Will you recognize your loved ones on the other side?

[Lamb]

Will you recognize your loved ones on the other side?

 

[Albion]

I don't know that there's any reason to think we will be able to, although most people want it to happen.

 

[Messy]

Yes of course. You don't all of a sudden know nothing because you leave your earthly brain behind. There were Chinese orphan kids decades ago, who visited heaven and saw a kid they knew who had died a year before. She showed em around. The people who had the orphanage hoped that none of the kids would die, cause then the others would be very jealous.

 

[Josiah]

The Bible is silent about this, and so dogmatically I think it good to do the same.

But I see no reason why we would not. Heaven would not be heaven without my family....


.

 

[Albion]

Yes of course. You don't all of a sudden know nothing because you leave your earthly brain behind. There were Chinese orphan kids decades ago, who visited heaven and saw a kid they knew who had died a year before. She showed em around. The people who had the orphanage hoped that none of the kids would die, cause then the others would be very jealous.

I'd be extremely cautious about taking a position on something like this matter, basing it on a claim like that ^ one.

 

[Albion]

Basically, the nature of heaven is beyond our human abilities to comprehend.

We are given to know certain things, various things, about heaven, and the Bible does that for us: but when we start to get overly specific, we're going too far. Most likely, heaven will be wonderful but nothing like we'd imagined while in this life.

 

[Josiah]

Come on, @Albion .... We all know we'll be short, fat, white... playing harps.... on fluffy white clouds. Haven't you seen the pictures?

 

[Messy]

Basically, the nature of heaven is beyond our human abilities to comprehend.

We are given to know certain things, various things, about heaven, and the Bible does that for us: but when we start to get overly specific, we're going too far. Most likely, heaven will be wonderful but nothing like we'd imagined while in this life.

Peter knew it was Moses and Elijah on the mountain. They came from heaven. He wanted to put up a tent for them. That was so funny. And Saul saw that it was Samuel who came up from the earth.

 

[Albion]

Peter knew it was Moses and Elijah on the mountain. They came from heaven.

Very well, but the question was about what we mortals will see and experience in heaven, and nothing about a couple of heavenly figures appearing to someone who's still in the flesh.

And that's in addition to the fact that the question asked about us recognizing our loved ones in the next life, not angels or Moses, etc.

 

[Messy]

Very well, but the question was about what we mortals will see and experience in heaven, and nothing about a couple of heavenly figures appearing to someone who's still in the flesh.

And that's in addition to the fact that the question asked about us recognizing our loved ones in the next life, not angels or Moses, etc.

I don't even know some family members who died before I was born. That's why I thought of Elijah and Moses. How on earth was Peter to recognize Elijah? I think Jesus told him or said: hi Elijah! So maybe they tell you or you just know. I do not have Biblical proof, but not knowing who is who in heaven makes zero sense to me. My friend said that when her dad had just died her little brother saw him in white waving bye bye to him in the air. He later became a missionary.

 

[Albion]

I don't even know some family members who died before I was born. That's why I thought of Elijah and Moses. How on earth was Peter to recognize Elijah? I think Jesus told him or said: hi Elijah! So maybe they tell you or you just know. I do not have Biblical proof, but not knowing who is who in heaven makes zero sense to me. My friend said that when her dad had just died her little brother saw him in white waving bye bye to him in the air. He later became a missionary.

Well, we believe that we will be changed in heaven. But presumably that would not prevent anyone from recognizing a loved one, IF doing so were possible.

But the "bottom line" here is that there is nothing in Scripture which teaches that we will be reunited with loved ones, family members, and so forth. It's a comforting idea, but the answer must be based on evidence from the Bible, and in this case it is (to the best of my knowledge) lacking.

 

[Messy]

Well, we believe that we will be changed in heaven. But presumably that would not prevent anyone from recognizing a loved one, IF doing so were possible.

But the "bottom line" here is that there is nothing in Scripture which teaches that we will be reunited with loved ones, family members, and so forth. It's a comforting idea, but the answer must be based on evidence from the Bible, and in this case it is (to the best of my knowledge) lacking.

David
2 Samuel 12

22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether [a]the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”


1 Corinthians 13
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:10‭, ‬12‭-‬13 NKJV

I Corinthians 13:10-13 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I | New King James Version (

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I

bible.com

We will know fully.

And the rich man, although not in heaven, knew he had brothers on earth and he recognized Abraham and Lazarus and Abraham knew who he was.

 

[Albion]

Everyone will have to decide for himself on this matter, and it's largely a guessing game, depending on how such verses as these you cited are interpreted.

Personally, I don't think that any of them indicate that we all will recognize our friends and relatives when we get to heaven.

 

[Lees]

I don't know that there's any reason to think we will be able to, although most people want it to happen.

But the "bottom line" here is that there is nothing in Scripture which teaches that we will be reunited with loved ones, family members, and so forth. It's a comforting idea, but the answer must be based on evidence from the Bible, and in this case it is (to the best of my knowledge) lacking.

(Luke 16:19-31) The rich man and Lazarus.

See (Luke 16:25) "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

See (Luke 16:27-28) "Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."

There is then every reason, and Scripture, to know that we will recognize, not just family members, but others we have known on earth during our lifetime.

What 'reason' would there be that we should not know and recognize?

