Paradise on Earth

[onewithhim]

When I learned that the Bible speaks of a restored Garden of Eden and the restoration of mankind to the perfection and endless life that Adam forfeited, I was thrilled. Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

If God said to you today, "When do you want to die?" would you say "now!!"? I don't think very many people would say that.

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

[marco]

[Replying to post 408 by JehovahsWitness]

JW, we can use paradise in a metaphorical sense, as the holiday agent is doing in your example. The actual meaning is heaven; the metaphorical meaning is a place of splendid beauty and wonderful resources.

If by paradise JWs are NOT referring to a miraculous place where aging does not happen and wild animals are mysteriously tame, with the lion enjoying a bed with the lamb, but simply to a nice garden where people live their three score years and ten or perhaps a bit longer, then I would point out that some folk already possess this without God's interference. Death is still around in your garden. If it is not then please join me in defining paradise as heaven, with miracles abounding and toddlers staying toddlers for ever..

[JehovahsWitness]

The actual meaning is heaven

No, the actual meaning is "garden".

The biblical interpretation* is ... whatever you personally (or your Pope, Rabbi, Guru) tells you the word is REFERRING to when used in the bible. When Catholics (and ex-catholics) use the word they use it according to their church dogma (which I have no problem with) which invariable refers to "heaven". I am not Catholic and do not believe they (or their Pope, or you) get to define the meaning of biblical terms.

*Unless you are suggesting you are the person that gives the definitive factual not to be questioned INTERPRETATION of biblical expressions; if so all you have to do is tell me.


JW

* The word "paradise" ( Greek "paradeisos) only occurs 4 times in the bible.


NOTE: In any case when Jehovah's witnesses use the word "paradise" we are usually refering to the biblical promises of life in a coming "new world" where the earth will be restored to paradasaic (garden like) conditions.

[youtube][/youtube]

[JehovahsWitness]

. Death is still around in your garden.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in God and miracles. Since we believe God is omnipotent, his miraculous wonders are not limited to the location of the spirit realm. Our believe is that he will perform miracles on this our planet earth (Just as Jesus did).

The miracles that will be performed on earth are...

- miraculously ensuring that the earth endures forever. We believe God is omnipotent and has unlimited and endless power. He will, we believe use this power to sustain both the planet and the sun whose energy the earth depends. A miracle in the physical realm.

- miraculously healing all ailments and ensuring that the old return to their physical prime. Another miracle we believe that will be performed in the physical realm on this our planet earth

- miraculously restoring the originally intended peace with the physical animal kingdom. The bible does not provide details how this will be done but we feel confident that such a thing is not beyond God since we believe God is omnipotent. Another miracle that God will peform for physical beings in the physical realm (namely: on this our present planet earth)

- miraculously wiping out death. We believe this is possible because God is, we believe able to perform miracles. The bible explains that with God nothing is impossible, and we believe this covers ensuring his promise to wipe out adamic death for physical human beings humans so they will (miraculously) live forever. This, we believe will be a miracle that we do not have to die and go to heaven to experience. How will this be possible, it will be a miracle!


Hope that explains a little of what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and why we believe we don't have to be spirit creatures in heaven to enjoy endless life on this physical planet earth. The key: Miracles from an omnipotent God.


Further information: see video below (from 1"min 30 - Jesus' miracles)
[youtube][/youtube]

JW

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 409 by onewithhim]


[center]

Adam screwed up.. so we have to pay?[/center]

Indeed they were. Jehovah is offering us the ability to get back what Adam screwed up.

____________

Question:

• 
  
  Could you explain the reason why anyone else has to pay for Adam's screw up?
  
  
  

____________

[marco]

No, the actual meaning is "garden".

I accept that JWs idiosyncratically choose "garden" as the ordinary meaning of paradise. It isn't, of course, though originally the word came from the Greek meaning park or garden. In Latin it commonly had the meaning "a place of bliss or heaven" which is the meaning that has found its way into English, where it can mean the Garden of Eden. JWs for whatever reason may wish to impose the meaning "garden" on it but that's nothing to do with me.

It is obvious that from the idealized scenes in your reference videos that paradise is taken to be an especially beautiful version of Earth, with the thorns removed, making it closer to heaven. It is not a garden, except in the figurative sense, so I've no idea why you wish to hang on to that meaning. There are few gardens where elephants and giraffes wander around. Catholics don't have a say in what goes into the dictionary and I guess JWs don't either. So let's stick to the standard meaning that paradise is heaven, or close to it.

As I said, when Jesus remarked that the thief would be with him in Paradise he was of course referring to heaven, not a zoological park. Perhaps you could correct this mistaken impression among your colleagues.

[JehovahsWitness]

Why should we fear the sun running out of energy? Isn't God who made it able to supply it energy for endless days?

Good point. There is also the scripture that God has firmly established the earth, we need not fear for its future.

JW

[marco]

That said, we do believe that the kingdom (Christ's government) will be in heaven, but the subjects of that government will be the meek that will inherit... this our planet earth.

Thank you for that modification. I have no objection, semantically, to what you say and believe.

Obviously when we invest in some belief it is good to tie up loose ends and you seem to have heaven and the meek well catered for. Were I debating with a Muslim, I'd say exactly the same thing. To each his own.

[JehovahsWitness]

"At that time the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. At that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness." (Isaiah 35:5,6)

Indeed, a loving God would also want to rectify handicaps. These are also bible promises.

JW

[onewithhim]

Marco....no comment on post #410?

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 408 by JehovahsWitness]

JW, we can use paradise in a metaphorical sense, as the holiday agent is doing in your example. The actual meaning is heaven; the metaphorical meaning is a place of splendid beauty and wonderful resources.

If by paradise JWs are NOT referring to a miraculous place where aging does not happen and wild animals are mysteriously tame, with the lion enjoying a bed with the lamb, but simply to a nice garden where people live their three score years and ten or perhaps a bit longer, then I would point out that some folk already possess this without God's interference. Death is still around in your garden. If it is not then please join me in defining paradise as heaven, with miracles abounding and toddlers staying toddlers for ever..

Why WOULDN'T anyone want to live on Earth forever where we won't age beyond 30 or so and where animals are harmless? Why does everyone insist that heaven is our proper destination? Miracles will abound HERE, and toddlers will grow up to be young adults and then stop aging. If miracles can abound in heaven, why can't God cause miracles to abound on earth?