Death, heaven and hell
Will I see my loved ones again in heaven?
Short answer
If they belonged to Jesus, yes. Christians grieve, but not without hope, because death is not goodbye forever.
Losing someone hurts deeply, and it's okay to cry and miss them for a long time. Jesus wept at Lazarus' grave, though He knew He was about to raise him.
Paul told grieving Christians not to grieve like those who have no hope. Those who died in Christ will rise, and we will be with the Lord and with each other. The Bible suggests we will know one another: Jesus speaks of many eating with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in God's kingdom.
If you aren't sure whether the person knew Jesus, leave them with God. He knew their heart as you never could, and He is both just and merciful.
Let people help. Talk about the person you miss. Bring your grief to God on bad days. He is close to the brokenhearted.
My verses
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Jesus wept.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.