Yes, we will recognize our loved ones, but in eternity, time is irrelevant and will feel like no time has passed.
Les Feldick uses the Mount of Transfiguration to prove believers will recognize each other in eternity. He also emphasizes that eternity is outside our time-bound existence, so the concept of elapsed time won't matter. Our reunion will be immediate from an eternal perspective.
Matthew 17:1-3 — Shows Peter, James, and John recognizing Moses and Elijah, demonstrating recognition after death.
The Bible gives a clear example of recognition after death in the account of the Transfiguration. In Matthew 17, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a mountain, and Moses and Elijah appear talking with Him. The disciples immediately recognize these two ancient figures without any introduction (Matthew 17:1-3). This indicates that in the afterlife, believers will know and recognize each other. Additionally, Scripture speaks of believers being present with the Lord after death and awaiting the resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:14). The Bible assures us that sorrow for departed believers is tempered by the hope of reunion (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). While the Bible does not explicitly address the perception of time in eternity, it presents a state where God dwells outside of time (2 Peter 3:8) and where believers are comforted in His presence.
Les Feldick answers the question by pointing to the Mount of Transfiguration. He asks, "Did James, Peter, and John ask the Lord Jesus, Who are these fellows?" and answers, "No, they knew, and here they had lived a couple thousand years earlier." This is his primary proof that we will recognize our loved ones. Les also teaches that believers who die are in the presence of the Lord, but they are waiting for the resurrection day when they receive new bodies. He says, "They're in glory, they're in paradise, and they're in the Lord's presence. But you see they can't have a resurrected body until the resurrection day." This waiting state is not boring or time-conscious, as eternity is outside our concept of time. He emphasizes that the comfort for believers is knowing we will see our loved ones again, based on their own faith. Thus, for a believer, the reunion will be immediate and joyful, regardless of how much earthly time has passed.
Les Feldick's main evidence is the Mount of Transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah even though those prophets lived millennia earlier. He argues that if they recognized them, we will also recognize our loved ones. Additionally, he states that in eternity we will have full knowledge and know everyone by name, eliminating the need to strain to remember names.
Les clarifies that departed believers are in paradise with the Lord, but they do not yet have resurrected bodies. He states, "They're in glory, they're in paradise, and they're in the Lord's presence. But you see they can't have a resurrected body until the resurrection day." At the rapture, Christ will bring their souls with Him, and they will be reunited with their resurrected bodies in the air.
Though Les doesn't explicitly mention the perception of time, his teaching implies that eternity is outside our time-bound understanding. He describes the state of departed believers as being "in the Lord's presence" and waiting for the resurrection, but he does not suggest they are counting days or years. Since God is eternal and outside time, the experience of waiting is not like our earthly waiting. Therefore, it will feel like no time has passed when we are reunited.
What Happens When a Believer Dies? 2 Corinthians 5 Explained
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Recognition at Transfiguration
Les uses the Mount of Transfiguration to prove that believers will recognize loved ones in eternity, as Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah.
What Happens at the Rapture? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained
But we don't have to just fall apart and weep and wail days on end. Why? Because we know we're going to see them again. This is what Paul is referring to. That you sorrow not, even as those who have no hope, that they'll never see their loved one again. We will, assuming of course that our loved ones are also believers.
What Happens at the Rapture? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained
We've had missionaries years back especially when the dark areas of Africa were still basically uncivilized, and some of the uncivilized areas of even now, the South Pacific, Indonesia, and so forth. There are still uncivilized people back in there. Areas of the Amazon Valley are uncivilized. When they lose a loved one, they weep and they wail, and they carry on for days.
State of Departed Believers
Les teaches that departed believers are in glory and in the Lord's presence but are awaiting their resurrected bodies until the resurrection day.
Waiting for Resurrection
Les explains that at the rapture, Christ brings the souls of departed believers to meet their resurrected bodies in the air, indicating a waiting period without time-consciousness.
Full Knowledge in Eternity
Les reinforces that in eternity we will have full knowledge and recognize everyone, including loved ones, without struggling to remember names.
Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained
She knew she was a believer, and I just sent back a few verses, and I got her answer today. What a comfort to know that our loved ones, if they were believers, are in His presence. They're already seated in the heavenlies. And so it's not that big a jump from here to there, and that's why we don't have to fear death, because they can kill the body, but they can't kill that which is already a citiz…
Matthew 17:1-3: And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Demonstrates recognition of Moses and Elijah by the disciples, supporting recognition in the afterlife.
1 Corinthians 15:52: 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.
Shows the instantaneous nature of resurrection at the rapture, when believers receive new bodies.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Assures that God will bring departed believers with Christ at the resurrection, implying reunion.
2 Peter 3:8: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Highlights God's timelessness, suggesting eternity is not measured by earthly time.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, the Bible indicates we will recognize each other. He points to the Transfiguration where disciples recognized Moses and Elijah as proof. He also teaches that in eternity we will have full knowledge and know everyone by name.
No, Les teaches that they are in paradise with the Lord but are awaiting the resurrection day when they will receive their resurrected bodies. At the rapture, Christ will bring their souls to meet their new bodies in the air.
No, because eternity is not bound by time. Although Les doesn't explicitly address this, his teaching implies that the waiting is not like earthly waiting. Since God is outside time, the reunion will feel immediate, and no time will seem to have passed.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens When a Believer Dies? 2 Corinthians 5 Explained