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You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Theology > Christianity--Church History > Ch 3 "What does the Bible Really Teach"
Expert: Brenda Martin - 10/27/2009
Question
Mrs. Martin,
A born-again asked you about material that would help them read the Bible. You suggested, “What does the Bible Teach”.
A woman came to my home asking if I was interested in studying the Bible. We chatted a while and turns out she was raised a Christian, I don’t recall the denomination, but that her new religion had answers to all her questions. She gave me a book titled, “What does the Bible Really Teach?” (From your description of the chapters, they sound like the same book.) She encouraged me to ask questions and suggested I read the Bible every day, that the book was only an aid.
The following week she introduced me to another couple and said they could better answer my questions. They were older and more experienced. I must say I appreciated their candor. When I asked questions they did not know the answer to they simply said they did not know and would research it. As time went on I had, in varying combinations, 8 different witnesses. Our schedules changed and we haven’t seen them since. We were just starting chapter 3, which taught on God’s purpose for the Earth. That was a year ago. In the mean time I’ve finished the book and my Bible. You can imagine my delight when I found this website recently that has experts to answer questions about the Bible and what it teaches… and even more so to find someone who is familiar with the book I’ve read!
“What Does the Bible Really Teach?”
Chapter 3: ‘What is God’s purpose for the Earth’
Sub-heading: ‘What is God’s purpose for mankind?’
Page 27
“So it was God’s purpose that humans have children, extend the boundaries of that garden home earth wide, and take care of the animals.”
Adam and Eve were commanded to…
Be fruitful
Multiply
Fill the earth and subdue it
Rule over the fish, birds, and creatures
Question
Hasn’t that command or “purpose” been fulfilled?
The Bible doesn’t say Adam and Ever were commanded to “extend the boundaries of that garden earth wide”.
Mans food was “every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the earth, (not just the garden) and every tree which has fruit yielding seed” (Gen 1:29).
Making the assumption that God intended for Adam and Eve to extend the garden beyond the boundaries that He Himself set (Gen 2:8) would have caused it to encroach upon the other lands that existed at that time, Havilah (Gen 2:11), Cush (Gen 2:13), Assyria (Gen 2:14) and Eden, which the Garden was only a portion of (Gen 2:8).
Question
Where Does the Bible Teach that it was God’s purpose that man extend His garden earth wide?
Page 27
“He did not create [the earth] simply for nothing”, but ”founded it even to be inhabited” Is 45:18
Question
Since its creation, has the world ever been uninhabited?
Pages 27, 28
“How long did He want them to live here? Ps 37:29; Rev 21:3,4
The translation of the Bible I have says ‘land’ not ‘earth’. After reading the Psalm, it is apparent that David wrote from the perspective of his personal observation.
Question
Doesn’t translating that word to mean “earth” (suggesting the entire planet) and not the “land” (specifically Israel, where David lived), effectively take the Psalm out of the scope of David’s personal observation?
Question
By doing so, doesn’t that take it out of the context of the rest of the Psalm?
Regarding what David believed about the “earth”, (not the land) he said;
“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the EARTH: and the HEAVENS [are] the work of thy hands. They SHALL PERISH, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:” (Psalm 102:25, 26)
“For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.” (1Ch 29:15)
Since David was inspired by God’s Spirit to write that the earth would “perish” (Ps 102:25), and testified that we are only temporary residents on the earth (1 Chron. 29:15). I cannot assume that in Psalm 37 David meant the duration of the ‘righteous dwelling in the land’ would be outside that context and contrary to what he believed and what he was inspired to write.
Question
Since God is not a God of confusion, shouldn’t the context of the Psalm be consistent not only within itself, but also with the rest of the Bible (especially when they come from the same source, in this case, King David)?
The Bible confirms by the testimony of other witnesses that the earth will
“Perish” Ps 102:25
“Wear out” Ps 102:26, Is 51:6
“Pass away” Mt 5:18, 24:35; Mk 13:31; Lk 21:33; 2 Peter 3:10
“Burn” 2 Peter 3:10
“be destroyed” 2 Peter 3:10,11,12
“melt” 2 Peter 3:12
Be “not found” Rev 20:11
The Bible says the Lord will ‘descend on Edom for judgment’. Edom’s “streams will be turned to pitch, its soil to brimstone, its land will become burning pitch. It will not be quenched night or day; its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation it will be desolate; none will pass through it forever and ever” (Is 34:5-10) These conditions have not existed in Edom yet and will not until the time Michael stands up in the ‘time of distress’ (Dan 11:41-12:1)
Question
If “forever” in Psalm 37:29 cannot be understood to mean...
“The land of Israel will never lack righteous people living in it.” (Unlike the fate of Edom; ‘None will pass through it.’),
Then doesn’t the teaching of the book “What does the Bible Really Teach?” indicate that the “earth wide cultivated garden” must coexist with the “forever” burning country of Edom?
David is not the only faithful follower of God of the pre-Christian era who knew our ‘sojourning’ here on earth is ‘temporary’.
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13-16)
The writer of Hebrews lists many of them (Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Samuel and the other prophets etc…) and goes on to say that there is not enough time to list everyone. (Heb 11:4-40)
Every author God inspired to write the Hebrew Scriptures, Moses, and the other prophets, ‘confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth, looking for a heavenly home’,
Question
Wouldn’t it have been deception on their part to teach us we should want to live on earth forever when they themselves, inspired by the Holy Spirit, were “persuaded, embraced, and confessed that we are only sojourners on the earth”“declaring plainly that they desired a heavenly” home?
Question
Shouldn’t I be persuaded, embrace, and confess what they did, that I’m a stranger and pilgrim on the earth?
Question
Shouldn’t my desire be exactly what they plainly declared was their desire, a heavenly home?
Question
Granted, all of these faithful followers of God lived before the Christian era, but Isn’t the heavenly city God prepared for them also available to us?
“For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Adam was formed on the 6th day of the world. He walked in the garden God planted in Eden.
Question
What is it that Adam NEVER saw, heard, or imagined in his heart that God has prepared for those who ‘wait for / Love’ Him?
Page 32 “The bible reveals that the time is near when God will eliminate the wicked world during the war of Armageddon.”
Question
Is the battle described in the 14th chapter of Zechariah the battle of Armageddon?
There will still be people who rebel against God AFTER that battle (Zec 14:17-19)
Question
When will the events that Zephaniah spoke of take place?
“I will utterly consume all [things] from off the earth, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the earth, saith the LORD. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell on the earth.” (Zph 1:2,3,18)
This does not look like a very enjoyable time for those who live on the earth.
Question
Where are the righteous God fearing people when the LORD makes a “speedy riddance of all them that dwell on the earth”?
