Question
Hey Greg just wondering if we will be able to notice and see loved ones/significant others ones in heaven after Jesus comes and if not then why is marriage a key point in the Bible?
Answer
Mark 12 18 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”
24 Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”
Matthew 22:30 “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”
When God created Adam and Eve, He told them to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, as we see below. But after the resurrection, there will be a great multitude of saved human beings, and so the need for procreation will no longer be there.
Genesis 1 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Ephesians 5 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
God instituted marriage before sin came to the earth, so marriage is to be a reflection of God’s relationship with the church. God is love, and He wants each one of us to experience His love, and the love of everyone around us. And of course, God wants each one to have a special marriage partner, and the Bible tells us that God hates divorce, so God would not split us up when we get to heaven.
This statement of Jesus has been debated for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, with differing opinions. The passage above talks about there being no new marriages in heaven; maybe God is leaving that for the new earth, after the thousand years in heaven. He does not say that existing marriages will be annulled. Besides, God created marriage and sex before sin came into the world, so why would He suddenly wipe it out? However, Jesus’ words seem very definite, and it does seem as if marriages may not exist after the resurrection. We don’t know what God has in mind, so let’s wait until we get there. Whatever He has in mind, you can bet that it will be good.
God always does the very best for us, if we give ourselves to Him completely. So why would He not keep married couples together in heaven, when they were happy together on earth? God hates divorce here on earth, so does that not also stay the same for heaven? Being in heaven will blow our minds, and what God has prepared for us, will be simply amazing. He doesn’t tell us the whole story about marriage in heaven, or on the new earth, but God will explain everything when we get there. We just have to concentrate on our relationship with God here and now, and leave the rest up to God.
Malachi 2:16 “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce …”
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change.”
Proverbs 3 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own under-standing; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
I believe that we will be reunited with friends and family, marriages will not be annulled, but perhaps procreation will be stopped, and we will live happily together. I don’t fully understand the verses about not getting married in heaven, but I trust that God will keep together those whom He has put together.
