As I am often asked this question (and others similar to it), I thought it would be good to do it some justice in the form of written articles, where I can record what I have found in the scriptures that pertain to this question.

I see three bodies of evidence in the scriptures that lend a hand to the fullest understanding of whether we will recognize and know each other in heaven after the final resurrection: 1). Information about the realm of the dead now, prior to the resurrection; 2). Information concerning the resurrection; and 3). Theoretical conditions based on truths we know from other subjects that are likely to be applicable to the subject at hand. These are the three bodies of information that we will study in the following articles.

We have some good evidence given to us concerning the realm of the dead prior to the final resurrection, and although this information cannot be directly applied to what will be after the resurrection, I think it would be foolish to disregard this information for our study. It is after all a body of evidence that considers the spirits of those who have departed from their bodies; they are left without their identifiable physical form. So, if they are still recognizable even without all earthly means of identification, then that would certainly support the thought that we will recognize each other after the resurrection because it will also be a state where we are absent from our physical bodies. Likewise, if our identities and ability to recognize others are preserved after death, then for what purpose? To continue through eternity? Or to be removed from us at the resurrection? I cannot find a purpose in the latter. Now, the word of God has revealed beyond the shadow of a doubt that our recognition of each other is preserved in hades (where our spirits go when we make our exodus from our bodies). The best piece of evidence we have for this conviction is from an account that Jesus provided about two men who departed this world in death. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells of a rich man (whose name was withheld) who died and was in severe torment in the realm of the spirits. When the rich man looked up, he saw “Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.” Lazarus was a man that the rich man had known while on earth; though they were not close, nor even to be considered friends. Jesus said that Lazarus “desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table”; this does not mean that Lazarus literally sat under the table waiting for crumbs (I doubt the rich man would even allow such a thing), but that Lazarus would have gladly received the few crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. It is a statement describing the level of need and poverty of Lazarus; but it is also a statement emphasizing the lack of grace, the lack of God, found in the rich man. Despite the lack of relationship shared between the rich man and Lazarus, after life on earth, being only in spirit, without their bodies, the rich man looked up and spotted a man he recognized and known by name: Lazarus. I think it is also important to note that Jesus said the rich man recognized Lazarus from “far off”, which points to the vivid expression of identity and recognition. And if this news is not fascinating enough, there is something even more remarkable here: the rich man also recognized Abraham from “far off”. Now, it is one thing to recognize someone that you once knew, but it’s another thing to recognize someone that you have never met before – nor even seen a picture of. This is seen again, on a unique level, when Peter saw Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36); two men whom Peter had never seen, two men who appeared not in physical form but in glory, and yet Peter automatically knew who they were. So, what we find in scripture is that those without physical form are readily identifiable even if we knew them not while on earth, and those we were acquainted with are recognizable (even from afar) and they are associated with the memories we shared with them on earth. Abraham made this latter point when he told the rich man: “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” Abraham proves to us that it is not just that we can recognize someone outside of the physical spectrum, but that we retain the associated memories concerning that person.

The curious case of king David should also be called into consideration. David and Bathsheba had a child together before Solomon. After the child was born it became very sick unto death, “David therefore sought God on behalf of the child” (2 Samuel 12:16). But after the child passed away, David explained to his servants: “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David makes a point that is difficult for us to understand while we are restrained by physical flesh: that identification and recognition are not limited to what someone looks like in physical form; it goes far beyond that. One may ask how David could identify his infant son in a realm of mature spirits. If he never had the opportunity to see his son grow into manhood, how could he recognize him in heaven? It appears that the scriptures are teaching us that recognition in the spiritual realm is based on the spirit, just as recognition in this physical realm is based on physical form. And the truths about spiritual recognition can be summarized this way: We will recognize each other without the flesh no matter what stage of life we last saw each other. We will also recognize all who stand along with us before the throne of God in worship; whether Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Peter, John, Mary, Paul, Timothy, or the innumerable count of the faithful who are currently unknown to us now. They all will be made known to us in the spirit, and we will be known to them.

So far, we have found compelling evidence that we will recognize each other without the flesh no matter what stage of life we last saw each other. We will also recognize all who we were not acquainted with while on earth. They all will be made known to us in the spirit and we will be known to them. But so far, the evidence we have considered only concerned recognition in hades, and not specifically in the resurrection. Therefore, let’s turn our attention to scriptures that deal exclusively with our recognition of each other in the final resurrection.

 In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul wrote: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  (11)  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  (12)  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  (13)  each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  (14)  If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  (15)  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” Here, Paul is speaking of ministers and evangelists, such as himself, who build on the foundation of Christ. Their works are those who come to Christ by their efforts. The material that they build is not so much of their choosing; it may be “gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw”. This is a critical point. Disciples of Christ present the same word of truth to the lost, some will respond appropriately while others will not. However, it’s not that cut-and-dry; those who obey the gospel and are built upon the foundation of Christ are not all the same. Some can be likened to gold, silver, or precious gems; this is what every minister yearns to see, Christians that are strong, unwavering, and only grow purer through trials. Such are beautiful, precious brethren that are of incomparable value and strength to the building of Christ. However, these are not the only ones added to the building. Others, Paul likened to wood, hay, or straw. Wood may hold up with a fair amount of strength, endure most winds of falsehood, and may even escape the fires of trials; but what about the fires of judgment? And as for the hay and straw, they have no endurance and will not hold anchor even in mild winds of difficulty. Now, from a preacher’s perspective, the same amount of labor goes into building onto the foundation, whether it be gold or straw; and a preacher never knows of what material he is working with (lest he be a respecter-of-persons). A preacher is unable to know what will become of anyone they help in the gospel until the day of judgment declares it. Therefore this text is important to our subject of study; for Paul points out that in the judgment, that is, after the resurrection, “each one’s work will become clear”. This means that each minister’s work (those whom they brought to the gospel) will become clear (whether gold, straw, etc.). But how can this become clear to the minister if he no longer knows or recognizes those he labored for when on earth? Further, Paul states, “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” If a minister sees those whom he labored for at the judgment and they did not endure, “he will suffer loss”, that is, that the minister will suffer the loss of the precious soul he labored to save while on earth. However, if he sees those that he worked for endure the test of judgment, “he will receive a reward”. It is vital that we do not misunderstand Paul and the context of his words. He is not saying that a minister’s eternal life is dependent upon whether his work on souls endures to the end; that is not the loss or reward of which Paul is referring. In fact, Paul specifies that the minister “himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” Even if all the souls that he labored for did not endure the judgment, he will be saved, as long as he endures his own testing by fire. So, if Paul is not referring to heaven as the reward of ministers, what is this reward? Paul does not specifically say in this text, but he does speak of this in several other places.

