Simeon and Anna - 31 Dec 2017

“How Long Must I Wait?”

Luke 2: 22-40 (Post-Advent Message at SBC, Sligo IE)

31 December 2017

INTRODUCTION:

U.S. Navy Captain Howard E. Rutledge became a prisoner of war on November 28^th, 1965, when his carrier-based Vought F-8E “Crusader” was shot down over North Vietnam. He remained a prisoner of war for the next seven years in Communist prison camps. During those agonizing lonely years his wife, Phyllis, waited for him to return, not knowing if her husband was dead or alive. All she could do was wait and pray and trust in God’s mercy and faithfulness. Then, miraculously, on February 12^th, 1973 Captain Rutledge was released and sent home. I will never forget watching the TV news as I saw he and his wife reunited. All those years of waiting were fulfilled in that moment!

Our text for today contains a similar account. It is found in Luke 2:25-35 in the story of Simeon. It is part of Luke’s narrative of the events following the birth of Jesus.

TRANSITION:

I do not know about you, but I am not good at waiting. I am an impatient man. I do not like to waste time. I get nervous when I must wait in a queue. Often it seems like the other line is moving faster so I grow even more impatient. I like to get in, get my business done, and get out.

I remember how as a young boy I would agonize over every day leading up to Christmas, wanting the day to finally arrive so that I could open my presents. My mother would tell me that waiting was half the fun, but I did not see it that way.

And growing up I always longed to be older, thinking that the grass would be greener on the other side of my next birthday. Again, my wise mother would tell me, “Son, don’t wish your life away. Enjoy these years while you have them because you will be an adult for a very long time.” And she was right, of course. But waiting for something good to happen is hard.

MAIN BODY:

Forty days after the birth of the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph took the child to the Temple in Jerusalem to dedicate Him to the Lord after the Jewish practice (cf. Exodus 13:2-12). As they walked into the Temple they were met by an old man whose name was Simeon. Apparently, he had been waiting for them, looking for them. But who was he? Why was he so interested in their child? Let me read the story to you: Luke 2:22ff.

²² And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” ²⁵ And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, ²⁸ then [Simeon] took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁹ “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; ³⁰ For my eyes have seen Your salvation, ³¹ which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” ³³ And [Jesus’] father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. ³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— ³⁵ and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

This is one of the most beautiful, emotion-filled accounts in all of Scripture, for here we see a man’s greatest hope fulfilled in a moment of time. Here we see a faithful servant of God being rewarded for his obedience and devotion to the Master. 

Let’s unpack this text and look at some of the highlights.

Verses 25-27: And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  

·         His name, Simeon (שמעון), in Hebrew means, “He who hears.” I think that is certainly appropriate because Simeon had his ears tuned to hear from God.

·         “…righteous and devout” The word righteous refers to Simeon’s character in the eyes of other people. It speaks of his horizontal relationships, i.e. his attitude toward men and their attitude toward him. He was right with men, without prejudice or partiality. He was blameless in reputation and open and honest in his dealings. His conduct matched his profession.

·         “devout” The Greek word is eulabés (εὐλαβής) from the verb, eulambáno (εὐλαμβάνω) and literally means “to take hold well, to hold fast.” This word describes Simeon’s attitude toward God. He was devout, right with God. He was conscious of his relationship with God and consistently sought to deepen that relationship. This speaks of giving time and attention to maintaining his spiritual life, which takes effort. Simeon had God as the priority in his life. He was faithful in prayer, in the study of the Word, in giving, in worship, etc.

·         “…looking for the consolation of Israel…” This term refers specifically to the coming of Messiah. Throughout their history, the people of Israel had suffered greatly, both for their own sin and because of the oppression of others. Their land was frequently overrun by foreign powers who knew the strategic significance of Palestine, which connected Africa, Europe, and Asia. They suffered under slavery in Egypt and endured the troubles of exile. In short, they were a people in desperate need of consolation and comfort—the kind of permanent comfort that could come only when the Son of David would arrive to guard them and to provide for the forgiveness of their sin (Isa. 40:1–2; 53; Amos 9:11–15). Simeon spent his life waiting for this consolation, for the Messiah to come and redeem His people.

·         “…the Holy Spirit was upon him ²⁶ and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the Temple…” This is very similar to what we saw back in 1:41 where it says, “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” And here, three times the text speaks of the Holy Spirit either speaking to or otherwise directing Simeon. We see the Holy Spirit coming upon Simeon and revealing certain things to him, specifically, God’s unique promise that Simeon would not die before he saw the Christ, the Messiah, with his own eyes. This tells me that Simeon was deep into God, and the Spirit of the Lord was deep into him.

·         “…that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. The word “Christ” is the equivalent from Greek of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” Both words mean, “the Anointed One” and always refer to the promised Messiah who would come to save His people from their sins. Now, when he was an old man, this promise was finally fulfilled for Simeon, and he marveled at the glory of God in the face of the infant Christ. Thus, he was now prepared to die and meet His Creator.

