AboutBrenton Hepburn Expertise I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I can answer questions on the reliability of the NWT, the so called mind control problems, so called prophecies, and general practices and history of Jehovah’s Witnesses.....
>>>>WARNING<<<<<< ....Please be aware that there are at least ... 3 .... people here who ARE NOT practicing JWs and, (at other times there have been as many as 5.) These ones will, at times, appear to have an agenda against JWs., and will often give answers that are not correct in regard to JW teachings and practices. If you are after a answer from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, please read some of the answers that the various experts have published before choosing someone. If you want to ask them a question that is fine, but if you want a balancing view after asking one of the NON JWs, ask a JW the same question
Experience I have been a publisher since 1964. When I first went on the internet I found a lot of negative information dealing with Jehovah’s Witnesses covering prophecy, mind control and what many said was a very bad translation of the Bible known as the NWT. It shook my faith. After may hours researching these topics I could see why some felt that way, but, I was also able to explain why there were these misleading views. I can now set matters straight for anyone that has negative information about Jehovah’s Witness to show them that such information is at best misleading and at worst dangerous lies.
Education/Credentials I have been a student of the Bible for many years, am trying to teach myself Biblical Greek.
Was a public tax accountant for many yrars untill SEP 2009 when I gave it up.
Question Absolutely not, and the Bible does not teach that people can be saved apart from being adopted into God's family through the blood of Christ. John 1:12-13 clearly teaches this. The Bible says if the Spirit of Christ is not dwelling in our hearts through Faith, we do not belong to Christ Jesus. If we have not been born into God's Family through the new Birth, and Christ coming to dwell in our hearts through faith, then we are a child of the devil, and God's wrath is abiding on us. Not a place I would want to be.
John 3 tells us about Jesus speaking to a very 'religious' pharisee who no doubt was a very decent living man, yet Christ says he must be Born Again to enter the Kingdom of God [John 3:3]
John 3:36 tells how we are to be Born of God's Spirit. By believing in the Son. The wrath of God remains on those who have not received Jesus, and been Born of His Spirit.
The Bible tells us WE ARE NOT EVEN IN THE FAITH if Christ is not in us. Forget being one of the 144,000. The 144,000 are Jews sealed by God for protection during the Great Tribulation. God goes through all the trouble of even listing the tribes they will come out of. [Revelation 7] The Bible does not say that Christ is indwelling only the 144,000. He is IN whoever is IN THE FAITH.[2 Corinthians 13:5]
But the Bible is clear that it is only those who have received Christ by Faith are Born of His Spirit, and can be assured of eternal life.
Can I ask you a question too Brenton...if Armaggeddon came tommorrow, would you make it through. Do you have assurance of eternal life? The Bible clearly teaches those who are in Christ, and Christ is in them, they can have full assurance of eternal life [1 John 5:11-13]
The Bible also clearly teaches that whoever confesses Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God. [1 John 4:15]
The Spirit comes to indwell the heart of the believer in Christ. The Spirit dwells in our hearts through faith, and we are Born into God's family. It is a wonderful priveledge for the whosoever wills that may come to Christ and trust Him alone for their Salvation. Jesus came to save sinners, and I am chief. He came to save His people from their sins [Matthew 1:21]The Bible says we are Born Again of incorruptible seed in Christ [by the Word of God].[1 Peter 1:24]
This new life in Christ is simply not for only a limited number, but for whosoever believes in Christ [1 John 5:1]
I feel so sad and sorry for JW's who have been denied this wonderful truth. I think that many honest hearted JW's really believe they are serving Jehovah. But actually are coming against Him unknowingly by teaching that the new birth is only for the 144,000, and not the average believer.
Followup To
Question -
Brenton, I went over your answer to John concerning being born again, and I'm sorry, but it has holes in it. There is NOWHERE in Scripture that it says being Born Again is 'optional' for a Christian, or that the new birth is for a select few. Nor does the Bible teach heaven is for a select few. Brenton, you quoted Matthew here:
Mat 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Why not continue with Matthew 5:10-12 about those who are persecuted for Jesus Name sake, and where is their reward? In heaven! Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven...
