T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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JUNE 24, 1923 THE PROMISE OF THE LORD’S RETURN— John 14:1-14
aration. The inheritance is reserved in heaven (1 Pet. 1:4-7). “ T o a n inheritance u n d e f l l e d , a n d t h a t fadeth I n h eav en fo r y o u , W h o ar e ke pt b y th e p o w er through fa it h un to sa lv a ti o n r b e revealed in the l a s t tim e.” The idea of p reparation suggests a place n o t yet in existence. It suggests, also, a period of tim e for such prepara tion. We believe th e tim e will ex tend un til th e new heaven and the new earth. The mansions are many,— th e ir de sign and number determ ined. Our Lord is an architect. Everything is planned w ith most m inute exactness, and everything must be of the latest, suitably and completely furnished. The stations and places bestowed upon believers will be according to th e ir fitness. He is now testing and qualifying us for them . (1 Cor. 15:41) “ T h e r e i s o n e g lo r y o f th e s a n oth er g lo r y o f th e m o o n , a n d g lo r y o f th e st ar s; fo r o n e star fr o m a n oth er star i n g lor y. ” (3 ) THE PERSONAL RETURN, “ If I go, I will come again” v. 3. Let us keep in m ind th e scene,— sol emn, sacred. Jesus is giving them a farewell message— His p arting words— designed to com fort them . He does no t refer to the coming of th e Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is not Jesus, a d th e Holy Spirit does not receive us, hu t we receive th e Holy Spirit. He is not referring to the destruc tion of Jerusalem . There would be no com fort in th at. He is not referring to death,— th ere would be no solace or satisfaction in contemplating death. The coming must correspond to the going. They were to see Him go, and they were to see Him retu rn . There was a purpose in His going, and a pur pose in His coming again. (4 ) THE PERCEPTIBLE RE- i n co rr u p tib n o t a served
Golden Text: “And If I go and pre p are a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself” (John 14 :3 ). Outline: (1) The Prom ised Home. (2) The P reparing of th e Home. (3) The Personal R etu rn of Lord. the (4) The Perceptible R etu rn of Lord. the (5) The P artnersh ip in th e Fu tu re. (6) The Preciousness of th is T ruth. (1) THE PROMISED HOME, "In my F a th e r’s house are many mansions.” v. 2. There are many unscriptural Ideas of heaven. Jesus tak es th e thoughts of His disciples off from th e ir present sorrow because of th e coming separa tion and fixes 'them upon the future. He is going to th e F ath er. The word “ F a th e r” a t once suggests a home, and “ home” suggests a house. “The F a th e r’s house” was not a new phrase; it was fam iliar to th e Jews. He had called the temple “My F a th e r’s house.” The temple was inseparably connected w ith the though t of th e king dom, for th e center of th e kingdom was the house of God (Luke 22:29, 30).
« A n d I a p p oi n t u n to you a ki n g d o m a a m y Fa ther ha th ap p o in te d un to m e . T h a t yo ma y e at a n d d r i n k at m y tabl e i n m y ki n gd om , a n d s it o n th ron es jud g in g th e t w e lv e tribes o l Is ra el .” (Matt. 19:28) “ A n d Je su s sa id un to th em , Verily I sa y un to you , T h at y e wh ich have f o l lowed m e , iu th e regeneration wh en th e S o n of m a n shall s i t in the th ro n e o f His glory, ye also sh a ll s i t u p o n t w e lv e th ro n es, judg ing th e t w e lv e tr ib es of Israel.” The oriental figure of a kingdom was a house (Heh. 3 :1 -6 ). (2 ) THE PREPARED HOUSE, “ I
go to prepare a place for you” v. 2. The kingdom is in process of prep
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