Will I Be With My Family in Heaven?

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The truth about marriage and family in the afterlife

Co-authored by Olivia Woodford and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: November 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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Do you get to be with your family in Heaven?

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Do you recognize your loved ones in Heaven?

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Will you still be married in Heaven?

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Will you see your pet in Heaven?

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What the Bible Says About Heaven

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Expert Interview

The Bible indicates that all followers of Jesus will be together in Heaven and be able to recognize one another. Still, how can believers be absolutely certain that they’ll know their loved ones in Heaven? In this article, we’ll highlight exactly what the Bible says about eternal life, so you can have some clarity regarding this challenging spiritual topic.

Will we live with our families in heaven?

Yes, the Bible suggests that everyone who accepts Jesus as their personal Savior will live together in Heaven. By Christian standards, it makes sense that family members who follow Jesus will be reunited together in Heaven after they pass on.

Section 1 of 5:

Do you get to be with your family in Heaven?

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Yes, the Bible implies that all believers will be together in Heaven. In John 6:51, Jesus says “I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” In this verse, the “bread” refers to the salvation one receives from accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Since Jesus extends this invitation to “anyone,” it’s safe to assume that all people who believe in and follow Jesus (like your loved ones) will gain eternal life in Heaven.^{[1]
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- In Revelation 7:9 (the book that primarily discusses Heaven and the end times), it says “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” Such an image definitely suggests that all Christian believers (including their families) will be together in Heaven.
- Unfortunately, the Bible also suggests that believers and non-believers will not be together in Heaven, since Heaven is only for those who love and follow Jesus.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 5:

Do you recognize your loved ones in Heaven?

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Yes, the Bible suggests that you’ll recognize your loved ones. In Matthew 17, in an event known as the Transfiguration, Jesus met and spoke with Moses and Elijah, two well-known figures from the Old Testament who had gone to Heaven already. Peter, one of Jesus’s Apostles, comments on how he should create tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, which implies that he was able to recognize the men who had already gone to Heaven.^{[3]
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- By this logic, believers can expect to recognize their loved ones even after they’ve already passed on and go to Heaven.
- This doesn’t mean that your relationships in Heaven will be a carbon copy of what they were on Earth. For example, you, your siblings, and your parents might not live in a traditional home together like you’re used to, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have vibrant and meaningful connections.

Section 3 of 5:

Will you still be married in Heaven?

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No, conventional marriage doesn’t exist in Heaven. In Matthew 22:30, Jesus says “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in Heaven.” While this statement implies that the “marriage” label no longer exists or applies in Heaven, it doesn’t imply that spouses will be strangers to one another. Some speculate that the label is done away with since the convention of marriage is ultimately irrelevant when it comes to Heaven and eternal life.^{[4]
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- In the Bible, Jesus is described as the “Bridegroom” of the Church (the body of believers within Christianity).^{[5]
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  Research source} By this logic, the “marriage” people experience in Heaven may be the joining of believers with Christ. After all, as Olivia Woodford, the founder of Bible Women Speak, puts it, “Heaven is the palace where you’re at one with God.”

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Will you see your pet in Heaven?

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While there isn’t a Bible verse that addresses this question specifically, several Christian leaders have speculated where our pets fall within the Kingdom of Heaven. For instance, Charles Wesley, an 18th-century religious leader and hymn writer, once preached how animals were included in God’s redemption plan for creation.^{[6]
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Section 5 of 5:

What the Bible Says About Heaven

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In Revelation 21:4, it says “He (God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” With this image, it’s easy to imagine Heaven as a joyous and peaceful place where everyone’s burdens are gone.^{[7]
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Heaven is beyond our wildest imaginings. In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John (one of Jesus’s original followers) is given a vision (or “revelation) of Heaven. In chapter 21 of Revelation specifically, John goes into detail about the beautiful things he witnesses, like:^{[8]
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- The holy city of Jerusalem, described as “having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”
- The walls of Jerusalem were “built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass.”
- The foundations of Jerusalem’s city walls “were adorned with every kind of jewel.”
In Matthew 13:41, Jesus explains how, when the time comes, “The Son of Man (Jesus) will send His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all causes of sin and law-breakers.” Such an image suggests that Heaven will have no trace of sin or evil, and that only God’s goodness and glory will remain.^{[9]
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