Biblical Answer

The Nature of Marriage in Heaven

The Bible teaches that there will be no marriage in the resurrection, presumably in the life after this one (Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:35). This is because the unfallen angels in heaven neither marry nor are given in marriage (Matthew 22:30). The Scriptures nowhere teach that angels are capable of sexual intimacy, but rather they are like the angels of God in heaven (Matthew 22:30). The Christian vision of heaven does not include marriage in the blessed life to come, and marital intimacy is only a shadow of a brighter, more glorious reality, the marriage between Christ and his church in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:19, 20).

The Purpose of Marriage in the Present

Marriage in the present is a shadow of the marriage between Christ and his church in the heavenly places. It is a picture of the fittedness of heaven and earth, or of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). The meaning of marriage is not just about human relationships, but about the relationship between Christ and his church. The marriage between Christ and his church will bring heaven and earth back together (Revelation 19:7; 21:1-5). A human marriage cannot remake the world, but the wedding of Jesus to his church will begin a whole new, never-ending world, and we can be part of that new world, the church.

The Reality of Marriage in Heaven

The question of whether there will be marriage in heaven is often misunderstood. The Bible teaches that there will be no marriage in the resurrection, but this does not mean that there will be no relationship between believers and Christ. The relationship we will have with Christ will be a real marriage, one so real that the bride is already getting ready (Revelation 19:7-9). The marriage between Christ and his church will be the ultimate fulfillment of marriage, and it will bring joy and satisfaction to those who are part of it. The high value Paul places upon virginity (1 Corinthians 7:25-35) suggests that the ultimate joy and satisfaction are derived from our relationship with Christ, not from our marital relationship. The question of whether there will be marriage in heaven is not just about human relationships, but about the relationship between Christ and his church. The answer to this question is not just about what we will do in heaven, but about who we will be in heaven, and that is a believer in Christ.