This week I ran across the article: Is Jesus Preparing “Many Mansions” for Us in Heaven? by Mike Leake below.

From the article: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/is-jesus-preparing-many-mansions-for-us-in-heaven.html?utm_source=inhouse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contentspotlight&utm_content=mansions above:

“I heard about a mansion he has built for me in glory…” so goes the old hymn Victory in Jesus. The author, of course, heard about that mansion from the text of Scripture. In John 14:2 (KJV) we read:

“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.”

But if you read from new translations the text reads, “In my Father’s house there are many rooms…” (emphasis mine). Why do modern translations take away our mansion? What does Jesus even mean in John 14 and how is this meant to be encouraging?

What Is the Context of John 14?

Before considering what is meant by “mansions” it is helpful to consider the overall thrust and meaning of the passage. John 14 is part of Jesus’ final discourse with his disciples. He has had a Passover meal with them, he has spoken of his betrayal, his death, and even that the disciples would abandon him. The experience of chapter 13 had to have been discouraging to His followers. The mood is clearly somber. And so Jesus asks for their trust. “Let not your hearts be troubled…”

John 14 is filled with encouragement. Jesus is going to the Father and will prepare a place for the disciples. They will eventually be with him again, but in the meantime, he has given to them something far greater; namely, the indwelling Spirit of God. The promise of John 14:2 is similar to the promise made in John 14:23. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and he will come to him and make our home with him” (emphasis mine).

The entire passage is an encouragement to discouraged disciples. And the form of that encouragement is a promise of Jesus’ continual presence — in the present age and in the age to come. Once Jesus’ bodily presence departs from them, His presence will still be with them through the Spirit. And someday the disciples, and all those who also trust in God’s promise, will one day fully live in and experience the presence of God. This is the overall thrust of the passage. What, then, is the specific encouragement of verse 2?

Click the article to finish. The author didn’t even scratch the surface and there is much misconception and misunderstanding of what the Lord is preparing for his creation.

The Father’s Abode

“In my Father’s house (G3614) are many mansions (G3438): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare (G2090) a place (G5117) for you (G5213). 3 And if I go and prepare (G2090) a place (G5117) for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:2-4 KJV)

*G3614 – οἰκία – properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics) Derivation: from G3624; KJV Usage: home, house(-hold).

>G3624 – οἶκος – a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively) Derivation: of uncertain affinity; KJV Usage: home, house(-hold), temple.

*G3438 – μονή – a staying, i.e. residence (the act or the place) Derivation: from G3306; KJV Usage: abode, mansion.

>G3306 – μένω – to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) Derivation: a primary verb; KJV Usage: abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

*G2090 – ἑτοιμάζω – to prepare. Derivation: from G2092; KJV Usage: prepare, provide, make ready.

>G2092 – ἕτοιμος – adjusted, i.e. ready. Derivation: from an old noun ἐτεός (fitness); KJV Usage: prepared, (made) ready(-iness, to our hand.

*G5117 – τόπος – a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas G5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard
Derivation: apparently a primary word; KJV Usage: coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.

*G5213 – ὑμῖν – to (with or by) you. Derivation: irregular dative case of G5210; KJV Usage: ye, you, your(-selves).

>G5210 – ὑμεῖς – you (as subjective of verb) Derivation: irregular plural of G4771; KJV Usage: ye (yourselves), you.

>>G4771 – σύ – thou. Derivation: the personal pronoun of the second person singular; KJV Usage: thou.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we (G2249 – plural pronoun) will come unto him, and make our (G2257 – plural possessive for us or we) abode (G3438) with him.” (John 14:23)

Note: There is no Hebrew term for “us” or “our”, but there is for “we” – H587 and is used in Genesis 3:2. The useage of “us” in Genesis 1:26 is correct because “God” throughout Genesis 1 is translated from:

*H430 –  אלהים – ‘ĕlôhı̂ym – el-o-heem’ – Plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative. KJV Usage: angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.

>H433 – אלהּ אלוהּ – ‘ĕlôahh ‘ĕlôahh – el-o’-ah, el-o’-ah – (The second form is rare); probably prolonged (emphatically) from H410; a deity or the deity. KJV Usage: God, god. See H430.

>>H410 – אל – ‘êl – ale – Shortened from H352; strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) KJV Usage: God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong.

>>>H352 – איל – ‘ayil – ah’-yil – From the same as H193; properly strength; hence anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree. KJV Usage: mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.

>>>>H193 – אוּל – ‘ûl – ool – From an unused root meaning to twist, that is, (by implication) be strong; the body (as being rolled together) also powerful. KJV Usage: mighty, strength.

Note: Genesis 2:7 gives us more detail of creating Adam and it is the “Lord (H3068) God (H430)”.

