Reddit Will We See Quaith Again
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This sermon series includes the following messages:
Yep! In the Old Attestation, when a person died, the biblical writers said he was "gathered to his people" (cf. Gen. 25:8; 35:29; 49:29; Num. 20:24; Judg. ii:x). In 2 Samuel 12, when David's infant child died, David confidently said, "I shall go to him, simply he shall not return to me" (v. 23). David evidently expected to see the kid again--not just a nameless, faceless soul without an identity, simply that very kid.
The New Attestation indicates even more conspicuously that our identities will remain unchanged. While sharing the Passover meal with His disciples, Christ said, "Have this [cup] and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will non drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:17-18). Christ was promising that He and His disciples would drink the fruit of the vine together again--in heaven. Elsewhere Jesus makes a similar, but fifty-fifty more definite, promise: "Many will come from e and west, and sit down down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 8:eleven).
Furthermore, Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Even though it had been centuries since Moses died and Elijah was taken to sky, they still maintained a clear identity (Matt. 17:three)--Peter, James, and John evidently recognized them (five. 4), which implies that we will somehow exist able to recognize people nosotros've never even seen before.
All the redeemed volition maintain their identity forever, only in a perfected form. Nosotros will be able to take fellowship with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Samuel, Moses, Joshua, Esther, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, David, Peter, Barnabas, Paul, or any of the saints nosotros choose. For that to be possible, we must all retain our individual identities, not plow into some sort of generic beings.
Describing the Lord's actualization and the resurrection of the saints who have died, Paul writes, "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus nosotros shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. four:17).
Paul'south purpose in writing was to comfort some of the Thessalonians who manifestly thought their dying loved ones would miss the return of Christ. He says in poesy 18, "Comfort one another with these words." The condolement comes from the prospect of reunion. Little condolement this would be if in the reunion we could not even recognize one another. Simply Paul's promise that nosotros will all be "together" forever implies that we shall renew fellowship with all whom nosotros take known.
We will be reunited non just with our own families and loved ones, simply besides with the people of God from all ages. In heaven nosotros will all be one loving family. The immense size of the family will not affair in the space perfection of heaven. There will be aplenty opportunity for shut relationships with everyone, and our eternity will be spent in only that kind of rich, unending fellowship.
If you're worried about feeling out of place in heaven, don't. Heaven will seem more than like domicile than the dearest spot on earth to yous. It is uniquely designed by a tender, loving Savior to be the identify where we volition live together for all eternity and savour Him forever--in the fullness of our glorified humanity.
Is information technology any wonder that the psalmist said, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the expiry of His saints" (Ps. 116:15)?
Adapted from John MacArthur, The Glory of Heaven (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1996), 138-41.
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Source: https://www.gty.org/library/Questions/QA100/Will-we-recognize-and-be-reunited-with-our-loved-ones-in-heaven