Thank you for the question. The subject of whether there will be marriage in has been around for years. Those who have happy marriages hate the thought of not being married in heaven. Those who have bad marriages dread the idea of being married to their spouse forever!

The Word of God does address this subject. Jesus and Paul both talked about the marriage union after death. This is what Jesus had to say:

Mat 22:23-30:

The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

And last of all the woman died also.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

One day the Sadducees, who do not believe in a resurrection, tried to trick Jesus with a seemingly difficult question. They gave him a scenario where a woman had been married to seven different husbands because they kept dying on her! If I was the seventh husband, I would have thought twice before proposing! They asked Jesus which husband the woman would be married to in heaven. Jesus responded, “None of them!” In verse 30, Jesus explains that in the resurrection people will not marry, nor will they be given in marriage, but will be as the angels of God in heaven. Angels do not marry and are not married in heaven.

Some who believe in the doctrine of marriage in heaven will say that this passage only speaks of the act of getting married, so those already married will continue to be married. Paul addresses what happens to marriage upon death.

Romans 7:1-3:

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

In this verse Paul is teaching that the marriage covenant is until “death do us part” as many wedding ceremonies state. Death ends the marriage bond. We see the same thing in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 7:39:

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Again Paul mentions that a marriage union lasts as long as the two parties are alive. Death separates the marriage union. If this was not the case then the scripture would forbid you to marry another after your spouse dies. If you are still married after death then these scriptures in Romans and 1 Corinthians would be leading you to adultery. Paul clearly teaches in Romans 7 that if your spouse dies and you remarry you do not commit adultery.

Marriage is an earthly covenant. In marriage you become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24: 

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Marriage makes you one flesh. Nowhere in scripture does it state that marriage makes you one spirit with your mate. This is a popular teaching without any scriptural support. However, when we are born again we become one with the Lord in our spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:17: 

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

One of the reasons God gave the marriage union was to teach about the union God desires and has with the Church.

Ephesians 5:31-32: 

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

In speaking on marriage in Ephesians chapter 5, Paul says that marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church. As we become one flesh on earth, we are one in spirit with the Lord in heaven. As part of the Church we are the bride of Christ. The Church will one day be married to the Lord Jesus. (Ephesians 5:32)

1 Corinthians 2:9: 

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I can understand why many feel disappointed that they will not be married to their spouse in heaven. Because of the intimacy of marriage on earth, it is difficult to imagine eternity without being married your husband or wife. But although the scriptures teach there will be no marriage in heaven, it does teach us that we will know and recognize our born again loved ones in heaven. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will have perfect love towards each other. I personally believe the bond we have with our spouses in heaven will be even closer than we had on earth because it will be a perfect bond.

Until we stand before God and our Savior in heaven, we will never experience the fullness of God’s perfect love on earth. All earthly attachments will be eclipsed by God’s great love, just as the light of the sun eclipses the brightness of the stars on a cloudless day. We will have no sorrow in heaven and will experience the joy of fellowship with those who were our born again spouses on earth. Again, earthly marriage will pale in comparison to the perfect intimacy and oneness we will have with our Savior in heaven and for all eternity!

God bless,

Rick McFarland bio
Director/Singles Director
Real Answers bookstore
Grace Church