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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Novels
- Published: 07/10/2024
THE RESTORED PARADISE SHALL GLORIFY YAHWEH
By Mapesa Lwanga Bitonye
YAHWEH GIVES MAN A PARADISE
God creates the physical universe and life on earth; he creates a perfect man and woman, settles them in a beautiful garden, and gives them commands to obey.
Lions, birds, and deer in the garden of Eden
THEY have been called the most famous opening words ever written. (Genesis 1:1) "[IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.]" With that simple, majestic sentence, the Bible introduces us to the Person who is the central figure throughout the Holy Scriptures—the almighty God, YAHWEH. The Bible’s first verse reveals that God is the Creator of the vast physical universe, including the planet we live on. The verses that follow explain that in a series of long periods, figuratively called days, God went on to prepare our earthly home, bringing into existence all the wonders of our natural world.
The greatest of God’s earthly creations was man. Here was a creature made in the image of God—able to reflect YAHWEH’s own personal qualities, such as his love and wisdom. God made man out of the dust of the earth. God named him Adam, then placed him in a paradise—the garden of Eden. God himself planted that garden, filling it with beautiful, fruitful trees.
God saw the need for man to have a mate. Using one of Adam’s ribs, God made a woman and brought her to the man as his wife, later named Eve. Elated, Adam burst into poetry, saying: (Genesis 2:22-24) "[AND JEHOVAH GOD BUILT THE RIB THAT HE HAD TAKEN FROM THE MAN INTO A WOMAN, AND HE BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN. THEN THE MAN SAID: "THIS IS AT LAST BONE OF MY BONES AND FLESH OF MY FLESH. THIS ONE WILL BE CALLED WOMAN, BECAUSE FROM MAN SHE WAS TAKEN." THAT IS WHY A MAN WILL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND HE WILL STICK TO HIS WIFE, AND THEY WILL BECOME ONE FLESH. AND BOTH OF THEM CONTINUED TO BE NAKED, THE MAN AND HIS WIFE; YET THEY WERE NOT ASHAMED.]" (Genesis 3:20) "[AFTER THIS ADAM NAMED HIS WIFE EVE, BECAUSE SHE WAS TO BECOME THE MOTHER OF EVERYONE LIVING.]"
God gave Adam and Eve two commands. First, he directed them to cultivate and care for their earthly home and eventually fill it with their offspring. Second, he told them not to eat the fruit of just one tree in all that vast garden (Genesis 2:17) "[BUT FOR THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND BAD, YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM IT, FOR IN THE DAY YOU EAT FROM IT YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE.]"
If they disobeyed, they would die. With those commands, God gave the man and the woman a way to show that they accepted him as their Ruler. Their obedience would also show their love and gratitude. They had every reason to accept his kindly rule. There was no flaw in those perfect humans. The Bible tells us: (Genesis 1:31) "[AFTER THAT GOD SAW EVERYTHING HE HAD MADE, AND LOOK! IT WAS VERY GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, A SIXTH DAY.]"
THE DIVINE NAME
The Holy Scriptures refer to God by various titles, such as Creator and Almighty God. Some titles stress God’s attributes, such as his holiness, his power, his justice, his wisdom, and his love. However, God also gave himself a unique personal name—YAHWEH. In the Bible as written in its original languages, this divine name appeared about 7,000 times, first at Genesis 2:4) "[THIS IS A HISTORY OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH IN THE TIME THEY WERE CREATED, IN THE DAY THAT JEHOVAH GOD MADE THE EARTH AND HEAVEN.]" The name YAHWEH means “He Causes to Become.” That is comforting to know, for it means that God can carry out any purpose that he has in mind and can fulfill any promise that he makes.
HOW MANKIND LOST PARADISE
A rebel angel influences the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, to reject God’s rulership. As a result, sin and death enter the world. LONG before creating humans, God created many invisible spirit creatures—angels. In Eden, a rebellious angel, who came to be known as Satan the Devil, slyly endeavored to tempt Eve into eating the fruit of the one tree that God had ruled out.
Using a serpent, or snake, as a mouthpiece, Satan implied that God was withholding something desirable from the woman and her husband. The angel told Eve that she and her husband would not die if they ate the forbidden fruit. Satan thus accused God of lying to His human children.