Question
Where does your religion teach that you will be when Zephaniah’s prophecy comes true?
Sub-heading: A New World is at Hand!
Page 33 “The Bible assures us: ‘There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to [God’s] promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.’ (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17)
Question
When the events of 2 Pet 3:10-13 occur, will the effects of the curse (Gen 3:14-19) be removed and the world returned to a pre-sin state?
Question
When the events of Is 65:17-25 occur, will the effects of the curse (Gen 3:14-19) be removed and the world returned to a pre-sin state?
Question
Do the events of 2 Pet 3:10-13 and Is 65:17-25 occur before and/or after the event of Zeph 1:1-18?
Page 33 “Sometimes when the Bible speaks of ‘the earth,’ it means the people who live on the earth.” (Gen 11:1)
But most of the time it means the created planet, so be careful to read the context and not confuse the two. When ‘the earth’ is used in conjunction with ‘the heavens’, in every instance it refers to the ‘created’ planet. (A Bible concordance is very useful for finding this out.) So ‘new heaven and earth’ means exactly what it says, ‘new heaven and earth’. There is not one instance in scripture where the phrase “heaven and earth” means ‘society’ or ‘people on the earth’
Question
Shouldn’t a person who is really seeking to know the Truth about God not search the Bible hoping to find a text that he can construe as fitting what he already believes?
Page 33 “Wickedness, warfare, crime, and violence will be gone.” (Ps 72:7)
While He still has ‘enemies’ (Ps 72:9) who rebel against Him (Zec 14:17-19)
Page 34 “The Lord’s worshipers will live in security.” (Mic 4:4)
While others still ‘walk in the name of their gods’ (Mic 4:5)”
Page 34 “Food shortages will not exist.” (Ps 72:16)
While the food of His enemies will be dust (Ps 72:9) the same food as the cursed serpent (Gen 3:14)
Page 34 “The whole earth will become a paradise.” (Is 65:21-24)
While Edom burns (Is 34:9,10) and the corpses of transgressors burn (Is 66:24)
Page 34 “There will be peace between humans and animals.” (Is 65:25)
While animals are still being killed in sacrifice (Is 56:7)
Page 36 “Sickness will vanish.” (Is 35:5,6)
While people still die (Is 65:20)
Page 36 “Dead loved ones will be restored to life with the prospect of never dying.”
While the rest of the dead do not come to life until the 1000 years are completed (Rev 20:5)
After reading the above references in my Bible I find they are not misleading or hard to understand. Neither are they allegorical, metaphorical, parable, or riddle – the text is not ambiguous, or vague – it is very clear, God still has enemies who rebel against Him, they walk in the name of their gods and their food will be dust, animals will be killed for sacrifice, people will die, Edom will burn, and the corpses of transgressors will burn.
Because people are still sinning and dieing in these verses, these events obviously occur…
before ‘the end of sin’ (Daniel 9:24),
before ‘Death and Hades’ are emptied and ‘hurled into the lake of fire’ (Revelation 20:13, 14) and
before the time of ‘no more tears, mourning, dearth’ (Revelation 21:4).
The curse of (Gen 3:14-19) then, has not been alleviated. The earth has not been restored to a pre-sin state.
Question
Since they don’t occur before Rev 20:13, 14 or Rev 21:4, do they occur BEFORE or DURING Rev 20:4, the 1000-year earthly reign of Messiah?
Page 36 “It was to the coming Paradise on earth that Jesus pointed when He promised the evildoer who died along side Him: ‘You will be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43)
Jesus did NOT say the malefactor on the cross would be with Him on earth.
“Paradise”, in Jesus’ context, cannot be understood to be an adjective describing the condition of earth, because it is only mentioned two other times in Scripture, 2 Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7 and both times it is the proper noun of a specific place. (A Bible concordance was very helpful here too.)
1. The over comer will be allowed to “eat of the Tree of Life which is in the Paradise of God.” (Rev 2:7)
The Tree of Life grows on the banks of the River of the Water of Life that flows from God’s Throne (Rev 22:1-3). Unlike God, who is omnipresent, God’s throne is not omnipresent. It is located in only one place – Heaven.
2. Paul was “caught up into Paradise” (2 Cor 12:4)
He was taken off the earth.
By the end of that day, as Jesus promised, He and the thief were in Paradise. They were not ‘on earth’.
Question
Since the only time “Paradise” is mentioned in the Bible it is in Heaven, where does the teaching come from that states that it is on earth?
Alyshia
Answer
Hi Alyshia, you asked--
"1. GOD’S ORIGINAL PURPOSE BEEN FULFILLED?"
Definitely not! --God endowed humans with spiritual qualities that mirrored his own. He gave them talents and abilities that would allow them to enjoy ENDLESS SATISFYING human life on earth. There was nothing evil in God’s human creation.God’s original purpose was for planet Earth to be inhabited by righteous, perfect humans.
If what we see today were “God’s original purpose” then that would mean that by creating Adam, God deliberately set in motion all the wickedness committed in human history. He would be the Source of all the wars, the crime, the immorality, the oppression, the lying, the hypocrisy, the disease. But the Bible clearly says: “You are not a God taking delight in wickedness.” (Ps. 5:4) “Anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates.” (Ps. 11:5) “God . . . cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2) “From oppression and from violence he [the One designated by God as Messianic King] will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious in his eyes.” (Ps. 72:14) “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) “He is a lover of righteousness and justice.”—Ps. 33:5.
So what we have today is definitely not God’s original purpose.
"THEY WOULD HAVE ENCROACHED UPON THE OTHER LANDS THAT EXISTED AT THAT TIME?"
Genesis 3; 22-24 --God went on to say: “now in order that he may not put his hand out and actually take [fruit] also from the tree of life and eat and live to time indefinite,—” 23 With that Jehovah God put him OUT of the garden of Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. 24 And so he drove the man OUT ..”
Clearly God wasnt concerned about that :¬)
2. "WHERE DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT IT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE THAT MAN EXTEND HIS GARDEN EARTH WIDE?"
Genesis 1; 28--God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the EARTH…”
“Subduing the earth” meant more than cultivating or caring for only a small part of it. Adam and Eve and their offspring were to extend Paradise until it covered the whole globe.
3. "SINCE ITS CREATION, HAS THE WORLD EVER BEEN UNINHABITED? ISAIAH 45; 18"
Jehovah purposed this earth to be inhabited by perfect, happy humans, not to be ruined, as greedy men are doing today, & what God intends to do about the “inhabited earth” shortly proves he didn’t intend it JUST to be “inhabited”, as he is going—“. to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”—Rev. 11:17, 18. Cleary just being “inhabited” is not what God purposed.
