10 January 2010

Shall We Know One Another In Heaven?

(Hoyt Houchen)

Man is confronted with many mysteries, thus causing him to Ponder on many questions. He is made to wonder about death, immortality, what is beyond and shall we know each other in heaven. The subject of future recognition in heaven that is discussed in this article pertains to saints. As we give attention to this question, we are aware that our soul's salvation does not depend upon the answer; nevertheless, it is thought provoking and motivates us to delve into the Scriptures to determine if they provide the answer. Some questions which concern us are not answered in the Scriptures, thus they remain mysteries and must be classified in the file of curiosity. We do not believe, however, that the question under consideration is in that category.

Every devoted Christian has probably given thought to this question. When one of our loved ones (a saint) departs from this life, we are sustained by the hope that we shall be united with him in heaven. Shall we recognize each other? We address ourselves to this question. While the Bible does give some teaching about future recognition, nevertheless, there are questions which remain unanswered, especially those involving details or specifics. The Bible teaches that heaven is real, but shall we as saints know each other in heaven?

A significant phrase is found in Genesis 25:8 where we are told, "And Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people." "He was gathered to his people." This phrase, or a slight variation of it, is used with reference to Ishmael's death (Genesis 25:17), the death of Isaac (Genesis 35:29), the death of Jacob (Genesis 49:29,33) and to Moses and Aaron (Deut. 32:50). Moses was not buried in the sepulchers of his fathers, but in an unknown place "in the valley of Moab" (Deut. 34:6). So, the phrase "gathered unto his people" would not refer to the burial of the body, but to the reunion of the spirit with those who had died before.

On the occasion of David's child who had died, he said: "Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23). David realized that someday he would go to be with the child.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "...we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus" (2 Corinthians 1:14). Paul also wrote to these brethren: "knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you" (2 Corinthians 4:14). And, he wrote to the Thessalonians: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?" These are times of future rejoicing and glorying, thus it seems reasonable that Paul in these verses is referring to the "day" when the Lord Jesus will come to judge the world. Paul and his readers will be in one another's presence at that time.

The passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14 is one of hope and comfort for Christians whose loved ones had died. Paul admonished his readers that they "sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope" (v. 13). Their hope was not only that of the loved being at home with God, but it is also reasonable that there was the hope of someday seeing that beloved saint and being with him forever. This Scripture affords us the same hope today. The foregoing Scriptures are some which convey the idea that the faithful who die will be united with the other faithful who have already departed from this life. There will be a meeting together.

Will there be future recognition? There are two passages in particular which lend evidence to this.

1) The transfiguration (Matthew 17:18; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Christ was transfigured on the mountain and there appeared with him Moses and Elijah. Moses had been dead for nearly fifteen hundred years, and his body lay in an unknown grave. Elijah did not die, for he was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). The body of Moses turned to dust and Elijah had been changed. These men were clothed with different bodies from what they had here upon earth, but they appeared to the disciples and were talking with Jesus. They were both recognized.

2) The rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Although some classify this account as a parable, a parable represents something that actually occurs. The rich man recognized Lazarus and Abraham in the unseen world. He still possessed memory, for he was told to remember that in this world he had good things and Lazarus evil things. He also remembered that he had five brothers still living. He requested that they be warned, lest they too, should come to torment. A great gulf in Hades separated the righteous from the wicked, and although it was too late for the rich man to be changed, there was recognition.

The Scriptures teach that at the resurrection of the dead, it is our physical bodies that will be changed, not our spirits. This is made clear in 1Corinthians 15 (see vv. 35-38). This body will be changed from a mortal body to an immortal one. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (v. 53). There can be no doubt that the mortal and the corruptible refer to the physical body. Certainly, the spirit is neither corruptible nor mortal. When we are raised from the dead, we shall have a body which pleases God to give us. It will be a changed body (vv. 51,52). "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body" (v. 44). This being true, we shall not be known in heaven by our natural (physical) bodies as we are known here upon the earth, but this is not to suppose that our spiritual bodies will be without form and features.

Jesus, Moses and Elijah were transfigured. Webster defines transfiguration" as "a change in form or appearance" (Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1252). They were transfigured, but they were recognized. The Lord will clothe us with bodies which he has prepared; they will be fashioned anew to be "conformed to the body of his glory" (Philippians 3:21). Our bodies will be transformed into the likeness of his body in the glorified state. John wrote, "Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is" (1John 3:2). If we shall recognize God in his manifested form, then, does it not stand to reason that we shall recognize one another in whatever likeness he shall prepare for us?

