“Revelation describes the communion of saints, there as here, to consist not merely of a vast congregation singing in perfect harmony the new song of Moses and the Lamb, nor of the multitude which no man can number bowing before the throne, offering each his individual worship, but also of souls calling one to another, imparting information and exciting others to new praise. They speak of personal perceptions, experiences and anticipations.

Recognition is an assumed necessity. It is a common observation of travellers that everywhere they find acquaintances. Strangers in conversation soon discover some connecting link — subjects of common interest, places which both have visited, experiences which have been similar, mutual friends, and often close blood relationships, if not former intimacies. This will be still more true in heaven. We shall not be distracted by the care of the body. We shall be relieved from the perplexities of business and the care of other things. Our communion will be uninterrupted and prolonged. We will delight in sympathy, and have no fear of being misunderstood or misrepresented. We will have the fullest confidence in each other and take special delight in each discovered tie which binds us closer to the members of the household of faith. The chief theme of heaven, in all our intercourse with God and each other, will be Redemption, not in the abstract nor in general, but in its personal application to us. We will praise Him ‘who was slain and has redeemed us to God by His own blood,’ ‘and has made us unto our God kings and priests.’ As we render thanks before all, for Christian parents, for the seal of the covenant affixed in infancy, for those who taught us of Christ, led us to the cross, rejoiced at our conversion, helped us in duty, prayed for us in temptation, reclaimed us when wandering, were the means of our sanctification and efficiency, and stood by us when we were called into glory, there will gather round us those, for whom we give thanks, who will bless Christ that they had given, if ‘a cup of water only, in His name, to one of the least of His disciples.’ While we recall our heart’s desire and prayer to God that our kinsmen according to the flesh might be saved, and as we praise Christ for His love, which constrained us to declare His grace, the stars in the crown of our rejoicing and the seals of our ministry will gather, perhaps in unexpected numbers, to join in our thanksgiving and to recognize us as the means of their salvation. Forgotten faces, names, circumstances and conversations shall all be recalled. For memory is to be restored and made perfect. Our converse with these saints will be of past experiences in divine grace, present blessedness in Christ’s presence and anticipated increase of knowledge of Him, of efficiency in His service and of delight in His worship. These are subjects which will be of mutual and absorbing interest, and will complete our recognition, render our friendships more intimate, and perfect our enjoyment of each other in the Lord.” — John Aspinwall Hodge, Recognition After Death (1889), pp. 86-89