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[Newbie]

When we die do we get reunited with our loved ones, or do we not really know anyone?

[jimwalton]

It's a great question. I'll answer in a couple of segments.

First, the Bible doesn't say anything specifically about meeting our "loved ones" in particular in heaven. You know, "Hey, it's Uncle Joe and Aunt Mabel. How have you been?" But that's certainly not the end of the answer.

Second, in Revelation 7.9 and 19.1, 6, we see a great multitude standing in heaven together. That tells me several things: (1) We're not in isolation there, but we're with other Christians, and (2) heaven is a community event, not an individual one.

Third, there is a strong emphasis in both the Old and New Testaments that we are the people of God TOGETHER by God's design. Israel as a nation was his people, and the whole idea about the church is to be a community of people together, with one another, as a family. We know that besides just the church, God values family and family relationships (Love your spouses, honor your parents, stay together as married couples, teach your children the ways of the Lord, etc.). Because of what God has revealed to us about himself, it would be totally out of character and contrary to what he has told us about himself and us as his people if we were not reunited with our loved ones in heaven. All of the images about banquets and cities and multitudes all speak about community and relationships.

In Luke 16.19-31, in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, after death the rich man recognized Lazarus. On the Mount of Transfiguration, the 3 disciples recognized Moses and Elijah. And after the resurrection, while Jesus was in his resurrection body, the disciples recognized him.

I think it's quite safe to say that we'll get reunited with our loved ones, we will know each other, meet some that we didn't have a chance to get to know, and be a family and community together.

Thanks for asking.

[Newbie]

But now, supposed I was married before and, say, my husband died. So if I was to remarry and ran into my first husband in heaven, wouldn't that be weird? But in heaven would we only know each other as friends and what about the different levels of heaven? Our loved ones might be on a different level, right?

[jimwalton]

Heaven is an ideal state, so everything is cool there. We will all have perfect understanding. We will be all love, all forgiveness, and no jealousy or envy. There won't be any awkwardnesses, because all of the problems with such things are due to sin. We will all be perfectly Christlike, so neither of you will feel weird. You'll both have complete understanding, and we'll all be there as friends who love each other.

And even though there are degrees of reward in heaven, there aren't different "levels". "Levels" communicates a completely different idea that isn't biblical. We'll all be there in community together.

Does that help?