MANSIONS IN THE SKY – The Glorified
Body
John 14:2-3
KJV (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
(3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also.
I
recently inadvertently lost a friend by telling them their deceased relative
was not currently in heaven because no one is in heaven at this time.
Regardless of someone’s personal doctrine people do not go to heaven when they
die. Rather, the Scripture speaks of two resurrections - one occurs at the
return of Jesus Christ just prior to the millennium and the other occurs at the
end of the millennium. One of the favorite scriptures of the “Christians go to heaven when they die”
group is John 14:2-3 which is written above at the beginning of this post.
The Word Study Dictionary
monḗ; gen. monḗs, fem. noun from ménō (G3306), to remain, dwell. A mansion, habitation,
abode (Joh_14:2, Joh_14:23 [cf. Rev_21:3]).
Also related to mónos (G3441), alone, only, single.
Syn.: oikētḗrion
(G3613), a habitation; katoikētḗrion
(G2732), a place where one dwells permanently;
Other
translations of mone include: Abodes; dwelling places; rooms; and places.
Mansions
and abodes are the leading translations with dwelling places running a close
second. It is my belief these mansions,
abodes, and dwelling places, even rooms, are actually referring to a glorified
body which the Saints will receive as a place to dwell permanently as in the last
synonym written in the Word Study Dictionary above.
The
Apostle Paul discusses the body as an earthly house or tent. He then states we have a building from God, a
house not built by human hands. A glorified
house or body that we will obtain after resurrection.
2 Corinthians
5:1-3 NET
(1) For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled,
we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal
in the heavens. (2) For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to
put on our heavenly dwelling, (3) if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly
house, we will not be found naked.
In
John 14:2-3 Jesus is metaphorically saying that He (God) will give each
resurrected person a glorified house (mansion/dwelling) after they are
resurrected, at some point in time.
For
the sake of a good discussion and explanation, let’s pretend that people
actually do go to heaven when they die. Some semi-popular Christian mythos will
be added for interest quality.
A saintly Christian dies and appears at the Pearly Gate
where he is met by St. Peter. The kindly Saint tells the man “welcome to heaven,
let me show you to your mansion”. Suddenly they appear in front of a great
palace. They open the door and go in and the recently deceased man notices that
the inside of the palace is one big room with nothing in it but a chair, a music
stand, and a harp.
The man asked Peter, “why does this mansion only
have one large room?” Peter gives a
detailed answer. “Since we don’t eat or drink in heaven, you will not need a
kitchen, dishes, pots and pans, or a dining room. We also don’t sleep in heaven
so you won’t need a bedroom. There is no dirt in heaven and therefore you won’t
get dirty and your clothes won’t get soiled so you will not need a bathroom, a
shower, a toilet, or a laundry room with a washer and dryer. However you have
been provided a place to sit if you prefer and practice your harp skills. By the way, at the sound of a loud trumpet,
you will know that choir practice will begin around the throne room. Oh, you don’t sing? Well, remedial classes are available.”
As
one can readily see, there will be no need for a mansion in heaven even if
someone was in heaven.
1
Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Scripture
clearly says, when the Lord descends from heaven the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them.
When the Lord descends from heaven He is no longer in heaven. Wherever the dead souls happen to be they
will rise first somewhere in the proximity of the earthly ground
The
remains of the dead, if they still exist, could be in the ground, in the bottom
of an ocean or a lake, frozen in ice, or possibly as ashes in a jar on
someone’s mantle. They are not currently, or of the future, in heaven awaiting to
be hurled back to the planet so they can be raised from the dead.
It
has been said by a commentator that being in the air, even one centimeter,
means not being in the ground. It does not mean being in the stratosphere or
outer space. The 1000 year Millennium, which is God’s Sabbath rest, will take
place on the earth as it was meant to be at the creation of Adam and Eve. It
will not take place around the throne of God in heaven with the saints playing
harps and singing songs.
The
first resurrection will not include every person who considers themselves a
Christian because they went to church on Easter or Mother’s Day. The first
group will consist only of the true Saints, who follow the laws and teachings
of Christ, throughout the past ages. These people are scripturally called the
overcomers or the elect. They will serve as administrators and priests for the
Kingdom of God under the rule of Jesus Christ on planet Earth.
The
second resurrection at the end of the thousand year millennium will include the
rest of the dead who were not resurrected at the first resurrection. As told by
Jesus this will include the ones who have done good and the ones who have done
evil.
John 5:28-29
KJV
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the
graves shall hear his voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that
have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil,
unto the resurrection of damnation.
NOTE: People who temporarily die for a few seconds
and claim to see heaven are full of boloney (actually bologna – just keeping
the mythos alive).
Luke
12:42
Acts
24:14
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