RUSSELL SANDERS
7-31-2020
OUR LORD’S PRAYER – JOHN 17
LESSON 23 – VS. 24
Jesus prays (verse 24),
“Father, I will they also, whom Thou has given me, be with me where I am (heaven), that they may behold
(see)
my glory which Thou hast given Me, for Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world
(earth)
.”
He said,
“I will…”
. The “will” is where one makes a decision and chooses to act upon it.
“…that they…be with me…”
. He is soon to return to heaven. He declares to Father that those whom the Father has given Him will join Him there when their time comes. They will see Him in all His splendor and glory. It is the same glory He had
“…before the foundation of the world.”
In fact, it was by His spoken word that they very foundation of the world was formed. (John 1:1-5.) He left that glory to come to earth as a man. While He did show forth glory here (John 1:14), it was not in the same measure as His glory in heaven. He desires that we shall see that fullness of His glory. That is why He said (John 14:2-3, MEV),
“In my Father’s house are many dwelling places…I am going to prepare a place for you…that where I am, you may be also.”
The KJV reads “mansion,” but the original Greek word is “mone” which means “a staying,” a place to stay like a residence, an abode, or a dwelling place. Some people have taken the KJV to mean that we will each have our own mansion such as we mean “mansion” in our normal understanding of that word. What Jesus really said is that “I go to make room for you (in heaven, His Father’s “house”) so that you can be with Him there in all His glory.
This is a promise sure and true. However, heaven will only be our temporary home because we who are true and faithful to Him to the very end shall rule and reign with Him on the new earth and from the New Jerusalem.
Adam was created for dominion (rulership) on earth, not in heaven. We “sons of Adam” shall rule with Jesus on the new earth. We remain in heaven with Him until He returns (brings us along) to rule the earth as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16), and we shall reign as priestly kings with Him.
He has a glorious future planned for us.
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