For thought and meditation

[rl69]

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.—1 Corinthians 15:20 (http://harvest.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4f108f827aed8d503b5fca9fa&id=7f720df4b0&e=3dd732485b)A question I'm often asked about Heaven is whether we will recognize each other.

While I can't cite any Scripture passage that absolutely guarantees we will recognize one another in Heaven, it's my belief that we will.

There are Scripture passages that would seem to point to that. When Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus during His transfiguration, they were recognizable to Peter. He was able to look at them and somehow know they were Moses and Elijah.

It's also interesting that after Jesus' resurrection, when He appeared to the disciples on the Emmaus road and walked and talked with them, they didn't realize that it was indeed Him until their eyes were opened. Therefore, Jesus was recognizable but not immediately recognizable. He bore in His body the marks of the crucifixion. This gives us a picture of a resurrection body that is similar to the old earthly body but is different at the same time.

We're also told in 1 Corinthians 13, "Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (verse 12). We'll have a new knowledge and understanding that wasn't possible before.

The Bible says that Christ has become "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/x-apple-data-detectors://2)). He was the first one there, so to speak. Considering the resurrection body of Jesus, I think we're given a broad outline of what our bodies will be like. The Scriptures say, "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). I think our resurrected bodies will be somewhat similar to our earthly bodies.

To live forever in this body would be a curse. But to live forever in a new body in the presence of God—that will be a blessing.

[square butte]

I truly do hope that we recognize each other. It is also my hope that I recognize some of the folks I have met here - but most probably will never meet in person in this life

[USMC87]

Praise the Lord I'll have a new body fashioned to that of my Savior.

[Blackwater]

Thanks. That last line puts it all in perspective for me. Great post.

[Boaz]

I look forward to going back home . Revelation 21 gives us a description of heaven . It should be pretty amazing !

21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

[Blackwater]

Anyone who doesn't get weary in this life, probably isn't counting for much anywhere. Those who DO get weary, from being so hard pressed to get done the things that are really important in this life, will receive total and complete respite from our cares and woes, once our journey here is ended, and we've been transformed, never more to know hurt or pain or tiredness or frustration or sadness. What a wonderful place Heaven will be! NOT the "playing harps in the clouds" that the deniers so like to refer to, to try and justify their unbelief. But it's always a good kind of tired, not like digging ditches that we know we'll never get a thing out of. Those who don't WANT to know, won't, because they're "comfortable" in their disbelief, at least for the moment. One day, though, "every eye shall see and every head shall bow," and at that point, all that's left is the tallying up and judgment. And our trials here will be seen in a new light, as a blessing and a gift - another opportunity to show our love for our Lord, and to apply the things He gave so much to teach and instruct us to do. How could it NOT be a day of real "rejoicing?"