Paul wrote the church at Corinth and said, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (I Cor. 13:12). Based on this people ask, “Will we be known in heaven as we are known here on earth” or “Will we know our loved ones in heaven?”

First, it is important to remember that our body is not the real person. It is the house, tabernacle, tent, temple or dwelling place that the real person (our soul and spirit) lives in while we are alive here on earth. It is a body of flesh and blood.

Second, our body must undergo some changes because it can’t go to heaven as it now is. Paul said, “flesh and blood cannot inherit thekingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (I Cor. 15:50). These changes will take place at the resurrection and Rapture. Paul said, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all bechanged, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible mustput on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Cor. 15:51-53). On that great resurrection day, the body of believers will be changed to an incorruptible immortal spiritual body like Jesus had after He was raised from the dead (I Jn. 3:2).

Third, since our new spiritual body will be immortal, we won’t get sick and die. Also, since we will live forever, we won’t be known by our age (40 or 50 or 100 million years old). And, people can debate this, but I personally don’t believe that we will be known by physical characteristics such as our height, weight, lack of hair, color of our eyes.

Fourth, how will we be known? We will be known by our works or service. Crowns will be given out and people will know if we walked with God, served Jesus, was faithful unto death, preached, taught, won souls for Jesus, attended Church, raised our family in Church, etc. We will be known in heaven by some (or all) of the ways people knew us here on earth (by our spiritual characteristics not necessarily our physical characteristics). Concerning some of the Tribulation Period saints, John wrote that “their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13).

Fifth, people will recognize us in heaven. Adam and Eve couldn’t see each other in the Garden of Eden, but they knew each other (Gen. 3:5-7). When Samuel returned from the dead in his spiritual state, Saul knew him (I Sam. 28). When the rich man saw Lazarus in his spiritual state in Paradise, the rich man knew him (Luke 16:9-31).

Sixth, how can this be? Consider this: When Peter, James and John saw Moses and Elijah in their spiritual state on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James and John knew them (Matt. 17:1-13). Someone may ask how because the disciples had never seen them? Moses died and Elijah was Raptured hundreds of years before that. Pictures, videos and movies didn’t exist. I have no explanation other than it was a revelation of the Holy Spirit. But I want to go further to point out the fact that when the marriage of Jesus and His Church takes place, a special union will exist between Jesus and His Church and it is my personal opinion that the Holy Spirit will give the Church abilities and make the Church aware of things that it does not now have and know (Rev. 19:7-9).

Seventh, several years ago, there was a five year old boy in one of my congregations that was put to sleep in the hospital. When it came time for this young boy to wake up he didn’t wake up. In fact, several hours passed before he opened his eyes. Pointing upwards, his first words were, “Mommy, I’ve been up yonder. I saw Jesus and He took me to God. And I saw Uncle Tommy and Uncle Johnny” (not their real names). Now, if anyone doubts this, you should know that this boy was very sick, had never walked a day in his five years of life, and was not supposed to live very long. Know also, that from that day forward that boy started learning to walk and he is now a grown man in his mid-thirties.

In conclusion, I believe we will know our saved loved ones in heaven and they will know us. I see it as a gift of grace and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck

Some articles that I have written clearly show that I believe the Pre-Trib Rapture Theory. When these articles got posted on raptureready.com, I received e-mails from people who believe in other theories (the Mid-Trib Rapture, Pre-Wrath Rapture, Post-Trib Rapture, etc.). Many of those e-mails said I am wrong and told me why the writer believes the church will go through part or all of the Tribulation Period. Virtually all of those who disagree with me mention the “elect” in Matt. 24 and say the elect is the church.

Jesus mentioned the “elect” three times in Matt. 24. He said, “And except those days [the Tribulation Period] should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the ‘elect’s’ sake those days shall be shortened” (Matt. 24:22). He said, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very ‘elect’ (Matt. 24:24). He also said, “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his ‘elect’ from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matt. 24:31).

If I believed the “elect” in these three verses refers to the church, I would have to review my belief in the Pre-Trib Rapture Theory. But I don’t believe the “elect” refers to the church. I believe it refers to those who sincerely express faith in Jesus after the church is raptured (between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus).

It is important to know that the Scriptures identify two groups of “elect:” the “elect” of Israel and the “elect” of the true church.Matthew 24 must be rightly divided to know which group of “elect” is meant. For example, notice Isaiah 45:4a, “For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine ‘elect’ . .  .” God clearly called Israel “mine elect.” The basis of Israel’s election is God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham and his seed after him in their generations (Gen. 17:7-13; Deut. 10:15).

It can be shown that the Scriptures also identify two groups of “saints” (Israel and the church; see Psa. 79:1-4). These correspond to the “elect,” but for the sake of brevity this is being ignored at this time.

Having said this, it is my opinion that the signs in Matt. 24:1-8 are signs of the Church Age that will have an ultimate fulfillment during the Tribulation Period. For example, famine and pestilence exist today, but the ultimate famine and pestilence will be during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 6:6-9); false Christs exist today, but the ultimate false Christ will be the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 6:1-19:21); earthquakes exist today, but the ultimate earthquake will take place during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 16:18); and wars and rumors of wars exist today, but the ultimate war will be the Battle of Armageddon during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 19:15-21).

Starting at verse 9, Matt. 24 is about Israel. The “gospel of the kingdom” mentioned in verse 14 will be preached in all the world by 144,000 Jews (Rev. 7:4-8), Two Witnesses, at least one of which will probably be a Jew (Rev. 11:3-12), and an angel (Rev. 14:6). The “holy place” mentioned in verse 15 will be in the Temple inJerusalem in Israel. Those who are in “Judea” mentioned in verse 16 refer to people on the West Bank in Israel. The “Sabbath” mentioned in verse 20 is the Jewish holy day. The “elect” mentioned in verse 22 is Israel (Isa. 45:4). Verse 28 is a parable (seeJob 39:27-30) about the Battle of Armageddon in Israel. Basically, it teaches that wherever the dead body (carcass) is the Palestinian Eagle gathers to devour the flesh (Rev. 19:17-18). Verses 29-31 are about the gathering of the Jews to Israel at the Second Coming (Isa. 11:11-12, 27:12-13; Matt. 8:5-13). Verses 32-33 are about the Fig Tree (Israel). Verses 37-41 are about the removal of the lost at the Second Coming not the removal of the church at the Rapture (Matt. 13:36-42, 47-50). The lost were removed from the earth in the days of Noah not the saved.

In conclusion, the verses in Matt. 24-9-51 do not prove that the Pre-Trib Rapture Theory is wrong or that some other theory is right. They contain teachings that are profitable for the church, but they are about Israel not the church.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck