Do you think one can be a real Christian and hope to live forever not in heaven, but on this planet Earth?
Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
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Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #1Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe the meek will inherit this our planet earth
Do you think one can be a real Christian and hope to live forever not in heaven, but on this planet Earth?
Do you think one can be a real Christian and hope to live forever not in heaven, but on this planet Earth?
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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Aetixintro
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Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #2The promised land until the resurrection of Jesus...?
I'm cool! 
- Stronger Religion every day! Also by "mathematical Religion", the eternal forms, God closing the door on corrupt humanity, possibly!
- Stronger Religion every day! Also by "mathematical Religion", the eternal forms, God closing the door on corrupt humanity, possibly!-
JehovahsWitness
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Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #3Aetixintro wrote: The promised land until the resurrection of Jesus...?
No, the entire planet (this our present planet, earth) in top condition forever. People living on it eternallly.
JW
Last edited by JehovahsWitness on Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #4[Replying to post 3 by JehovahsWitness]
As there will be a new heaven and earth how can you address the question to this present earth?
As there will be a new heaven and earth how can you address the question to this present earth?
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JehovahsWitness
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Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #5faith wrote: [Replying to post 3 by JehovahsWitness]
As there will be a new heaven and earth how can you address the question to this present earth?
Thank you for your question faith.
2 Pet 3:13
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
REVELATION 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
There are certain groups that believe that the above scriptures mean that God will literally destroy the planet (presumably killing every living thing on the planet) and make a new one planet, presumably make new butterflies, puppies, elephants ect. to replace the one he himself destroyed or burnt up. Is this logical?
Why would God destroy or literally burn up his beautiful planet?
First and foremost the bible explains that this planet will never be destroyed.
When God created Adam and Eve he clearly indicated he wanted them to reproduce and live on this planet, since that was His original purpose, it must be fulfilled; a change of location to another replacement planet would be a failure on God's part and that can never be (see Isaiah 55:11).ECCLESIASTES 1:4
One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth stays for ever. - AKJV
PSALMS 104:5
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever. - King James 2000 Bible
Further, following the global flood God expressed his sadness at seeing the suffering that it imposed on the animal kingdom; his promise never to flood the planet again implied he would never repeat such a widespread destruction of animals and plant life. Burning every animal on the planet, from every bird and butterfly to every elephant, whale or puppy would be breaking the spirit if not the letter of this promise. Further it would be illogical. There is nothing wrong with the mountains, the rivers or seas, the monkeys and elephants have not sinned and there is not logical reason to burn or destroy them and make the planet and the animal kingdom again.
What about the scriptures that speak about a "new earth"?Destroying this planet earth would be like burning down your house because some of your tenants are undestireable. The problem isn't the house its the tenants that are living in the house. If house is sound but the inhabitants are undesired, why not get rid of the undesirable inhabitants.
Not everything in the bible is meant to be taken literally. Let's take a scripture such as
Many would recognize that the scripture is not speaking about happy stars and rejoicing ground; the literal planet earth cannot feel or express emotions such as joy or sadness. Even though we see the word "EARTH" we can understand it to mean "people" on the earth. In a similar way the word "earth" as found in scriptures such as 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1 refers to the PEOPLE or human society made up of people.PSALMS 96:11
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
When God kills of wicked people he will be getting rid of the present wicked society. And when the "meek" inherit the earth, there will be a "new" human society of righteous people living on this our planet" and this is symbolically what is being referred to as the "new earth" in the scriptures above.
Further reading "new earth"
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... 101991230/
QUESTION: What about the "new heavens"?
If the "new earth" is not to be a literal new planet, it is logical that the "new heavens" does not refer to God destroying the entire universe and creating a new one, and God certainly wouldn't destroy his own spirit realm and place of abode.
Paul gives us a clue as to what is being spoken of in Ephesians 6 where he says
The bible speaks about Satan being the "god of this world" and ultimately He (satan) and his demons rule over this present wicked system of things. Just as God (Jehovah) will destroy this wicked human society (the earth) he will also destory Satan, the demons and the human governments that rule over them (the "heavens").For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
What will be the "new heavens"?
The symbolic "new heavens" then will neither be new stars and planets, nor will God create a new abode for himself and his loyal angels. The "new heavens" will be a "new" system of rulership or KINGDOM that will rule over the new human society replacing Satan and his governments that "rule" presently.
CONCLUSION: Scriptures that refer to a "new" heavens and earth, are not to be taken literally but refer to a new system of government over a new cleansed human society.
