Will the Circle be Unbroken in Heaven?

30 April by Yeo Teck Thiam-

I have always taken comfort in the words Jesus gave before He left His disciples. Jesus said He has a place waiting for us because He has prepared this. So I believe and trust in Him.

My cherished hopes include seeing loved ones who had gone there before. I think also about meeting many in the cloud of witnesses that we read in Scripture, and other men of God in the Age of Grace in this time on earth.

So, will the circle be unbroken when we gather on the other side? I know God is faithful, and He never fails us!

In My Father’s House

For it is written: “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4)

This City of God will be filled by all the people of God. The mansions that Jesus promises in John 14:1-3 are for the place where we are to live with Him. Therefore the circle is completed for us and our loved ones, together with all the saints. So Scripture declares:

“You have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God.

You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.

And so the prophecy continues:

You have come to God, the judge of all men,

to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant,

and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than Abel.”

(Hebrew 12:22-24)

“And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort each other with these words.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:17,18)

There will be No Sorrows in My Father’s House

This glorious hope is a sharp contrast with earthly life. It’s not an easy road on earth for the Christian, for many are the thorns on the way. There are trials and temptations, and not to mention the grief everyone experiences because of death and mourning. Words do not express adequately the pain, and the cross that each Christian is called to bear.

And so John heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

So, in His great compassion for us, Scripture tells us God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. For God promises there will be no more death and mourning in His home awaiting us.

Scripture also declares that the sorrows we know on earth will not be remembered, for in Isaiah 65:17, God promises:

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.

The former things will not be remembered,

nor will they come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,

for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight

and its people a joy.”

Turning Water into Wine

This good news of great joy is seen in Jesus’ ministry. In the Gospel, this began in Galilee with the scene of a wedding banquet at Cana. It was a joyous occasion for it was a family matter for Jesus. When the wine ran out, Mary told Jesus, “They have no more wine.” John 2:3

At the time, Jesus said His time had not yet come. But Mary told the servants to do as Jesus instructed. So Jesus turned the water into wine for them, for Jesus’ disciples were also invited to the wedding.

This event gives us reason to rejoice, for Jesus also has a wedding banquet awaiting us when the time comes. And for this occasion, the Christian’s cup will be filled and running over.

The Wedding Banquet

The wedding banquet is a cherished occasion that Jews understood in Jesus’ time for great joy. Jesus spoke of this in many instances. It is highlighted in the banquet God is giving for His people.

Thus, the Pharisee who had heard Jesus teaching the wedding banquet and the kingdom of God, said, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God”. (Luke 14:15) This is a reference to the promise given in Isaiah 25:6 for all peoples.

This banquet is an occasion Jesus also promises the Christian. For at the last supper, Jesus said to the disciples, “I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.” (Luke 22:29)

When the time comes, we will be at this banquet at the Lord’s Table. It completes the purpose of the miracle at Cana, and is the fulfillment also of the Holy Communion that we partake on earth, where we remember the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)

The Bridegroom and the Wedding Banquet in Scripture

Some may consider that this is an overstatement about the wedding banquet for the City of God. It need not be seen in this way.

For one thing, the wedding banquet is a picture of greatest rejoicing in Jewish life. It is also true for many cultures. It speaks of the bride and the bridegroom in a special covenant.

Its significance can be seen when Jeremiah warned the people that God will take away this blessing, for the Jews had turned to other gods. Thus in Jeremiah 7:34, and again in 16:9, God said, “I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem.”

The book of Hosea is also an account that acted out the love of God for Israel, for they were unfaithful to God as the husband.

Nevertheless, in His love, God also promised that He would restore their fortunes in the coming days because He remembers His covenant with David and Judah. The Jews were unfaithful, but God remains faithful. So God declared that the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to God’s house will be heard again. (Jeremiah 33:11)

These pictures highlight the special bond and joy of the bride and bridegroom, and the significance of the wedding banquet.

Jesus’ Parables about the Bridegroom and Wedding Banquet

The significance of the wedding banquet is also seen in the parables of the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.” The king sent his servants to invite people, “Come to the wedding banquet.” (Matthew 22:2,4)

Likewise, Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and did not prepare for the occasion. But five were wise, and brought oil for their lamps. So Jesus reminded the disciples to keep watch for the kingdom of God. (Matthew 25:1-13)

Jesus also gave the example of the bridegroom as a time for rejoicing for those with Him. The Pharisees questioned Jesus for being less than pious. The Pharisees confronted Jesus and asked, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.” (Mark 2:19)

In these symbolic associations of the bridegroom and the wedding banquet, Jesus gives us a picture of the rejoicing and gladness that He brings into our lives. Likewise, when the roll is called up yonder and we are with Him, the banquet symbolizes the occasion of blessings.

The Bride and the Bridegroom

This invitation was also in the prophecy in Isaiah 61 that Jesus read in the synagogue in Nazareth, at the beginning of His ministry, as given in Luke 4:16-22. Jesus said this prophecy was fulfilled in Him, for the Spirit of the LORD had anointed Him to preach good news to the poor.

Jesus read only the opening verses of Isaiah 61 at the synagogue. However, the prophecy lists out many good things in the good news. So, it is written also for our response:

“I delight greatly in the LORD;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

as a bride adorns herself with jewels.”

(Isaiah 61:10)

To this end, the testimony of John the Baptist highlights the hope of being at the banquet God has for us. John’s disciples came to inform him that Jesus was gaining more disciples.

But he said, “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; and I must become less.”

(John 3:29, 30)

This mention of rejoicing and friend reminds us of the Song of Solomon, the great love song of the bride and bridegroom. For many, it does seem strange that Scripture includes a love song for spiritual edification. Yet this need not be, when we consider the love expressed by the bride and bridegroom for one another reflects God’s great love for His people.

Likewise, Psalm 45 gives us another picture of this great love, in the context of a royal wedding. The Psalmist said in the wedding song:

“My heart is stirred by a noble theme

as I recite my verses for the king;

my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”

Perhaps, on another occasion, we will speak of practical relevance for the Christian life on earth. But for the purpose here, this is an occasion of rejoicing.

An Invitation from the King

So it is written:

“He has taken me to the banquet hall,

and his banner over me is love.”

(Song of Solomon 2:4)

“The king is enthralled by your beauty;

honor him, for he is your lord.”

“In embroidered garments she is led to the king;

her virgin companions follow her

and are brought to you.”

(Psalm 45:10, 13)

For this reason, in Revelation 21:2, John the disciple said, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

So I understand the church is the bride of Christ. We are being prepared to be received in Christ in a symbolic manner, as people who belonged to Him. For we shall be the spirits of righteous men made perfect through Jesus our Mediator of the new covenant, in the City of God.

So God gives this invitation for His kingdom.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”

And let him who hears say, “Come!”

“Whoever is thirsty, let him come;

and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

(Revelation 22:17)

NB: Scripture texts in italics are from NIV.

Note: Mr Yeo Teck Thiam is a retireer who used to work as a chemical engineer, specializing in food and perfume chemistry for an international food company and perfumer. His other main interest is astronomy and other mathematical matters, relating to the Biblical passages.