The Deceiver presented disobedience to God as an appealing course that would lead to enlightenment and freedom. But this was all a lie—in fact, the first lie ever spoken on earth. The real point at issue involved God’s sovereignty, or supreme rulership—whether God has the right to rule and whether he exercises it in a righteous way and in the best interests of his subjects.
Eve believed Satan’s lie. She began to desire the fruit, and then she actually ate some of it. Later she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. Thus, they became sinners. That seemingly simple act was actually an expression of rebellion. By deliberately choosing to disobey God’s command, Adam and Eve rejected the rule of the Creator who had given them everything, including perfect life.
YAHWEH CALLS THE REBELS TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ACTIONS
God called the rebels to account for their actions. He foretold the coming of the promised Seed, or Deliverer, who would destroy Satan, the one represented by the serpent (Genesis 3:15) "[AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND HER OFFSPRING. HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD, AND YOU WILL STRIKE HIM IN THE HEEL.]" God deferred the execution of the death sentence upon Adam and Eve for a time, thereby showing mercy to their unborn offspring. Those children would have a basis for hope because the One whom God would send would undo the tragic consequences set in motion by the rebellion in Eden. Just how God’s purpose concerning this future Savior would be fulfilled—and who the send-forth One would be—was gradually revealed as Bible writing progressed.
God drove Adam and Eve out of Paradise. Sweat and toil would be required to eke out a living from the soil outside the garden of Eden. Eve then became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, the first child of Adam and Eve. The couple had other sons and daughters, including Abel and Seth, the forefather of Noah.
IMPERFECTION AND DEATH
God created Adam and Eve perfect, with the prospect of living forever in Paradise. When they rebelled against God, they sinned. Adam and Eve thereby lost perfection and severed their relationship with the Source of life, Jehovah. From then on, they and all their imperfect descendants could not avoid sin and ultimately death (Romans 5:12) "[THAT IS WHY, JUST AS THROUGH ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND SO DEATH THROUGH SIN, SO DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL SINNED.]"
WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?
What happens to a person when he dies? Is he still alive somewhere? Will the living ever again be able to enjoy on earth the company of those dead? Majority of people under the sun including a section of the clergy cannot answer the above questions correctly. Allow me to teach you concerning this subject using biblical proofs. First, let us examine what happened to Adam at his death; when Adam sinned God told him, “[YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD AND SWEAT TO MAKE THE SOIL PRODUCE ANYTHING, UNTIL YOU GO BACK TO THE SOIL FROM WHICH YOU WERE FORMED. YOU WERE MADE FROM SOIL, AND YOU WILL BECOME SOIL AGAIN].” (Genesis 3:17-19). What does this mean? Before God created Adam from the dust, there was no Adam, he did not exist. So, after Adam died, he returned to that same state of nonexistence. Simply stated, death is the opposite of life (Ecclesiastes 9:5) “[YES, THE LIVING KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO DIE, BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING. THEY HAVE NO FURTHER REWARD; THEY ARE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN].” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) “[WORK HARD AT WHATEVER YOU DO, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO ACTION, NO THOUGHT, NO KNOWLEDGE, NO WISDOM IN THE WORLD OF THE DEAD, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE GOING].” This means that the dead cannot do anything and cannot feel anything. (Psalms 146:3-4) “[DON’T PUT YOUR TRUST IN HUMAN LEADERS; NO HUMAN BEING CAN SAVE YOU WHEN THEY DIE, THEY RETURN TO THE DUST; ON THAT DAY ALL THEIR PLANS COME TO AN END].”
At death man’s spirit, his life-force, which is sustained by breathing, “goes out”. It no longer exists. So, man’s sense of hearing, sight, touch, smell and test, which depend upon his being able to think, all stop working, and man enters a complete state of unconsciousness. When they are dead, both humans and animals are in this same state of complete unconsciousness (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20) “[AFTER ALL, THE SAME FATE AWAITS HUMAN BEINGS AND ANIMALS ALIKE. ONE DIES JUST LIKE THE OTHER. THEY ARE BOTH SAME KIND OF CREATURE. A HUMAN BEING IS NO BETTER OFF THAN AN ANIMAL, BECAUSE LIFE HAS NO MEANING FOR EITHER. THEY ARE BOTH GOING TO THE SAME PLACE- THE DUST. THEY BOTH CAME FROM IT; THEY WILL BOTH GO BACK TO IT].”
