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.

Will We Know Each Other in Heaven?

2 Samuel 12:15-23 "...and the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.....neither did he eat bread....And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died.  And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead:...But when David saw that that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead...Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; ...and he did eat....And he said, While the child was yet alive I fasted and wept: for I said, who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 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."

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...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? For ye are our glory, and joy."

When we think of heaven we realize that heaven will be altogether wonderful.  When we think of heaven there is a longing to be home, and perfection is in the believer’s heart.  But there is a question that bothers some people: will we know one another in heaven?   We begin with evidence from the bible that we will.

Women in Scripture: Abigail, A Woman's Courage

Abigail

1 Samuel 25:1-42

Abigail's story is one of a godly wife of a very difficult man.  Her courage in intervening for her household leads to her being greatly blessed by God.

Abigail's story takes place in 1 Samuel. David has separated from King Saul and gone down to the wilderness of Paran where a very rich man named Nabal lives, whose wife's name is Abigail.  Verse 3 tells us that "she was a woman of good  understanding, and of a beautiful countenance, but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb." The first thing said about her is very important: that she was a woman of good understanding.  Proverbs 13:15 "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard."  We shall see how true this statement is.

Verses 4 - 8 - David learns that Nabal was shearing his sheep so he sends ten of his young men to go to Nabal, to greet him in David's name and offer Nabal peace to him, peace to his house, and peace to all that he had.  David has not harmed anything belonging to Nabal, and desires that Nabal would share of his prosperity with David and his men.  In view of later happenings, we speculate that it is food for himself and his men that he desires.

Verses 10-11 - Nabal denies David his request, using the excuse that he does not know if it is really David or a pretender and so why should he share of his goods.

Verses 12-13 David learns of Nabal's decision and tells his men to "gird ye on every man his sword.  And they girded on every man his sword: and David also girded on his sword:..." 400 men went with David and 200 stayed with their belongings.