John 14:3

The commentators noted that Jesus spoke of several returns for His own in this Gospel. Sometimes Jesus meant His return to the disciples following His resurrection and before His ascension (John 14:18-20; John 21:1). Other times He meant His coming to them through the Holy Spirit after His ascension and before His bodily return (John 14:23). [Note: R. H. Gundry, "’In my Father’s House are many Monai’ (John 14 2)," Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft 58 (1967):68-72.] Still other times He meant His eschatological return at the end of the inter-advent age. Some interpreters view this return as the Rapture and others believe Jesus was referring to the Second Coming. Another view is that Jesus was really speaking about the believer’s death figuratively. [Note: E.g., R. H. Lightfoot, pp. 275-76.] Many interpreters believe some combination of the above views is most probable. [Note: E.g., Barrett, p. 457; R. H. Strachen, The Fourth Gospel: Its Significance and Environment, p. 280; and Westcott, The Gospel . . . Greek Text . . ., 2:168.]

Since Jesus spoke of returning from heaven to take believers there, the simplest explanation seems to be that He was referring to an eschatological bodily return (cf. Acts 1:11). Though these disciples undoubtedly did not realize it at the time, Jesus was evidently speaking of His return for them at the Rapture rather than His return at the Second Coming.

"John 14:3 is the only verse in the Gospels that is commonly accepted by contemporary pretribulationists and posttribulationists alike as a reference to the rapture." [Note: Wayne A. Brindle, "Biblical Evidence for the Imminence of the Rapture," Bibliotheca Sacra 158:630 (April-June 2001):139.]

Other Scripture clarifies that when Jesus returns at the Rapture it will be to call His own to heaven immediately (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). John 14:1-3 is one of three key New Testament passages that deal with the Rapture, the others being 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In contrast, when Jesus returns at the Second Coming it will be to remain on the earth and reign for 1,000 years (Revelation 19:11 to Revelation 20:15).

". . . it is important to note that Jesus did not say that the purpose of this future coming to receive believers is so that He can be where they are-on the earth. Instead, He said that the purpose is so that they can be where He is-in heaven." [Note: Renald E. Showers, Maranatha: Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the Rapture of the Church, p. 158. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:17. His entire eighth chapter, pp. 154-75, deals with this passage and various interpretations of it.]

". . . here in John xiv the Lord gives a new and unique revelation; He speaks of something which no prophet had promised, or even could promise. Where is it written that this Messiah would come and instead of gathering His saints into an earthly Jerusalem, would take them to the Father’s house, to the very place where He is? It is something new. . . . He speaks then of a coming which is not for the deliverance of the Jewish remnant, not of a coming to establish His kingdom over the earth, not of a coming to judge the nations, but a coming which concerns only His own." [Note: Arno C. Gaebelein, The Gospel of John, p. 268.]

The emphasis in this prediction is on the comfort that reunion with the departed Savior guarantees (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:18). Jesus will personally come for His own, and He will receive them to Himself. They will also be with Him where He has been (cf. John 17:24). Jesus was stressing His personal concern for His disciples’ welfare. His return would be as certain as His departure. The greatest blessing of heaven will be our ceaseless personal fellowship with the Lord Jesus there, not the splendor of the place.