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]

That means that flesh and blood cannot go to the heavens to rule with Christ. That is where Paul and all the early Christians were going. They would all be changed into spirit persons. Those of us here on the earth will remain in our flesh and blood bodies.

Exactly, this is why Jesus sometimes referred to it as "the kingdom of the heavens"

JW

God's will is not presently being done on the Earth, so the Earth is not now included within the Kingdom of Heaven.

In fact, Jesus instructed us to in the Lord's prayer to pray for the Earth to become part of the Kingdom of Heaven:

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Why would our Lord instruct us to pray for the kingdom to come if the earth is already "the kingdom of the heavens" as you claim?

Where exactly in the scriptures did Jesus refer to the earth as "the kingdom of the heavens"?

When Jesus said "the kingdom of the heavens," he was referring to the governmental seat in heaven, where he and his co-rulers will be with Jehovah.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to 2ndpillar2 in post #2689]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

[myth-one.com]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Every human is subject to the covenant under which he or she dies.

Under the original Old Testament Covenant, Jews had to be without sin imputed against them to gain everlasting life.

Under the New Testament Covenant, anyone may inherit everlasting life by believing in Jesus as their Savior from the wages of their sins.

The two covenants are separated by the death of Jesus. Every Jew living before Jesus' death was a possible beneficiary under the original covenant. All humans living after the death of Jesus may become heirs unto everlasting life by believing in Jesus as their Savior.

If all three crucified that day were Jewish, then all three were covered by the original covenant.

Jesus could correctly tell the thief who believed in Him that he would be with Him in Paradise because the thief believed in Him and Jesus knew He would die before the thief.

Had the thief died first, he would be condemned under the original covenant even though he believed in Jesus.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

[2ndpillar2]

[Replying to 2ndpillar2 in post #2689]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Changed his mind with respect to what? Did he decide not to rob people after he found himself hanging on a cross? I kind of think he was past the turning point. He was at the terminal point, where he was unable to change his path, for his path was shut down. You have to seek God while he can be found (Isaiah 55:6). Kind of like the Catholic who lives the life of lawlessness but expects to pay the church $600 for his last rights and get a prepaid ticket to heaven. The "white throne" "judgment" is with respect to the resurrected all being judged for their deeds (Revelation 20:12). If he was caught on a single theft charge, he may get off with community service and a $500 fine, but until that time, he will spend his time in the bowels of the earth. The "lake of fire" is reserved for other than the false prophet, the devil and the beast, those who are not found in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15) If the false prophet Paul's presumed associate, Luke, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), is your only witness, then according to Yeshua, you have not made your case. (Matthew 18:16 & Deut 19:15 )

[onewithhim]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Every human is subject to the covenant under which he or she dies.

Under the original Old Testament Covenant, Jews had to be without sin imputed against them to gain everlasting life.

Under the New Testament Covenant, anyone may inherit everlasting life by believing in Jesus as their Savior from the wages of their sins.

The two covenants are separated by the death of Jesus. Every Jew living before Jesus' death was a possible beneficiary under the original covenant. All humans living after the death of Jesus may become heirs unto everlasting life by believing in Jesus as their Savior.

If all three crucified that day were Jewish, then all three were covered by the original covenant.

Jesus could correctly tell the thief who believed in Him that he would be with Him in Paradise because the thief believed in Him and Jesus knew He would die before the thief.

Had the thief died first, he would be condemned under the original covenant even though he believed in Jesus.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The thief probably died before Jesus because he was in line for paradise on Earth, as Jesus told him he would be in Paradise. The thief believed that Jesus was who He said He was and changed from a taunting mean person to a believer. Since Jesus had been on Earth, no one who believed in him would die under what you say was the original covenant.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to 2ndpillar2 in post #2689]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Changed his mind with respect to what? Did he decide not to rob people after he found himself hanging on a cross? I kind of think he was past the turning point. He was at the terminal point, where he was unable to change his path, for his path was shut down. You have to seek God while he can be found (Isaiah 55:6). Kind of like the Catholic who lives the life of lawlessness but expects to pay the church $600 for his last rights and get a prepaid ticket to heaven. The "white throne" "judgment" is with respect to the resurrected all being judged for their deeds (Revelation 20:12). If he was caught on a single theft charge, he may get off with community service and a $500 fine, but until that time, he will spend his time in the bowels of the earth. The "lake of fire" is reserved for other than the false prophet, the devil and the beast, those who are not found in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15) If the false prophet Paul's presumed associate, Luke, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), is your only witness, then according to Yeshua, you have not made your case. (Matthew 18:16 & Deut 19:15 )