4. "THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE I HAVE SAYS ‘LAND’ NOT ‘EARTH’"
That interpretation is an unfounded limitation of this inspired promise. Psalm 37 holds before righteous ones the prospect of living forever on our earth.
The above rendering of Psalm 37:29 is from the King James Version. As is true of many other versions, it renders the Hebrew ‘e′rets as “land.” ‘E′rets can refer to a distinct region or to the territory of a nation, such as “the land of Shinar” or “the land of Egypt.”—Genesis 10:10, 11; 21:21; Psalm 78:12; Jeremiah 25:20.
However, there is no Scriptural reason to limit ‘e′rets at Psalm 37:11, 29 to just the land given to the Israelites.
A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (Gesenius, Brown, Driver, and Briggs;) ‘e′rets means: “1. a. earth, WHOLE earth….”
Old Testament Word Studies by William Wilson says of ‘e′rets: “The EARTH in the largest sense…”
Significantly, when Psalm 37:11, 29 was translated into Greek in the Septuagint, the Hebrew ‘e′rets was rendered by the Greek ge, which “denotes earth as arable land or soil.”
Ge is the word that is used in Jesus’ significant prophecy at Matthew 5:5: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” Surely Jesus, in quoting the promise of Psalm 37:11, was not speaking merely of the Promised Land.
These facts prove Jesus was speaking of the entire earth--
His anointed followers will become heavenly king-priests with him to share a rulership over the entire earthly globe. (Revelation 5:10)
Mild-tempered ones gaining everlasting life as humans will help to restore Paradise conditions over the entire earth. (Revelation 21:4; Genesis 1:28)
Thus, all of us can look to the marvellous future fulfillment of the promise: “For the good will inherit the earth, and upon it for ever will dwell.”—Psalm 37:29, Fenton.
5. "DAVID WAS INSPIRED BY GOD’S SPIRIT TO WRITE THAT THE EARTH WOULD “PERISH” (PS 102:25)
The psalmist was not contradicting God’s everlasting purpose for the earth. Rather, he was contrasting God’s eternal existence with the perishability of all the matter that God had created. Without God’s eternal renewing power, the universe—including the solar system that we depend on for stability, light, and energy—would descend into total disorder and ultimate destruction. Thus, if left to itself, our earth would “wear out,” or come to a permanent end.
The context shows that these verses are speaking, not of the destruction of the earth, but of the eternity of God. The context also shows why that vital truth is of comfort to God’s servants.
Jehovah stated elsewhere that they will last forever. (Psalm 119:90; Ecclesiastes 1:4) But they could be destroyed if this was God’s purpose. In contrast, God cannot die.
6. WE ARE ONLY TEMPORARY RESIDENTS ON THE EARTH (1 CHRON. 29:15)
As this scripture is referring to Leviticus 25;23 its meaning--the natural Israelites had a hereditary possession in the land, however Jehovah was the actual owner and could put them in or out of the land as it suited his purpose.
As a youth who had been taught the Mosaic law, David the son of the Judean Jesse knew that Jehovah owns the whole earth. (Ex. 19:5) In later years, when making contributions for the temple to be built at Jerusalem, David prayerfully addressed the Most High in these words: “Who am I and who are my people, that we should retain power to make voluntary offerings like this? For everything is from you, and out of your own hand we have given to you. O Jehovah our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build for you a house for your holy name, from your hand it is, and to you it all belongs.”—1 Chron. 29:14, 16.
7. SHOULDN’T THE CONTEXT OF THE PSALM BE CONSISTENT NOT ONLY WITHIN ITSELF, BUT ALSO WITH THE REST OF THE BIBLE?
Yes it should & that’s why “land” is not the correct interpretation of Psalms 37; 29 :¬)
ISA 51:6
Isaiah was quoting from Psalms 102; 26 so check back to my answer regarding Psalms 102.
The physical creations keep “standing forever” only because God maintains them. (Psalm 148:6) If Jehovah ever stops renewing the physical creations, then “just like a garment they will all of them wear out.” (Psalm 102:26) As a man outlives his clothes, so Jehovah could outlive his creation—if he chose to do so. However, we know from other scriptures that such is not his will. God’s Word assures us that Jehovah has determined that the literal earth and heavens will remain forever.—Psalm 104:5.
MT 5:18
Greater permanence is ascribed to Jehovah God (Ps. 102:25, 26) and to his glorified Son Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:10, 11) than to the physical creation, which is corruptible and could perish. Other scriptures also support this conclusion. At Luke 21:33 for example, Jesus contrasted the stability and eternal truthfulness of his words as compared with the perishable nature of the physical heavens and earth. Not that God purposes to destroy them, but that they are destructible. Likewise Matthew 5:18: “Truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away [or, “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away,” Luke 16:17] than for one smallest letter or one particle of a letter to pass away from the Law by any means and not all things take place.”
MATTHEW 24:35
Many feel that Jesus was here indicating that one day the earth would be destroyed. But would his listeners have got that impression? Hardly. They already knew from their reading of the Hebrew Scriptures that the earth would last forever. (Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:4; Isaiah 45:18) Thus they would realize that Jesus was vividly emphasizing the permanence of his words. If Jesus’ words are even more permanent than heaven and earth—and heaven and earth are eternal—they are permanent indeed! Even if the impossible happened, and heaven and earth did pass away, Jesus’ words would still be there. A striking hyperbole!
MK 13:31
Mark 13:28-31. “With that he spoke an ILLUSTRATION to them: ‘Note the fig tree and all the other trees: When they are already in the bud, by observing it you know for yourselves that now the summer is near. In this way you also, when you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, This generation will by no means pass away until all things occur. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.’”
In the first century, Jehovah was judging the Jewish people. Repentant ones, who came to exercise faith in Jehovah’s merciful provision through Christ, were saved out of that “great tribulation.” True to Jesus’ words, all things prophesied occurred, and then the “heaven and earth” of the Jewish system of things—the entire nation, with its religious leaders and wicked society of people—passed away. Jehovah had executed judgment!—Matthew 24:35
2 PETER 3:10-12
Note that, in the context, at 2 Peter 3:5, 6 (also 2:5, 9), a parallel is drawn with the Flood of Noah’s day, in which wicked human society was destroyed, but Noah and his household, as well as the globe itself, were preserved. Likewise, at 2 Peter 3:7 it says that the ones to be destroyed are “ungodly men.” The view that “the earth” here refers to wicked human society fully agrees with the rest of the Bible. It is that symbolic “earth,” or wicked human society, that is “discovered”; that is, Jehovah will sear away as by fire all disguise, exposing the wickedness of ungodly human society and showing it to be worthy of complete destruction.
