Will we meet in paradise?

Will we meet in heaven?

Let's cut to the chase with a one-word answer: yes!

The two-word answer would be: "Of course!"

And the five-word answer would be: "Count on it!"

But being a shrewd and discerning reader, you'll want more than a pastor's word on this. You'll want to see it in your Bible.

So allow me to offer seven scriptures that I have used to help people who wonder if they will be reunited with their loved ones in heaven. All of these indicate that we know each other at the resurrection, and some of them indicate that believers know each other immediately after death.

1. David and his son

King David had a son who died in infancy. When the little boy died, David said, "I will go to him" (2 Samuel 12:23).

David knew he would see his son again in the presence of the Lord, and knowing that he would be reunited with the son he loved comforted him in his grief .

2. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Our Lord said that many will come from the east and the west and will sit down "with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 8:11).

Abraham was Isaac's father and Jacob's grandfather, and in heaven he enjoys the company of his son and grandson, while Jacob enjoys the company of his father and grandfather.

3. Jesus and the disciples

Jesus said to his disciples, "I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in a new way in the kingdom of my Father with you" (Matthew 26:29, emphasis mine).

The eleven, who shared the Last Supper with Jesus on earth, will eat and drink with him in heaven. Peter, James, John and the others will be named and known in heaven as clearly as they were named and known on earth.

4. Moses and Elijah

When the glory of Jesus was revealed in the transfiguration, we are told that "Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him" (Matthew 17:3).

It's fascinating because when Moses and Elijah appeared, they didn't have the resurrection body. They were souls made visible as the angels were made visible to the shepherds, and as the souls under the altar were made visible to John (Revelation 6:9). Although still waiting to be clothed with the resurrection body, Moses and Elijah were known. They were recognizable and they could strike up a conversation. This tells us a lot about the conscious joy of communion that believers share immediately after death in the presence of the Lord.

5. Souls Gathered in Heaven

The writer in Hebrews speaks of "the spirit of the righteous made perfect", that is, the soul of believers in the presence of Jesus. These souls, he tells us, are gathered into "the congregation of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23). At this very moment, in heaven, the spirits of the perfected righteous are gathered. Gathered means community, and community means relationship.

6. Paul and the Thessalonians

Paul makes it clear that the believers he loved on earth will be his joy in heaven. “For who is our hope or joy or crown of glorification in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Isn't that you? (1 Thessalonians 2:19). When Paul says this, he clearly anticipates that the relationships forged on earth will continue in heaven.