Let's be fair and not just give partial quotes..read on my friend, their is some real wonderful treasures when you set those 'helps' aside, and just study the Bible on it's own.
1 John 5:1 said anyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is Born of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15 says we are new creatures in Christ [those of us who are Born Again]. Titus 3:5 calls the new birth the "washing of regeneration".
Ephesians 4:24 says we become a "new man" through the new birth [Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:9]
The means of the new birth is open for the "whosoevers" who place their faith in Christ alone for Salvation [John 3:16-17, 1:12-13, 1 John 5:1]
The result of being Born again is to have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith.
2 Corinthians 3:5 says to "examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
According to the Bible if you are not born again, and having Christ's Spirit dwelling in you, you are not even in the faith. Pretty serious stuff.
JW's often speak of putting on the new personality, yet they fail to see in order to do this, one must be Born from above and have the Spirit of God dwelling in them to overcome the world. No wonder so many JW's I have known are living in sin.
I leave you with Romans 8:7-10
"because the carnal mind is ENMITY against God: for it is not subject to the law neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwell IN YOU. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, HE IS NONE OF HIS. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of Righteousness.
All of Romans 8 is excellent.
The new birth is for all Christians, and the teaching it is not will keep souls from everlasting life in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is very serious. Just think of the consequences if you are wrong on this Brenton. Think of the souls at stake.
I will tell you, I had ABSOLUTELY NO VICTORY over sin until the Lord came and dwelt in my heart through faith. I fully understand why now. I had not the Spirit of Christ spoken of in Romans 8 to overcome.
Answer -
Hello Laurie
Thank you for your response. I is nice to see that other people read the various answers that are given here. and also take the time for clarification.
First I want to say that I, and JW’s , agree with what you say. Only persons who have been “born again,� thus becoming God’s sons, can share in the heavenly Kingdom.
Now before I give a more indepth answer, I need some more information from you by way of a couple of questions.
Do you think it impossible for ANYONE not beining born aagin to have have Gods Spirit?
Do you think it impossible for Anyone NOT born again to be saved?
Please note that I emphasised the word ANYONE twice. That is going to be the key to my answer, and I will formulate my answer based on your response to those questions.
I think I know what your answers will be so I want clear precise answeres to those questions.
Brenton
Answer Greetings Laurie,
Thank you for responding, and, your answer is, as I assumed it would be. That is great as it gives me something definite to work with..
This has been a long subject for me to reaserch, I hope I have covered the important points. I have also had problems with formatting as it changes when I post it in from Word. So I hope the formating doesnt get too difficult to read
Now my answer here is not going to be designed to convince you as you are sure of your beliefs. It would appear that no matter what I say, it is unlikely I will convince you, and, no matter what you say you will never convince me. My answer is designed to give an alternative view for anyone that may read this so that they can see both sides of the story and come to their own conclusions. I am not answering you in the order you asked, so a careful reading will uncover the answers to your questions.
To start with I would just like to say that the Bible is like a complex jigsaw. We can take a few pieces that seem to fit together and draw a conclusion as to how they might fit into the overall picture. Quite often we are wrong, especially if we do not see the complete picture. That is how I see this subject. It is easy to take a few texts and assume what they mean. What we have to do is see how they fit into the overall picture in order to come to the correct conclusion.
What was Gods original purpose for the earth? Foe Adam and Eve to subdue it and fill it with their offspring. The only reason why we die is because Adam sinned "Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned" (Romans 5:12 RSV). Just ponder on that text for a moment. Think, if Adam did not sin then he would not have died. That is what God intends for this earth. "so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11 RSV) keep that in mind as we discuss this subject.
First I would like to address the following question from you...