The thief changed his mind with respect to his taunting and mean nature which changed to belief before he died. Jesus saw that the man truly believed and promised him that he would be in Paradise. The man obviously was not past the turning point.

[myth-one.com]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Every human is subject to the covenant under which he or she dies.

Under the original Old Testament Covenant, Jews had to be without sin imputed against them to gain everlasting life.

Under the New Testament Covenant, anyone may inherit everlasting life by believing in Jesus as their Savior from the wages of their sins.

The two covenants are separated by the death of Jesus. Every Jew living before Jesus' death was a possible beneficiary under the original covenant. All humans living after the death of Jesus may become heirs unto everlasting life by believing in Jesus as their Savior.

If all three crucified that day were Jewish, then all three were covered by the original covenant.

Jesus could correctly tell the thief who believed in Him that he would be with Him in Paradise because the thief believed in Him and Jesus knew He would die before the thief.

Had the thief died first, he would be condemned under the original covenant even though he believed in Jesus.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The thief probably died before Jesus because he was in line for paradise on Earth, as Jesus told him he would be in Paradise. The thief believed that Jesus was who He said He was and changed from a taunting mean person to a believer. Since Jesus had been on Earth, no one who believed in him would die under what you say was the original covenant.

God has to honor His covenants with mankind. His first covenant was with only a subset of mankind -- the Children of Israel. Under that covenant the wages of sin was death. So the only way to inherit everlasting life under that covenant was to remain without sin. But only one man under that covenant ever qualified for everlasting life. That man was Jesus Christ.

So if the thief died first, then he is headed for everlasting death under terms of the original covenant, as only Jesus lived a sinless life.

If the thief died after Jesus, then He would be headed for everlasting life in paradise under terms of the New Covenant:

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth (Hebrews 9:15-17)

Under the New Covenant, those who believe in Jesus will have everlasting life.

[2ndpillar2]

[Replying to 2ndpillar2 in post #2689]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Changed his mind with respect to what? Did he decide not to rob people after he found himself hanging on a cross? I kind of think he was past the turning point. He was at the terminal point, where he was unable to change his path, for his path was shut down. You have to seek God while he can be found (Isaiah 55:6). Kind of like the Catholic who lives the life of lawlessness but expects to pay the church $600 for his last rights and get a prepaid ticket to heaven. The "white throne" "judgment" is with respect to the resurrected all being judged for their deeds (Revelation 20:12). If he was caught on a single theft charge, he may get off with community service and a $500 fine, but until that time, he will spend his time in the bowels of the earth. The "lake of fire" is reserved for other than the false prophet, the devil and the beast, those who are not found in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15) If the false prophet Paul's presumed associate, Luke, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), is your only witness, then according to Yeshua, you have not made your case. (Matthew 18:16 & Deut 19:15 )

The thief changed his mind with respect to his taunting and mean nature which changed to belief before he died. Jesus saw that the man truly believed and promised him that he would be in Paradise. The man obviously was not past the turning point.

I don't know. I think according to this Luke fellow, a supposed associate of the false prophet Paul, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), the thief turned on the other thief for taunting an innocent man versus two guilty men.

