IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE

ARE MANY MANSIONS

In my Father’s house are many mansions [abodes]: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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 (John 14:2-3).

Just what is the “Father’s house” Jesus spoke of in John 14:2? Is it a place far above the skies which has many rooms, perhaps one for each believer? That would make it a sort of heavenly “rest home” somewhat like those on earth where the dying go to “wait on God”. Sound absurd? Sure does. Yet this is the belief of millions of so-called Christians around the world.

 Indeed, many have taken the word “mansions” to mean there will be a personal “palace” awaiting them above the clouds. But the Greek word mone actually means “abode” and is translated as such in John 14:23 where it speaks of the Godhead taking up residence in the believer’s heart.

Question is: Did the Lord ever categorically promise anyone that they could or would go to heaven. If He didn’t then it would be a fable to say He did. Yet again, countless millions believe that in John 14:2 He promised them a place in heaven. Turn to John 3:13 to see what Jesus told Nicodemus and us about going to heaven:

And no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And since Jesus also said that though heaven and earth would pass away his words would never pass away (Matthew 24:35) that should settle the matter for all time and eternity. But, those who refuse to accept what He said, disagree, asserting that Enoch and Elijah “went to heaven”. Yes, Enoch walked with God “and was not” and Elijah ascended into the clouds in a chariot but nowhere does it say they went to heaven.

To claim they did is again to believe a fable. Now, granted, the Apostle Paul was caught up to the third heaven – but, importantly, he came straight back down again. Fact is, as Jesus said, only one “man”, that is He Himself, has been to heaven and descended again. Despite that W.E. Vine in his New Testament Dictionary insists that oikia (house) as in “My Father’s house” is the “heavenly abode, the eternal dwelling place of believers”. But again, no mention of “heaven” is to be found in the verse.

Now, the Apostle Paul starkly warns against believing fables:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and shall turn their ears away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

According to the Oxford Dictionary fables are “fictitious tales”. In Bible terms a fable is something the word of God does not say and, actually, contradicts what scripture does say.

But ignoring Paul’s warning,many preachers use John 14:2 to assure their audiences that after death they go “straight to heaven” where supposedly Jesus has gone before “to prepare a place for them” because “in my Father’s house are many mansions”. But is that the correct meaning? This article looks at an alternative understanding that is well supported by scripture and that makes sense in the light of real Christian experience.

So, if the many “mansions” of the” Father’s House” are not in heaven, where are they? One place could be the “household of God” in Ephesians 2:18-19, defined in Vine’s Dictionary as “the company of the redeemed”.

For through Him [Christ] we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now [not before] therefore ye [Gentile believers] are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God.

Here the word “household” has the same Greek root word as “house” in John 14:2. And clearly this “household” is to be found down here on earth since this it is the spiritual abode God has dispensationally placed us and that within our lifetime on earth. The passage makes no mention of heaven but goes on to describe this great “household of God” as “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone in Whom the whole building “fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord”.

Note well that this building, temple and “habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22) is put together entirely in Christ. “For though him we both (saved Jews and saved Gentiles) have access by one Spirit [his Spirit] unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18).

Based on this we can confidently believe that “the Father’s House” is in Christ Himself. Indeed, it cannot be otherwise, since Colossians 2:9 emphatically declares “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”. And Jesus plainly said the way to the Father was through Him and that in seeing Him (Jesus) they had seen the Father (John 14:6-7).

So, we conclude the “Father’s House” and its “mansions” are dwelling places in Christ Himself and fully accessible while we still live on earth. But in case more proof is needed, try 1 Timothy 3:15 where Paul tells Timothy “these things write I unto thee that thou mayest know how to behave thyself in the “house of God, which is the church [called out ones] of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”.  Is this church in heaven or on earth? 1 Timothy 3:5 gives an unequivocal answer: “For if a man know not how to rule his own house (obviously, one on earth), how shall he take care of the church of God?”

Jesus did indeed “go to prepare a place” for his disciples where both they, the redeemed remnant of Israel, and all believing Gentiles could be with Him in the spiritual “Father’s House”, in which there are many rooms. The beautiful truth is that it can be accessed right now our lifetime here on earth by any who will trust Jesus for their salvation. However, there is also another “place” Jesus is preparing just for those who were his appointed apostles on earth.

..verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 18:28).

The regeneration is when the faithful of Israel are resurrected to live again on earth in the Kingdom of God Jesus preached when on earth but our question now in 2026 should be: What should we put faith in: fables (2 Timothy 4:4) or the sound words of Jesus given to the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 1:13) about our place in the wonderful “household of God”?

John Dudley Aldworth 

You are welcome to contact me at the email address below:

Email: john.aldworth@hotmail.com. 

Website: https://www.dayofchristmnistries.com/rss/all.xml