Verses 27-28: “…and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, ²⁸ then [Simeon] took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said…

·         Someone might say, “You mean to tell me that Mary and Joseph just handed their new baby over to some old guy that they didn’t even know?” Yes, that is exactly what they did. But I think they saw something in his face, in his eyes, in his respectful demeanor that told them that this old man was not crazy, or a threat, but was someone special they could trust.

·         In my mind’s eye I can see Simeon gently holding the Christ Child in his arms, and with his eyes lifted to Heaven and with tears running down his wrinkled old face he blessed God and gave thanks that he was seeing this gift from God with his own eyes.

Verses 29-32: “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen Your salvation, ³¹ which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

·         In Latin liturgy this canticle, this song of praise is called the Nunc Dimittis from the first words of verse 29, and it means “Now you dismiss.” Simeon’s life had now reach its zenith and he was ready to depart for Heaven. For him no other human experience could compare with this one. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time and now it had finally come, and he was ready to go “home” in peace, just like the Lord had promised him.

·         “…for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples.” This baby he was holding in his arms was the Saviour of the world, the One that God had promised long ages ago through the prophets. He would save His people. He would be the instrument of God’s salvation and the restoration of Israel.

·         ”…a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”  The life of this Child would have far-reaching influence. As the Christ He would offer salvation not only to the Jews but to the whole world. In fulfillment of the prophecies, this little baby they held in their arms would become the Saviour of the nations.

Verse 33: And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

·         Put yourself in their place for a moment. They must have been awestruck to hear such words spoken about their little baby boy. Even though they had both been visited by angelic messengers who told them that their Child would be special, the significance of this, the enormity of it, still alluded them. But little by little they are coming to appreciate the honor and responsibility that had been thrust upon them.

Verse 34: And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—"

·         Jesus is the watershed of all human history. We mark time itself by what came before Him, and what came after Him. The eternal destiny of every man, woman, and child is determined by what they do with Jesus—whether they accept Him or reject Him. That decision determines where every one of us will spend eternity—those who trust in Him for their salvation will be with Him forever in Heaven, but those who ignore or reject Him will spend eternity separated from Him in Hell.

·         “…and for a sign to be opposed…” Jesus drew criticism and hatred like a lightning-rod. Some loved Him, but the majority hated Him. And it is still the same today. If you want to start an argument in any gathering, large or small, all you have to do is mention His name and people will start taking up sides.

Verse 35: “…and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

·         This was a personal prophetic word to Mary and Joseph. The Lord, through His servant, Simeon, was warning the earthly parents of Jesus that they would not escape unscathed. His life and eventual death would bring pain to their own souls in ways that they could not even imagine.

__________________________________________________________

But Simeon was not the only person in the Temple that day who had been looking for the coming of the Messiah. There apparently was a whole group of them, one of whom was an elderly widow lady by the name of Anna, who must have been standing there to the side listening to all that Simeon had said about the baby. Listen as I read it to you:

³⁶ And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. ³⁸ At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹ When [Mary and Joseph] had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Verses 36-37: “And there was a prophetess, Anna…She was advanced in years…She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.”

·         This 84-year-old widow lady had dedicated he life to serving the Lord. After her husband died she invested her efforts in serving in the Temple. But she was more than that. The Bible says that she was a “prophetess.” What does that mean? It means that she had a similar gift to Simeon’s. She could see and interpret things that others could not. God gave he special insights into present and future events so that she could share these things with God’s people in order to strengthen their faith and spur them to even greater dedication to God.

·         Anna, like Simeon, was at home in the Lord’s House. She served there day and night, praying, worshiping, and helping others who came into the Temple.

Verse 38: At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of [Jesus] to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. The text does not tell us if she too held the baby in her arms like Simeon did, but I believe she probably did. And her first words were joyous expressions of thanksgiving to God for this Child and the honor of seeing Him with her own eyes. And she was not quiet about it either! She joyfully shared the news with the others present there who, like her, had been waiting for the appearing of the Messiah who would be the “Consolation of Israel” and “the Redeemer of Jerusalem.”

But what was it to which people like Simeon and Anna fixed their hope?  What was it that they believed in that kept them going generation after generation, waiting and watching for the object of that hope?  FIRST, they believed in God Himself.  They had come to know that God is good, and that He is always faithful. They trusted in His character as a loving Heavenly Father.  SECONDLY, they trusted in His promises.  Notice that No. 2 grows directly out of No. 1. They trusted His promises because of what they knew about His character. 

I can give you a personal example. For 20+ years before coming to Ireland I took my cars to Bill Murray at Master Mechanics Car Service for upkeep and repairs. I started taking my cars there when I first became pastor of Sellwood Baptist Church in June of 1994. Bill Murray, the owner and chief mechanic, became my friend. I know him. I trust him. Bill never cheated me or did me wrong. So, when Bill would tell me that I needed to pay to repair a leaky head gasket, even though I did not like having to spend the money, I believed him and took his advice. He had earned my trust and my business. Because I trusted his character, I had confidence to trust his word. That is exactly how I feel about God too.

CONCLUSION:

LOVE is one of the central themes of Christmas. It was love that sent Christ Himself to earth to be born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, to live among us as one of us for 33 years, and then to die for all of us at Calvary. It was God’s love for you and me that caused Him to choose to redeem us rather than simply condemn us. Because of His mercy He chose not to give us what we deserve, but rather, to offer us what we could never merit—grace, and forgiveness, and a way to come to Him through the cross of Calvary.

