Q & A: Making Sense of Heaven

Throughout the Making Sense of It All campaign, we will be inviting you to share questions with us about the challenging situations you are trying to make sense of in your life. Take a look at what Dr. David Jeremiah says about our future in heaven!

Click here to view all the questions and answers.

Share your questions with us here or on Facebook.

Terri, a Top Fan on Facebook, wonders, “What will relationships be like in our everlasting world? Some hold so tightly to family now, while others feel a crushing absence of family/friends. What will ‘family’ mean when Jesus is our source of light? How will we see each other and relate to each other in the light in the new kingdom to come?”

David Jeremiah responds: Your question is a good one. People often ask me if we will know each other in heaven, and my answer is a resounding “Yes.” When Jesus appeared to the disciples in His resurrection body, they knew who He was. They knew this Jesus who was with them after His death and resurrection was the very same Jesus they had known before His crucifixion. They believed this so deeply that they all went to their death proclaiming the reality of His resurrection.

When we get to heaven, we’re going to know all the people we met down here, and they’re going to know us.

And that’s the way it will be for us. When we get to heaven, we’re going to know all the people we met down here, and they’re going to know us. It’s unthinkable to me that, in heaven, we will know less than we do here. First Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” We will have a greater sense of recognition in heaven than we ever had on this earth.

Those who endure the pain of loneliness in this life can look forward to abundant fellowship as members of God’s family in heaven.

Are you ready for more good news? Those who endure the pain of loneliness in this life can look forward to abundant fellowship as members of God’s family in heaven. Hebrews 12:22–23 tells us that the heavenly Jerusalem will be occupied by “an innumerable company of angels” and “the spirits of just men made perfect.” In other words, we will spend eternity in the company of angels, the Old Testament saints, and the population of the entire Church of Jesus Christ.

Even at our best here on earth, we sometimes wonder about people’s motives and meanings. But in heaven, there will be none of that. There will be complete honesty, openness, and vulnerability to one another. Fear, ulterior motives, manipulation—all the things that separate us from one another on earth will be gone. Because we’re so used to the hurtfulness that exists in our world, it’s hard even to imagine the fellowship we will enjoy in heaven.

Just think about it for a moment. We will have the unlimited opportunity to fellowship with people from every age of history. Would you like to spend time with Deborah, Elijah, or the apostles? What about C. S. Lewis, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, or Susanna Wesley? They will have all the time in the world to make your acquaintance. And as wonderful as this is, these relationships will be overshadowed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, who calls us His brothers and sisters and is preparing a place in heaven for each person who trusts Him as their Lord and Savior (Hebrews 2:11; John 14:3). Heaven will be far from lonely!