Let me share with you my understanding, which is that the institution of marriage will end at the resurrection and translation of the redeemed at the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ.

My understanding of this is based on the fact that marriage is only until death do us part, which was an obvious change as a result of the Fall, not to mention the entrance of divorce, again as a result of sin.

Matthew 22:24 saying, Master, Moses said, If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed to his brother.
25 Now there were with us seven brothers. And the first, when he had married a wife, died. And, having no issue, he left his wife to his brother.
26 The second also did likewise, and the third, to the seventh.
27 And last of all the woman also died.
28 Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be, of the seven? For they all had her.
29 Jesus answered and said to them, You err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven.

marriage, as we know it now under that name, will not be restored.

Their deception appeared in their supposing, that if there were a resurrection, men and women were to marry and be given in marriage as in this life; which our Lord shows is not the case: for men and women there shall be like the angels of God, immortal, and free from all human passions, and from those propensities which were to continue with them only during this present state of existence.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible in regards to the Bible text I posted earlier says:

Isaiah 11:6 Also the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the cub lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.

And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Gen 2:18)

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Gen 2:24)

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Mt 19:6)

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him. (Ecc 3:14)

It would be incorrect to assume we will be restored to the exact form in which Adam and Eve were created. Did they have wings?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Before sin, God and Christ created man "in our image, after our likeness." (Gen. 1:26)

But the man contained male & female. Eve was "called Woman, because she was taken out of Man". (Gen 2:23)

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen 1:27)

There was no conception recorded before the fall of man - No record that sexual union existed before the fall. Only the command to "Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth" (Gen. 1:28) Multiplication could have been achieved differently before the fall.

Conception is only described after the fall, and this in connection with sorrow. "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children" (Gen. 3:16)
_____

Matthew 22:30 is very clear: "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven."
Folks, what is the basis for saying that human beings will neither marry nor be given in marriage for a thousand years, but after this they will resume marrying? What is the basis for saying that they will be like the angels in heaven but will cease to be like the angels in the new earth?
Some can quote Isaiah to "prove" that there will be marriage and births in the new earth; I can also quote Isaiah to "prove" that there will be sin and death in the new earth.
As Ellen White says, Christ's words are too plain to be misunderstood.

As an aside, Ellen White gives us additional light about this:

By the power of His love, through obedience, fallen man, a worm of the dust, is to be transformed, fitted to be a member of the heavenly family, a companion through eternal ages of God and Christ and the holy angels. Heaven will triumph, for the vacancies made by the fall of Satan and his host will be filled by the redeemed of the Lord.--UL 61. {TA 287.1}

God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family. It was God's purpose to repopulate heaven with the human family, if they would show themselves obedient to His every word. Adam was to be tested, to see whether he would be obedient, as the loyal angels, or disobedient.--1BC 1082. {TA 287.2}

If we will no longer be humans in the resurrection, may Calvin be right about absolute predestination, that God decides what the redeemed thinks and wills.

What about couples taken to Heaven and to the New Earth - will they remain married or will they be considered unmarried? If they remain married will they cease having children? If they are considered unmarried will they stop having romantic affections for one another? If so, why?

Why do you believe translated humans will have wings? Did Jesus have wings when he was resurrected? Paul says we will have bodies such as His in our translation, but says nothing about Jesus having been anatomically different from before His death. Mary did not mistake Jesus for an angel at the grave, she mistook Him for the gardener.

Further, why would we not be translated to the form Adam and Eve had after creation? God said that the world He had made was good. Are you now saying that it was not good enough but need improvements for the second try?

Then Jesus' silver trumpet sounded, as he descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire [2 Thessalonians 1:7,8] He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised his eyes and hands to heaven and cried out, [John 5:25.] Awake! Awake! Awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise. Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, Hallelujah! as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. [1 Thessalonians 4:17.]... Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright.... We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [2 Corinthians 4:17.] that surrounded us, that we could not speak them out, [Isaiah 65:17.] and we all cried out Hallelujah, heaven is cheap enough, and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven's arches ring. And as we were gazing at the glories of the place our eyes were attracted upwards to something that had the appearance of silver. I asked Jesus to let me see what was within there. In a moment we were winging our way upward, and entering in; here we saw good old father Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Daniel, and many like them. ... {WLF 16.1}

... We passed through the wood, for we were on our way to Mount Zion, as we were traveling along we met a company who were also gazing at the glories of the place: I noticed red as a border on their garments. Their crowns were brilliant--their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were? He said they were martyrs that had been slain for him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones, they had a hem of red on their garments also. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the Mount sat a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies, and I saw the little ones climb, or if they chose use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never fading flowers....{DS, January 24, 1846 par. 1}

Jesus said we will be like the angels, and we definitely aren't like the angels now. Therefore, we will be somewhat different from what we are now.
Since God doesn't decide what an angel thinks and wills, why would He do so for us in the afterlife?