My friend, if you have never turned your heart and life over to Christ, I plead with you to do it today, while you have this opportunity! Do not put it off again. Do not leave this place without doing business with Him. Confess to Him that you are a sinner. Ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you completely. Trust Him today. Let His love not only surround you, but fill you as well. That is the Christmas gift Jesus came to give to you. However, there is only one gift that Jesus wants from you today. He wants you to come to Him, and in simple faith, to believe in Him and receive the gift of life that He died to provide for you. If you would like to ask Him into your life today, repeat this prayer with me, quietly in your heart to God:

Father God, I believe that Jesus came and died on the cross in my place. I believe that He shed His blood for me. But Lord, I know that I have sinned against You many times, in many ways. Please forgive me. Come into my life, into my heart, and cleanse me from my sin. In this moment, the best way I know how, I turn my life completely over to You. Make me Your child. Put Your Spirit in me so that I can learn to live in a way that is honoring and pleasing to You. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for Christmas! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The birth of John the Baptist - 10 Dec 2017

“The Birth of the Forerunner”

Luke 1:39-45, 57-66 (Advent Message at SBC, Sligo IE)

9 December 2017

INTRODUCTION:

            Last Sunday Matthew led us through a study of the first part of Luke chapter 1 in which we revisited the angelic announcements to Zacharias, and to Mary. We read how the angel, Gabriel, was sent by God to bring good news to Zacharias, the priest, while he was ministering in the Temple that in response to their prayers he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, a very special son whom they were to name “John,” and that he would be the promised Forerunner of the Messiah in fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy found in 4:5-6. Matthew shared with us how that Zacharias doubted the angel’s message due to his and his wife’s advanced age and, as a result, was struck dumb until the birth of the child should be accomplished.

            We also learned how that same angel of the Lord, Gabriel, was sent to Nazareth in Galilee to speak to Mary, a young virgin, betrothed to a good and righteous man named Joseph, to tell her that she had been chosen by God to be the human instrument to bring the Messiah into the world. Her response, however, was different from Zacharias’ in that she did not doubt, did not waver in her faith but offered herself up to do the Lord’s will, just as it had been told her by the angel. In Luke 1:30ff we read:

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; ³³ and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” ³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

TRANSITION:

            Mary’s response is even more remarkable when you consider that she was a young girl, probably 15 or 16 years-old, and had never had physical relations with any man, even with Joseph, the man to whom she was engaged. And by way of an aside, you need to understand something about Jewish betrothal customs. In our day people break their engagements with some regularity. They decide for one reason or another that they have made a terrible mistake and they give the ring back, mumbling an apology and words to the effect that “I hope you find someone else to marry because you deserve the very best. Blah blah blah.” However, in Mary’s time a betrothal was a very serious matter. It meant that her parents had already entered into a contractual arrangement with Joseph and his family for her to become Joseph’s wife. At this stage the only things that were lacking were the ceremony and the physical consummation of the marriage. To break the betrothal required an actual bill of divorcement.

            So now put yourself in Mary’s shoes for a moment. She has just found out that she is to become pregnant by miraculous means, something that she does not understand at all. Yet she submits her will to God, and chooses to trust Him to work out the details of her future marriage to Joseph, if indeed that will ever happen now. She knew that she would be seen in her village as a tainted girl of loose morals, and people would believe the worst. She had no idea how she would explain this story to her parents, much less to Joseph. When you stop to think about it, the enormity of her faith and submission to God is amazing.

            Now, this morning, we pick up the story in verse 39 of Luke chapter 1.

MAIN BODY:

Verses 39-45: ³⁹ Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” 

• We do not know exactly where Zacharias and Elizabeth lived but it was in one of the villages not far from Jerusalem because Zacharias was a priest and his duties were at the Temple. Why do you think it says, “…and Mary went with haste”? I believe it was because she was anxious to see with her own eyes if what the angel had said to her about Elizabeth in verse 36 was really true, for this would be a confirmation that it was not all just a dream, but was really happening!
• As Mary entered the house, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb reacted immediately, jumping with joy, and Elizabeth took that as a sign that something miraculous was happening. Moreover, Luke tells us that in that moment Elizabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” And under the Spirit’s leading she made some amazing statements. Look again at verse 42: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” That was almost word-for-word what the angel had said to Mary. How did Elizabeth know about Mary’s pregnancy, and beyond that, how did she know who that child would be? Even more amazing is her statement in verse 43: “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?” That is a remarkable confession! You see, God has revealed to Elizabeth that Mary was carrying the Christ Child, the Promised One, the Messiah, who would be the Redeemer of Israel. Then in verse 45, again under the moving of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth pronounces a blessing on Mary because of her faith and submission to the will of God: “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” 
• Mary’s heart must have swelled with joy at hearing her kinswoman, Elizabeth, confirm what the angel had told her, that indeed, she was carrying in her womb the Christ Child, Jesus, who would save His people from their sins. She must have been overwhelmed with awe to realize that she was unique among all other women. She understood that this was a once-in-history thing that was occurring, and she had been favored by the Lord above all others to give birth to the Saviour of the world.
• One of my favorite contemporary songs of Christmas is entitled, “Mary, Did You Know?” Written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, it poses questions to Mary about Jesus, shortly after she has given birth to Him. Listen to the lyrics:

1. Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.

2. Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Chorus: The blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb.

3. Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I AM.

• On that day, there in the house of Elizabeth, Mary did not know most of these things. She did not know that the baby she was carrying had come from Heaven to die. She did not know that He would one day be nailed to a Roman cross or that He would rise on the third day. She did not know about the terrible pain she would one day suffer because of her love for Him. For now, she was just a happy young girl content to trust God and take one day at a time.

Verse 56: “And Mary stayed with [Elizabeth] about three months, and then returned to her home.”   

• I am curious about this because Elizabeth was 6-months pregnant when Mary went to stay with her. So now she has stayed 3 more months, putting her at the very end of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Did Mary stay for the birth? The text does not tell us, but that is one possibility. Perhaps after helping Elizabeth get settled in to her new routine with the new baby, Mary felt free to head on back home to Nazareth. And remember, by that time Mary was three-months pregnant herself, which made John six-months older than his cousin, Jesus. The other possibility is that Mary left before Elizabeth gave birth. We simply do not know the answer.

Verses 57-58: Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. 

• Elizabeth and Zacharias were probably well known to their neighbors. The fact that he was a priest would have made him stand out in the community. And you know how it is in a small village; everyone seems to know everything about everybody—the good, the bad, and the ugly.
• So, when Elizabeth gave birth it was undoubtedly the talk of the village. Here this old couple, after years of wanting a child, after pleading with God for decades to the point of despair, receive a healthy bouncing baby boy. Everything about this birth was miraculous and everybody knew it. These kinds of things simply didn’t happen! So, the whole community celebrated the birth of this miracle child, wondering what kind of man he might turn out to be.

Verses 59-62: And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. ⁶⁰ But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” ⁶¹ And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” ⁶² And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 

• Here is a question…how did Elizabeth know what the baby’s name should be? Zacharias had been unable to say a word since that day in the Temple when he met the angel of the Lord. I think verse 63 gives us the answer. Apparently, Zacharias had been using a tablet to communicate with Elizabeth and had painstakingly told her the whole story of that divine encounter. And for 9 months they had both had time to contemplate the significance of the birth of this child. I imagine that they had reread the prophecies many times. Isaiah 40:3, “A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness. Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” Then, of course, there was Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His Temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, ‘Behold, He is coming,’ says the Lord of hosts.” And finally, Malachi 4:5-6, the closing words of Malachi that foretold the appearing of this one who would pave the way for the coming of Messiah: “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. ⁶ He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” All these passages were clearly understood by the Jewish people to refer to one who would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Verse 63: And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. 

• So, finally the time had come. Everyone had expected that the couple would name their firstborn, “Zacharias” after the custom of the people. But Elizabeth was adamant that the child would be named “John.” Now all eyes turned to the father, expecting that he would overrule his wife. As he took the tablet in hand and started to write they probably all leaned in to see what he was writing. To their surprise, Zacharias wrote: “His name is John!” The text says that they were all astonished at his answer.

Verses 64-66: And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. ⁶⁵ Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. 

• I love this! After not being able to speak for nine months suddenly Zacharias’ tongue was loosed, just like the angel had foretold, and the first words out of his mouth were joyful praise to God. How those words must have been building up inside him! Now, like a dam bursting, he could not hold back his joy and gratitude to God, not only for the fact that he and Elizabeth finally had the child for whom they had so long prayed, but also for the fact that their son, this little baby boy, would be the one who would clear the way for the coming of Messiah, the Redeemer of Israel, the Saviour of the world.
• Notice the reaction of the people: “Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.” Fear is a natural human reaction to things we do not understand. So is gossip. The birth of this child became the topic of conversation in every home, in the market, and in the streets. People could not help wondering, “What then will this child turn out to be?” And people never stopped asking that question. The last sentence of verse 66 is Luke’s editorial note: “For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.” That, by the way, is an understatement.
• Later, in Matthew 11:7-15, we have the testimony of Jesus himself concerning John the Baptist: As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ¹¹ Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!… ¹³ For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

CONCLUSION:

            The story of John’s birth is an integral part of the Christmas story. In a way it is no less miraculous than the birth of Jesus himself. And as John grew to manhood God was preparing him for his role as the Forerunner of Messiah, the Christ. Luke 1:80 sums up this time of preparation: “And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance in Israel.” Thirty years would elapse before John and Jesus would come face-to-face. It would be on the banks of the Jordan River when Jesus went down to be baptized by John. When John saw Him approaching he pointed to Jesus and uttered those immortal words: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

            Christmas is about the coming of Jesus. It is about God becoming a man so that He might give His life for your sins and mine. If you do not know Him today, if you have never put your faith and trust in Him as your Saviour and your Lord, what better time could there be? Open your heart today and believe. And you will receive the best Christmas gift anyone could ever receive, the gift of eternal life!

