Will we be able to recognize our friends and family when we get to Heaven?
In the book of Isaiah, God shares many of the realities of Heaven and the New Earth. Notice what He says (emphasis supplied throughout):
“‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain.’” Isaiah 66:22
So Isaiah 66:22 clearly teaches that our name will remain in Heaven and the New Earth. This means that everyone will know each other as they did here on Earth. Not only will we know each other, but an argument can be made that we will know each other even better in terms of advanced perception and physical beauty. Consider the following verses:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51–53
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20–21
At the Second Coming of Jesus, the righteous will be given a new heavenly, upgraded body. This means we will be much more advanced both in mind and cognitive ability. We may even recognize people we’ve never met! While we may be changed into our glorious bodies, we know for sure we will be recognized by all our friends and loved ones. The disciples recognized Moses, Elijah, and Jesus in their glorified bodies during the Transfiguration on the mount (see Matthew 17:4). The disciples recognized Jesus again in His new immortal and transformed body after His resurrection, too (John 21:7). Therefore, just as the Word of God says, we will still know who everyone is when we get to Heaven.
So why does Revelation suggest that no one will know our name in heaven but God? If no one knows our name how will they know us since our name is so closely connected to our identity? Let’s look carefully at this verse:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
Yes we will have a new name, and this will be a special name known only to you and to Christ. Name is a revelation of character, and this new name will reflect the fullness of our new character in Heaven. We alone, along with Christ, will know ourselves as we have never known ourselves here on Earth. This is not talking about our literal name, like Peter, Paul, or Mary. It is referring to a name that is synonymous with our character. Perhaps the clearest text of all on this subject is found in the New Testament:
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”1 Corinthians 13:12
This is one of those “now” and “then” statements. Paul is describing the difference between now (in this life), and then (when we are granted eternal life). We see dimly now, but when we are granted eternal life at the Second Coming of Christ, we will see even better and be recognized in Heaven as we are recognized now. We will know our new name (character) and Christ will know our new name (character) as no other person in Heaven can.
Married couples experience this after many years together. They have names that are special to them. The spelling and sound of the names are heard by all, but the deeper meaning is known only to the couple, because it speaks of their intimate relationship and experience.
Jacob is one of many biblical examples of this. He had an intimate experience that led God to give him a new name, Israel. This new name honored his new character and experience with God. We know the name Israel from reading about Jacob’s experience, but the full meaning of the name is wrapped up in the unique experience that Jacob had when he wrestled with God (Genesis 32:24–30).
Like Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel; or Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham; or Sarai, whose name was changed to Sarah; in Heaven, we will have a new name that reflects who we are in character to ourselves and God, in an intimacy that only He and we will know. All our friends and family will know us in Heaven, and they will recognize us by our character. But God will know us in a way that none other can, and the name He gives us will reflect the unique relationship we will enter into with Him. Our identity will remain, while the depth of our character will be known only to God and to us.