Dear Andrea,

Thanks for such a thoughtful question. The Bible tells us that after we go to heaven, after the thousand years, we will come down to the earth again in the New Jerusalem, and we will see the wicked destroyed (see Revelation 20:7-10). So we will know them then. But then the Bible tells us that “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4 ). It seems here that we will forget the painful memories of this sinful world. At the same time, we will never forget the pain that sin has caused, as we will always see the scars in Jesus’ hands.

Some people read the parable Jesus gave about the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke chapter 16, and they think people will talk back and forth between heaven and hell. But the story was a parable, not a real story, and the point of that parable was NOT to teach what hell is like, but about how important it is for those of us who are “rich” in knowing Jesus to share with those who are “poor” in not knowing Him. This should make us want to share Jesus with everyone we know so that they won’t be destroyed in hellfire, but so they can be saved and go to heaven. This is what the apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11, NKJV). In other words, knowing the terrible reward that awaits the wicked, we do all we can to help them accept salvation through Jesus. That’s why it’s so important that we share Jesus with the people we know!

Thanks for writing, and remember, there's never been a better time to share Jesus!

Your friend, Pastor Howard