Which will be the heaven's language for all?

Will We Speak Hebrew In Heaven?

Q. I watched a TV preacher and in his sermon he claimed we will all speak Hebrew in Heaven. I can see how it will be spoken in the 1000 year Kingdom on Earth, but I’m not sure about Heaven because we are Gentiles. What do you think on this subject?

A. I believe the Bible says Hebrew will be spoken in Israel during the Kingdom Age, and some interpret Zephaniah 3:9 to mean that Hebrew will be the world’s official language then. I have always suspected that it’s God’s “native tongue”, but I think in heaven we’ll be able to speak and understand every language, just like He does.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Heavenly Relationships

Questions About Life In Heaven

Q. Hi! I have a few questions about life in Heaven…I’m wondering when we go to heaven will our new lives carry out - not so much the same as our earthly lives - but more with the same tendencies and emotions (but without sin of course) as on earth? Do you think we will have ‘relationships’ with fellow believers (i.e. best friends, lovers, parents, children) as we do on earth?

I guess the reason I’m wondering is that we were made in God’s image with similar emotions (love,joy,sadness etc) and there must be a reason that we are drawn to certain people in life more so than others…will we recognize family and friends, husbands and wives in heaven and still have stronger feelings for those people than others, or will it be every ‘believer’ for themselves - our earthly relationships diminished and a new ‘family’ developed with our fellow believers?

Sorry if I’m getting a bit carried away…I hope I’m not being too confusing - I’ve just been wondering about it that’s all! I don’t expect that you’ll have all the answers but any perspective you have on this would be much appreciated Thanks - keep up the good work…you’ve been a great inspiration!

A. The Bible doesn’t speak about these things except to say that we neither marry nor are we given in marriage, but will be like the angels. (Matt 22:29-30) I think this means that our capacity for relational love will be primarily directed toward and filled by the Lord.

Paul wrote that we will know as we are known (1 Cor 13:12) and to me that means that among other things we’ll recognize and know not only our earthly friends and family, but everyone in the family of God. While these relationships will be different I don’t think there’s any way in which they’ll be diminished. On the contrary our awareness and capacity for feeling will be heightened in our new bodies, not only by the removal of the contamination and distortion caused by sin, but also by the increased abilities our new bodies will have.

Paul also wrote that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Cor. 2:9) It’s beyond our comprehension.

Generally I believe our new lives will be similar to our old ones in the way a 3-D color picture is comparable to a 2-D black and white. The objects are recognizable as being the same, but that’s about it. No one will miss “the good old days.” In fact, according to Isaiah 65:17 the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Our Relationship after Rapture

A Marriage Question

Q. Thank you for your website, it has helped me greatly in my understanding of the Bible. I tend to agree with you on most everything and I really enjoy the ‘Ask A Bible Teacher’ section.

I have a question about marriage and the rapture. When my husband and I were married last year we took vows to God that said “till death do us part”, should we happen to be raptured live into Heaven will we still be married?

A. The phrase “Till death do us part” is partly intended to relieve the surviving spouse of any further contractual obligation to the deceased. This frees the survivor to go on with life and even re-marry if it seems appropriate. In that sense the word death means the death of the physical body.

Whether raptured or resurrected we discard our earthly bodies for new heavenly ones. The type of relationship we call marriage doesn’t exist in Heaven because there’ll be no need to bear children, but that by no means will diminish the value of our relationships. In fact all it will do is eliminate the bad parts, like jealousy, dependence, communication issues and the other relationship problems we all endure here. If anything your love for your husband, and his for you, will become purer and more fulfilling.

But in addition, you’ll enjoy meaningful relationships with many others as well. God created us to be social creatures, and so our eternity will be filled with friends from all ages who will become as close as family without ever threatening those very special relationships we formed here on Earth.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Heaven

Heavenly Relationships

Q. The scriptures speak mostly of the physical elements of the new heaven and new earth and little, if any, about how we will relate to each other. Different books have shown our new home as physical and real, more real than this one, if that can be imagined. But here is where I am. I lost a woman that I loved some time ago and even though I know I will see her again, will our relationship be the same or can it be? We were in love, and I want that again and not as best friends or brother/sister, etc. I want to hold her as I used to and I want the romance, the intimacy, the affection, the dancing, the love that we shared. Verses talk of us being like angels and since they don’t marry, we don’t. And various threads from that seem to have us as ‘friends’ or something, but frankly, that’s not enough for me. Someone, in an online forum, said that it would be like Eden before the fall, and since Adam had his ’soulmate’ in Eve, then we would have ours as well. I want mine back and, frankly (and I mean no disrespect) if we are together as ‘friends’ only, then Heaven has lost some of its luster.

A. First of all remember that no one knows what our heavenly relationships will be like. Second, you only have experience with Earthly relationships involving fallen people, so any attempt at comparison with a heavenly one involving perfected people is premature. Third, you’ve been promised unending joy , so it stands to reason that you won’t have any longing to return to the past. The Lord hasn’t spent all this time preparing your heavenly home just to leave you disappointed at being there.

More Questions About Heaven

Q. I visit your web site often. It’s great! One question… You say that people who are in heaven can see what is going on here on earth. God says there will be no tears or sadness in heaven. Seems to me if they can see us it would indeed make them sad with tears to see the millions that are lost….Not to mention the suffering.

A. If we retained our Earthly perspective when we go to be with Him that would be true. But we don’t. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Everything we’ve been unable to understand or explain during our lives will suddenly become clear as God’s perfect plan is revealed.

And once the Kingdom Age begins, to make our joy complete, memories of our Earthly life with all its failings and shortcomings will fade away as God makes everything new. “The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com