What will happen to those who have been married several times? To whom will they be married in heaven if all of the previous spouses are there? Jesus was asked this question by the religious rulers of His day. They posed a question about a woman who had been married to seven brothers.

Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her? (Mat 22:28).

Basic Ignorance

Jesus said their problem was a lack of understanding of two basic things - the Scriptures, and the power of God.

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven (Mat 22:29-30).

The Sadducees mistakenly assumed that the resurrection state was a continuation of our present relationships here upon the earth.

Deathless State

In the afterlife, believers will live in a deathless state. Jesus said.

But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; for neither can they die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection (Luk 20:35-36).

Husband-Wife

Husband-wife relationships will not be destroyed, they will take on a new meaning. We will no longer live in the same married state as we do here upon the earth. However we should not assume this means deprivation. We will retain memory of our loved ones and enjoy fellowship with them.

Different Set of Relationships

In heaven there will be a different set of relationships than here upon the earth. We are all adopted sons and daughters in God's family. Paul wrote.

He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will (Eph 1:5).

Therefore, we have new family relationships. Jesus said His coming would change relationships. He said.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man's enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me (Mat 10:34-37).

Married to Christ

In the next world, believers will be married to Christ.

Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God" (Rev 19:7-9).

Physical Pleasures

Though not directly stated, it seems like couples will not be sexual having relations in heaven. Scripture emphasizes that sex is restricted to marriage.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (Hbr 13:4).

Since heaven will be a deathless state, there is no need for relations. There is no need for perpetuation of humanity since there will be no adding or subtracting to the number in heaven. Since Jesus emphasized there will be no marrying in heaven, then relations seems to be something that is absent. Although there may not be any sexual activity in heaven, there is certainly none in hell!

Better Than We Can Imagine

Whatever God has planned for believers will be something far better than we can imagine. The Bible says.

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1Cr 2:9).

Centered Upon God The resurrected state will be God-centered, not human-centered. The emphasis will be upon God, not humanity. Therefore many of the questions that we presently have about heaven will not be issues once we come into the presence of God.

Summary

Marriage, as we know it, is not necessary in heaven because there is no need for continuing the race. The number of people in heaven will not increase or decrease - it will remain the same. Believers will be married to Christ and have even deeper relationships than we have ever experienced on the earth.