QUOTE
Can I ask you a question too Brenton...if Armaggeddon came tommorrow, would you make it through. Do you have assurance of eternal life? The Bible clearly teaches those who are in Christ, and Christ is in them, they can have full assurance of eternal life [1 John 5:11-13]
END QUOTE
The simple answer to that for a JW is YES. I believe I would make it through. However we are also aware that once saved we are not always saved. We can not sit back and say "Hey I am saved by the grace of God" and then do nothing. Please take note of the following texts to see the reason why.
"Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12 RSV) Paul gives a warning to the Christians in Corinth that it was possible for them to lose out on salvation by falling away from the teachings of Jesus
Paul gives a similar warning to the Hebrews "Å“12 Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:12-13 RSV)
Salvation involves more that just believing. Please note the following "Å“and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who OBEY him," (Hebrews 5:9 RSV. capitals mine) We must obey what Jesus taught. Our obedience is one way to demonstrate that our faith is real "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?" (James 2:14 RSV) A person does not earn salvation by his works. But anyone who has genuine faith will have works to go with it. Works of obedience to the commands of God and Christ, works that demonstrate our faith and love. Without such works, our faith is dead.
Some people take the words of John 3:36 as a text that is used to show that believing in Jesus is what is required for salvation "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him." (John 3:36 RSV). Some associate those words with what Jesus said in verse 3 of the chapter regarding being born again. However the context shows reading through the chapter we se the setting changes. After talking to the Nicodemus about being born again Jesus and his disciples move on to another location "After that Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized." (John 3:22 RSV).
The next verse sets the occasion for what happens next "23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been put in prison. 25 Now a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying." (John 3:23-25 RSV). Here we see that the disciples of Jesus were performing baptisms in one location and John the baptizer was performing baptism in another location, and there was a discussion about purification.. The account ends with verse 36 where John says "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him." (John 3:36 RSV). John baptiam was for the Jews to repent of their sins and become reconciled to God. Johns ministry started before Jesus, and Jon actually baptized Jesus at the start of his ministry. So John was direction his followers to Jesus. "27 John answered, "No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him ……30 He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:27-28,30 RSV). By following the context John 3:36 is not talking about how to be born again, just that any one of Johns disciples that truly want to God's favor must now become a follower of Jesus
144,000
The 144,000, do they refer to natural Jews that are "sealed by God for protection during the Great Tribulation." The indications from the Bible, and the context, tells us that this is not the case. First the context of Revelation "And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel," (Revelation 7:4 RSV)
REVELATION 7:4-8
4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel,
5 twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad,
6 twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manasseh,
7 twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Issachar,
8 twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin.
NUMBERS 1:5-16 (THESES ARE THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL BY WHICH THE LAND WAS DIVIDED UP)
5 And these are the names of the men who shall attend you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;
6 from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;
7 from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;
8 from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;
9 from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;
10 from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
11 from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;
12 from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
13 from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;
14 from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;
15 from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan."
16 These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the leaders of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.
This is not the same order but alphabetical order of the above two lists. Please note verse 10 above. Joseph is mentioned as a tribe but two of his sons are. The third list is the names of the sons of Jacob
REVELATION NUMBERS SONS OF JACOB (GENESIS 49:2-27 IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER NOT BIRTH ORDER)
Asher (v 6) Asher (v 13) Asher
Benjamin (V 8) Benjamin (v 11) Benjamin
Dan (v 12) Dan
Ephraim (v 10)
Gad (V 5) Gad (v 14) Gad
Issachar (V 7) Issachar (V 8) Issachar
Joseph (V 8) Joseph
Judah (V 5) Judah (v 7) Judah
Levi (V 7) Levi
Manasseh (V 6) Manasseh (v 10)
Naphtali (V 6) Naphtali (v 15) Naphtali
Reuben (V 5) Reuben (v 5) Reuben
Simeon (V 7) Simeon (v 6) Simeon
Zebulun (V 8) Zebulun (v 9) Zebulun
The Book of Revelation misses Dan and Ephraim and Numbers misses Joseph and Levi. In Numbers, two sons of Joseph are mentioned Ephraim and Manasseh. Revelation mentions Joseph and one of his sons, Manasseh. The Tribes mentioned in Revelation are different to the 12 tribes that made up the land divisions of natural Israel. And the 12 tribes that made up land divisions of natural Israel are different to the 12 sons of Jacob. Notice that in Revelation that the list was of the Tribes of Israel. Seeing that they do not match is an indicator that they are composed of a different group. Now, also we have to consider that no Jew today can say that they belong to any particular tribe of Israel as all genealogical records were destroyed in 70 c.e. when Roman armies captured Jerusalem and the temple where the records were kept was burned down.