Q&A About Heaven - 26 Nov 2017

Frequently Asked Questions About Heaven

I believe that many Christians are pulled in two different directions when we talk about Heaven. In one way they look forward to it. However, in another way they dread it. Surveys show that many evangelical, Bible–believing Christians actually dread the idea of going to Heaven. They say that they might even prefer annihilation to spending an endless eternity sitting on a cloud playing a harp. However, the only way a person could come to such a ridiculous conclusion would be if he/she has bought into the baloney from the world that Heaven will be boring and monotonous—just one long church service with endless preaching and choir concerts. The good news is that nothing could be further from the truth.

            Heaven will be exciting, beautiful, fun, satisfying, restful, stimulating, challenging, and delightful. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Paul says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, ¹⁰ but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit” [in the Word]. In John 14:2-3 Jesus told His disciples that He was going back to the presence of the Father to prepare a place for us. He said, “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you also may be where I am.” You can be sure that He wasn’t talking about just throwing something together. He doesn’t make junk! That place He’s been preparing for us will be better than anything you’ve ever dreamed.

In this article I want to try and broaden your horizons about this place called Heaven. The Bible speaks of three different heavens. The word is used of three separate domains. First, it refers to the atmosphere around our earth—the sky, and clouds, where the birds fly. This is often referred to as the “terrestrial heaven.” Secondly, heaven sometimes refers to what we call outer space, the realm of the planets and stars, as far out as we can probe. We refer to this as the “telestial heaven.” Thirdly, the word Heaven is used to refer to the dwelling place of God Himself, wherever that might be. This is sometimes called, the “celestial heaven.” It is this last definition that interests us for the moment. You may have noticed that when I use the word with this last meaning I always capitalize it, following an old custom of theologians and Bible teachers. That’s because Heaven is not merely a state of mind or state of being. It is not a concept or a dream. It is a place, just as surely as Boston is a place, or New York City. When I capitalize the word Heaven it reminds me that it is as real as the ground I am standing on right now.

            What is God’s dwelling place like? The Bible itself gives us some clues. The psalmist in Psalm 84 says, “How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord.” God, the Creator of all that is breathtakingly beautiful is not going to live in a dump, you can be sure of that. He is surrounded by beauty and majesty. It is going to knock your socks off when you see it!

I am not going to reteach last Sunday’s sermon, but I need to at least recap some of the events that will lead up to God ushering in the Eternal State. Paul describes in detail what it will be like when Christ comes back to claim His Bride, the Church. That is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. When Christ comes in the clouds to call us home to be with Him, millions of people from all over the world will disappear from this earth in a moment of time. In the last study I tried to outline the events that will follow that event, which we often call the Rapture, or the catching away of the Church. We spoke of the Tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist. We talked about the Return of Christ in power and glory at the end of that 7 years of Tribulation, and the great battle that the Bible calls Armageddon, when Christ will defeat the armies of the Antichrist that will come against Israel to try to destroy her. We looked at what the Bible teaches about the Millennium, the 1,000 years that will follow, when Christ Himself will rule and reign “with a rod of iron” from Jerusalem on the throne of David, as foretold in the Old Testament scriptures.

But eventually we get to the good part, after Christ puts an end to sin and death and the grave. Satan and his minions will be judged and thrown into the Lake of Fire. The day will come when the earth will be cleansed, time will be swallowed up in eternity, and God’s children will be home at last, nevermore to be separated from Him or from one another. 

But I need to stop for a moment and clarify something.  If you died today, where would you go? That’s not a trick question, by the way. If you are a Christian and have received Christ as your Saviour and Lord, then you will go immediately to be with Him. The Bible says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” wherever that might be. It would happen in a heartbeat and you would simply awaken in His presence.

On the other hand, if you are not a child of God then upon death you will instantly find yourself in a place the Bible calls Hades (or Sheol, or Gehenna). It is the place where unbelievers are held until the final Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15. It is sort of like Hell’s waiting room.

My point is that neither of these places is the ultimate dwelling place of either saints or sinners. The day will come as described in Revelation 20:13 when Hades will be emptied out and, after hearing judgment pronounced upon them, those who have rejected Christ will be thrown into Hell, also referred to as the Lake of Fire.

Believers, on the other hand, are also not yet at their final destination.  Upon death they go to be with the Lord, but the Bible makes it clear that the present Heaven is not the final Heaven. God is going to make “a new heaven [starry heaven] and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1) and He will make His abode with men, according to the last chapters of the Book of Revelation. It says that “the New Jerusalem will come down out of Heaven from God.”

God has deliberately left us in the dark about some of the details. Oddly enough, the Bible reveals more about Hell than Heaven. I believe that is because He is so intent on no one going there. The Bible says, “He desires that none should perish but that all should come to repentance.” We do know, however, that God is going to do an amazing “do-over” of this planet. Revelation also talks about a heavenly city called the New Jerusalem that apparently will come down and hover over the earth in approximately the place where the old Jerusalem used to be. The New Jerusalem is described in detail in Revelation chapters 21-22. It will be enormous—approximately 1,500 miles cubed (= 1,500 miles X 1,500 X 1,500; cf. Revelation 21:16). The Lord Himself will inhabit it and the people of God, and the angels will go in and out freely (see Revelation 21:24-27, “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶ The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

It is massive in size, and breathtaking in beauty! Yet there will be a perfect harmony between this marvelous city and the recreated earth over which it will hover. From the description in God’s Word I have concluded that we will have free and unfettered access to both places. Perhaps we will live in one and play in the other. I don’t know, but it will be incredible!

