Many Mansions

Even though it has been made clear to numerous Christians that John 14:2 is not speaking of fine houses in Heaven, this misinterpretation still is a strong, durable tradition in the churches of our day.

Let’s take a look at the verse that has inspired Christians for centuries. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2–NASB)

If I am not mistaken, there is no verse in the Bible that states Heaven is the house of the Father. Isaiah does say Heaven is God’s Throne, but never His house.

I would suggest, in terms of the following verses in the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John, that the Father’s house set forth here is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. God dwells in Christ in God’s Fullness. Christ is the eternal abode of the Father.

Notice that the New American Standard Bible does not speak of a "mansion." The Greek term Monee or monai has nothing to do with a fancy house, a structure. The term "mansion" in the Authorized Version most likely was employed as a nothing more than a dwelling place, or abode, in 1611 AD, at the time of the translation of that edition.

Here is another fact. Nowhere in the Bible is it stated that to be saved means to go to a palatial house in the spirit world when one dies. In fact we, being in a spirit body, would probably not find a large manor a suitable place in which to reside.

Isn’t it interesting that in our generation, so many traditional beliefs are being examined to determine if they actually are supported by the Scriptures! If there is no scriptural support whatever, either in the Bible or in the Greek language for our destiny being a mansion in Heaven, should we not stop talking and singing about going to our mansion in Heaven? It seems reasonable to me that we should cease doing this.

Several years ago I discovered that residence in the spirit world (Heaven) is not the goal of the Christian salvation. There is no basis in the Bible for this venerable tradition.

Is there actually a Heaven to which people go when they die? Yes, there is. It is divided into the Land of Light and the Land of Darkness, according to recent impressions I have had of the spirit world. The Land of Darkness is a place of punishment. The Land of Light is a much more matter of fact world than our mythologies have described. People go about their business. After all, our world was made from the invisible spirit world, so one would expect them to be similar.

My recent impressions of the spirit world are contained in a new book titled Godwill Castle. It may be several months before it is published. If you would like to be notified when it is published, please E-mail <rbt5@cox.net>.

Any believer who continues to view a mansion in Heaven as his eternal destiny, when there is no scriptural support for this, is not too interested in his or her, salvation, I guess.

What, then, is the goal, the objective of our redemption, our salvation? There are two dimensions of our objective. First, to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, both internally and externally (image and likeness). The second dimension is to be in untroubled rest in the very Centre of God’s Person and will.

Now stop and think. Can you see that our movement to a place and a mansion would not solve God’s problem? God’s problem is that His creation, both spirit and physical, is in rebellion against Him. Part of the angels are in rebellion against God, not willing to serve Jesus Christ. Most of the world, including the majority of Christians are in rebellion against God, not willing to invite Christ into all their decisions.

Let us say we die and enter the invisible spirit world. Has that caused us to want to serve Christ in all aspects of our life? No, it has not. Why would we change? What we are, we are. If we were going to change, we would have begun to obey Christ while living in this present world.

Sin began with one of the two cherubim that guarded the Throne of God in Heaven. So it is not likely that entering the spirit world would take the rebellion out of us.

What if we go to live in a mansion? Would that solve God’s problem of rebellion, or even our problem? Living in an ornate manor would not remove rebellion from us. And it would not bring us to righteousness, love, joy, and peace which are the hope of every sane person.

If living in a mansion would bring us to righteousness, love, joy, and peace, then we would expect wealthy people on the earth to be righteous, loving, joyful, and peaceful. Are they?

Perhaps I am mistaken, but I think we Christians have many traditions that we have not thought about carefully. Could this be true?

If such is the case, what then is John 14:2 referring to? It is referring to the fact that if we keep Christ’s commands, the Father and the Son will make us Their eternal dwelling place, Their Tabernacle. God in His Fullness will live in us. Also, in addition there may be a multitude of people living in us as our inheritance. Oh yes. When we are made God’s dwelling place we may be a palace, or castle, or anything else that is needed so people will be able to live in the Presence of God.

Do you have people living under your "covering" today? Do you have room for them in your heart? I’m sure you do.

We will have room in our heart for God and others. How does that sound to you? Are you willing to die to your self-determination so you can live in "waters to swim in" and be a tree of life along the banks of the River of Life? God has given us this opportunity, but we must "sell all" to take advantage of it. The Greek term for "abode" is found in John 14:2, and 23. Also in the fifteenth chapter of John in its verbal form, and is translated correctly "Abide in Me."

It appears to me that in our day there will be a reformation of the Christian understanding of the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is interesting, isn’t it, that at a time when the American way of life is in danger of being changed radically, God is opening to us the Scriptures. What is being shown to us has always been there. But we were not able to perceive what was being said. We just did not have the apostolic viewpoint.

I have been prophesying for at least thirty years that there will be a mighty revival in America, but it will occur during a time of great trouble. I think the hour is here, or very close.

There are at least three aspects of any true revival: first, there is repentance; second, there is an enlarged understanding of the Scriptures; third, there is worldwide evangelism. These three aspects characterized the Pentecostal revival of the Twentieth Century. There must be an enlarged understanding of the Scriptures if any revival is to bear permanent fruit.

Today, much error is being taught. For example: There is to be momentarily a carrying up to Heaven of all professing Christians.

God has given us grace as an alternative to living righteously. Our goal is to go to Heaven to live in a mansion.

Christians must not suffer but should be wealthy and enjoy every material blessing, including perfect health.

The size of a congregation is a measure of success or lack of it. We can move the physical world by metaphysical practices, such as "speaking the creative word."

We are to take our gifts and go forth to save a lost and dying world. There is no need to wait to see if this is what Christ expects of us. We can be a Christian without denying ourselves and carrying our personal cross behind the Lord Jesus.

Jesus is our personal Saviour but not our personal Lord. We are free moral agents.

There are three Gods, all equal in authority and power. Therefore Christ does not have to obey the Father. Can you imagine that this actually is believed? There probably are many more errors being taught, but I can’t think of them offhand, and you probably see my point by now.

It is time for a reformation of Christian thinking, would you agree to this? Please let me conclude by saying there are no mansions in Heaven. As soon as we cease thinking in this unscriptural manner we will be able to rightly perceive the true spirit world, which is remarkably like our present world in that our present world was made from the spirit world.

Yes, people go about their business in the spirit world without the pain and tiredness that we experience at the present time. In the spirit world, if we have been a decent person, there always is that "Christmas" feeling that we try to capture during the holiday season.

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23)