Returning to Revelation the number of 144000 is also mentioned in chapter 14 we read "Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads." (Revelation 14:1 RSV) down in verse 3 we are told that they come from the mankind "3 and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been REDEEMED FROM MANKIND as first fruits for God and the Lamb," (Revelation 14:3-4 RSV capitals mine). This shows that the 144000 are from MANKIND in general and not just limited to natural Jews. Why is that because the natural Jews, as a nation no longer were Gods chosen people. When Jesus was no earth his primary audience were the natural Jews. The as a nation did not believe him even after witnessing the miracles he performed. AT his trial the crowds wanted him executed. No wonder Jesus said as recorded in Matthew 23:37 that they had been abandoned. Acts 15 :14 shows that God had turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name. (For more information see the answers "Being Born Again 3/13/06" ; "Jesus as our Mediator 3/8/06" ; "Jesus Mediator 2/20/06") By turning his attention to the Nations God now had a spiritual nation of Israel "22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12:22-24 RSV)
Please also note the following
"For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical 29 He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God.." (Romans 2:28,29 RSV)
"26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:26-28 RSV)
In John 1:11 we see that the privilege of being in this new heavenly kingdom was first given to the Jews, but they, as a nation, rejected him ....."He came to his own home, and his own people received him not". .... See also Matthew 23:37.... " "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate." .... As a result those that were to be part of the Kingdom were to be taken from all nations and a new covenant was to be given them.
Also note the following "15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God." (Gala. 6:15,16 RSV) The ones chosen are called the Israel of God. Why? Because Jehovah had abandoned the natural Jews as a nation. For many centuries the God of the Jew had been patient with them, pleading with them to return to him. Jesus ministry was to the Jews (except for the Samaritan Woman Jesus ministered only to the Jews) Before His death Jesus said at Matthew 23:37 .... " 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.".... God is now going to chose people from all nations to be his people, his spiritual Jews Rom 9:25 .... "As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ËœYou are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God.".... The prophecy shows that non Israelites ("who were not My people") will be chosen to become Gods people.
The 144000 are those that are sealed under the "new covenant". These are the ones that are born again and are to become sons of God and joint heirs with Christ
At the beginning you make this statement
QUOTE
Absolutely not, and the Bible does not teach that people can be saved apart from being adopted into God's family through the blood of Christ
END QUOTE
This statement is referring to a question I asked you "Born Again 3/19/06"
QUOTE
Do you think it impossible for ANYONE not being born agin to have Gods Spirit?
Do you think it impossible for Anyone NOT born again to be saved?
Please note that I emphasized the word ANYONE twice. That is going to be the key to my answer, and I will formulate my answer based on your response to those questions.
END QUOTE
So, you are definitely saying that NO One can have Gods Spirit with out being born again. Well the Bible seems to disagree with you. remember I emphasized the word "ANYONE".
