"Our seven-year-old son has been quite worried about the Millennium. When the True Church is taken to a place of safety, will all the children of the Christians be taken to safety with their parents? Our son also wanted to know, in tears, how he could be happy in the Millennium if he was going to be a flesh-and-blood human being and his parents were going to be spirit beings. He says if he can't see us at least once in a while, he doesn't want to be in the Millennium. Also, will glorified spirit beings retain their own identities? 'Will Mom and Dad look just like they do now?' We feel that if our son is old enough to be concerned, he should be given a satisfactory explanation, and we know you are much better qualified to answer these questions than we are."
You asked for an explanation of the questions your little boy asked. It is a wonderful blessing that your son has the curiosity and concern to ask such questions when he is still so young. Isn't it amazing how he has simply accepted what you — his loving parents — have told him. He hasn't questioned it, or doubted it. He just took your word for it. No wonder Christ said that we would have to become like a little child to enter into His Kingdom. Your son has a misconception about the Millennium. In his own mind, he thinks he will never again see you after you are made into a spirit being — born into God's family. He probably realizes that his mother and daddy pray to God — but he can't see God. So when you tell him that you are going to become like God, he thinks that he will never see you again. You should explain to him that God is personally going to return to this earth. All people are going to see Jesus Christ when He returns. God would have remained here on this earth with human beings — working with them personally if they had desired that He do so. God has never hidden Himself from mankind. Mankind first began to hide from God — they didn't want to be with God. Adam and Eve, after they had sinned, went and hid from God. In Exodus 20:18-19, the people were afraid of God. They told Moses, "Moses, you speak to us. We'll listen to you. But ask God not to speak with us or we will die." They didn't desire God to be with them. They wanted to be left alone — dealt with through human instruments. You should teach your little son to be with God in the same way he wants to be with you. This will take away his fear of not seeing you when you are born into God's family. The family unit is an exact type of what God is doing here on earth. We, as human beings, should desire to be with OUT heavenly Father in the Same way your son wants to be with you forever. He never wants to leave you — he wants to be near you because you are the ones that have given him life, the food that he eats, and the bed that he sleeps in. You give him correction, you play with him, and above all you love him with your whole heart. This is the exact relationship God desires to have with us as His children. You should teach your son that God gives every one of you all the blessings that you have. Teach him that God loves him. From all indications, the Bible shows you will be teaching your child during the Millennium if you have properly trained your son now. If he obeys you instantly — and loves you and respects you with his whole heart — he will go with you to the place of safety during the Tribulation. That is something you as parents must realize is in God's hands. You have to put God above all things — your son and even your own physical life if necessary. During the Millennium, you will apparently have the wonderful blessing and responsibility of guiding your child — teaching and training him. One of the tremendous things about it is that you will be perfect then! You will then have godly love and concern. What's more, you will have a glorified spirit body just like Christ. Read Isaiah 30, especially Verses 20-21. "...Yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." You also wanted to know if we would retain our own identities in the resurrection. You can tell your son that he will be able to recognize his mom and dad in the Kingdom. Certainly there will be changes in all bodies which are turned to spirit and immortalized. Jesus' was changed so that His disciples needed to look closely and even hear His voice before they recognized Him for sure. But the fact remains they did know Him. (John 20:15-16; 21:12; Matt. 28:9-10.) Jesus easily and completely proved Himself to His followers on several occasions (Acts 1:3). Those who had known Him during His physical life were not left in doubt. They knew, and knew that they knew, Him. They illustrated this by their willingness even to die for this One whom they realized was man become Spirit God. All the other Sons of God will have this very same composition and ability. They will be able to make themselves known to their loved ones. You will know your son, and even more important to your son, he will know you.