Recognizing each other in the afterlife
It is a comforting thought. There are plenty of assurances out there that yes, in fact, we will recognize our loved ones in heaven. We even say the words at funerals that we will see that person again someday. We have heard people say that people are “looking down” on our deeds from heaven.
Will we recognize one another after death? Is this scripturally supported? This blog post examines these questions in detail. We will examine the claims that people definitively make. We conclude that there is, in fact insufficient evidence to render a definite verdict on the topic. We will express our skepticism and the rationale for that viewpoint.
Those who express the viewpoint that we will recognize each other after death most commonly cite the parable Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke 16. (Luke 16:19-31) We see significant problems with interpreting this passage to mean that people will recognize each other in the afterlife. Let us summarize the parable here.
The rich man had refused to help Lazarus, called a “beggar” while they were alive. The rich man ends up in “hell,” while Lazarus goes to a place Jesus calls “Abraham’s bosom.” Most notably, there is a “great chasm” between them but they recognize each other and have a dialog in which the rich man finally implores Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers lest the same fate befalls them. Abraham refuses, pointing out that they have the law and the prophets, and if they do not listen to them, they will not believe one who is “raised from the dead.”
First, we think Jesus is probably making the points about belief and unbelief having to do with His own teachings and resurrection. If there is a secondary point Jesus was making, it was probably social justice related, like what He pointed out about it being difficult for the wealthy to enter heaven (Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:19-27).
Second, those who assume that Jesus was talking about the destination of the eternal soul would seem to us to deny the final judgement. Jesus clearly describes the fact that there will be a final day of reckoning. (Matthew 7:13-23; Matthew 15:40-46) It seems unlikely to us that Jesus would call souls from their final resting place to be judged all together, only to be sent back to that place again.
Without getting into another topic, the places souls go when they have departed seem to us go to a good and bad place where they are awaiting final judgement and final disposition. There seems to be some evidence that we may recognize souls at this point. We have dealt with the parable Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus previously. However, Jesus also references the fact that souls sent to hell will recognize the fact that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other prophets are going to heaven (Luke 13:23-28).
Once there, however, we think it is unlikely that we will recognize each other or even care. To imply that we would be conscious of each other seems to us to also imply that we could miss those among our friends and family who did not make it. We do not find scriptural support for either proposition. In fact, in Matthew 22:23-32 Jesus makes the point that there will be no marriage in heaven. We think Jesus was not just talking about marriage. We think He was talking about all relationships.
So, back to the original question, “will we recognize each other in the afterlife?” There simply is not enough evidence to say one way or the other definitively. Our best guess is that, yes in the period between our death and the final judgement, we will probably recognize each other. After the final judgement, our best guess is that it will not matter. Our bodies will be transformed (I Corinthians 15:35-58) and we will spend eternity worshiping God (many passages in Revelation).