Will we recognize people when we are in heaven?

by Matt Slick

The Bible doesn't tell us if we will recognize each other in heaven.  However, judging from the resurrection of Christ, it looks like we will be able to recognize one another.

In John 2:19-21 Jesus prophesied that the very body in which he died would be raised.  According to 1 Corinthians 15:35-45, Paul tells us that the body that dies is also the same body that is raised.  However, it is changed, it is a glorified body.  After the resurrection of Christ we find Jesus appearing to Thomas in John 20:27-28.  Jesus retained the physical wounds of his crucifixion as is evidenced by His telling Thomas to put his finger into Jesus’ hands, and his hand into Jesus’ side.  Therefore, we can safely conclude that Jesus was raised in the same body in which He died.  Since Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20,23), the first one raised in a glorified body, who retained His physical condition and was recognized after His resurrection, then it is logical to conclude that we will also retain our physical conditions and attributes and we will be able to recognize one another in heaven.