God did not create man with a soul, man is soul. So, as we expect, when man dies, his soul dies. Never does the Bible say the soul is deathless or that it cannot die. At death the life-force in time leaves all the body cells and the body begins to decay. But this does not mean that our life-force literally leaves the earth and travels through space to God. Rather, the spirit returns to God in the sense that now our hope for future life rests entirely with God. Only by his power can the spirit or life-force be given back so that we can live again (Psalms 104:29-30) “[WHEN YOU TURN AWAY, THEY ARE AFRAID; WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY YOUR BREATH, THEY DIE AND GO BACK TO THE DUST FROM WHICH THET CAME. BUT WHEN YOU GIVE THEM BREATH, THEY ARE CREATED; YOU GIVE NEW LIFE TO THE EARTH]”.
THE ESCAPIST THEORY OF HUMANS GOING TO LIVE IN HEAVEN
MAN has had this erroneous belief of home in heaven afterlife on earth thus, like Prophet Isaiah said (Isaiah 1:18) "["COME, NOW, AND LET US SET MATTERS STRAIGHT BETWEEN US," SAYS JEHOVAH. "THOUGH YOUR SINS ARE LIKE SCARLET, THEY WILL BE MADE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY ARE AS RED AS CRIMSON CLOTH, THEY WILL BECOME LIKE WOOL.]" I invite you to let’s reason the following scriptures:
WHAT IS EARTH?
It is one of the planetary bodies that make up the universe. It is the only known place that sustains life. There is a supernatural energy or force that designed it so, and He is YAHWEH.
God called forth founded, created or formed the earth from the waters, (Genesis 1:2-19) "[NOW THE EARTH WAS FORMLESS AND DESOLATE, AND THERE WAS DARKNESS UPON THE SURFACE OF THE WATERY DEEP, AND GOD'S ACTIVE FORCE WAS MOVING ABOUT OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WATERS. AND GOD SAID: "LET THERE BE LIGHT." THEN THERE WAS LIGHT. AFTER THAT GOD SAW THAT THE LIGHT WAS GOOD, AND GOD BEGAN TO DIVIDE THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY, BUT THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, A FIRST DAY. THEN GOD SAID: "LET THE WATERS UNDER THE HEAVENS BE COLLECTED TOGETHER INTO ONE PLACE, AND LET THE DRAY LAND APPEAR." AND IT WAS SO. GOD CALLED THE DRY LAND EARTH, BUT THE COLLECTING OF WATERS, HE CALLED SEAS. AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. THEN GOD SAID: "LET THE EARTH CAUSE GRASS TO SPROUT, SEED-BEARING PLANTS AND FRUIT TREES ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS, YIELDING FRUIT ALONG WITH SEED ON THE EARTH." AND IT WAS SO. AND THE EARTH BEGAN TO PRODUCE GRASS, SEED-BEARING PLANTS AND TREES YIELDING FRUIT ALONG WITH SEED, ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS. THEN GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, A THIRD DAY. THEN GOD SAID: "LET THERE BE LUMINARIES IN THE EXPANSE OF THE HEAVENS TO MAKE A DIVISION BETWEEN THE DAY AND THE NIGHT, AND THEY WILL SERVE AS SIGNS FOR SEASONS AND FOR DAYS AND YEARS. THEY WILL SERVE AS LUMINARIES IN THE EXPANSE OF THE HEAVENS TO SHINE UPON THE EARTH." AND IT WAS SO. AND GOD WENT ON TO MAKE THE TWO GREAT LUMINARIES, THE GREATER LUMINARY FOR DOMINATING THE DAY AND THE LESSER LUMINARY FOR DOMINATING THE NIGHT, AND ALSO THE STARS. THUS, GOD PUT THEM IN THE EXPANSE OF THE HEAVENS TO SHINE UPON THE EARTH AND TO DOMINATE BY DAY AND BY NIGHT AND TO MAKE A DIVISION BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND THE DARKNESS. THEN GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, THE FOURTH DAY.]"
