Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/26/2007

Question
WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN I KNOW YOU WILL KNOW YOUR LOVE ONES, BUT SOMEONE ASK ME WILL YOU KNOW THEM AS A HEAVENLY FAMILY OR THE FAMILY YOU HAD ON EARTH AND IF SO WHAT IF YOU HAD ANOTHER SPOUSE BECAUSE ONE DIED.....DO YOU KNOW THEM BOTH AS YOUR SPOUSE OR WHAT?  I ALSO NEED THE SCRIPTURES TO THIS QUESTION.

Answer
Hi Barbara,

Thanks for this great question.  I am sorry for my late response.  I do believe that you will recognize people in Heaven.  In Luke 16, the rich man recognized Lazarus form his time on earth.  Now as to your spouse, let us see what Jesus said.

Matthew 22:23-32
23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.  27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

We will recognize our spouse, but we will not be married in Heaven.

I hope that this helps you.

In CHrist
Pastor Don