Reunited in heaven?

[Guest shiloh357]

Well, I'm going to have to say that I disagree with your interpretation of these verses.

Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing,

And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.

If you will note, this is written in poetic form. Hebrew poetry is different than English poetry. Hebrew poetry is based on what is called parallelism, where one thought echoes another, builds on another, or contradicts another. (Here is a simple explanation that goes into a little more depth with examples.)

So, "the dead know nothing" is an antithetic (contradictory) echo to "the living know they will die." In this aspect, it is not a blanket statement that those who die have their memories swiped clean. Instead, you need to read the verse in context.

Solomon (the presumed author) is agonizing over the fact that the same fate of death overtakes both the righteous and the wicked. His mourning is not with regards to the fate of the dead man in eternity, but over the fate of the man's work and accomplishments here on earth. All they have built and lived for is passed on. Their memory on earth is faded . . . that is, those left behind will forget. Consider: how many of us know about the works, the struggles, the joys, the successes, the failures, the lives, etc. of our great-great grandparents? Do we even know their names? This is what Solomon is bemoaning.

When we die, our fates are sealed. We can't change what we have done, we can't fix our mistakes, we cannot pass on any more knowledge - nothing.

Thus his statement is not about the condition of the afterlife from the perspective of the afterlife - for other Scriptures speak of receiving our reward, whether good or bad, for the things we have done. This passage is looking at the dead from the perspective of those who are still in this life.

Therefore, I disagree that you can use this passage to justify believing you will lose your memory of your life and relationships in Heaven.

~~~

Job 14:12-15

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep (death).

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

OK....it sounds like you are trying to use this passage to argue the concept of "soul sleep," not your memory or the lack thereof once you die. This is a complety different topic than the OP, and I will not venture down this bunny trail in this thread.

Good hermeneutics, Nebula

[nebula]

I am sorry but I do not deal with could be would be, statements such as "the bible suggests, points to, leads us to believe, hints at and in your case scripture that is what you call parallelism where one thought echoes another, ,builds on another, or contradicts another. One piece of scriptural/ Hebrew poetry that contradicts another bit of scriptural/Hebrew poetry is a biblical contradiction and does not exist in the word of God.

Then you will never truly understand the Bible.

If you check the link I offered, it explains it well.

A common literary feature of Hebrew poetry in the Old Testament is called parallelism, in which the words of two or more lines of text are directly related in some way. This feature can be found in any poetic passage, and sometimes even in narrative, although it is more common in the Psalms and Proverbs.

Recognizing parallelism as a poetic feature can sometimes aid in understanding or interpreting a passage. For example, the use of parallelism usually means that the message of the text is in the larger passage and its overall point or impact rather than individual words or single lines. Also, specific words that may be ambiguous or used in unusual ways can be clarified or more narrowly defined by seeing them in the context of a parallel structure.

The following types of parallel structure are attempts to organize this feature of Hebrew poetic writing as an aid to reading and study. It should be kept in mind that Old Testament writers were very creative, and a great number of variations and combinations of these basic types occur in the biblical text.

III. Antithetic- the second line contrasts with the first.

Psalm 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail,

contrast

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion for ever.

~~~

OK, I should have said "contrast" rather than "contradict" - I apologize for that confusion.

I am not saying that we won't remember each other when we are raised. I am simply asking where in the bible does it clearly tell us that we will in fact remember each other after we are raised. Which you have failed to show me.

I do agree with the idea of a "soul sleep"

I know you agree with soul sleep; thus you won't believe anything about the afterlife.

As far as what the Bible "clearly shows" - well, the Bible doesn't have a whole lot to say about what we will be like after we are raised, does it? It doesn't even say if we will have the same or different hair color as we have now!

Let me ask you this: what have you found the Bible to say about us and our lives after the resurrection? Can you list more than 5 things?

I live by a literal interpretation of the word of God which means that if it is not clearly written in the word of God then it does not exist. . . .

Well, if I am to take your statement literally, then you do not exist - for you yourself are not clearly written in the word of God.

Likewise, the Bible doesn't mention the Essenes. Does that mean they did not exist?

Or how will you challenge philosophies that did not exist in Biblical times? Both Paul and John addressed counters to Gnosticism in their writings, but what was written to specifically counter The Enlightenment? Post-Modernism? What does the Bible have to say about Democracy (specifically) or Fascism (specifically) or Communism (specifically)?

So, I again ask of you - what does the Bible say about us at all after we are raised?

[Christian]

Yes but the question remains. Will they know each other and if the answer is yes where in the bible does it say they will know each other?

Massorite, my dear brother in Christ, I thank God for you often, and for your straight-forward questions based on actual biblical verses... not philosophical/explanatory gymnastics.

If we are to be truthful, and rely on actual verserepresentation regarding "whether we will know each other" or not, I don't think it we would find it. Only bias, "interpretive" translation of various verses would make one insist that any particular verse "say's" that. So I will agree with you on the statement that that exact phrase is not to be found.

On a personal note though, IMHO, I believe that we will "know" those we knew here in this time. But I can only say that it is with "hope" that I believe this, or assume it, not by actual verse representation.