REV 20:11
How is it that “the earth and the heaven fled away”? This is the same heaven that departed as a scroll at the opening of the sixth seal—the human ruling powers that are “stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.” (Revelation 6:14; ) The earth is the organized system of things that exists under this rulership. (Revelation 8:7) The destruction of the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, along with those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image, marks the fleeing away of this heaven and earth. (Revelation 19:19-21)
I think that’s enough to read just now I will send the rest shortly.
All the best
Brenda
29th oct
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8. THE BIBLE SAYS THE LORD WILL ‘DESCEND ON EDOM FOR JUDGMENT’. (IS 34:5-10) THESE CONDITIONS HAVE NOT EXISTED IN EDOM YET
Jehovah began to express his righteous vengeance upon the Edomites by means of the king of Babylon in 607 b.c.e. (Jeremiah 25:15-17, 21)
When Babylon’s armies moved against Edom, nothing could save the Edomites! “You will have to be cut off to time indefinite. . . . Your sort of treatment will return upon your own head.”—Obadiah 10, 15; Ezekiel 25:12-14. The divine retribution on the Edomites was never-ending; in time they disappeared as a people. You can still visit the empty ruins in the area where the Edomites used to live, such as the world-famous remains of Petra. But today, there is no nation or people that can be identified as ‘the Edomites.’
(DAN 11:41-12:1)
V.40; 41-- In ancient times, Edom, Moab, and Ammon were situated between the domains of the Egyptian king of the south and the Syrian king of the north. In modern times they represent nations and organizations that the king of the north targeted but was unable to bring under his influence.
In view of the disappearance of the Ammonites early in the Common Era, Daniel’s mention of Ammon in his prophecy of “the time of the end” must apply in a SPIRITUAL SENSE and would logically refer to those who are among the hard-set enemies of the spiritual Israel of God, the Christian congregation.
In view of the disappearance of the Moabites as a people, the inclusion of Moab among nations in “the time of the end” is logically to be regarded in a FIGURATIVE SENSE.
In 1914, Jesus—the heavenly warrior Michael—became King of God’s heavenly Kingdom. (Revelation 11:15; 12:7-9) Since then, he has been standing ‘in behalf of the sons of Daniel’s people.’ Soon, though, he will “stand up” in Jehovah’s name as an invincible Warrior-King, bringing “vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8) All nations of the earth, including the kings of Daniel’s prophecy, will “beat themselves in lamentation.” (Matthew 24:30) With evil thoughts still in their hearts toward ‘Daniel’s people,’ they will perish forever at the hands of ‘Michael, the great prince.’—Revelation 19:11-21.
9. PSALM 37:29 ISRAEL WILL NEVER LACK RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE LIVING IN IT.”
David wrote: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” In saying this he evidently drew upon what should have been the case with regard to the Promised Land in his days and in the following generations. According to God’s covenant with Abraham, the wicked pagans who had lived in the land should be cleared out. (Gen. 15:18-21; 17:8; Deut. 7:22; Josh. 21:43-45) Thus each successive generation of righteous worshipers making up the nation of Israel could have resided on the land, the portion of the earth that God gave to them. (Deut. 30:20) We know, however, that the majority of the Israelites proved unfaithful, and so they did not carry out God’s purpose in that regard. In fact, finally God let the Assyrians and Babylonians conquer and depopulate the land temporarily.
What David wrote in Psalm 37, though, was also a glimmering of the prospect that Christians today can have. David’s words had a broader, large-scale application to the Kingdom rule of the entire earth, this is seen in the fact that at Matthew 5:5 Jesus quoted from Psalm 37. Did Christ say that its fulfillment was all in the past? No, for he projected it into the future, saying that the ‘mild-tempered will inherit the earth.’
10. (HEBREWS 11:13-16) THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH, LOOKING FOR A HEAVENLY HOME.
The sacred Hebrew Scriptures, from Genesis to Malachi, hold out no heavenly hope, and so the Jews who held strictly to these Scriptures had no heavenly hope or desire. But the Hebrew Scriptures do hold out the hope of everlasting life. (Job 14:13-15) To a natural circumcised Jew everlasting life on earth under the Kingdom of the promised Messiah was a normal hope and expectation.
Jehovah’s spirit moved the prophets to write the inspired Hebrew Scriptures. Yet none of those men were engendered thereby to become sons of God or had imparted to them a birth-like entitling to heavenly hope. David had God’s spirit upon him. Yet he did not go to heaven. For eleven centuries later Peter said: “David did not ascend to the heavens.” Both Elijah and Elisha had Jehovah’s spirit, Elisha having a “double portion”; still they did not go to heaven. For 900 years later the one who came down from heaven said: “No man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man.”—Acts 2:34; John 3:13
11. WOULDN’T IT HAVE BEEN DECEPTION ON THEIR PART TO TEACH US WE SHOULD WANT TO LIVE ON EARTH FOREVER WHEN THEY THEMSELVES DECLARED PLAINLY THAT THEY DESIRED A HEAVENLY” HOME?
Yes it would be “deceptive” if that were true, but these ones didn’t desire a HEAVENLY home; but feel free to cite a Hebrew Scripture where it states this.
12. THESE FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF GOD LIVED BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA, BUT ISN’T THE HEAVENLY CITY GOD PREPARED FOR THEM, ALSO AVAILABLE TO US?
Firstly the “heavenly city” was not their hope, it only came into existence with Jesus, but even then it was for a limited number.
(ISAIAH 64:4)
‘Eye Has Not Seen nor Ear Heard’—What?
In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul quoted the book of Isaiah when he wrote: “Just as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, neither have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.’” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Neither Paul’s statement nor the expressions of Isaiah refer to the things Jehovah has prepared for his people in a heavenly inheritance or in a future earthly paradise.
Paul is applying Isaiah’s words to the blessings that were already being enjoyed by Christians in the first century, such as understanding the deeper things of God and receiving spiritual enlightenment from Jehovah. We can understand deep spiritual things only when it is Jehovah’s due time to reveal them—and even then, only if we are spiritual people with a close relationship with Jehovah. Paul’s words apply to those with little or no spirituality. Their eye cannot see, or discern, spiritual truths, and their ear cannot hear, or understand, such things. Knowledge of the things that God has prepared for those who love him does not even enter into the hearts of such men. But to those who are dedicated to God, as Paul was, God has revealed these things through his spirit.—1 Corinthians 2:1-16.
13. IS THE BATTLE DESCRIBED IN THE 14TH CHAPTER OF ZECHARIAH THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON?
Yes-- Zechariah (14:1-3) “a day . . . belonging to Jehovah” when he will gather “all the nations” at the climax of which day; “Jehovah will certainly go forth and war against those nations,” bringing them to their end. The apostle Paul, under inspiration, associated the coming “day of Jehovah” with the presence of Christ. (2Th 2:1, 2) And Peter spoke of it in connection with the establishment of ‘new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness is to dwell.’—2Pe 3:10-13.
