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

[onewithhim]

Checkpoint, did you answer my question as to what Jesus and his co-rulers would be doing during the thousand years of no changes?

No, I did not answer that question, onewithhim.

My answer is, what he and his co-heirs have been doing since the arrival of the Holy Spirit on that Day of Pentecost so long ago.

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So Jesus' co-rulers all went to heaven upon their deaths, even back in the first century? I always thought that they joined him when he assumed his "parouseia during the harvest time. There seem to be indications that that is so. Paul spoke of fellow co-rulers as "asleep" in their graves, and there would be a significant length of time before they were resurrected.

I Corinthians 11:30:

"That is why many among you [the 'congregation of God that is in Corinth'] are weak and sickly, and quite a few are sleeping in death."

I Thessalonians 4:13:

"Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who are sleeping in death; that you may not sorrow just as the rest also do who have no hope."


Therefore, it seems to me that the fellow kings and priests of Christ did not go to heaven when they died, but would be brought back to life at a later time (the first resurrection).

See also a scripture that points out that Jesus' co-rulers would be granted kingly power "in the re-creation," during Jesus' presence during the harvest time:

"Jesus said to them: 'Truly I say to you, in the re-creation [regeneration], when the Son of man sits down upon his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also yourselves sit upon 12 thrones..." (Matt.19:28)

There was no other "re=creation" time mentioned in the Scriptures other than during the thousand years of Christ's rule.

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[onewithhim]

Scripture conveys this in various ways, with or without the same details.

...the Judgment details are the same basics.

Okay can you point out the specific "judgment details" which are the same basics so we can all compare "the judgment details" of Matthew 25 and "the judgment details" of Revelation 20 and see the ones that are the same for ourselves.

I see none.

JW

Yes I can. I see two, at least.

Mankind:

Matthew 25:

31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him,

Revelation 20:

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne,

Two destinies, acceptance or rejection

Matthew 25:

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

46 Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Revelation 20:

12 Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

The "great white throne" is referring to Jehovah, the One that Jesus handed back the kingdom to (at I Corinthians 15:24):

"Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power."

Therefore, when Jesus separates the sheep from the goats, that referrs to a time antecedent to the white throne judgment.

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[onewithhim]

What does this mean to you?

"The meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:11)

and

"The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it." (Psalm 37:29)


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[Checkpoint]

What does this mean to you?

"The meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:11)

and

"The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it." (Psalm 37:29)

It means what it says, as later expanded in Revelation 21-22.

[Checkpoint]

Scripture conveys this in various ways, with or without the same details.

...the Judgment details are the same basics.

Okay can you point out the specific "judgment details" which are the same basics so we can all compare "the judgment details" of Matthew 25 and "the judgment details" of Revelation 20 and see the ones that are the same for ourselves.

I see none.

JW

Yes I can. I see two, at least.

Mankind:

Matthew 25:

31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him,

Revelation 20:

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne,

Two destinies, acceptance or rejection

Matthew 25:

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

46 Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Revelation 20:

12 Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

The "great white throne" is referring to Jehovah, the One that Jesus handed back the kingdom to (at I Corinthians 15:24):

"Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power."

Therefore, when Jesus separates the sheep from the goats, that referrs to a time antecedent to the white throne judgment.

.

You do have a point, concerning who is on the throne judging.

To me it is unclear as to that, and as to its significance as far as our debate is concerned.

Maybe on this it is just another agree to disagree issue.

[onewithhim]

Alright.

And would you tell me what those Scriptures above mean to YOU?

[Checkpoint]

Alright.

And would you tell me what those Scriptures above mean to YOU?

Yes, when you list or quote them.

[onewithhim]

Psalm 37: 11 and 29

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[Checkpoint]

Psalm 37: 11 and 29

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Psalm 37 I see as an expanded Psalm 1, of the faithful and the faithless, and their destinies.

The faithful "will inherit the earth", as Jesus reiterated in Matthew 5.

Just two points for you to consider.

1) Both the Hebrew and Greek words here translatwd "earth" can equally well be rendered "land", and often are. In which cases usually meaning "land of Israel".

The question is, what is it that the faithful are looking for as their spiritual inheritance?

2) I think these verses are the answer:

Hebrews 11:

13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

[JehovahsWitness]

The question is, what is it that the faithful are looking for as their spiritual inheritance?

You have answered that yourself...

His commission is to people his kingdom with those who will one day inherit a new heaven and a new earth in which there will be no suffering and death, and in which only righteousness dwells.

What was "the new earth" you referred to?


JW

MATTHEW 6:10 ESV

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.