Does the Bible say we will be greeted by our loved ones after death?
Question:
Hello,
You, so far, are the only person I trust to tell me the truth of the Bible. I am so confused trying to understand it. But, anyway, when we die does it say in the Bible if we will be greeted in Paradise by our loved ones who already passed on?
Thank you for your answers.
Answer:
I'm happy to answer questions, though there are hundreds of preachers I would trust to give accurate answers. I'm just one of many.
We must assume that both the loved one and ourselves are found worthy by the Lord to enter His rest (Hebrews 4:1-11). But given that, there is some indication of joining our loved ones.
"Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people" (Genesis 25:8).
"These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people" (Genesis 25:17).
"So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him" (Genesis 35:29).
"Then he charged them and said to them: "I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, ... And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people" (Genesis 49:23, 33).
None of these examples are talking about being buried with their ancestors because the order of events is: 1) died, 2) gathered to his people, 3) buried. Death is when the body ceases to function, "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Job understood this for the righteous, "For I know that You will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living" (Job 30:23).
When David's child was sick and then died, he said, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (II Samuel 12:2-23).