Moses and some of the elders of Israel had Gods spirit "30 And Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship," (Exodus 35:30-31 RSV)
"17 And I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit which is upon you and put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. (Numbers 11:17 RSV)
"25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more. 26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, forbid them." 29 But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:25-29 RSV)
King David had Gods spirit but he was not born again “ “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." (1 Samuel 16:13 RSV) "Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me." (Psalms 51:11 RSV)
The prophet Ezekiel had Gods spirit "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; it was full of bones." (Ezekiel 37:1 RSV)
The faithful man Job had Gods spirit "as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;" (Job 27:3 RSV) "The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4 RSV)
John the baptiser was filled with Gods Spirit before he was born, before he knew anything about Jesus "for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb." (Luke 1:15 RSV) Jesus indicated that John was not to be part of the Kingdom of heaven "11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11-12 RSV). John although being great in the eyes of God was not as great as any that were to be in the Kingdom of Heaven. John was not part of those chosen for the new convenient and was not born again and did not go to heaven when he died.
King David had Gods spirit was not born again and did not go to heaven when he died either "For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, ˜The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,â" (Acts 2:34 RSV)
In Hebrews chapter 11 we find a nice list of people that were faithful to God from ancient Israel. None of these were born again and none of them were to be part of the "kings and priests" that were joint heirs with Jesus and were to be kings and priests over the earth, "9 And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."(Hebrews 11:39-40 RSV) Paul was writing to those Christians that were to be part of the "Israel of God". These ones had a better promise that all the faithful ancients. Who are the "US" in verse 40. Hebrews 3:1 shows that they are those "who share in a heavenly call." The pre-Christian persons who had faith, then, must have a hope for perfect life somewhere other than in heaven. Jesus refers to those with the "heavenly call" as a little flock ""Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32 RSV)
The people before the time of Jesus were looking to an earthly resurrection. They had no knowledge of a heavenly life. This is born out by what was written by some of them "9 For the wicked shall be cut off; but those who wait for the LORD shall possess the land....11 "for those blessed by the LORD shall possess the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off ....22 But the meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity... 39 The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell upon it for ever." (Psalms 37:9,11, 22, 39 RSV) [ see also "A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4 RSV) and "Thou didst set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be shaken." (Psalms 104:5 RSV)]
Jesus in his sermon on the mount said "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5 RSV) In his sermom Jesus spoke of 2 groups of people, those that will inherit the earth and those that will inherit the kingdom verse 10 and 12 of that chapter and say that. "10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..... 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10 &12 RSV)
In his model prayer Jesus asked .."Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10 RSV) Jesus is here showing that the earth has a special place in Gods arrangement and that Gods will, will be carried out on earth. What God intended for the earth in the beginning has not changed Isaiah tells us "so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11 RSV). The original intention was for man to live here on earth with out dieing. It is only because Adam sinned that we have death "Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned" (Romans 5:12 RSV). In the beginning God never told Adam that if you die you will go to heaven and be with me. The ancient Israelites saw only an earthly restoration of "paradise". After Adam sinned God set in motion a legal recovery of the life Adam lost for us.
AT the time of the death of Jesus was a "Å“wrong doer" that asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus set up his kingdom Jesus replied "3.. "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43 RSV). (See APPENDIX 2) Now that wrongdoer did not go to Paradise to be with Jesus on that very day because Jesus did not ascend to heave until 40 bays after his resurrection. No one had ever ascended to heaven before Jesus "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man." (John 3:13 RSV).
In Revelation 7 after telling us of the 144000 that are to be kings and priests that were taken from the earth (Rev 14:3) a great crowed is mentioned that no man could number. These are the ones that come out of the tribulation to live on the earth and have Jesus and the 144000 rule over them as kings and Priests "and made them to our God kings and priests; and they shall reign over the earth." (Revelation 5:10 Darby) See APPENDIX 1)
SUMMARY
The 144000 are to be kings and priests over the earth
The 14400 are the ones born again and make up the "Israel of God"
Others besides those that are born again received Gods Spirit
Others that are not born again will be saved
The earth was made to stand forever
A great crowed of believers will inherit the earth
There will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous back to the earth "having a hope in God which these themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust." (Acts 24:15 RSV)
APPENDIX 1
Revelation 5:10
Of the 17 English Bibles I regularly use for comparison 14 say on or upon the earth e.g. "Å“and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall REIGN ON earth." (Revelation 5:10 RSV) and 3 say "Å“ And they REIGN OVER the earth." (Revelation 5:10 WEY). The word difference between "on" and "over" can change the meaning of the sentence. So which rendering into English is correct. First we must see what the Greek word is and how it is translated in the Bible. First of all the Greek word is "epi" is a preposition, and basically means on or upon but can have a variety of other renderings as is shown by the way the Authorized Version (AV) and the New American Version (NAS) use it.
