Having firmly established from the scriptures that the Lord’s house, or the Father’s house in the past has always been located on the earth, let us now proceed to determine its whereabouts in regard to the future.
The prophets have made sample reference to the house of the Lord and have very often associated it with the work of their Messiah, in His second advent. In the second chapter of Isaiah, the prophet foretells its erection and links it closely with the reign of Jesus from Mount Zion. From the events covered in the following verses, it is obvious that we have before us an unquestionable outline of the kingdom age ; “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s House shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills ; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths : for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:2,3) In the language of the prophets mountains depict strong earth powers, while the hills represent lesser ones. Babylon was addressed as a “destroying mountain” by God in Jeremiah 51:24, while the nation of Israel was referred to as the “mountains of Israel.” (Ezek. 6:1-6) An outstanding example of this symbolism can he found in the 2nd chapter of Daniel’s prophecy, where the Kingdom of God is represented, first by a stone cut out of the mountain, (v.34) and finally by a great mountain which assumed gigantic proportions and filled the whole earth. Daniel’s interpretation leaves no room for doubt as to the significance of such symbols, for, in explaining the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar, he declared ;
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (2:44)
In the prophecy before us, Isaiah 2, we have depicted the same series of events. Isaiah’s declaration that the mountain of the Lord’s house is to be established on the tops of the mountains and gain exaltation above any of the hills is merely another way of stating that God shall set up his kingdom on the ruins and remains of those empires in existence at that time. The “mountain of the Lord’s house” is, therefore, a term descriptive of the kingdom of God. The certainty of its being established on the earth is fixed as we consider the profound effect that its presence will have on the peoples of the world. The prophet describes them as joyfully journeying to Jerusalem, to the site of the Kingdom, that they might learn of the ways of God and walk therein. The law, emanating from Mount Zion, is going to force the nations of this globe to do something, which, under normal circumstances, heaven and earth could not prevail upon them to do; and that is to effect a complete world wide disarmament. The prophet continues his outline of this program in verse 4; “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks : nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Later on in the book of Isaiah, allusion is again made to the Father’s house, in such a way as to remove all doubt as to its being identical to the Lord’s kingdom. In the 20th and 21st verses of the 22nd chapter mention is made of Eliakim, who was to be clothed with the prophet’s robe and strengthened with his girdle depicting the righteousness of God and the Spirit which was to rest upon him. The government was to be committed to his hand, and he was to be a father to both the houses of Israel. The name, Eliakim means “God shall set up”, and is prophetically significant of the setting up of His kingdom. In verse 22, Isaiah writes, “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder ; so he shall open, and none shall shut ; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place : and he shall be for a glorious throne to his Father’s house.”
A key, being an instrument by which doors or gates are locked and unlocked, becomes an appropriate symbol of power and authority. The key that is to be laid upon the shoulder of Eliakim (Christ) is the key of David, and brings to mind the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:7, “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true. he that hath The key of David, He that Openeth, and no Man shutteth: And no Man openeth.” Jesus Christ is both the natural and spiritual heir to David’s throne, in whose hands the reins of God’s kingdom are to be entrusted. He it is whose right it is, and to whom God will give “the throne of his father David.” Isaiah, in the prophecy just read (v23) declares that Christ is to be “a glorious throne to His Father’s House”; that is, placing the throne for the one reigning on it, Christ is to be the king ruling in his Father’s house.
Recalling the words of Christ in the 14th chapter of John, it is not difficult to harmonize them with these prophecies. The Lord’s allusion to his Father’s house, in view of the manner in which it is treated in the Old Testament, must refer, at least in part, to the setting up of his kingdom at his return.
The many mansions, of which Christ speaks, are dwelling or abiding places in the kingdom of God. In the 23rd verse of the 14th chapter of John, the same original word, “mone” is rendered, abode, signifying a place of residence. This being granted, the question still remains as to what Jesus meant when he promised his disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you.” Did the Master intend for them to understand that the place he was preparing for them was in heaven ? Again, there is a noticeable absence of the word, heaven in his words. Whatever or where-ever the “place” is, Jesus indicated that his followers would have to await his return, before realizing it.
Let us first consider his reference to “preparing” a place. In what way is Christ preparing for his followers? One merely has to remember the present work that Christ is engaged in to find the answer. Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews teaches that Christ, as the saints’ high priest, makes intercession for them before the throne of God. Without the mediatorial work of God’s Son, access to the Father would be impossible. It is only through Christ that one is privileged to approach the throne of grace. Jesus, in the same chapter in John declares himself to be “the Way, the truth, and the life,” adding that “no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Erring saints may find forgiveness of their sins (without which none can be saved) through their advocate, “Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) The writer to the Hebrews very adequately expresses the urgency of this phase of Christ’s office in Chapter 4, verses 14 to 16; “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Through the priestly work of Jesus a place of permanence and honour is being prepared for his followers ; an eminence beautifully described by the Lord in Revelation 3:12; “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.” A pillar is a permanent and essential part of the building of God, and suitably stands for the immortalized saints as they reign with Christ as kings and priests. (Rev. 5:9-10) The body of believers, in themselves, having been adopted into the household of God are spoken of as the “house of God” (1 Peter 4:17) and Christ’s house. (Heb. 3:6) This group of called out ones, being prospective kings and heirs to the Kingdom of God, and the pillars of the future age form within themselves the kernel of the Kingdom of God. The ones in whose hands the government is to be given make up the house of God in this life. Their position now in “heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1 :3) are but an earnest of what is to be revealed when the mountain of the Lord’s house is established in the tops of the mountains.
What Jesus was actually telling his disciples in the 14th chapter of John was that there are many abiding places in the Father’s house both in this life and in the world to come. His departure to the Father’s presence was a matter of great expediency to them, for it was to be there, at the right hand of God that Christ was to carry on his mediatorial work in making intercession for repentent sinners. In this office, as God’s high priest, Jesus would be in a position to make reconciliation for his people, thus preparing them for places of glory, honour and immortality in his Father’s house.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One