14. THERE WILL STILL BE PEOPLE WHO REBEL AGAINST GOD AFTER THAT BATTLE (ZEC 14:17-19)
(Acts 24; 15)tell us that (Good & bad) will be resurrected after Armageddon, from these, some will “rebel”. Under Christ’s millennial kingdom all those resurrected on earth will be taught the one true religion, but not all will conform. For such unblessed individuals this will be like existing in a drought-stricken area, this meaning eventual death.
15. WHEN WILL THE EVENTS THAT ZEPHANIAH SPOKE OF TAKE PLACE? ZEPH 1:2, 3, 18)
Jehovah brought the gross wickedness to an end in the land of Judah. Whom would God use to “finish everything off the surface of the ground”? Since Zephaniah apparently prophesied during the early part of King Josiah’s reign, which began in 659 B.C.E., those prophetic words found a fulfillment in the desolation of Judah and her capital city, Jerusalem, at Babylonian hands in 607 B.C.E. At that time, there was a ‘finishing off’ of wicked ones in Judah.
As he did in the days of Zephaniah, Jehovah will soon bring distress upon “all the inhabitants of the earth,” those who refuse to heed his warning. Nobody can save those who fight against God and his people. Neither silver nor gold could deliver the wrongdoers of Judah, even as hoarded wealth and bribes will provide no protection or escape “in the day of Jehovah’s fury” upon Christendom and the rest of this system of things. In that day of decision, “the whole earth will be devoured” by the fire of God’s zeal as he exterminates the wicked. Because we have faith in God’s prophetic word, we are convinced that we are now deep in “the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4) Jehovah’s day of judgment is near, and he will soon execute vengeance on his enemies. Yet, Zephaniah’s prophecy does hold out the hope of deliverance.
16. THIS DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A VERY ENJOYABLE TIME FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE EARTH.
These events in Zeph. happen AT Armageddon when the wicked are destroyed, not AFTER it, but you’re correct, Armageddon will not be an “enjoyable time” what war is?
17. WHERE ARE THE RIGHTEOUS WHEN THE LORD MAKES A “SPEEDY RIDDANCE OF ALL THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH”?
“All them??” no; the bible only says, “the wicked” are destroyed, not “all”.
Those who obey Jehovah as “the Most High” and “the Almighty One.” take to heart Jehovah’s reassuring words: “A thousand will fall at your very side and ten thousand at your right hand; to you it will not come near. Only with your eyes will you look on and see the retribution itself of the wicked ones. Because you said: ‘Jehovah is my refuge,’ you have made the Most High himself your dwelling.”—Psalm 91:1, 7-9. JW’s do not fear the coming of the “great tribulation.” We have every confidence in divine protection.
18. WHERE DOES YOUR RELIGION TEACH YOU WILL BE WHEN ZEPHANIAH’S PROPHECY COMES TRUE?
Since my religion teaches ONLY the bible, I will tell you where the Bible says the survivors will be—
We have examples in the Bible showing that God acts to get wicked people out of the way in order to benefit righteous ones. (Gen. 6:11, 12) When the world of that time was destroyed, Noah and his family were saved by Jehovah’s hand.—Gen. 6:8, 9; 8:18.
Later, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah became extremely immoral. (Gen. 18:20) These cities were destroyed in order to rid the area of extreme wickedness, that those desiring right morals might have safety and peace.—Gen. 19:1, 12, 13, 24, 25. Lot & his daughters survived.
God’s angel proceeded to slay all of Egypt’s firstborn, & at the same time it passed over the Israelite homes. (Exodus 12:50, 51) Likewise today, many who have obeyed Jehovah’s commandments will rejoice to be eyewitnesses of his vindication at Armageddon.—Exodus 15:1, 2; Revelation 15:3, 4.
“Before there comes upon you the day of Jehovah’s anger, seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.”—Zephaniah 2:2, 3.
In “the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah . . . it must occur that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe.”—Joel 2:31, 32.
“Go, my people, enter into your interior rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for but a moment until the denunciation passes over.”—Isaiah 26:20.
next part shortly :¬)
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30th oct
19."WHEN WILL THE EVENTS OF 2 PET 3:10-13 OCCUR?"
As Christians, we are “awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah.” We look forward to relief when he causes the “destruction of the ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:7, 12) at Armageddon.
The elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be discovered.” (2 Peter 3:10) Under the influence of Satan the Devil, the wicked governmental “heavens” rule over the “earth,” that is, mankind alienated from God. (Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 5:19) These symbolic heavens and earth will not survive the heat of divine anger during Jehovah’s great day. Rather, they will be replaced by “new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.”—2 Peter 3:13.
20. WILL THE EFFECTS OF THE CURSE (GEN 3:14-19) BE REMOVED AND THE WORLD RETURNED TO A PRE-SIN STATE?
The curse pronounced on the ground meant that cultivating it would now become very difficult. The effects of the cursed ground, with its thorns and thistles, were so keenly felt by Adam’s descendants that Noah’s father, Lamech, spoke of “the pain of our hands resulting from the ground which Jehovah has cursed.” (Genesis 5:29)
After the Flood however, Jehovah blessed Noah and his sons, stating His purpose that they fill the earth. (Genesis 9:1) God’s curse on the ground was apparently lifted.—Genesis 13:10.
The curse has been lifted & yes the world will be returned to its “pre- sin state” as “God cannot lie”
21.WHEN THE EVENTS OF IS 65:17-25 OCCUR, WILL THE EFFECTS OF THE CURSE (GEN 3:14-19) BE REMOVED AND THE WORLD RETURNED TO A PRE-SIN STATE?
As I’ve already said the curse has been lifted; Isaiah looked forward to the time when death and mourning would be no more and grief would be replaced by exultation. (Isaiah 25:8; 35:10; 51:11; 65:19) John confirms that these promises have a wonderful fulfillment during the thousand-year Judgment Day. First the great crowd will enjoy the blessings. “The Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne,” continuing to shepherd them, “will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:9, 17) But eventually all those who are resurrected and exercise faith in Jehovah’s provisions will be there with them, enjoying a paradise that is both spiritual and physical.
22.DO THE EVENTS OF 2 PET 3:10-13 AND IS 65:17-25 OCCUR BEFORE AND/OR AFTER THE EVENT OF ZEPH 1:1-18?
Both Peter & Zeph speak of “Jehovah’s day” or Armageddon, so they are both speaking of the same event, & their words will find fulfillment ON that day. Peter’s word concludes with “new heavens & new earth” it is in this setting that Isaiah finds fulfilment, AFTER the war of Armageddon is over & the wicked are destroyed
23.WHEN THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF ‘THE EARTH,’ MOST OF THE TIME IT MEANS THE CREATED PLANET, SO BE CAREFUL TO READ THE CONTEXT AND NOT CONFUSE THE TWO.
