Heavenly Questions by the Rev. Walter Snyder Q: Will we know our loved ones who have gone before us when we reach heaven? How will we look in heaven? What clothing will there be? What will be our appearance? Where do we look for these facts, such as old people looking young again? A: Scripture is unclear as to whether or not we will recognize all our loved ones. As for our own bodies, we only know that they are called "glorified" and that they are like unto Christ's own resurrection body. Christian author C. S. Lewis wrote a story called "The Great Divorce." In it, he speculated about the form of our resurrection bodies. The gist of his descriptions was that those who died young looked incredibly ancient and wise while the old still had the spring and the sparkle of youth. He also speculated that those some would wear clothes as a sign of some special grace of God while others would be naked, yet fully clothed in righteousness. Aside from certain white-robed people mentioned in Revelation, we aren't told much about our clothing in the life to come. In eternity, we don't even know if all our scars and the like will pass away, or if some will remain as tokens of faithfulness to Christ, just as he kept His wounds in His resurrection. Whatever form we take, however we are clad, and whomever we might remember from earth, we know that we'll be in perfect joy forever. Q: When do you believe we go to heaven? I read in the Bible (in one passage) where it says that when we take our last breath on earth we will take our first breath in heaven. I also read and heard that when we die, we will be dead until we are risen for judgement day. What is your theory or what do you suggest from your readings? A: The Bible doesn't speak clearly and completely on what happens between death and the end of the world. We do know that we are entrusted to the Lord's care and keeping until the resurrection of all flesh, but Scripture doesn't clearly state our degree of consciousness or comprehension. The martyrs crying out from the altar in Revelation 6:9-11 and the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 imply that perhaps those in heaven are quite aware of things happening both in heaven and on earth. However, other Scriptures speak of death as more of a time of "sleep" or complete rest in God until the resurrection. For example, Psalm 13:3 says, "Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death." Christ speaks of death as sleep (John 11:11; also Matthew 9:24, Luke 8:52, and Mark 5:39). This may be because He knows that people will awaken from it. Two who are thus awakened are His friend Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus, the two referred to in the previous passages. Jesus also knew that all who "slept" in the grave would be awakened on the Last Day. Ultimately, it matters not how much we know of our surroundings nor how we interact with God and with others. The promise of the resurrection and of eternal life belongs to all believers. So whether we are in some type of sleep or fully aware, we will be with God until we are given new and glorious bodies to wear forever in the kingdom of God. To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email to askthepastor@aol.com. Find old columns at members.aol.com/askthepastor on the internet. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe." Ask the Pastor, © 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.