But don’t just take my word for it. Look it up for yourself in Revelation 21. But just a word of warning—do not think that you are going to understand all this completely. We can read the descriptions in the Word, but we have nothing in our experience to which we can compare these things. In fact, the Bible tells us that we don’t have the ability to take it all in right now. A moment ago I mentioned 1 Corinthians 2:9 where the apostle Paul, quoting Isaiah, writes, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, ¹⁰ but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.” That tells me that the best things I have ever tasted, the sweetest sounds I have ever heard, the most beautiful things my eyes have witnessed, and the most fantastic things my mind has conceived—all of these fall far short of the reality of what awaits me in Heaven. It is better than anything we can imagine!

Frankly, I probably do not know a lot more about Heaven than you do. The answers I give here are speculative at best, though I hope, in keeping with the Word of God. I want to deal with some of the most commonly asked questions, but keep in mind that my answers are subject to review and revision. But I hope they begin to make you homesick for that place He is preparing for us.

 

Question #1: Will there be animals in Heaven?

I believe there will be, for at least four reasons. First, God made a lot of animals, so He must like them too. Secondly, they give us tremendous pleasure and I cannot imagine a Heaven without them. Thirdly, Revelation speaks of at least four horses in Heaven (Rev. 6), and according to 19:11 Jesus Himself will ride the white one. And fourthly, Eden was full of animals before the Fall, and I believe the New Earth will have them too. But I do not believe that we will eat them.

Question #2: Will we eat and drink in Heaven?

I believe that we will. What would a Marriage Supper be without real food? And think about this—in the Garden, before Adam and Eve sinned, they ate all they wanted, and enjoyed it. The glorified bodies that we will receive when we go home to Heaven will be like Adam’s body before the Fall. I believe that they will be capable of the same things we can do now, only better. We are an earthly people, specially created for a terrestrial existence. I believe that we will eat for pleasure and for fellowship, not out of necessity. But there will be no gluttony and no heartburn J. 

Question #3: Where will we actually live? in the New Jerusalem or upon the new earth?

God went to a lot of trouble to make this physical earth a fit habitation for us. In Revelation 21:1-4 the apostle John writes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” 

The new heaven and new earth mentioned here refer to the starry heavens, and our own planet with its atmosphere. Through man’s doing they are so messed up that God will have to do an “extreme makeover” on them to get them back to the way they are supposed to be, the way they were in the beginning before sin entered the picture. If you think the world we have now is a beautiful place, just wait until you see what God is going to do next!

Many people have a misconception of what Heaven is truly like. Revelation chapters 21-22 give us a detailed picture of the New Heaven and the New Earth. After the end times, the current heavens and Earth will be done away with and replaced by the new. The eternal dwelling place of believers will be the New Earth and/or the New Jerusalem. This is the “Heaven” on which we will spend eternity. It is the New Earth on which the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, will reside.

Heaven, made up of the recreated earth and the incredible New Jerusalem will be a physical place in which we will dwell with glorified physical bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). The concept that Heaven is “in the clouds” is unbiblical. The concept that we will be “spirits floating around in Heaven” is unbiblical. The Heaven that believers will experience will be a new and perfect planet on which we will dwell. The New Earth will be free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. I believe it will be very similar to our current Earth, but without the curse of sin.

Question #4: How will we spend our time in Heaven?

Do not make the mistake of thinking that we will spend eternity sitting around playing golden harps. Do not fall for that old malarkey! For one thing, that harp business does not come from the Bible. For another, we will have plenty to keep us busy. Apparently, God is going to provide us with a new earth, similar to Eden. Before the Fall Adam and Eve had work to do, things to accomplish. I believe that we too will have jobs to do. But it will not be drudgery. Work will bring us joy and a sense of real accomplishment. I believe we will learn new things. In no place does the Bible lead us to conclude that we will have immediate knowledge that we did not have before we went to be with Christ. I believe that we will take classes, be instructed by the angels, go to demonstrations and seminars where the Lord Himself will show us how He made the mountains and the seas. We will learn, we will grow, we will be amazed again and again, finding never-ending reasons to praise God and marvel at His greatness.

Heaven will not be boring. It will not be one endless, monotonous church service. It will be life in Technicolor, sound in THX! We will have bodies that do not get sick, do not die, do not sustain injury, do not have our present limitations. We will have minds that are not clouded by sin and pride and stupidity. We will be free to learn, to grow. We will not be plagued by the character faults that so limit our ability to relate well to one another. There will be no sin, and therefore no jealousy, no mistrust, no envy, and no anger. We will not be plagued by sexual perversions that cause us to see people as objects rather than as amazing creatures made in the image of God.