Blessings to you Brother,

in Christ,

Christian

[Christian]

Therefore, I disagree that you can use this passage to justify believing you will lose your memory of your life and relationships in Heaven.

For the record, that is not what I was saying at all. I'm sorry about the confusion.

in Christ,

His faithful servant,

Christian

[ParanoidAndroid]

It was kind of a shock to me that I hadn't given one thought to my mother or my husband in the waiting room. No sadness, no tears, no regrets. Perhaps our relationships in Heaven will be more on a family based group instead of individual family members. We're all part of the Body of Christ. Our spirit is from God. But since I didn't get to go with the man carrying the book, I don't know for sure what it's like on the other side. But I do know that my name is written in that Book.

Willow325

Hi Willow, that's a great testimony. I'm curious though, did you ever find out if a girl died in the hospital at the time you also did? And if you did, did you ever find out if she was a Christian? If you could have found that out, it would have been some awesome evidence for the existence of an afterlife, particularly a heavenly afterlife if she was Christian.

[Massorite]

Where in the bible does it say we will be reunited with our families in heaven?

The bible doesn't tell us anywhere in scripture that we will be reunited with our families in heaven. The teaching and or concept can not be scripturally re-enforced with scripture. The teaching or concept as a biblical fact is false.

[Guest]

Where in the bible does it say we will be reunited with our families in heaven?

The bible doesn't tell us anywhere in scripture that we will be reunited with our families in heaven. The teaching and or concept can not be scripturally re-enforced with scripture. The teaching or concept as a biblical fact is false.

Thank You

Knowing The Nature Of God..

You Think Maybe We Could Find A Little Room For Boat Loads Of Hope...

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Jeremiah 32:17-19

Even To Standing Before The Throne With The Grieving Sisters For They Live By Faith Too....

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

And Trusting The One Who Is Love.....

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

Family Gathering

Well....

We ARE The Body Of Christ And Our Brothers And Sisters In The LORD Are Family And Even The Kids (?)......

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

[For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

The Bible Does Seem To Strongly Insist (To Me) That We Will Be Both Resurrected And Gathered Together As One Family To Be With Our LORD God Forever!...

Way-Back-When Old Brother Job Saw This Astonishing Promise Of The LORD Jesus Christ.......

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Job 19:25-27

Then, Just Like Many Dear Posters Here At Worithy........

There Is The Racking Grief Of King David Over His Dying Baby Boy.........

Turning Into Joyful And Victorious Living At The Sure Hope Of The Loving Kindness Of His LORD God Redeemer..........

Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

2 Samuel 12:21-23

You Are Right In That The Bible Does Not Spell Out The Knowing We'll Have In The City Made Without Hands...........

But God Is Good............

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 2:1-3

Looking Forward To Fellowship With All The Redeemed Because God Is Merciful And True

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Exodus 34:6

Trust God

Family

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Your Brother Joe

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:16

[Massorite]

Where in the bible does it say we will be reunited with our families in heaven?

The bible doesn't tell us anywhere in scripture that we will be reunited with our families in heaven. The teaching and or concept can not be scripturally re-enforced with scripture. The teaching or concept as a biblical fact is false.

Thank You

Knowing The Nature Of God..

You Think Maybe We Could Find A Little Room For Boat Loads Of Hope...

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Jeremiah 32:17-19

Even To Standing Before The Throne With The Grieving Sisters For They Live By Faith Too....

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

And Trusting The One Who Is Love.....

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

Family Gathering

Well....

We ARE The Body Of Christ And Our Brothers And Sisters In The LORD Are Family And Even The Kids (?)......

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

[For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

The Bible Does Seem To Strongly Insist (To Me) That We Will Be Both Resurrected And Gathered Together As One Family To Be With Our LORD God Forever!...

Way-Back-When Old Brother Job Saw This Astonishing Promise Of The LORD Jesus Christ.......

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Job 19:25-27

Then, Just Like Many Dear Posters Here At Worithy........

There Is The Racking Grief Of King David Over His Dying Baby Boy.........

Turning Into Joyful And Victorious Living At The Sure Hope Of The Loving Kindness Of His LORD God Redeemer..........

Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

2 Samuel 12:21-23

You Are Right In That The Bible Does Not Spell Out The Knowing We'll Have In The City Made Without Hands...........

But God Is Good............

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 2:1-3

Looking Forward To Fellowship With All The Redeemed Because God Is Merciful And True

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Exodus 34:6

Trust God

Family

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Your Brother Joe

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:16

The nature of God our creater is our only hope and blessings to you also Joe.

[Honeybee88]

Is heaven about what's in it for us? No. That's why I simply do not worry about whether I will know and be reunited with those I love in heaven.

[Massorite]

Is heaven about what's in it for us? No. That's why I simply do not worry about whether I will know and be reunited with those I love in heaven.

That is a very Good point Honeybee. We will be like Jesus. We will be able to transport ourselves from one place to another just by thinking of it. No more tears ,no more cares, only the incomprehensible bliss we will have because of our relationship with the Father. We will be able to worship Him with a truly pure and an undistracted heart. If any of one thinks they can fell the power of the Holy Spirit now. They haven,t felt but a pin head of what we will receive when we are raised.