Vaster,

First of all, we are told we will be like the angels, right? Do they not have wings? Furthermore, other portions of inspiration give us little details of this as well.

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles" (Isaiah 40:31).

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall" (Malachi 4:1, 2).

Indeed, the "wings" concept comes from more than mere imagination here...although I grant that my imagination has sometimes looked forward to the day when I can fly--and we are also told Heaven will be more than we can imagine.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

So you mean you believe that the phrase "neither marry nor are given in marriage" means "they will marry and be given in marriage."
First, Thomas, I don't think Jesus was speaking figuratively either in Matt. 22 or in the episode of Jairus' daughter. What I believe is that God's concept of "death" is "ceasing to exist for ever," that is, "not ever being raised to life again." What we call "death," He calls "sleep" (just read John 11).

Second, even if Jesus was speaking figuratively at some place, there is no such thing as "figurative" meaning "the complete opposite of what is said."

And third, the fact that reproduction was to exist just for a time doesn't mean that a being is not perfect if it does not reproduce - the Bible says angels were superior to man, even before man sinned. Lack of sex is neither pagan nor satanic - unless you believe holy angels are satanic. Besides, as far as I know, God does not have a sex. Is He imperfect?

God's concept of death is spiritual, i.e. death = separation from God. Man's concept of death is physical, i.e. death = discontinuation of earthly life.

When God sees His saints "die," their physical death has not separated them from God, only from the world. God knows that in the future, they will be raised to life again, and thus, in a very real sense, they have (present tense!) eternal life. Their eternal life is like money in the bank--it belongs to them, even though it is not presently in their hands.

However, when God sees someone living, alive, who has separated himself from God, God sees this same person as "dead," for they have no life in Heaven's bank. They have separated themselves from God, and this separation accounts as "death," even though physically they may yet be alive. Should they die while in this separated condition, their loss is eternally locked in.

When Jesus spoke of Lazarus in the tomb, He knew that physically Lazarus was dead. But He also knew that Lazarus had died with God. Therefore, in the spiritual sense, Lazarus was alive--but "sleeping" on account of that life being owed him not presently in his possession.

In other words, I do not believe that Jesus' words in saying Lazarus as alive were entirely meant as future application. It is present tense, and to be interpreted as such. In the same place where Jesus corrects the Jewish leaders regarding marriage in the afterlife, He says: "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22:30-32)

Jesus told His hearers that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were/are alive. We know that they were in their tombs "sleeping" at that time--yet to Jesus, they were alive. This is not merely figurative, because one cannot belong to God merely figuratively. You either are His or you are not.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Jesus began his answer by pointing to the scriptures. Therefore, can you support this case in its entierity from the books referred to by Jesus?

Certainly. However, it's a lengthy study better fit for a separate thread. If you can be more precise as to a specific question, perhaps I can provide a quick answer here. Otherwise, the larger study will have to wait.

It should be significant to all, however, that Jesus tied the death/life definition into the leaders' question of marriage in the afterlife--and this following a statement to them that they erred, not knowing the scriptures.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Vaster,

I don't understand what you mean by this: "Maybe the grand study should have the same coverage as did Jesus reply that we have been discussing?"

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Do you agree with Ellen's insight (posted earlier on this therad)?

Jesus made clear time and time again that what we call "death" is just a sleep. As I said, just read John 11. I don't consider this a mere metaphor, but as I said, even if you consider it a metaphor, the likeness between death and sleep is evident.

Webster's defintion of metaphor: "a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another (Ex.: the curtain of night, 'all the world‘s a stage')."
But you haven't yet explained Jesus' words: "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven."
For the sake of argument, let's suppose this is a metaphor. Could you please explain its meaning?

Jesus made clear time and time again that what we call "death" is just a sleep. As I said, just read John 11. I don't consider this a mere metaphor, but as I said, even if you consider it a metaphor, the likeness between death and sleep is evident.

R: Jesus made clear time and time again that what we call "death" is just a sleep. As I said, just read John 11. I don't consider this a mere metaphor, but as I said, even if you consider it a metaphor, the likeness between death and sleep is evident.
Th: Except of course that the issue word here is neither death nor sleap, but "living". "He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

R: But you haven't yet explained Jesus' words: "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven."
For the sake of argument, let's suppose this is a metaphor. Could you please explain its meaning?
Th: Since my case here is that Jesus words on marriage are as metaphorical as His words about the patriarchs are.

It's "living" because the dead will wake up from their sleep. The metaphor is still death/sleep.


Thomas, a metaphor must have a meaning. The meaning in the first case is that the patriarchs are alive because they are just sleeping and will wake up from their sleep. Contrarily to what the sadducees taught, there will be a resurrection. But the metaphor in the latter case is what? Will people in the resurrection "cohabit" like the angels?