We will make new friendships. We will laugh a lot. We will not grow tired and weak and sickly. We will be able to develop the talents and abilities that God has given us, and will do it all for His glory. Those who wrote good songs on earth will write better songs, and will sing and play them to the praise of God alone. Those who painted well will do it better, and their pictures will not be about human angst and pain, but about beauty, and majesty, and truth. I personally want to learn to fly. I am planning to sign up for a class. And I bet there will be one, with no long waiting list!

Question #5: Can people in Heaven look down and see those of us who are still on the earth?

Hebrews 12:1 starts out, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...” Some understand the “cloud of witnesses” as being people looking down on us from Heaven, watching everything we do. I do not believe that is the correct interpretation. Hebrews chapter 11 records many people whom God commended for their faith. It is these people who are the “cloud of witnesses.” However, they are “witnesses” not in the sense that they are watching us, but rather in that they have set an example for us and we should be watching them...they are witnesses for Christ, and God, and truth. Hebrews 12:1 continues, “...so let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

The Bible does not specifically say whether people can look down on us who are still on the earth. I would guess that they cannot. Why? One, they would sometimes witness us sinning, which would be distressing for them. Two, they would sometimes see things that would cause them grief, such as murders, car accidents, and natural disasters. Three, I believe that people in Heaven are so occupied with worshipping God that they truly do not care what is happening here on earth. The very fact that they are free from sin, in Heaven, and in God’s presence is enough for them to be happy.

Question #6: Are there different levels of Heaven?

The closest thing Scripture says to there being different levels of Heaven is found in 2 Corinthians 12:2, where Paul writes, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.” Some interpret this as indicating that there are three different levels of Heaven. They claim that these supposed levels of Heaven are divided into a level for “super-committed Christians” or Christians who have obtained a high level of spirituality, a level for “ordinary” Christians, and a level for Christians who did not serve God faithfully—A students, C students, and D students, so to speak.

However, Paul is not saying that there are three Heavens, or even three levels of Heaven. Paul was saying that God took him to the “celestial” Heaven, the realm in which God dwells. The concept of different levels of Heaven is foreign to Scripture. There are different levels of reward in Heaven (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5), but only one “level” of Heaven.

Question #7: Will there be marriage in Heaven?

The Bible tells us in Matthew 22:30, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in Heaven.” This was Jesus’ answer in response to a question concerning a woman who had been married multiple times in her life—who would she be married to in Heaven? Evidently, there will be no such thing as marriage in Heaven. This does not mean that a husband and wife will no longer know and love each other in Heaven. This also does not mean that a husband and wife could not still have a close relationship in Heaven. What it does seem to indicate, though, is that a husband and wife will no longer be married in Heaven. There is likely no purpose for marriage in Heaven since there is no procreation or loneliness.

Question #8: What will we look like in Heaven?

We are not told exactly what we will look like in the next life, as to what age we will appear to be, nor if we will look thin or fat. But while many believe that we will bear some resemblance to what we look like now (based on the analogy that each seed bears its own type of plant, i.e., a corn seed produces a corn plant, for example; see 1 Corinthians 15:37-38), we do know that in whatever ways our appearance or health has been altered as a result of sin (whether because of overeating or not eating right, hereditary malformations, injuries, aging, etc.), these traits will not be carried over into our appearance or health in the next life. More importantly, the sin nature, inherited from Adam (Romans 5:12) will no longer be with us, for we will be made after the holiness of Christ (1 John 3:2). Because we have this sure hope in Christ in the next life, we are encouraged to purify ourselves now, even as He is pure (1 John 3:3).

Question #9: What age will everyone be in Heaven?

The Bible does not specifically answer this question. Will babies and children who die still be babies or children in Heaven? What about elderly people who die, do they remain elderly in Heaven? First, everyone will be given a resurrected body (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). Of that I am sure. My guess is that infants and children will be resurrected as an infant or child but will be allowed to grow up in Heaven until they reach the "ideal age," whatever that is. However, they also may be "fast-forwarded" to the "ideal age", just as those who die at an old age will be "re-wound" to the ideal age. I do not think there will be any people with elderly bodies in Heaven. But what is the ideal age? Again, I do not know, because this concept is not specifically Biblical. I would guess around 30. Some guess 33 since that is approximately the age Jesus was when He died. 1 John 3:2 declares, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Question #10: Will we have physical bodies in Heaven?

I believe that we will. The key text for this is 1 Corinthians 15:35-50. Verse 49 tells me that we will have a body like Jesus’ resurrected body. And Jesus, after His resurrection, invited His disciples to touch Him and to watch Him eat, demonstrating that He was not merely a spirit (Luke 24:37-43). Rather, I believe that a natural body is that which is fitted for this present life in our present physical universe, whereas the spiritual body we will possess will be that which will best suit us for the eternal existence we were destined for in Christ in our eternal abode. Jesus’ resurrected body could enter locked rooms at will (John 20:19). Thomas, in John 20:27 physically touched the body of Christ following His resurrection. Our earthly body limits us in ways (and/or dimensions) that our spiritual body will not.