You present the believer as receiving some sort of lobotomy when he dies and goes to heaven.

Lees

 

[Albion]

(Luke 16:19-31) The rich man and Lazarus.

The Lazarus story is usually considered to be a parable, a morality tale, not a literal event.

Luke records other parables, too, such as the 'Parable of the Sower' which most of us recognize as a teaching device rather than a history lesson involving an actual farmer. Note also that parables are even labelled as parables by Holy Scripture itself.y gs, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

 

[Messy]

The Lazarus story is usually considered to be a parable, a morality tale, not a literal event.

Luke records other parables, too, such as the 'Parable of the Sower' which most of us recognize as a teaching device rather than a history lesson involving an actual farmer. Note also that parables are even labelled as parables by Holy Scripture itself.y gs, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

But you do believe they were in Abraham's bosom before Jesus rose and as far as I know that's also mainly based on this parable.
The 7 men then with the same wife. The question from the Sadducees.
They will be like the angels in the resurrection. Angels know who is who.

Matthew 8
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 26
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

It doesn't they will recognize each other, but when the Emmaus guys didn't recognize Jesus, He showed them that it was Him.

Only thing I worry about is that my cat from 40 years ago will not recognize me and my rabbits who died. Hello! Hello! It's me! Remember? Cat: who are you?

 

[Albion]

But you do believe they were in Abraham's bosom before Jesus rose and as far as I know that's also mainly based on this parable.

The question of "what happened to the righteous people who died before the Savior came?" is often answered by reference to this parable, I agree. But that's Abraham's Bosom, not Heaven.

The 7 men then with the same wife. The question from the Sadducees.
They will be like the angels in the resurrection. Angels know who is who.

Matthew 8
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 26
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

It doesn't they will recognize each other, but when the Emmaus guys didn't recognize Jesus, He showed them that it was Him.

One thing that I disagreed with in this whole line of argument is the idea that individual cases, exceptional cases like you are using from the Bible, are somehow in the same category as the question we were asked.

The issue is supposed to be "will we recognize our loved ones?" Both the "we" and the "loved ones" are sidestepped by these replies. The question asked if that particular recognition is a definite part of the experience of heaven that will happen to everyone who goes there.

To refer to a famous figure from Scripture being seen by some mortal, or a couple of them interacting with humans still in this life, does not answer the question in the affirmative. It doesn't answer it at all, in fact.

Only thing I worry about is that my cat from 40 years ago will not recognize me and my rabbits who died. Hello! Hello! It's me! Remember? Cat: who are you?

Well, he has a lot on his mind, you know, Eight other owners and keeping them all straight.

 

[Lees]

The Lazarus story is usually considered to be a parable, a morality tale, not a literal event.

Luke records other parables, too, such as the 'Parable of the Sower' which most of us recognize as a teaching device rather than a history lesson involving an actual farmer. Note also that parables are even labelled as parables by Holy Scripture itself.y gs, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

That's too bad because Jesus said "There was a certain rich man..." (Lu. 16:19) He also said, "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus...."

Just because Jesus spoke in parables at times doesn't make everything a parable. And, by the way, who says a parable cannot be a true story? And why would Jesus need to name a person such as Lazarus in a fictitious story?

Paul uses real history to develop an allegory. (Gal. 4:22-26) Or do you say that too is just a teaching device rather than history?

Again, what reason would there be that the believer would not recognize in heaven anyone he knew on earth?

Why must you perform a lobotomy on the believer when he dies and goes to heaven?

Lees

 

[Albion]

That's too bad because Jesus said "There was a certain rich man..." (Lu. 16:19)

That's right. Jesus used a lot of parables, and in them some figures are mentioned or described in order to make the point he wanted understood. That doesn't make the parable not be a parable.

He also said, "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus...."

Just because Jesus spoke in parables at times doesn't make everything a parable.

Who would advocate for such a silly notion as that one?

Again, what reason would there be that the believer would not recognize in heaven anyone he knew on earth?

What reason would there be for concluding that this is for sure what WILL happen to everyone in heaven? I'll tell you. It's because we would like it to be so.

We naturally want the best for our loved ones and we would like to be reunited with some or all of them. But our experiences there are only hinted at in this life, and they will be much different from what we construct now in our own imagining. I also have to reiterate that I didn't reply to the OP by saying that this (recognizing loved ones) absolutely will NOT happen. I said that there is no Biblical basis for concluding that it absolutely will.

 

[Lees]

That's right. Jesus used a lot of parables, and in them some figures are mentioned or described in order to make the point he wanted understood. That doesn't make the parable not be a parable.

Who would advocate for such a silly notion as that one?

Again, Jesus said, "there was a certain rich man" and 'there was a certain beggar named Lazarus". You don't have to believe Him if you don't want to.

You suggest it. You claim (Luke 16:19-31) is a parable when there is nothing to indicate it is a parable.

Again, who says a parable cannot be a true historical event? You?

Do you consider (Gal. 4:22-26) an allegory? Is it a true historical event?

Again, what reason would there be for a believer not to be able to recognize his loved ones in heaven?

Why the need to perform a lobotomy on the believer when he dies and goes to heaven?

Your continual ignoring my questions shows the weakness of your position. Please answer.

Lees