RELATED POSTS
Does not 2 Peter 3:7 say the planet earth with be burned up?
viewtopic.php?p=927158#p927158
Why is it both unscriptural and god-dishonouring to teach God will destroy his own planet earth? [
viewtopic.php?p=988356#p988356
Will God burn up this our planet earth?
viewtopic.php?p=853097#p853097
Will our planet earth ever be empty of human life?
viewtopic.php?p=909495#p909495
Further reading
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989224#h=14
To learn more please go to other posts related to
THE PLANET EARTH, .GOD'S KINGDOM and ... EVERLASTING LIFE
Last edited by JehovahsWitness on Thu Dec 22, 2022 5:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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JehovahsWitness
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Post #6
xx duplicate xx
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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JehovahsWitness
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Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #7[Replying to post 5 by JehovahsWitness]
QUESTION: Will paradise be "boring"?
Although it is not common, neither is it unheard of for people to object to the idea of eternal life in paradise as being "boring". Whether we find something "boring" or "interesting" is an entirely subjective thing, based mostly on our center of interests as well as our personal likes and preferences, so this post is not written to convince anyone that they should find something interesting that they cannot (for whatever reason). I feel it is safe to say however, that no Jehovah's Witnesses believe eternal life on this our planet earth transformed into paradise like conditions will be " boring".
Since "bordom" like "beauty" is very much in the eye of the beholder, this post will examine the reason's for our own sincere belief that paradise will not be boring. For us.
1. An unendingly interesting God
The primary reason Jehovah's Witnesses wish eternal life (whether that be for the small number - 144, 000 - in heaven or, as is the subject of this post for those that look forward to paradise on earth) is to have an eternity to discover new and facinating facets of the God they worship JEHOVAH. The bible says we have, even in His revealed word the bible only had glimpses of "the fringes" of his facinating mind and intelligence and an eternity will not be long enough to discovere all there is about his unlimited intelliegence and boundless love. The book of Revelation speaks about "new scrolls", understood to be new sources of divine revelation, by which we will have more to learn about God but an infinite God who is generours with His subjects will always have interesting information to share. Jehovah's Witnesss yearn for the time and opportinity to discover more about their facinating God.
NOTE: Jehovah's Witnesses also believe in the existence of intelligent spirit creatures (referred to as "angels" in the bible). We do not know the extent to which humans will be permitted to interact with such one, but there is nothing in the bible that interaction on some level with the millions (perhaps billions) of super intelligent beings will not one day be a facinating feature of life in paradise.
2. How big is the universe
Some wonder why, since humans inhabit a very small planet, revolving around a small star (the sun) in a tiny corner of a signle galaxy in a sea of galaxies, the physical universe is so vast. While we may speculate that this may well have been for His good pleasure, and the delight of the observing angelic creatures, it seems reasonable also to conclude that this physical universe represents a practically endless source of facinating discovery for those that find cosmoslogy, possible space travel and/or the workings of outer space "interesting". How many lifetimes would it take to discover everything that is "out there"? Far from boring if such discovery were your passion.
3. Human intelligence and Creativity
It has been suggested that the most complex thing in the physical universe is actually the human brain. While scientist speculate as to how much of it we actually use in one lifetime, there seems little doubt that the potential of humans to explore the limits of their own creativity is almost endless. Using, less than as some speculate, a small proportion of our brain power, humans accomplishments in the field of physics, mechanics, mathematics, invention, innovation, technology, the arts ... and much more has been impressive to say the least. Yet death has meant that our Einsteins, Newtons, Mozarts, have had their potential cut short and obliged others to build on what they left behind. What will mankind be able to achieve if they could live forever? Granted for something new by a Da Vinci, a Mozart (or a Stevie Wonder), hold no interest whatsoever for some, but in a world were there are potential "geniuses" (genei?) in every conceivable field, and one of those geniuses may well be ourselves, operating at "maximum capacity", how boring will this unending stream invention, innovation and creativity be?
4. Humans: God's Masterpiece
Yet it is not only what man can do that is facinating, it is man himself. Human beings at their best are an endless source of facination and emotional wonder. Even in our imperfect state, subject to express negative characteristics, there are still couples, married for 50 years, and having had a lifetime together want another (and another) because true love is not "boring". Good relationships, not just romantic ones, constantly evolve as the person does, changing in nature but remaining facinating and fulfilling. The prospect of getting to know everyone in our human family, learning about them and our connection to them, not to mention those that will come back in perfect health from the grave, is, for Jehovah's Witneesses one of our most cherished hopes. People find stories about other people, whether fictional or factual, endlessly facinating. In a perfect world, with unlimited time, the "book" of the human family is one many of us will wish to read. And it will be a book where new chapters and "revisions" will never cease.
4. Plant & Animal life: Endlessly facinating
For many people plants and animals are a source of joy and facination. It's not unusual to hear of biologists study a single species for many years and still not fully understand everything about it. Our beautiful planet is bursting with life and sadly for many of us, the closest we will get to deep sea diving, whale spotting or seeing "Gorillas in the mist" will be a tv documentary. For those that love or will learn to love nature, the study and enjoyment of all animal or plant life will indeed take an eternity. And even for those of us that will not be inclined to study nature in detail, the pleasure animals and plants give to humans will remain a source of joy and wonder.
NOTE: Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God ceases creating new life forms at the end of the 6th "day" or creative period. There is nothing in scripture that indicates it is impossible He will, after this present period of "rest", again create new and facinating species for humans to enjoy in the future.
CONCLUSION: Of course all of the above sections could be broken up into subheadings and written about at length. Each Jehovah's Witness has a topic they can wax lyrical about when it comes to hoped for pursuits in the paradise; it is in short, one of our favorite topics and the subject of many a dinner conversation. More seriously it is a basic biblical teaching we have been commissioned to publicize and draws many people to the positive bible message. Humans with measure of mental and physical health, tend not to get "bored" with good food, love and fellowship, sex, music etc because we were created to live , love, enjoy, learn, study, explore the physical universe. This message sounds deep in very being of those that will be in paradise to see and experience such things forever.
Jehovah's Witnesses render all praise and honor for the above to our Great loving and generous God JEHOVAH!
PARADISE: My earlier explanation
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 115#836115
Further reading
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/maga ... -paradise/
JW
QUESTION: Will paradise be "boring"?
Although it is not common, neither is it unheard of for people to object to the idea of eternal life in paradise as being "boring". Whether we find something "boring" or "interesting" is an entirely subjective thing, based mostly on our center of interests as well as our personal likes and preferences, so this post is not written to convince anyone that they should find something interesting that they cannot (for whatever reason). I feel it is safe to say however, that no Jehovah's Witnesses believe eternal life on this our planet earth transformed into paradise like conditions will be " boring".
Since "bordom" like "beauty" is very much in the eye of the beholder, this post will examine the reason's for our own sincere belief that paradise will not be boring. For us.
1. An unendingly interesting God
The primary reason Jehovah's Witnesses wish eternal life (whether that be for the small number - 144, 000 - in heaven or, as is the subject of this post for those that look forward to paradise on earth) is to have an eternity to discover new and facinating facets of the God they worship JEHOVAH. The bible says we have, even in His revealed word the bible only had glimpses of "the fringes" of his facinating mind and intelligence and an eternity will not be long enough to discovere all there is about his unlimited intelliegence and boundless love. The book of Revelation speaks about "new scrolls", understood to be new sources of divine revelation, by which we will have more to learn about God but an infinite God who is generours with His subjects will always have interesting information to share. Jehovah's Witnesss yearn for the time and opportinity to discover more about their facinating God.
NOTE: Jehovah's Witnesses also believe in the existence of intelligent spirit creatures (referred to as "angels" in the bible). We do not know the extent to which humans will be permitted to interact with such one, but there is nothing in the bible that interaction on some level with the millions (perhaps billions) of super intelligent beings will not one day be a facinating feature of life in paradise.
2. How big is the universe
Some wonder why, since humans inhabit a very small planet, revolving around a small star (the sun) in a tiny corner of a signle galaxy in a sea of galaxies, the physical universe is so vast. While we may speculate that this may well have been for His good pleasure, and the delight of the observing angelic creatures, it seems reasonable also to conclude that this physical universe represents a practically endless source of facinating discovery for those that find cosmoslogy, possible space travel and/or the workings of outer space "interesting". How many lifetimes would it take to discover everything that is "out there"? Far from boring if such discovery were your passion.
3. Human intelligence and Creativity
It has been suggested that the most complex thing in the physical universe is actually the human brain. While scientist speculate as to how much of it we actually use in one lifetime, there seems little doubt that the potential of humans to explore the limits of their own creativity is almost endless. Using, less than as some speculate, a small proportion of our brain power, humans accomplishments in the field of physics, mechanics, mathematics, invention, innovation, technology, the arts ... and much more has been impressive to say the least. Yet death has meant that our Einsteins, Newtons, Mozarts, have had their potential cut short and obliged others to build on what they left behind. What will mankind be able to achieve if they could live forever? Granted for something new by a Da Vinci, a Mozart (or a Stevie Wonder), hold no interest whatsoever for some, but in a world were there are potential "geniuses" (genei?) in every conceivable field, and one of those geniuses may well be ourselves, operating at "maximum capacity", how boring will this unending stream invention, innovation and creativity be?