That is the advice we give to folk :¬)
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used for earth as a planet is ’e′rets. ’E′rets refers to (1) earth, as opposed to heaven, or sky (Ge 1:2); (2) land, country, territory (Ge 10:10); (3) ground, surface of the ground (Ge 1:26); (4) people of all the globe (Ge 18:25).
The word ’adha•mah′ is translated “ground,” “soil,” or “land.” ’Adha•mah′ refers to (1) ground as tilled, yielding sustenance (Ge 3:23); (2) piece of ground, landed property (Ge 47:18); (3) earth as material substance, soil, dirt (Jer 14:4; 1Sa 4:12); (4) ground as earth’s visible surface (Ge 1:25); (5) land, territory, country (Le 20:24); (6) whole earth, inhabited earth (Ge 12:3). ’Adha•mah′ seems to be related etymologically to the word ’a•dham′, the first man Adam having been made from the dust of the ground.—Ge 2:7.
In the Greek Scriptures, ge denotes earth as arable land or soil. (Mt 13:5, 8) It is used to designate the material from which Adam was made, the earth (1Co 15:47); the earthly globe (Mt 5:18, 35; 6:19); earth as a habitation for human creatures and animals (Lu 21:35; Ac 1:8; 8:33; 10:12; 11:6; 17:26); land, country, territory (Lu 4:25; Joh 3:22); ground (Mt 10:29; Mr 4:26); land, shore, as contrasted with seas or waters. (Joh 21:8, 9, 11; Mr 4:1).Oi•kou•me′ne, translated “world” in the King James Version, denotes “inhabited earth.”—Mt 24:14; Lu 2:1; Ac 17:6; Re 12:9.
In each case of all the above senses in which these words are used, the form of the word in the original language, and more particularly the setting or context, determine which sense is meant.
24.‘NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH’ MEANS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS, ‘NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH’. THERE IS NOT ONE INSTANCE IN SCRIPTURE WHERE THE PHRASE “HEAVEN AND EARTH” MEANS ‘SOCIETY’ OR ‘PEOPLE ON THE EARTH’
The earth is spoken of figuratively in several instances- The apostle Peter compares the literal heavens and earth (2Pe 3:5) with the symbolic heavens and earth (2Pe 3:7). “The heavens” of verse 7 do not mean Jehovah’s own dwelling place, the place of his throne in the heavens. Jehovah’s heavens cannot be shaken. Neither is “the earth” in the same verse the literal planet earth, for Jehovah says that he has established the earth firmly. (Ps 78:69; 119:90) Yet, God says that he will shake both the heavens and the earth (Hag 2:21; Heb 12:26), that the heavens and earth will flee away before him, and that new heavens and a new earth will be established. (2Pe 3:13; Re 20:11; 21:1) It is evident that “heavens” is symbolic and that “earth” here has symbolic reference to a society of people living on the earth, just as at Psalm 96:1.
The same original-language words used for the physical heavens are also applied to the spiritual heavens. In many texts, therefore, the “heavens” stand for God himself and his sovereign position. His throne is in the heavens, that is, in the spirit realm over which he also rules. (Ps 103:19-21; 2Ch 20:6; Mt 23:22; Ac 7:49)
Aside from its reference to the Supreme Sovereign, the term “heavens” can also refer to other ruling powers that are exalted or lifted up above their subject peoples. The very dynasty of Babylonian kings that Nebuchadnezzar represented is described at Isaiah 14:12 as being starlike, a “shining one, son of the dawn.”
The connection of the “heavens” with ruling power aids in understanding the meaning of the expression “new heavens and a new earth” found at Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 and quoted by the apostle Peter at 2 Peter 3:13. Observing such relationship, M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopaedia comments: “ a new heaven and a new earth signify a new government, new kingdom, new people.”
Even as the “earth” can refer to a society of people (Ps 96:1), so, too, “heavens” can symbolize the superior ruling power or government over such “earth.”
Last but not least—The prophecy presenting the promise of “new heavens and a new earth,” given through Isaiah, was one dealing initially with the restoration of Israel from Babylonian exile. Upon the Israelites’ return to their homeland, they entered into a new system of things. Cyrus the Great was used prominently by God in bringing about that restoration. Back in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel served as governor, and Joshua as high priest. In harmony with Jehovah’s purpose, this new governmental arrangement, or “new heavens,” directed and supervised the subject people. (2Ch 36:23; Hag 1:1, 14) Thereby, as verse 18 of Isaiah chapter 65 foretold, Jerusalem became “a cause for joyfulness and her people a cause for exultation.”
25. “WICKEDNESS, WARFARE, CRIME, AND VIOLENCE WILL BE GONE.” (PS 72:7) WHILE HE STILL HAS ‘ENEMIES’ (PS 72:9) WHO REBEL AGAINST HIM (ZECH. 14:17-19)
In Psalm 72 we are assured that the King of the new world will remove all oppressors and bring peace to the poor and needy. He will have dominion from sea to sea and his enemies shall lick the dust in destruction. The prophet Daniel was moved to write that the new world’s King would destroy the organization of Satan, visible and invisible, after which he would take over the affairs of the world and fill the earth with the glory of Jehovah.—Dan. 2:44
Zeph--the ones “left remaining” include the members of the nations who died before God’s final war and for whom there is a Bible-based hope of a resurrection. All these resurrected ones must do something in order for their resurrection to turn out to be one of life and not one of adverse judgment. They must come to the earthly courtyards of Jehovah’s temple and bow down in dedication to God through Jesus Christ. Any resurrected ones who refuse to do this will suffer the same scourge that befalls the present-day nations. (Zechariah 14:18)
I believe the bible when it says “wickedness etc” will be gone in the new earth; perhaps you lack faith in God’s written word? Jesus rule will be 1,000 years long, during which time mankind will be brought back to perfection, during that time the dead will be resurrected & some will not obey Jehovah’s laws, but the bible tells us they “will die as a mere boy though a hundred years old” in other words, their wickedness will not be allowed to flourish, they will be executed swiftly, nothing will disturb the peaceful reign of Jesus Christ.
26. “THE LORD’S WORSHIPERS WILL LIVE IN SECURITY.” (MIC 4:4) WHILE OTHERS STILL ‘WALK IN THE NAME OF THEIR GODS’ (MIC 4:5)”
Correct :¬) that is the situation on the earth at present.—“ JW’s enjoy spiritual peace comparable to the peace enjoyed by Israel under King Solomon. In harmony with this, they have turned their back on war and strife, symbolically beating their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Thus, they enjoy a peaceful brotherhood throughout their international community, no matter what their nationality, language, race, or social background. And they delight in the certainty of Jehovah’s protective watchcare over them. ‘No one makes them tremble.’ Truly, ‘Jehovah himself has given strength indeed to his people. Jehovah himself has blessed his people with peace.’—Psalm 29:11.
TODAY---Every person walks in the name of a god, whether nations or individuals realize it or not, they serve some god, because some persons idolize actors, politicians, sportsmen, even themselves. Why, their god may be their own belly! (Phil. 3:18, 19) Some directly worship Satan the Devil, whereas others serve him unwittingly, for “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) How true are the words recorded by the Hebrew prophet Micah “All the peoples, for their part, will walk each one in the name of its god.”—Mic. 4:5.
Mic. 4:1-4--, reference is made to what would occur “in the final part of the days.”
27. “THE WHOLE EARTH WILL BECOME A PARADISE.” (IS 65:21-24) WHILE EDOM BURNS (IS 34:9,10) AND THE CORPSES OF TRANSGRESSORS BURN (IS 66:24)
Back in the days of Isaiah, Jehovah warned the nation of Edom that they would be punished because of their enmity toward Israel. Was Edom hurled into some mythical hellfire to burn forever? Of course not. Rather, the nation completely disappeared from the world scene as if she had been totally consumed with fire and sulfur. The final result of the punishment was not everlasting torment but “emptiness . . . wasteness . . . nothing.” (Isaiah 34:11, 12) The smoke ‘ascending to time indefinite’ vividly illustrates this. When a house burns down, smoke keeps coming from the ashes for some time after the flames have died down, providing onlookers with evidence that there has been a destructive conflagration. Even today God’s people remember the lesson to be learned from the destruction of Edom. In this way ‘the smoke of her burning’ is still ascending in a symbolic way.
With such a reference to corpses, fire, and worms, is it not true that Isaiah’s thrilling prophecy concludes on a gruesome note? God’s enemies would undoubtedly think so. But to God’s friends, Isaiah’s description of the everlasting destruction of the wicked is most heartening. Jehovah’s people need this assurance that their enemies will never again have the upper hand. Those enemies, who have caused God’s worshipers so much affliction and have brought so much reproach on his name, will be everlastingly destroyed. Then, “distress will not rise up a second time.”—Nahum 1:9.
The new earth WILL be a glorious paradise, with Edom non existent & all the wicked destroyed forever.
28.“THERE WILL BE PEACE BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS.” (IS 65:25) WHILE ANIMALS ARE STILL BEING KILLED IN SACRIFICE (IS 56:7)
ISA 56 is being fulfilled right now-- Haggai 2:7: “‘I will rock all the nations, and the desirable things of all the nations must come in; and I will fill this house with glory,’ Jehovah of armies has said.” Jehovah’s “house” or spiritual temple has been filled with glory by the bringing in of these “desirable things of all the nations,” namely, the members of the “great crowd.” In this way his temple is now becoming, as never previously, “even a house of prayer for all the peoples.” There, in that spiritual “house of prayer,” those of the “great crowd” render sacred service to Jehovah God day and night. (Revelation 7:15)
In the Law code given to Israel sacrificed animals were used on an altar. (Exodus 24:3-8) (Leviticus 4:4-7, 13-18, 22-30) that was what God asked of them back then, but it’s not what he asks of true worshipers today. Today, we use our time, energy, and resources in giving Jehovah “a sacrifice of praise.”—Heb. 13:15.
So no animals sacrifices now or in the future, as they ended with Christ’s death.
Back soon :¬)
Ah finished !!
29.“SICKNESS WILL VANISH.” (IS 35:5,6) WHILE PEOPLE STILL DIE (IS 65:20)
Those blessed with a lasting place in the new earth will not grow old and inevitably die. Isaiah 65:20 assures us & If a person chooses to rebel against God, he will not be allowed to continue living. God will remove him. What if the rebellious sinner is a hundred years old? He will die “as a mere boy” compared to having endless life.—1 Timothy 1:19, 20; 2 Timothy 2:16-19.
No Adamic sickness, old age or death in the new earth, only punishment of death for rebels.
30.“DEAD LOVED ONES WILL BE RESTORED TO LIFE WITH THE PROSPECT OF NEVER DYING.” WHILE THE REST OF THE DEAD DO NOT COME TO LIFE UNTIL THE 1000 YEARS ARE COMPLETED (REV 20:5)
By the end of the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ nobody on earth will be in a dying condition because of Adam’s sin. Truly, in the fullest sense everyone will have come to life. This is what the Bible refers to when it says: “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.”(Revelation 20:5)
The reference here to “the rest of the dead” does not mean that others are resurrected at the end of the 1,000-years, rather, it means that all persons come to life in that they finally reach human perfection. They will be in the same perfect condition as were Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
31. (LUKE 23:43) “PARADISE”, IN JESUS’ CONTEXT, NOT DESCRIBING EARTH, BECAUSE IT IS ONLY MENTIONED TWO OTHER TIMES IN SCRIPTURE
Did Jesus mean that the thief would go to heaven with him? No. The evildoer would not have even entertained that idea. Why not? Because he would probably have been familiar with passages in the Hebrew Scriptures, which existed in his day, such as the first part of Psalm 37:29: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth.” Jesus taught that same truth, declaring: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
The mention of Paradise no doubt brought to that man’s mind the happy state of our first parents, Adam and Eve. When God created them, they were perfect and lived in a gardenlike park that the Creator had designed and planted.
Plus Jesus didn’t go anywhere that “day” except the grave.
The word “paradise” occurs 4 times actually.
32.THE OVER COMER WILL BE ALLOWED TO “EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD.” (REV 2:7) GOD’S THRONE IS IN HEAVEN.
Yes I agree this is referring to heaven; the heavenly gardenlike realm inherited by these “anointed” conquerors. There, “in the paradise of God,” , in the very presence of Jehovah himself, these over-comers who have been granted immortality will continue to live eternally, as symbolized here by their eating of the tree of life.
In harmony with that, Ephesians 1:9-11 explains God’s purpose “to gather all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth.” Hebrews 2:5 refers to “the inhabited earth to come.” Revelation 5:10 mentions those who, as joint heirs with Christ, are to “rule as kings over the earth.”
33.THE TREE OF LIFE GROWS ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE THAT FLOWS FROM GOD’S THRONE (REV 22:1-3).
There is the mention of “trees of life” in a different context, at Revelation 22:1, 2. Here the nations are shown as partaking of the leaves of the trees for healing purposes. They are alongside the river flowing out from the temple-palace of God, in which is his throne. The picture appears after the scene of the establishing of the new heaven and the new earth and the statement that “the tent of God is with mankind.” (Re 21:1-3, 22, 24) Symbolically, then, these would be curative, life-sustaining provisions for humankind, for their eventual everlasting life. The source of such provisions is the royal throne of God and of the Lamb Jesus Christ.
34. PAUL WAS “CAUGHT UP INTO PARADISE” (2 COR 12:4) HE WAS TAKEN OFF THE EARTH.
That passage comes right after verses in which Paul defended his apostleship. Since the Bible does not speak of any other person who had such an experience and since it is Paul who tells us of it, likely Paul had a vision; In this supernatural experience, what “paradise” did he enter?—2 Corinthians 11:5, 23-31.
The context does not suggest that “the third heaven” refers to the atmosphere around our globe, nor to outer space or to any parallel universes. The Bible often uses the number three to represent emphasis, intensity, or added strength. (Ecclesiastes 4:12; Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 26:34, 75; Revelation 4:8) Thus, what Paul saw in vision was elevated or exalted. It was spiritual.
Keep in mind Jesus words—“no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man”. (John 3;13)
35. BY THE END OF THAT DAY, AS JESUS PROMISED, HE AND THE THIEF WERE IN PARADISE. THEY WERE NOT ‘ON EARTH’.
1. The Bible does not agree with the view that Jesus and the evildoer went to heaven on the day that Jesus spoke to him. Jesus had foretold that, after his being killed, he would not be raised up until the third day. (Luke 9:22) During that three-day period he was not in heaven, because following his resurrection he told Mary Magdalene: “I have not yet ascended to the Father.” (John 20:17) It was 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection that his disciples saw him lifted up from the earth and out of their sight as he began his ascent to heaven.—Acts 1:3, 6-11.
2. The evildoer did not meet the requirements to go to heaven even at some later time. He was not “born again”—being neither baptized in water nor begotten by God’s spirit. Holy spirit was not poured out upon Jesus’ disciples until more than 50 days after the evildoer’s death. (John 3:3, 5; Acts 2:1-4) On the day of his death, Jesus had made with those ‘who had stuck with him in his trials’ a covenant for a heavenly kingdom. The evildoer had no such record of faithfulness and was not included.—Luke 22:28-30.
3. According to the Bible, no human, including the apostles, could be accepted for heavenly life until Jesus had been sacrificed, had gone to heaven and opened or “inaugurated” the way into heaven. (Heb. 10:12, 19, 20; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23) Accordingly, it was not until Pentecost of 33 C.E., 10 days after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, that holy spirit was first poured out so that the disciples were “born again,” a prerequisite to going to heaven. (John 3:3, 5; Acts 1:3-9; 2:1-4)
The evildoer impaled beside Christ had died over a month before, so he was not “born again.” Logically he could not have been called to the heavenly kingdom any more than was John the Baptizer, who also died before Christ offered the sacrificial basis for heavenly life.—Matt. 11:11.
36. THE ONLY TIME “PARADISE” IS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE, IT’S IN HEAVEN
Not correct :¬) After the account in Genesis, Bible texts that tell about paradise refer to (1) the garden of Eden itself, or (2) the earth as a whole when it will be transformed in the future to a condition like that of Eden, or (3) flourishing spiritual conditions among God’s servants on earth, or (4) provisions in heaven that remind one of Eden.
Genesis 2:8 states: “Jehovah God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east, and there he put the man [Adam] whom he had formed.” There was an abundance of varied and fascinating plant and animal life. Jehovah blessed the first human pair and said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:28) God’s original purpose for all the earth to be a paradise populated by those who appreciatively obey his laws will not go unfulfilled. (Isa. 45:18; 55:10, 11)
That is why Jesus said: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit THE EARTH.” That is also why he taught his disciples to pray: “Our Father in the heavens let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, ALSO UPON EARTH.” (Matt. 5:5; 6:9, 10)
In harmony with that, Ephesians 1:9-11 explains God’s purpose “to gather all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things ON THE EARTH.”
Hebrews 2:5 refers to “the inhabited EARTH to come.”
Revelation 5:10 mentions those who, as joint heirs with Christ, are to “rule as kings OVER THE EARTH.”
37.WHERE DOES THE TEACHING COME FROM THAT STATES THAT IT IS ON EARTH?
The bible :¬) there are 2 distinct groups of people mentioned in the scriptures, if you just believe in the heavenly hope (as born again do) you are missing out on the whole purpose of having a heavenly hope in the first place. Yes some people go to heaven when they die, but have you read WHY? Do you know WHAT they will do there? The answer to these questions is vital, as they are linked to the earthly hope.
I agree with you;- that Jesus was raised from the dead and that he went to heaven & that other humans would be taken there. —John 14:1-3.
The apostle Paul often told early Christians about that wonderful hope. (Philippians 3:20, 21; Romans 6:5; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2)
Why did Jesus go to heaven? What work does he have to do there? The answers to these questions are important. This is because those who go to heaven will share with Jesus in his work. They go to heaven for that very purpose.
Daniel foretold that the “Son of man” Jesus Christ would be given an indefinitely lasting rulership. (Mark 14:41, 62) Daniel 7:13, 14.
Daniel also tells us that the “son of man” is not to rule alone. “And the kingdom and the rulership . . . were given to the people who are the holy ones of the Supreme One. Their kingdom is an indefinitely lasting kingdom.” (Daniel 7:27)
To his apostles Jesus said “I make a covenant with you,..for a kingdom.” (Luke 22:28, 29)
Later Paul wrote to Timothy about their heavenly hope: “If we go on enduring, we shall also rule together as kings.” (2 Timothy 2:12)
The apostle John wrote of those who will “rule as kings over the earth” along with Jesus Christ.—Revelation 5:9, 10; 20:6.
So those who go to heaven go there to serve as joint rulers with Christ in God’s heavenly government. While Jesus is the main “seed” of promise, God chooses others from among humankind to rule with Jesus in the kingdom. They thus become part of the “seed,” as the Bible says: “If you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.”—Galatians 3:16, 29; James 2:5.
If you believe you are “born again” then you must also accept what the bible says regarding the purpose of this heavenly inheritance.
These “born again” rulers in heaven will make up the “new heavens” of God’s new system. Yet it is clear that if there are to be such righteous rulers over the earth, then there must be those over whom they rule. The Bible refers to these persons as the “new earth.” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4) They will include Job, David and John the Baptizer—all the faithful ones who lived before Christ came to the earth. But there will be many more who will make up the “new earth,” including persons who survive the end of this wicked system of things.
You can’t have one believe without the other :¬)
It’s been a long, long question requiring a long, long answer, so take your time.
All the best
Brenda
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