The information I have shows that the AV uses it 396 times and renders it ....¦ on 196 times, in 120, upon 159, unto 41, to 41, miscellaneous uses 339
The NAS shows its use as.... about (4), above (2), after (2), against (41), among (2), any (2), around (2), basis (4), because (2), because (2), bedridden (1), before (24), besides (1), beyond (1), certainly (2), chamberlain (1), charge (1), concerning (4), connection (1), embraced (2), extent (2), further (3), inasmuch (1), onto (1), over (57), passenger (1), point (1), time (3), together (7), toward (5), truly (2), under (1), under (1), view (1), within (1).
Lets have a look at the way the RSV and the AV sometimes renders "epi" and why. I have used capitals to highlight the English rendering of "epi"
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set OVER his household, to give them their food at the proper time?" (Matthew 24:45 RSV)
"to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is OVER all be blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 9:5 RSV)
"one God and Father of us all, who is ABOVE all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:6 RSV)
"Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint OVER this business." (Acts 6:3 AV)
In the above do you notice the common theme that ties them together? It is a position of authority that some one had over or above something else. Please note the next text, as "epi" is renderd in both the RSV and the AV as "charge" and in the context shows a position of authority "And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, IN CHARGE of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship" (Acts 8:27 RSV)
In all cases where dominion or authority is exercised it is the normal practice to render "epi" in a way that shows that authority. In all the English Bibles I compared the above texts they all showed a position of authority by their renderings of "epi". Most had "over" some had "above", others had "charge". One interesting rendering of Matthew 24:45 is "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has ENTRUSTED THE CONTROL of his household to give them their rations at the appointed time?" (WEY)
In Revelation 5:10 what is the context. "10 and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall REIGN on earth." (RSV) The word REIGN tells us that the "priests" have been given authority, thus the correct rendering would be "over" would it not?
APPENDIX 2
Luke 23:43
"43.. "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (RSV). The way that verse is written can give the impression that Jesus was with the Evil doer on the day that they died. The NWT puts the comma after the word today . Part of the problem is that there are no punctuation in the old manuscripts that have been used to translate the Bible into English, so all punctuation has been inserted into the tsanslations.
Luke 9:22 tells us Jesus was to be raised on the 3rd day. "The Son of man must ..... be killed, and on the third day be raised." (Luke 9:22 RSV) Obviously he could not have been in his kingdom on the day of his death.
The Bible tells us that Jesus went to hell (the RSV says Hades in the following verses)
"Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Acts 2:27 AV)
"He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption." (Acts 2:31 AV)
Jesus did not tell the evil doer that he would be in the kingdom but in paradise with him. The paradise refers to the original state of the earth as God intended and the state toward which the earth will be restored. (see Rev 21:2,4)
How could Jesus be in heaven and also be with the evil doer in paradise on earth?.
The earth is said to be in Gods presence, right at his feet. "or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King." (Matthew 5:35 RSV) ËœHeaven is my throne, and earth my footstool." (Acts 7:49 RSV) Jesus sits at Gods right hand so it stands to reason that the earth would also be in the presence of Jesus. Being as close as a footstool is being very close is it not?
APPENDIX 3
I do not like copying from JW books but the below is, because at this point I have spent a lot of time on this answer and the below information adds some extra about the earth that I think is important to this discussion
Will God himself destroy the earth by fire?
