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Marriage in Heaven?

Are we going to have disagreement and conflict in heaven?  The Bible says that there is no marriage in heaven, but are we going to stay married with our spouses in heaven?
50, F, NY

This is a great question that has been debated by many people, especially single Christians.  Many want to know if there will be marriage in heaven, or if people married here on earth will still have the same spouse as in heaven.  There are differing viewpoints on this topic within Christianity and by some Adventists.  But Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy is quite clear on this question.

Here are some points from Scripture to consider on marriage.
1.  God created marriage at creation, along with the Sabbath (Genesis 1:28, 2:24)
2.  Jesus confirmed marriage (Matthew 19:3-6)
3.  In the resurrection, there will be no marriage (Matthew 22:30)

Trying to disprove the teaching of the resurrection, the Sadducees presented Jesus with a hypothetical situation.  According to the Levitical law (Deut. 25:5, 6), seven brothers had to marry the same woman, because she had no children.  In the resurrection, whose wife will she be since all seven had married her? 

Jesus charged the Sadducees with ignorance of the Scriptures, but also addressed the issue of life after the resurrection.  The Sadducees had misunderstood that life after the resurrection would continue as we know it now.  But Jesus pointed out to them that after the resurrection, there will be no more death, and no more giving of marriage (Luke 20:35, 36).  Jesus goes on to say that the resurrected ones are "God's children, since they are children of the resurrection" (v. 36).

In the book Heaven, Ellen White makes it quite clear on the topic of marriage in heaven. 
"The doctrine that children will be born in the new earth is not a part of the "sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19).  The words of Christ are too plain to be misunderstood. They should forever settle the question of marriage and births in the new earth. Neither those who shall be raised from the dead, nor those who shall be translated without seeing death, will marry or be given in marriage. They will be as the angels of God, members of the royal family." (1SM, 172)

Ellen White also comments in the same passage that we will know and recognize our loved ones from the old earth. (3SM 316)  So while there will be no joys or pains of marriage in the new earth, we will have a far greater experience as the royal family of God.  The relationships in heaven will be pure and holy, and we will be face to face with our Creator!


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