There will be recognition in heaven. How the resurrection and transformation will take place, our finite minds cannot comprehend it, much less can we explain it. By the same faith that we accept all the miracles in the Bible, let us anticipate this great miracle which is yet to occur, and believe it with all our hearts.

The very thought of knowing one another in "the land that is fairer than day" is a great hope for Christians and should motivate us to endeavor even more to please God, and be assured that someday we can live forever in that most wonderful and indescribable place known as heaven.

The Last Deception Will Be Worse Than The First

(Kent Heaton)

The chief priests and Pharisees succeeded in quieting the voice of Jesus when they had him killed on the cross. His influence was larger than life while he lived and because of envy they delivered Jesus to the Romans to be executed (Matthew 27:18). Immediately following his death, the enemies of Jesus felt the pangs of guilt and fear when they came to Pilate and asked a guard be placed at the tomb of Jesus. “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, ‘Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard” (Matthew 27:62-66).

They viewed Jesus of Nazareth as a “deceiver”, “liar” or “imposter.” The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah and sought to kill him when he claimed “that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18). Some people believed Jesus to be a good man but others believed him to be a deceiver (John 7:12). Now at his death, the chief priests and Pharisees had a greater problem. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, he taught his disciples that he would rise from the dead. “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matthew 16:21; see also Matthew 17:22-23; 20:17-19).

Part of the charge brought up to convict Jesus was how he would destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days (Matthew 26:59-61). Jesus was speaking of his body (John 2:19-22) and the fear the Jews had about Jesus raising from the dead was what drove them to ask Pilate for a guard at the tomb. Their request only solidified the undeniable proof that Jesus would be raised the third day (Acts 26:22-23). The last deception they feared became the truth of the gospel of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-28). The motivation of the early disciples was based upon the knowledge that Jesus was alive and exalted to the right hand of God. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

Jesus declared boldly that salvation could only come through him. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Many today still believe this to be a lie and deny Jesus as being the Son of God. His life was neither a deception nor was he an imposter. The only hope – the only hope that man can have is in Jesus Christ. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Unless you believe the life of Jesus with all his miracles, teachings and testimonies; unless you believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; there is no hope of eternal life. The deception you believe now will be truth on the day when God will judge all men by “the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:30-31). No guard could contain the Son of God. He arose. He lives. He reigns. He is coming back!

A Name Which Is Above Every Name

(Paul R. Blake)

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

It is testimony to the high justice of God that following the voluntary, deep humiliation of Jesus that the Father would highly exalt him. As low as Jesus was brought in obedience to God by coming in the form of a servant and dying in a shameful manner, so high would He be exalted when He completed the task of the salvation of humankind.

A Great Name - The names of all righteous men would pale into insignificance beside the glorious name of Jesus Christ. Abraham who was the father of the Jewish race, ancestor of the Savior, and model of faith for all men in all times would not be as important as that of Christ. Moses who was leader and lawgiver to the people of God, the prince who became a prophet, and the man who was the most humble of all men, would fade at the coming of the carpenter's son born in a manger, Who was revealed to be the Son of God and by means of a bloody cross and an open tomb, became King of kings and Lord of lords. Peter attempted to set up worship stations for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah; and God stopped him with the words, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:4-5). No name in all of history has impacted this world as that of Jesus Christ.

A Powerful Name - The name of Jesus Christ bears all authority in this world. He was given all authority by God (Matthew 28:18); and therefore, all spiritual activities of Christians must be in the name of (or by the authority of) Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). In all matters of the work, worship, and organization of the Church, Jesus Christ is the last word in authority and preeminence (Colossians 1:18). All matters of religious doctrine must bear the hallmark of the name of Jesus Christ, for only His doctrine forms the basis of fellowship among believers (2 John 9-11); doctrines created by and named after men only bring damnation and division.

The Name of Salvation - The name of Jesus Christ is the only name through which one can access salvation from sins and eternal life (Acts 4:12). His name must be publicly confessed before the penitent believer can be washed of his sins in baptism (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37-38). Public confession of the name of Jesus must come first before Christ will present the confessor's name in His role as High Priest to the Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33). Ultimately everyone will confess the name of Jesus Christ, but only those who do so following faith and repentance and before baptism and death receive the blessings of this public vow of allegiance to Him.

"All hail the power of Jesus' name; let angels prostrate fall... Ye chosen seed of Israel's race, ye ransomed from the fall; hail Him who saves you by His grace, the crowned King, Lord of All."