If you want to ask a question

People can convert right up to the moment they die.
Of course, people dont always know when they will die.
Quite a number of people dont convert until they are quite near death, and realise their end of life may be soon- my dad was one such person.

Heaven is never going to say it cannot take anymore people.

Do not know, absent. I only know what I do about Jehovah's Witnesses because I had one working for me over 20 years ago. My ex daughter in law's mother is one, but we never talked religion.

Haven't all the islands already been allocated so converting now would be too late?

Ooh er, perhaps a step too far.

I will settle for a mansion. Better behave myself from now on

Ah, but you have to become a Jehovah's Witness first, rose, to qualify for your island.

Djen A desert island all to myself?

Bliss for a week or so (with plenty of food and wine that is ...)

'And in God's house for evermore. My dwelling-place shall be.'

but why couldn't Jesus just say what he meant instead of being so mysterious and obscure?
ana We can't be sure what he said, as it wasn't written down contemporaneously.

Sounds like some of the families that unfortunately some of the GN's have to love with. Dear oh dear

I am still puzzled by the idea that Christianity is a peaceful religion.

"Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division. From now on a family of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. Fathers will be against their sons, and sons against their fathers; mothers will be against their daughters and daughters against their mothers; mothers-in-law will be against their daughters-in-law, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law."

The Gospel According to Matthew says much the same thing. (The above was Luke.)

This is all a bit odd!?

He is also reputed to have come here with his uncle Joseph of Arimathea.

'And did those feet in ancient time?'

Although there are other religious historians who would say this was Jesus' son also called Jesus rosequartz.

Don't Jehovah's Witnesses believe that every true witness has his/her own island when Armageddon comes? That must be even lonelier than the mansion, particularly if you are the only person on the island of Australia, or Greenland.

Ana - I agree about mysterious and obscure - it does seem a bit unnecessary.

I think that the camel going through the eye of the needle also suffers in translation. In its original I think it reads "rope", not camel.

I didn't really think there were millions of mansions floating around somewhere 'up there', but was (and still am) rather puzzled as to the meaning of the quote.

I think I see what Craig Keener's getting at, but why couldn't Jesus just say what he meant instead of being so mysterious and obscure?

Thanks, Elegran.

I posted a link to a commentary which tried to explain the mansions. www.craigkeener.com/tag/in-my-fathers-house-are-many-mansions/

“mansions” comes from the Latin translation–it is not in the original Greek text - translating from one language to another can introduce meanings that were not there to start with. The Greek word seems to have meant "dwelling-places" Perhaps the original meant something like "God can dwell in many people and places" - not just in one narrow interpretation. Actual physical mansions don't seem likely.

Craig Keener says -

"In the context of John’s entire Gospel, there is no reason to assume that the “Father’s house” refers to heaven, though it might be an allusion to the Temple (John 2:16) or to the Father’s household (John 8:35; and we are His new temple and His household). More helpfully, Jesus goes on to explain the “dwelling-places”* (NIV: “rooms”) explicitly in the following context. The Greek word for “dwelling-place” used in 14:2 occurs in only one other verse in the New Testament—in this very context, in 14:23, part of Jesus’ continuing explanation of 14:2-4. “The one who loves Me will obey Me, and My Father will love that one and we will come make our ‘dwelling-place’ with that person” (14:23). The related verb appears throughout John 15:1-10: “Dwell [abide]” in Christ, and let Christ “dwell” in you.

Will there be a mansion tax .....

I can't stop thinking about the mansion question now...

He is also reputed to have come here with his uncle Joseph of Arimathea.

'And did those feet
in ancient time?'

I recall reading something about Jesus going to India now, Gracesgran.

I still don't know why spirits in the afterlife would need mansions with rooms - surely spirits can pass through walls?

I don't understand your answer Lilygran.

Absent some of those who study these things believe that, during the years that are not reported in bible, from when Jesus was about 12 to about 30, he may have spent time in India. In which case the knowledge available (Buddhism started in 6th Century BC) may well have been something he would have studied ... or not

I don't think you'll have any trouble getting through the eye of the needle.

soontobe I think I love you.

That is what I did think Ana. Until this thread! <giggles>
Doesnt seem quite right now does it?!

The ball started rolling with a talking snake! The woman listened to this snake and ate what was forbidden. She then somehow convinced her partner to join her in this act. Both were perfect but their combined actions brings into question their intelligence; she believing a talking snake, and he not questioning either situation-duh! When confronted by their God, she blamed the snake for her wrongdoing. He blamed his God for giving him the woman who was too stupid to realise that snakes don't speak! They produce 2 sons. The next recorded sin was murder. The most heinous crime one human being can commit against another. And they say humans have gone downhill since! Poor humanity with such a bad beginning.