Luke 23:39-41 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to 2ndpillar2 in post #2689]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Changed his mind with respect to what? Did he decide not to rob people after he found himself hanging on a cross? I kind of think he was past the turning point. He was at the terminal point, where he was unable to change his path, for his path was shut down. You have to seek God while he can be found (Isaiah 55:6). Kind of like the Catholic who lives the life of lawlessness but expects to pay the church $600 for his last rights and get a prepaid ticket to heaven. The "white throne" "judgment" is with respect to the resurrected all being judged for their deeds (Revelation 20:12). If he was caught on a single theft charge, he may get off with community service and a $500 fine, but until that time, he will spend his time in the bowels of the earth. The "lake of fire" is reserved for other than the false prophet, the devil and the beast, those who are not found in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15) If the false prophet Paul's presumed associate, Luke, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), is your only witness, then according to Yeshua, you have not made your case. (Matthew 18:16 & Deut 19:15 )

The thief changed his mind with respect to his taunting and mean nature which changed to belief before he died. Jesus saw that the man truly believed and promised him that he would be in Paradise. The man obviously was not past the turning point.

I don't know. I think according to this Luke fellow, a supposed associate of the false prophet Paul, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), the thief turned on the other thief for taunting an innocent man versus two guilty men.

Luke 23:39-41 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.

Yes.

I don't agree, however, with your assessment of Paul as a false prophet. How can you get around the fact that Jesus personally picked Paul to go and start witnessing about Him?

[2ndpillar2]

[Replying to 2ndpillar2 in post #2689]

The thief changed his mind while hanging next to Christ. That is why he was no longer considered wicked or worthy of eternal death.

Changed his mind with respect to what? Did he decide not to rob people after he found himself hanging on a cross? I kind of think he was past the turning point. He was at the terminal point, where he was unable to change his path, for his path was shut down. You have to seek God while he can be found (Isaiah 55:6). Kind of like the Catholic who lives the life of lawlessness but expects to pay the church $600 for his last rights and get a prepaid ticket to heaven. The "white throne" "judgment" is with respect to the resurrected all being judged for their deeds (Revelation 20:12). If he was caught on a single theft charge, he may get off with community service and a $500 fine, but until that time, he will spend his time in the bowels of the earth. The "lake of fire" is reserved for other than the false prophet, the devil and the beast, those who are not found in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15) If the false prophet Paul's presumed associate, Luke, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), is your only witness, then according to Yeshua, you have not made your case. (Matthew 18:16 & Deut 19:15 )

The thief changed his mind with respect to his taunting and mean nature which changed to belief before he died. Jesus saw that the man truly believed and promised him that he would be in Paradise. The man obviously was not past the turning point.

I don't know. I think according to this Luke fellow, a supposed associate of the false prophet Paul, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), the thief turned on the other thief for taunting an innocent man versus two guilty men.

Luke 23:39-41 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.

Yes.

I don't agree, however, with your assessment of Paul as a false prophet. How can you get around the fact that Jesus personally picked Paul to go and start witnessing about Him?

Well, it was according to Acts, supposedly written by Luke, a supposed associate of Paul, who witnessed nothing (Luke 1:1-3), that you hang your hat. Since no one saw or supposedly heard what happened in the wilderness, Paul was the only witness that heard anything. Self-witnessing is "not true" according to Yeshua (John 5:31). As far as Yeshua's message concerning anyone saying, "he is in the wilderness", "do not believe them " (Matthew 24:26). As far as the "LORD" choosing two "staffs"/'shepherds" to "pasture" the "flock (Gentile church) doomed for "slaughter" (Zechariah 11:7), well Paul was one of the two (Zechariah 11:10). And who was the source of the Annanias testimony? Oh yeah, that was probably the singular non proffered witness of Paul. Now as the arm of the LORD, Yeshua did pick the "worthless shepherd", Peter, the 2nd "staff"/"shepherd" of Zechariah 11:17, for which Yeshua pointed out that Peter was "a stumbling block" to me, and "Satan" (Matthew 16:23), and according to Matthew 26:31, the fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7. The "many" (Matthew 7:13-15) that follow the "false prophets" to "destruction", are simply "deceived" as are the rest of "those who dwell on the earth" (Revelation 13:11-14). Consider yourself among the majority.