Does 2 Peter 3:7, 10 (KJ) support that view? “The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition ["destruction," RS] of ungodly men. . . . The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up ["burned (burnt) up," RS, JB; "œwill vanish," TEV; "will be made manifest," NAB; "œwill be laid bare," NE; "will be discovered," NW]. (Note: The Codex Sinaiticus and Vatican MS 1209, both of the 4th century C.E., read "be discovered." Later manuscripts, the 5th-century Codex Alexandrinus and the 16th-century Clementine recension of the Vulgate, read "be burned up.")
Does Revelation 21:1 (KJ) indicate that our planet will be destroyed?
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
To be correct, the explanation of these verses must agree with the context and with the rest of the Bible
If these texts (2 Peter 3:7, 10 and Revelation 21:1) mean that the literal planet Earth is to be consumed by fire, then the literal heavens (the stars and other heavenly bodies) are also to be destroyed by fire. Such a literal view, however, conflicts with the assurance contained in such texts as Matthew 6:10, Psalm 37:29 and 104:5, also Proverbs 2:21, 22. Furthermore, what effect would fire have on the already intensely hot sun and stars? So the term "earth" in the above-quoted texts must be understood in a different sense.
At Genesis 11:1, First Kings 2:1, 2, First Chronicles 16:31, Psalm 96:1, etc., the term "earth" is used in a figurative sense, referring to mankind, to human society. Might that be the case at 2 Peter 3:7, 10 and Revelation 21:1?
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, as is illustrated by the texts cited above. 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. That wicked society of humans is also "the first earth," referred to at Revelation 21:1 (KJ).
Consistently, Jesus' expression at Luke 21:33 ("heaven and earth will pass away, but . . . ") must be understood in the light of the parallel statement at Luke 16:17 ("œit is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than . . . "), both of which simply emphasize the impossibility of the situations presented...�See also Matthew 5:18.
Will the righteous be taken to heaven and then returned to earth after the wicked are destroyed?
Does Revelation 21:2, 3 support that view? It says: "I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them." (Does the fact that God will "reside" with mankind and "be with them" mean that he will become a fleshly Being? That cannot be, because Jehovah told Moses: “No man may see me and yet live.� [Ex. 33:20] Consistently, then, the members of the New Jerusalem will not return to earth as physical beings. In what sense, then, could God "be with" mankind and how would the New Jerusalem "come down out of heaven"? No doubt an indication is found in Genesis 21:1, which says that God "visited" Sarah, blessing her with a son in her old age. Exodus 4:31 tells us that God "visited" Israel by sending Moses as a deliverer. Luke 7:16 says that by means of Jesus' ministry God "visited" his people. [All from KJ and RS] Other translations use the expression God "turned his attention" to his people [NW] or "showed concern" for them [NE]. So Revelation 21:2, 3 must mean that God will "visit," or be with, mankind by means of the heavenly New Jerusalem, through which blessings will come to obedient humans.)
Prov. 2:21, 22, KJ: "The upright shall dwell in the land ["on earth," NE], and the perfect ["lameless men," NE] shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."
(Notice that it does not say the blameless will return to the earth but that they “shall remain in it.")
Has God's original purpose for the earth changed?
Gen. 1:27, 28: "God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God's image he created him; male and female he created them. Further, God blessed them and God 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." (Thus God indicated his purpose to have the earth filled with the offspring of Adam and Eve as caretakers of a global paradise. After God had magnificently designed this earth for human habitation, making it unique among all the planets that man has examined with his telescopes and spaceships, did the Creator simply abandon his purpose, leaving it forever unfulfilled because of Adam's sin?)
Isa. 45:18: "This is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the true God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: ‘I am Jehovah, and there is no one else." (See also Isaiah 55:10, 11.)
If no one is ever going to die in God's New Order, how will all the people fit on earth?
Keep in mind that when God expressed his purpose for the earth he said: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth." (Gen. 1:28) God gave man the ability to procreate, and when His purpose in that regard is fulfilled He can cause procreation to cease on earth.
What kind of people will God favor with endless life on earth?
Zeph. 2:3: "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."
Ps. 37:9, 11: "Those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth. . . . The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."