*H3968 – יהוה – y^e hôvâh – yeh-ho-vaw’ – From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God. KJV Usage: Jehovah, the Lord.

> H1961 – היה – hâyâh – haw-yaw’ – A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary) KJV Usage: beacon, X altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, X use. {Used in Exodus 3:14 – “…I am that I Am…” or “…I Exist (hence, thus, as well as, thereforeto) I Exist…” spoken to Moses by: “And God (H430) said to Moses…”.}

What is the abode of the Father? The whole Universe! Where is his dwelling place? The sides of the north of the heavens (universe). (Is. 14:3) He has a huge city. (Rev. 21:10-21) It has no temple. (Rev. 21:22) Guess where it will move to? (Rev. 20:4-15, 21:9-10)

Romans 8:16-23

KJV^(i) 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation (G603) of the creature (G2937) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creature (G2937) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, ²¹ Because the creature (G2937) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage (G1397) of corruption (G5356) into the glorious (G1391) liberty (G1657) of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation (G2937) groaneth (G4959) and travaileth (G4944) in pain together until now. ²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

*G2937 – κτίσις – original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively) Derivation: from G2936; KJV Usage: building, creation, creature, ordinance.

>G2936 – κτίζω – to fabricate, i.e. found (form originally) Derivation: probably akin to G2932 (through the idea of proprietorship of the manufacturer); KJV Usage: create, Creator, make.

>>G2932 – κτάομαι – to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own) Derivation: a primary verb; KJV Usage: obtain, possess, provide, purchase.

*G603 – ἀποκαραδοκία – intense anticipation. Derivation: from a comparative of G575 and a compound of κάρα (the head) and G1380 (in the sense of watching); KJV Usage: earnest expectation.

*G1397 – δουλεία – slavery (ceremonially or figuratively) Derivation: from G1398; KJV Usage: bondage.

*G5356 – φθορά – decay, i.e. ruin (spontaneous or inflicted, literally or figuratively) Derivation: from G5351; KJV Usage: corruption, destroy, perish.

*G1391 – δόξα – glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective) Derivation: from the base of G1380; KJV Usage: dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.

*G1657 – ἐλευθερία – freedom (legitimate or licentious, chiefly moral or ceremonial) Derivation: from G1658; KJV Usage: liberty.

*G4959 – συστενάζω – to moan jointly, i.e. (figuratively) experience a common calamity. Derivation: from G4862 and G4727; KJV Usage: groan together.

*G4944 – συνωδίνω – to have (parturition) pangs in company (concert, simultaneously) with, i.e. (figuratively) to sympathize (in expectation of relief from suffering) Derivation: from G4862 and G5605; KJV Usage: travail in pain together.

First Principle (“In the beginning…” Gen 1:1) God created everything at the commencement (“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God…” John 1:1) of what is now called “The Big Bang”. (See “Missing Links – Chapter II – The Theory of creation” in the main menu. Read Chapter I first, as it sets the stage for Chapter II.)

Can yawl see the great human potential in Romans 8:19-23? The blood of Jesus Christ was shed to purchase the redemption of the whole creation, the greatest of passions, to provide a heritage as heirs to possess by the mercies obtained with repentance and faith in obedience to God. (John 14:8-21)

“For thus saith the LORD that created (H1254) the heavens; God himself that formed (H3335) the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain (H8414), he formed it to be inhabited (both heavens and earth): I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:18) [There is no Hebrew term fot “It”; however them (heavens and earth) is implied.]

*H1254 – בּרא – bârâ’ – baw-raw’ – A primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes) KJV Usage: choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat). [As used in Genesis 1:1]

*H3335 – יצר – yâtsar – yaw-tsar’ – probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine (that is, form a resolution) KJV Usage: X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r), potter, purpose.

Note: The material (matter) to form the earth was created first. “The same was in the beginning with God. All things All things are made of matter) were made by him; and without him was not any thing (matter) made that was made. (John 1:2-3) “No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18) 

*H8414 – תּהוּ – tôhû – to’-hoo – From an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), that is, desert; figuratively a worthless thing; adverbially in vain. KJV Usage: confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness.

Note: “tohu” is translated “without form” in Genesis 1:2.

Also came across the following below this week. The voice from the center of a galaxy, one of countless many in our universe, sounds as if in agony. When all the galaxies groan together in earnest expectation for the revealing of the children of God to inhabit it, and it shall come to pass in the New Heavens (New Universe) directed by God from the New Earth.

Daniel 12

KJV^(i) 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. ² And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. ⁴ But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. ⁵ Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. ⁶ And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? ⁷ And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. ⁸ And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? ⁹ And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. ¹¹ And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. ¹² Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. ¹³ But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Have a restful and peaceful sabbath!

LOLGB+