and even then the spirit world can be revealed by God.  To Zacharias, Mary and Daniel.  They saw angels.  Spirits have a form, a form that can be seen with spiritual eyes, and that form can be revealed by God at certain times.  The spirits in heaven of just men made perfect can see each other in heaven now.  All angels can see one another.  Invisible to our yes, but not their own.  God is  spirit, but Job says "In my flesh I shall see God. " 

Will some of you make it to heaven?  if you are not saved you need to ask yourself a question, is heaven your home?  is it being prepared for you?  Who was Jesus speaking to in John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." Who was he speaking to?  His followers, those who trusted and believed in him and followed him wherever he went.  He was speaking to sinners that he had forgiven.  Is that you?  Are you his disciple?  are you his follower?  do you trust and believe and follow him?  are you a sinner that Jesus has forgiven? if that is you than you are going home.  If it is not you it needs to become you or else heaven will never be your home.  Heaven is home to believers, the home to which Christians are going.  Home at last, its good to be home.  There is also a sadness of never coming home.  All God's people, all believers will come home. 
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The above notes were made by myself from the sermon by Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed) at Sermon Audio.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=27161741272