The only mention of living places in heaven in Scripture is John 14:2: “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” But eyewitnesses have observed a lot more on this issue.
One person said that there are mansions, apartments, and condominiums because your home will be just exactly what is best for you, and some people will prefer something less than a mansion. But some people said that even the smallest mansion is superior to the White House.
Here are paraphrases from my book about what different people said about the mansions:
On his way to the throne of God, Richard Sigmund saw an avenue just off the street he was walking on. On it there were mansions beyond comparison with any on Earth. He was told that they were for missionaries. Because they had given everything to the Lord, God rewarded them with everything they didn’t receive here on Earth.
The angel with him took him to one house on the street he was on. It was a mansion carved out of a single, giant pearl. According to Richard the house seemed to be two hundred fifty to three hundred feet across and one hundred feet tall. Angels had formed the furniture inside, including the chandelier, by carving the pearl into shape. The chandelier even glowed from within. This house was for a woman named Pearl, who had been a missionary known for giving to the poor, but she had died of starvation. This was her reward for a pure heart.
I don’t know if you can expect an elaborate mansion if you haven’t given of yourself as missionaries have, but your residence will be fabulous in any case. Some of the mansions had windows, but some did not. Since there are no storms or thieves in heaven, there is no need for locked or closed doors. Anyone is perfectly welcome to enter your house, whether you are there or not, but Richard doesn’t believe anyone enters someone else’s home when the resident is not there.
The houses Rebecca Springer approached and passed seemed wondrously beautiful and were built of the finest marbles with broad verandas encircling them. They had roofs or domes supported by different kinds of columns, some massive, some delicate.
There were winding steps that led down to pearl and golden walks. She had never seen any style of architecture like these. There were flowers and vines growing everywhere, and they were luxurious surpassing in beauty even those of her brightest dreams. She saw happy faces looking out from these houses, and happy voices rang out through the clear air.
She explored a beautiful large reception hall, with an inlaid floor, marble columns, and a low broad stairway. In another room, there were gorgeous, long-stemmed roses of every variety and color strewn over the walls and floor. She attempted to take some of the roses and found they were firmly attached to either the floor or the wall.
Jesus showed Dawn Cypret numerous mansions on rolling hilltops. Some were big, some were not, but all were beautiful, different, and unique. They were each created for a specific person to reflect that person’s taste, personality, and desire. She thought they were all spectacular, and Jesus replied that He will create only the best for each person.
Matthew Payne has seen his place in heaven over several visits there. He said our homes in heaven reflect what we value: simple house, forest house, tree house, farmhouse, mansion, etc. He never was interested in a large house, but his mansion in heaven does reflect all the things that had been his dreams and hopes. The entrance to his mansion is through two pillars through two open doors. To the right is a commercial kitchen. It has benches around the side and is full of equipment. Past the kitchen is what could be called a family room. Two of the walls have tapestries. One of them is a tapestry of Mary Magdalene washing Jesus’ feet with her tears. He said when you get close to the tapestry it becomes a portal into Mary’s house, which is located somewhere else in heaven. When you walk into the tapestry, you end up in Mary’s house.
Dr. Gary Wood got to see the mansion that was being prepared for him. There were three buckets of paints sitting in it. His friend John put a finger in one bucket and flung the paint against the wall. When the paint hit the walls, flowers appeared. So Gary took the bucket and flung the whole thing at the walls. Not only did a beautiful scene with flowers appear everywhere, but also the sweetest floral aromas he had ever smelled filled the room.
He saw other mansions, which had furniture and art on the walls. Some had pets. Anything you would want in a suburban home was there. No two mansions were alike; each is prepared specifically for the person who will live there.
The mansions where we will live in heaven are created especially for the person who will live there. They include details and splendor far beyond what we would expect as gifts of the Father’s love. They will incorporate our deepest desires, even things we longed for but never had on Earth. They will be equipped to enable us to continue using the gifts God gave us and we used on Earth. The mansions of missionaries who gave up everything to serve the Lord are the most fabulous. Some will be for one person, some for couples, some for whole families, including the spiritual families missionaries led to the Lord.