Shall We Know One Another in Heaven?
The Lord Jesus will be the center of attraction and the magnet of every heart in heaven. While this is true, it is also clear that one of our joys will consist of being in and enjoying the company of all the redeemed that will he there. While here on earth, the Lord has the supreme place in our hearts. Nevertheless, we enjoy one another's company and fellowship, and joy and communion of saints will also be known and enjoyed in heaven.
Hades is the New Testament expression and is the Greek word: sheol is the Old Testament expression and is the Hebrew word. They both mean the same thing: the unseen world, or the place or state of departed spirits. It is correct to say that our loved ones are in hades. Hell is a different word and means the lake of tire. In Acts 2:31, the word "hell" should read "hacks" and in Psa. 16:10, the word "hell" should read "sheol.”
In the Old Testament times there were three distinctly known things regarding Sheol:
1. Sheol contained two spheres. Deut. 32:22 and Psa. 86:13 speak of the lowest sheol.
2. Sheol did not take one away from God—God was there. (Psa. 139:7, 8.)
3. Sheol was a place of recognition and where speech was maintained. Isa. 14:9-17 shows that the new arrivals were identified and they communicated with them.
The whole subject of life and incorruption is illuminated through the gospel by the advent of the beloved Son of God (2 Tim. 1:9, 10).
Moses
Deut. 32:48-50: "Gathered unto thy people" does not mean to be buried in the family sepulcher as so many think. This was a strange land so this cannot refer to a family sepulcher. The burial place of Moses is one of the mysteries of the world. The same applies to Aaron who is mentioned in verse 50.
David
2 Sam. 12:22, 23: Many believe that David spoke of his death here, but it is more David's anticipation of the flight of his spirit to where the spirit of his child was, and he found great comfort in that truth. In 1 Kings 2:1 and 10, David "slept with his fathers." His ancestors had no family sepulcher, but it is here stated that he slept with his fathers. What does this mean? Just this: that his spirit found companionship with kindred spirits in Sheol, the unseen world.
Jacob
Gen. 49:33: "Gathered unto his people." Does this mean that he died? Yes, but something more. If you read chapter 50, you will find that it was months before he was buried. It means that at the time of his death his spirit went into the unseen world and was gathered with his people who were there.
Isa. 14 is corroborated by Luke 16:23-31. We get both sides of hades. The rich man in the lowest part sees and recognizes Lazarus in the other and he could speak. Thought, memory, and intelligence are still there. Abraham also knows him and his state.
Matt. 8:11: The Lord means exactly what He says: "shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob." It is most certain that they will know them. We do not expect to have less intelligence in heaven than we have here.
While we are here on the earth, we have five senses and are like one cooped up in a house with five windows. When we get to heaven, we will be free from all these limitations. We will have a body suited to that place, and the character of our knowledge there will be fashioned after the knowledge God has, not in degree but in kind.
Matt. 17:3, 4: Peter knows them because here he is brought in spirit into the atmosphere of heaven. We will have knowledge of this kind and will know and recognize all. There is no fear in heaven. In the full intelligence and joy of heaven we will be surrounded by the redeemed and their presence will be one of the contributing joys of that place. There is no doubt that the communion and affections formed here will be enjoyed and continued eternally there.
Luke 16:19-31: The Lord does not say this is a parable. He declares that there was a certain rich man and there was Lazarus. He was in hades (v. 23), not in hell, for the wicked do not go to hell now as the door of hell has not yet been opened. Scripture never says "a place of torture." There will be degrees of punishment: some receive few stripes, some many, as the righteous Judge decides. Torment is more a mental condition. The wicked dead are waiting for the Day of Judgment at the great white throne.
2 Cor. 1:13, 14: Paul will know them in that coming day and they shall know him. They shall have a portion in common in which they shall both rejoice. (See also 1 Thess. 2:19.)
There will be fullness of joy in heaven. Some may have large vessels and some small ones, but all will be full and unable to contain anything more.
In What Guise Shall We Appear There?
We shall not appear as spirits but as people. We will have bodies like the Lord Jesus of flesh and bones, a spiritual body. It will be a body of perfect physical development, without wrinkles and without gray hair, neither will we sigh nor groan nor have pain. We will have a body like His and be like Him, physically and morally. He will remain so forever and so will we closest intimacy with Christ and with one another forever and ever. (1 John 3:2; Phil. 3:21.) J.R. Gill