4. Humans: God's Masterpiece
Yet it is not only what man can do that is facinating, it is man himself. Human beings at their best are an endless source of facination and emotional wonder. Even in our imperfect state, subject to express negative characteristics, there are still couples, married for 50 years, and having had a lifetime together want another (and another) because true love is not "boring". Good relationships, not just romantic ones, constantly evolve as the person does, changing in nature but remaining facinating and fulfilling. The prospect of getting to know everyone in our human family, learning about them and our connection to them, not to mention those that will come back in perfect health from the grave, is, for Jehovah's Witneesses one of our most cherished hopes. People find stories about other people, whether fictional or factual, endlessly facinating. In a perfect world, with unlimited time, the "book" of the human family is one many of us will wish to read. And it will be a book where new chapters and "revisions" will never cease.
4. Plant & Animal life: Endlessly facinating
For many people plants and animals are a source of joy and facination. It's not unusual to hear of biologists study a single species for many years and still not fully understand everything about it. Our beautiful planet is bursting with life and sadly for many of us, the closest we will get to deep sea diving, whale spotting or seeing "Gorillas in the mist" will be a tv documentary. For those that love or will learn to love nature, the study and enjoyment of all animal or plant life will indeed take an eternity. And even for those of us that will not be inclined to study nature in detail, the pleasure animals and plants give to humans will remain a source of joy and wonder.
NOTE: Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God ceases creating new life forms at the end of the 6th "day" or creative period. There is nothing in scripture that indicates it is impossible He will, after this present period of "rest", again create new and facinating species for humans to enjoy in the future.
CONCLUSION: Of course all of the above sections could be broken up into subheadings and written about at length. Each Jehovah's Witness has a topic they can wax lyrical about when it comes to hoped for pursuits in the paradise; it is in short, one of our favorite topics and the subject of many a dinner conversation. More seriously it is a basic biblical teaching we have been commissioned to publicize and draws many people to the positive bible message. Humans with measure of mental and physical health, tend not to get "bored" with good food, love and fellowship, sex, music etc because we were created to live , love, enjoy, learn, study, explore the physical universe. This message sounds deep in very being of those that will be in paradise to see and experience such things forever.
Jehovah's Witnesses render all praise and honor for the above to our Great loving and generous God JEHOVAH!
PARADISE: My earlier explanation
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 115#836115
Further reading
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/maga ... -paradise/
JW
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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tam
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Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #8[Replying to post 1 by JehovahsWitness]
Could you explain who JW's believe the meek are?
Thanks, and peace to you!
Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe the meek will inherit this our planet earth
Could you explain who JW's believe the meek are?
Thanks, and peace to you!
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JehovahsWitness
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Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #9tam wrote:[Replying to post 1 by JehovahsWitness]
Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe the meek will inherit this our planet earth
Could you explain who JW's believe the meek are?
Thanks, and peace to you!
We believe all those that have now or will develop in the future a humble submissive attitude vis-a-vis Jehovah's sovereignty. I'm not ashamed to say I personally hope to be judged in this number as do all of Jehovah's Witnesses.
More than that we cannot say.
JW
RELATED POSTS
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http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 220#865220
Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe their ORGANIZATION will be the only one to survive Harmageddon?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 274#865274
Will those that are NOT Jehovah's Witnesses be automatically condemned?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 330#861330
What is the OFFICIAL statement regarding the salvation of non-Witnesses?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 220#865220
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http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 551#848551
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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tam
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Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses on the earth
Post #10JehovahsWitness wrote:tam wrote:[Replying to post 1 by JehovahsWitness]
Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe the meek will inherit this our planet earth
Could you explain who JW's believe the meek are?
Thanks, and peace to you!
We believe all those that have now or will develop in the future a humble submissive attitude vis-a-vis Jehovah's sovereignty. I'm not ashamed to say I personally hope to be judged in this number as do all of Jehovah's Witnesses.
More than that we cannot say.
JW
Thank you!
So... like Moses was meek (the meekest of all men)- even though he led the entire nation of Israel - because he submitted to God?
So then what about the Bride?
Does she not submit herself to Christ (who submits Himself entirely to His Father)? In submitting herself to Christ - in listening to and obeying Him - is she not also submitting to and obeying God?
Peace to you!
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy
