Click here to learn more about how to be Saved.

Scripture Reading:    John 14:1-3

Certainly one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture, John 14:1-3, has been used by many to demonstrate Christ's loving care and future provisions for His own. Yet without diminishing the beauty of this passage in the least, it is important to see that it is not referring to the Rapture as some would teach. "My Father's house" is often interpreted to mean "Heaven." The "many mansions" are usually taken to be large homes lining Heaven's streets. And receiving "you unto myself" is often assumed to be the "catching away" which Paul refers to in I Thessalonians 4:17. But a careful search of the Scriptures shows otherwise.

When casting out the money changers, Christ referred to the temple as "my Father's house" (John 2:16). Why should we interpret this expression differently a few chapters later? The word, "mansions" in John 14:2 literally means an "abode" and is translated thus in verse 23. The reference here is not to Heaven, but to the millennial temple which will contain many :abodes" or :chambers" (see Ezekiel 40:7, 19, 12,16, 17, ect. ect.). As the twelve judges of the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), the apostles will dwell right in the temple in these abodes, or chambers during the millennial reign. Furthermore, when Christ said He would come again and receive them unto Himself, He was in Jerusalem at the time. He says nothing about catching them away to Heaven. No, Christ will come again to Jerusalem to reign as King, with the Twelve Apostles reigning with Him. It was through Paul that God revealed Christ's secret coming for the Church, His body, to dwell with Him in Heaven.