Question: What happens to your spouse and you after you die, are you still united in a marriage bond? I know when you confess your vows before Christ you state till death do us part. The scripture states that in heaven we will be like the angels not given in marriage. I am just curious, if God is so protective over the marriage union, what happens to us after we die? Do we just say after 30, 40, or 50 years of loving harmony in joy, and sorrow, “Hey its been fun see ya around sometime,” then spend your time just hanging out with the boys watching football?
Answer: We can tell by your question that you are very concerned about the relationship you and your wife will have in heaven. Let me assure you that it will be far better than what it is here on this earth. In fact, the relationship you have with all those in heaven will be far beyond what you or I could ever image it to be! Look at these verses: “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
In our finite minds (little minds) we would not really be able to understand what heaven will be like, and the relationships we will enjoy over there. That is what St. Paul said, in so many words: “…how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:4) I believe what Paul was saying, put into our vernacular, is that it would be impossible to explain to us what he saw in heaven. Revelation 21 and 22 gives us just a little glimpse of what it will be like there, and St. John could not express it beyond these few words.
Take your marriage relationship with your wife for example; it is true the Bible says that we will not get married in heaven: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30) However, this does not mean that we will not have relationships with people. Multiply what you felt with your wife on this earth a thousand times over and you will have just a little taste of what it will be like in heaven between the two of you. It will be a perfect relationship, with no sin in between to hinder the closeness!
Remember God made us to begin with, this earth was not meant to be heaven, but for us to have only little glimmers here of what it will be like in heaven. If you believe God made us to begin with, and He is the One who created the love bonds between us, how much greater will these be in Heaven! We need to believe Jesus, and His Word, the Bible, when He says that it is beyond our wildest imaginations! Think back about how you felt when you first fell in love, who created that feeling?
Think about the pleasure there is in sex in the marriage relationship, who created these feelings and called them holy? “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4) “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 7:3-4) You might want to look at our study about this in our commentary section on 1 Corinthians.
If God put things like these in the Word of God, it tells me He wants us to enjoy the marriage relationship. Also, you will want to look at the book of the ‘Song of Solomon’ in the Old Testament. We do have some of it, the part concerning the marriage relationship, on our web site. (You can find it at the end of the Christian World View Part Two.) Of course, sex is just a part of that marriage relationship.
God wants both of us to grow closer to Him, and when we do, we will grow closer to each other. If this happens here on this earth how much closer together will we be in heaven, where we will be in perfect harmony with Him and each other all the time?! “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
“The life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:1-4)
I don’t claim to know even a little bit about heaven, and even Paul and John after seeing it could not put it into words, so how can anyone know what it is really going to be like until we experience it?! I would say this, though; I know you will not be disappointed with what it is like! Also you will not be disappointed with the relationship you will have with your spouse in heaven.
God has heaven all planned for us, and it will be beyond our wildest imaginations. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
You may be reading this, but you may not even be sure that you are even going to heaven. Well, here is your opportunity to know for sure that you are saved and going to heaven. This wonderful place we are speaking about! Repent of your sins, this means to be sorry for them and turn from them to Jesus to save you from them. Admit that you are a sinner in need of salvation. Confess Jesus as God, the second person in the Holy Trinity. Believe that He died on the cross for your sins and came alive the third day. Invite Him to come into your heart by His Blessed Holy Spirit. You can pray all of this to God, the Holy Father in Jesus name, and He will hear your prayer, and save you!
Now that you are saved you can look forward to the time when your spirit (the real you) leaves your body and goes to the place God calls heaven or paradise! (We have a tract called, Will Heaven Be One Eternal Church Service? You might want to look at this also.) Listen to these verses in closing: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the Firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8: 22-23) “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)
Thanks for the question,
Gary T. Panell
For more information email me.
Leave a Reply