Thomas, is it possible to read both parts literally? I'm just thinking out loud, but it seems to me the patriarchs are literally alive

The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later.

No, we can't speculate, especially on animals resurrected, for there is no support for this in inspiration.

R: Ellen White says God planned to repopulate heaven with human beings.

R: Whether Thomas accepts this or not, the fact is that God is a God of order and He Himself chose the planet man would inhabit. The size of this planet indicates that God designed a given number of human beings to exist in His universe. The same is true for other beings in their respective planets.

R: Well, God Himself will inhabit here in this planet with His redeemed creatures. This is His promise to us. Would you like to live in another planet?

Where do the animals on the New Earth come from if God does not resurrect them? Does He create them? If so, please provide a quote that says so. Rom 8: 19-23 implies animals will be resurrected.

2937. Ktísis; a founding, that is, of a city, colonization of a habitable place. Creation in a pass. sense, what is created, the sum total of what is created (Mark 10:6; 13:19; 1 Pet. 2:13). Denotes particularly the individual creature or what is created (Rom. 1:25; 9:39; Col. 1:15; Heb. 4:13). The sum total of what God has created, the creation (Mark 10:6; 13:19; Rom. 1:20; Heb. 9:11; 2 Pet. 3:4; Rev. 3:14). Refers specifically to mankind as God's creation (Mark 16:15; Col. 1:23). See also....

GC, I can post links to several scholarly cites that say animals will be resurrected. But this is getting off topic.

The great military commander conquers nations, and shakes the armies of half the world; but he dies of disappointment, and in exile. The philosopher who ranges through the universe, everywhere tracing the manifestations of God's power, and delighting in their harmony, often fails to behold in these marvelous wonders the hand that formed them all. “Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” [Psalm 49:20.] No hope of glorious immortality lights up the future of the enemies of God. But those heroes of faith have the promise of an inheritance of greater value than any earthly riches,— an inheritance that will satisfy the longings of the soul. They may be unknown and unacknowledged by the world, but they are enrolled as citizens in the record books of heaven. An exalted greatness, an enduring, eternal weight of glory, will be the final reward of those whom God has made heirs of all things. {GW92 26.2}

This man's aims were no higher than those of the beasts that perish. He lived as if there were no God, no heaven, no future life; as if everything he possessed were his own, and he owed nothing to God or man. The psalmist described this rich man when he wrote, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psalm 14:1. {COL 257.1}

In too many households, prayer is neglected. Parents feel they have no time for morning and evening worship. They cannot spare a few moments in which to give thanks to God for his abundant mercies,--for the blessed sunshine and the showers of rain, which cause vegetation to flourish, and for the guardianship of holy angels. They have no time to offer prayer for divine help and guidance, and for the abiding presence of Jesus in the household. They go forth to labor as the ox or the horse goes, without one thought of God or heaven. They have souls so precious that rather than permit them to be hopelessly lost, the Son of God gave his life to ransom them; but they have little more appreciation of his great goodness than have the beasts that perish. {CE 221.1}

It is our wisdom to fear God and to love him with all the heart. He is to be first and last and best in everything. We are not to be like the beasts of the field, who eat and drink, with no thought of God, no idea of gratitude to their Creator for his daily benefits. All of us, as beings blessed of God with reasoning powers, with intellect and judgment, should acknowledge our accountability to God. The life he has given us is a sacred responsibility, and no moment of it is to be trifled with; for we shall have to meet it again in the record of the Judgment. In the books of heaven our lives are as accurately traced as in the picture on the plate of the photographer. Not only are we held accountable for what we have done, but for what we have left undone. We are held to account for our undeveloped characters, our unimproved opportunities. {RH, September 22, 1891 par. 1}

With his own life Christ has bought man, and given him a probation in which to work out his own salvation. God asks his children to live a pure, holy life. He has given his Son that we may reach this standard. He has made every provision necessary to enable man to live, not for animal satisfaction, like the beasts that perish, but for God and heaven. God is not satisfied when human beings live merely a selfish life. Christ died that the moral image of God might be restored in humanity, that men and women might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. We are to use no power of our being for selfish gratification; for all our powers belong to him, and are to be used to his glory. He who does nothing to glorify God might better never have been born. Those who live merely an animal life are by precept and example teaching others to leave eternity out of their reckoning. {RH, November 6, 1900 par. 8}

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20)

Bear in mind that your children belong to God, and are to become His sons and daughters. He designs that the families on earth shall be samples of the family in heaven. {AUCR, September 6, 1909 par. 6}

M: GC, I can post links to several scholarly cites that say animals will be resurrected. But this is getting off topic.

GC: Yes, and I'm sure both of us could post links to scholars claiming there will be marriage in heaven.