Will There Be Mansions in Heaven?

Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions (KJV), if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). The Greek word translated “mansions” is monai, which means “dwelling places.” For lack of a better word, the King James Version calls them mansions. 

The idea that some will live in big mansions and others in shacks isn’t true. Are there dwelling places in heaven? Yes. Will they look like mansions here on earth? No.

Jesus often used earthly things to teach us about heavenly things. He said, if I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12). Comparing earthly things with heavenly things gives us a concept of what lies ahead of us.

He compared earthly money with “true riches” in heaven. (Luke 16:11)

He compared a perishable wreath (which was a crown awarded to winners of Olympic-type events) with an imperishable wreath—which is an eternal crown in heaven (1 Cor 9:25). 

He compared earthly jobs with heavenly assignments (Matt. 25:21, 23)

He compared earthly houses with eternal dwellings (Luke 16:9)

Are these eternal dwellings like houses on earth? Let's think about that. They won’t have BEDROOMS because we will never get tired and will never sleep for all eternity. Life in heaven will be very different than life on earth.  

They won’t have BATHROOMS. I can’t imagine this room will ever be needed in heaven.

They won’t have ROOFS because the weather will be perfect—no rain, hail, or snow.

KITCHENS? We know the tree of life produces twelve kinds of fruit (Rev. 22:2), but I don’t think we’ll be cooking or cleaning dishes. 

What about a GARAGE? Cars in heaven? Traffic lights? Speeding tickets? We won't need garages in our eternal dwellings.

What exactly are these eternal dwellings? Good question. Just as earthly homes serve an earthly purpose, our eternal dwellings will serve a heavenly purpose. Everything in heaven is far more advanced over what we see on earth, so we won’t understand their purpose until we get there.

Are they literal structures? Yes. Jesus said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” Normally when Jesus emphasized a truth He would say, “Truly I say to you…”  Here He turns it around and says, "If it were not true (i.e., if they were not there) I would have told you they don't exist.” They are called ETERNAL dwellings because they will last for all eternity.

Jesus adds on more thing: “For I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). He tells them WHY He’s leaving them. He was going to PREPARE a place for them AFTER He left earth. When you are saved, your name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20), but how you live after being saved will determine your rewards in heaven (see Bible study below). Your eternal “place” is currently under construction! For more about heaven, read Making Today Count for Eternity.

BIBLE STUDY: Rewards in Heaven

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net  

7 Steps to Fulfill a Prophecy

The Bible is filled with hundreds of prophecies—many already fulfilled in the past and some that are waiting to be fulfilled in the future. Most people don’t think about the 7 steps that must take place for it to happen. Where do the prophecies come from? How do we know when they are fulfilled? Here are the steps:

1. God must know everything that will happen in the future. God says, “There is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning” (Isa. 46:9–10).

2. God communicates His message to a spokesperson on earth, who was a prophet. Peter said, “God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets.” (Acts 3:18).

3. The prophet records the prophecy in the Scriptures so future generations can verify its fulfillment.

4. God makes sure the Scriptures are copied and preserved for hundreds of years until the prophecy is fulfilled. Many prophecies pertained to future generations and wouldn’t come to pass until many centuries had passed (1 Pet. 1:10-12).

5. God orchestrates the people and events to come together at the right time to fulfill the prophecy.

6. Another prophet recognizes when an Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled and records the fulfillment in the Scriptures. The gospels will often point out when the prophecy came to pass by saying, “That the Scripture may be fulfilled” (John 19:24, 28).

7. God preserves the record of the prophecy and its fulfillment so future generations can look back on both to verify them. Because the Scriptures have been preserved for thousands of years, and we can look back at when the Old Testament prophecies were given and when they were fulfilled.

These seven factors are only possible if an eternal God is overseeing the process. It is astonishing for even one prophecy to make it through all seven steps. But for hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament to make it through all seven steps is nothing short of mind-boggling! Jesus said, “I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it comes to pass, you may believe.” (John 14:29). 

This is indisputable proof the Bible is inspired by God. (from The Sure Cure for Worry, Chosen Books 2013, pp. 52-55).

NEW BIBLE STUDY: Fulfilled Prophecies by Jesus

LISTEN TO ENCOURAGING SONG: BY FAITH (with lyrics)

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net   

Getting Stronger When We Get Weaker

When my daughter was five years old, she came to me crying. “Daddy, I’ve got a sticker in my finger and I want you to pull it out.” I grabbed some tweezers and held her finger as I attempted minor surgery. She pulled her hand back and said, “I’ve changed my mind. Leave it in!”

The apostle Paul was tormented by a “thorn in the flesh,” which produced a great deal of suffering. He had received so many incredible divine revelations and insights that he could have thought he had “Most Favored by God” status. The thorn in his flesh was a “messenger of Satan” to torment him (2 Cor. 12:7). It was a fallen angel—a demon, which incited tremendous persecution against him.

Paul asked God three times to use some heavenly tweezers and remove it. He probably believed this satanic messenger couldn’t possibly be permitted by God and that he would receive immediate relief. After asking three times, Paul had to wonder if the Lord heard his request. God did answer him, but differently than Paul had asked. Instead of removing the thorn, the Lord gave him thicker skin to endure it. He told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

God’s power actually becomes GREATER in our lives when we become weaker. When we surrender ourselves to God, the Lord is able to fill in the areas of our weakness with His power. As we empty ourselves and completely depend on God’s strength and power, that’s when we become strong with His power. 

God’s power is connected to our dependence on Him. Paul said, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.....for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

NEW BIBLE STUDY:  When is “the Last Day”?

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net  

The Hillbilly Chainsaw

A hillbilly went to a store and bought a chainsaw. A few days later he returned to the store where he had bought it and told the manager, “Gimme my money back. This thang don’t work! It took me three days to cut down jest one tree.” The store manager said, “Let me take a look at it.” He pulled the cord and instantly the chainsaw started up and roared loudly.

 
The frightened hillbilly jumped back and yelled, “What’s that noise!” The hillbilly used his human strength to saw down the tree because he didn’t know about a much greater power inside the chainsaw.
 
Maybe you’re like that hillbilly. You’re trying to make changes in your life using your own strength. You’re exhausted and living in defeat because you don’t know that the Lord can strengthen you. “The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people” (Ps. 68:35).

God's power is an infusion of strength from heaven. Paul wrote, "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (Eph. 6:10). This verse suggest that we're probably already living life in our own strength, and we need to realize God's strength is available. We need His strength and power to get through life's difficulties. 

David was at the lowest point in his life when "he strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Sam. 30:6). After Samson lost his strength, he called out to the Lord and said, "O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time" (Judges 18:28). Jesus was emotionally drained in the Garden of Gethsemane when "an angel from heaven to Him, strengthening Him" (Luke 22:43).

Don't go through life like that hillbilly, trying to cut down trees in your own strength when God can give you power. Ask God to give you His strength. 

 

BIBLE STUDY: Do the Gospels Contradict Each Other?
 
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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net