We can expect that all believers’ resurrections will be like that of Christ’s. What a wonderful truth! The Bible is not specific, but it seems that we will be able to eat, for example. John, in Revelation 22:2, writes of his vision of the eternal state where he saw “in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.” This seems to be a reversal of the Genesis 3 punishment where Adam and Eve, and hence all of mankind, were banned from eating from this tree. As for hunger and thirst, it appears that there will not be any.  Isaiah 49:10 says that there will be no hunger or thirst in the Millennial Kingdom. This is speaking of mortal men during that period, not of translated saints, but by extension it can be said that if mortals on earth during Christ’s Kingdom do not hunger, then surely there will be no hunger in Heaven (see also Revelation 7:14-16).

Finally, Job, in Job 19:25, states that he knows for sure that even after he dies, and his skin is long gone, that “…in my FLESH I shall SEE God.”

1 Corinthians 15:43 also describes the transformation from “sown in dishonor” to “raised in glory.” Philippians 3:21 says that Jesus “...will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...”  I believe that our decaying bodies are described with the word “dishonor” because of they bear the mark of the results of sin. We can all likely picture in our minds the lungs of one who has ruined his health through smoking, or a brain that is no longer able to form complete thoughts because of drug abuse. In the same way, the decaying physical body is the direct result of man’s sinfulness. Had there been no sin, there would be no decay and death (1 Corinthians 15:56). But God, through Christ’s transforming power, will raise up His children in Christ with new glorious bodies, no longer bearing any effects of sin, being completely free from the ravages of sin and possessing the glory of Christ instead.

Question #11: Will we remember our earthly lives when we are in Heaven?

Isaiah 65:17 quotes God as saying, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Some interpret Isaiah 65:17 as saying that we will have no memory of our earthly lives in Heaven. However, one verse earlier, in Isaiah 65:16 the Bible says, “…For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.” It is likely only our “past troubles” that will be forgotten – not all our memories. Our memories will be cleansed, redeemed, healed, and restored – not erased. There is no reason why we could not possess many memories from our earthly lives. The memories that will be cleansed are the ones that involve sin, pain, and sadness. Revelation 21:4 declares, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Question #12: Do we become angels after we die?

Simply, NO. As I read the Bible, angels are beings created by God (cf. Colossians 1:15-17). In this passage Christ is the agent of creation (Colossians 1:12-17). Angels are entirely different from humans. They are God’s special agents to carry out His plan and to minister to followers of Christ (Hebrews 1:13-14).

Humans are created in the image of God to serve and enjoy Him forever. Adam and Eve represented the human race. They, however, yielded to Satan’s temptation, sinned, and thusly needed God’s redemption. Eventually, Christ came – “God with us” – “the God-man” – to do for us what we could not do for ourselves, namely provide us forgiveness and eternal life through His death and bodily resurrection. Those who accept Christ as Saviour, receive Christ’s new life, resurrection life, along with Christ indwelling them spiritually.

Eventually, the physical body of the believer in Christ will die. What happens then? The spirit or personality of the believer goes to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8). The believer does not become an angel. It is interesting that both Elijah and Moses were recognizable on the Mount of Transfiguration. Perhaps believers take on a temporary “body” while in the presence of the Lord after death while awaiting the return of Christ.

Question #13: Will there be such a thing as gender in Heaven?

Matthew 22:30 possibly speaks of people after the resurrection not participating in marriage--they become “like the angels.” However, this does not mean people are genderless. The masculine, not neuter, pronoun is used many times to describe angels (and HE was like...HIS appearance was like, etc.). So, there is no real indication that the angels are genderless beings. Nor is there sufficient evidence to conclude that all angels are masculine.  There may be female angels.  We simply don’t know. There is nothing in the Bible that indicates people will lose or change sex in eternity. Remember that gender is not bad—in fact, it is a good thing. God created Eve because Adam needed someone to complement him. Marriage (impossible without different genders), the model relationship between a man and a woman, is a picture of Christ and the Church. The Church is the Bride and Christ is the Groom (Ephesians 5:25-32).

Although it is not explicitly taught in the Bible, it seems most likely that people retain their gender after death. Our genders are a part of who we are. Gender is more than physical--it is part of our very nature and part of the way we relate to God. Therefore, it seems that gender will be perfected and glorified in eternity. I think it is also worthy to mention that Jesus retained his gender after His death and resurrection.

Question #14: Will we be able to see and know our friends and family members in Heaven?

Many people state that the first thing they want to do when they arrive in Heaven is see all their friends and loved ones who had passed on before them. I do not think this will be the case. Yes, I do believe we will be able to see, know, and spend time with our friends and family members in Heaven. In eternity, there will be plenty of time for that. However, I do not think that it will be our first, nor primary focus in Heaven. I believe we will be far more occupied with worshipping the Lord and enjoying the wonders of Heaven than with visiting in the neighborhood, though that will be wonderful too.

What does the Bible say about whether we will be able to see and know our loved ones in Heaven? The Bible declares that when we arrive in Heaven, we will “be like Him [Jesus]; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Just as our earthly bodies were of the first man, Adam, so will our resurrection bodies be just like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:47). “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:49,53). Many people saw and recognized Jesus after His resurrection. So, if Jesus was recognizable in His resurrection body, I see no reason to believe that ours will be any different.