To the church in Thessalonica, Paul said, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). The ESV puts it slightly differently: “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” The takeaway is that Paul, inspired by the Spirit, acknowledges that he will see and recognize the Thessalonian brethren he knew on earth. He points out that it is not just that he will recognize them, but that they would be to him a crown of rejoicing/boasting. This, I believe, is the proper understanding of the reward which Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:14. The reward of those who bring someone to Christ is to see them with Christ after the resurrection. But how can this be if we won’t recognize each other in heaven? It can’t be; so it is certain that we will know each other and remember each other in the resurrection and beyond.

Paul brings this up again in 2 Corinthians, and again in Philippians. Let’s conclude by considering these testimonies. “We are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus” (2 Corinthians 1:14). But again, how could they boast of each other making it through to the end if they had no recognition of each other. And in Philippians 2:16, Paul says, “holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” This is a powerful scripture to argue for recognition in the resurrection. In the day of Christ, how could Paul rejoice that he did not labor in vain over the Philippians? Because he still knew them in the resurrection, and he still remembered all the time and labor spent with them on earth. So now, in four different epistles, we heard Paul testify of the reward of seeing those he knew enter eternity. He will see them, recognize them, and retain all the memories which he shared with them. Recognition in heaven is not a matter of possibility, it is a reward.

Let’s now take a more theoretical approach and contemplate for what purpose we will always know each other.

 So, the first thing I’d like to ask is: why do we know and recognize each other on earth? Why did God create us with the ability to retain knowledge and recognition of each other? Why was Adam given a name, and why did Adam give Eve her name? And why are we created with distinct appearances and different personality traits? According to the scriptures, we were created this way for God, for a relationship with Him, and for the glory and praise of our Creator (Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 43:7, 21; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 2:10). We could have all been created the same, identical appearance and personality; but God did not create us that way. The fact that we are all different must somehow apply to the purpose for which we exist: for a relationship with God, to the praise of His glory. There can be no true relationship without identity. The fact that God created us distinctly is evidence of a personal relationship that He purposed with each of us. But does our distinct identity apply only to our relationship with God? Absolutely not. Let’s consider how our recognition and connection with each other play a vital role in the glorification of God.

 The old covenant contained a great deal of laws concerning our relationships with each other and how we treat others. The new covenant is no different in placing much emphasis on our relationships and how they bring glory to God. Paul wrote to the Ephesians (5:22-6:9) and Colossians (3:18-25) with specific laws concerning the relationship of husband and wife, parents and children, and masters and servants. Jesus spoke of our relationships on earth and commanded that they parallel His relationship with us: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). John also describes the same importance in our relationships with both God and man: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:1-2). Our love for one another in the church, the children of God, cannot be underestimated; the new testament is full of discussions concerning the church having many members with many functions, but all members are built together as one whole, working for the glory and honor of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:3-8). But we know that none of this would work on earth if we could not know each other, identify, recognize, and remember each other. The body must know each member and its function; thus the church, though made up of many, each member has a name, identity, character traits, and specific abilities that are not only known by the possessor but is well known to all members of the body of Christ. This is my struggle with worship when I find myself apart from the local church. Now, I will find a sound church near the area where I am traveling, but I do not recognize anyone. And though we worship together on that occasion, I have no specific function by which I can build up the church. I don’t know them and they don’t know me. However, it is in the local body where I find the truest design of Christ for the church, and I find the closest parallel to heaven. Because I know each one, I can sing with the saints in a communicative way, knowing with whom I am speaking. I can worship and adore the Lord with the body where I have a function, and I know who you are and the function which you supply. The whole design of God in the church is for it to be local, personal; where all are well known and supply every need. Heaven, we can expect, is a larger reality of all that we have in the local church. Worshipping and singing together as the church parallels the worshipping and singing that takes place in the heavenly places both now and forever:

Revelation 7:9-15  “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (10) and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (11) All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (12) saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (13) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” (14)  And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (15) Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.”

Without relationships, much of our worship and life with Christ and the citizens of His kingdom is missing. Shall we work with any excellency or unity with those we don’t know? Shall we worship and sing in the best disposition while with a sense of aloneness among a myriad of unknown faces in heaven? Without recognition, without identity, and therefore, without relationships, life on earth would be robotic and impersonal; likewise, if we lose all abilities of recognition when we all get to heaven, eternity would be robotic and anonymous. But this is not the spirit within us that God has created. We are not distant from God, nor from one another. And if the church prepares us for heaven (and it does), then we can be assured that we will know each other in eternity; and we will gather together again to fulfill the very purpose for which we were created in the first place, to glorify the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. May we be well informed in what the scriptures teach on this matter of whether our recognition of each other continues in the spirit after this flesh is destroyed.