Jesus was asked a similar question about marriage in Matthew 22:23-28. The Sadducees used a hypothetical scenario where a woman had been married to seven brothers and in verse 28 they asked, “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her” (NKJV). Jesus responded in verses 29-30, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven.” This clear, straightforward answer is the answer to your question. The marriage relationship will cease to exist in heaven.

We may wonder why there will be no marriage in heaven. In short, THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR MARRIAGE. In Genesis 2:18 we learn why God created a woman for Adam and why marriage was necessary. It reads, “And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone: I will make him a helper suitable for him’” (NASB). Adam was lonely and God created a companion for him to stand by his side as he went through life. In heaven WE WILL NOT BE LONELY, for we will be surrounded by countless saints, angels, and even more importantly, by God Himself!  Add to this the fact that marriage was instituted by God for procreation, as we see in Genesis 2:28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.” I know of no scripture which teaches that there will be a need to “multiply and replenish heaven.” The “family of God” in heaven is composed of all those who were “born again” by putting their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and it will not be added to by people giving birth to children in heaven. So, procreation was meant for life on earth, not for populating heaven, which is another reason why THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR MARRIAGE.

Regarding children we had on earth, I believe all earthly relationships will give way to heavenly relationships. This is hinted at by what we saw above, for Jesus said we shall be “like the angels of God in heaven.”  But that’s not to say we won’t recognize and know the children we knew and loved on earth. You may recall that after King David lost his infant son, he said, in 2 Samuel 12:23, “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” David took comfort in the fact that he would rejoin his son in heaven. So, even though their relationship will be different, David and the son he had on earth will be reunited in glory. If we had children here on earth we can rest assured that we too will see them again and enjoy their company forever! The same thing holds true for husbands and wives; we will know them in heaven, though our relationship with them will be much different. It will be on a much higher plane and it will be more fulfilling than anything we experienced on earth.  (179.9)  (DO)