(Job 26:7) "[HE STRETCHES OUT THE NORTHERN SKY OVER EMPTY SPACE, SUSPENDING THE EARTH UPON NOTHING.]"
(Job 28:5-11) "[FOOD GROWS ON TOP OF THE EARTH; BUT BELOW, THERE IS AN UPHEAL AS IF BY FIRE. THERE IN THE STONES IS SAPPHIRE, AND THE DUST CONTAINS GOLD. NO BIRD OF PREY KNOWS THE PATH TO IT; THE EYE OF A BLACK KITE HAS NOT SEEN IT. NO MAJESTIC BEASTS HAVE TRODDEN ON IT; THE YOUNG LION HAS NOT PROWLED THERE. MAN STRIKES THE FLINTY ROCK WITH HIS HAND; HE OVERTURNS THE MOUNTAINS AT THEIR FOUNDATION. HE CUTS WATER CHANNELS IN THE ROCK; HIS EYES SPOT EVERY PRECIOUS THING. HE DAMS UP THE SOURCES OF RIVERS AND BRINGS WHAT WAS HIDDEN TO THE LIGHT.]"
(Psalms 24:1-10) "[TO JEHOVAH BELONG THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING IN IT, THE PRODUCTIVE LAND AND THOSE DWELLING ON IT. FOR HE HAS SOLIDLY FIXED IT ON THE SEAS AND FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IT ON THE RIVERS. WHO MAY ASCEND TO THE MOUNTAIN OF JEHOVAH, AND WHO MAY STAND UP IN HIS HOLY PLACE? ANYONE WITH INNOCENT HANDS AND A PURE HEART, WHO HAS NOT SWORN A FALSE OATH BY MY LIFE, NOR TAKEN AN OATH DECEITFULLY. HE WILL RECEIVE BLESSINGS FROM JEHOVAH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM HIS GOD OF SALVATION. THIS IS THE GENERATION OF THOSE SEEKING HIM, OF THOSE SEEKING YOUR FACE, O GOD OF JACOB. LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YOUR GATES; OPEN UP, YOUR ANCIENT DOORWAYS, THAT THE GLORIOUS KING MAY ENTER! WHO IS THIS GLORIOUS KING? JEHOVAH, STRONG AND MIGHTY, JEHOVAH, MIGHTY IN BATTLE. LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YOUR GATES; OPEN UP, YOUR ANCIENT DOORWAYS, THAT THE GLORIOUS KING MAY ENTER! WHO IS HE, THIS GLORIOUS KING? JEHOVAH OF ARMIES- HE IS THE GLORIOUS KING.]"
(Psalms 9:11) "[SING PRAISES TO JEHOVAH, WHO IS DWELLING IN ZION; MAKE HIS DEEDS KNOWN AMONG THE PEOPLES.]" In all of the quoted scriptures, earth is one. It is written in the singular tense, while heaven is in the form, indicating that there are many heavens.
INTENTION AND PURPOSE OF EARTH BY GOD
The all-wise and knowledgeable God formed the earth for man to perpetually live and dwell on (Genesis 1:26-31) "[THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH." AND GOD WENT ON 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, 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 ON THE EARTH." THEN GOD SAID: "HERE I HAVE GIVEN TO YOU EVERY SEED-BEARING PLANT THAT IS ON THE ENTIRE EARTH AND EVERY TREE WITH SEED-BEARING FRUIT. LET THEM SERVE AS FOOD FOR YOU. AND TO EVERY WILD ANIMAL OF THE EARTH AND TO EVERY FLYING CREATURE OF THE HEAVENS AND TO EVERYTHING MOVING ON THE EARTH IN WHICH THERE IS LIFE, I HAVE GIVEN ALL GREEN VEGETATION FOR FOOD." AND IT WAS SO. AFTER THAT GOD SAW EVERYTHING HE HAD MADE, AND LOOK! IT WAS VERY GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING.]"
(Genesis 2:15) "[JEHOVAH GOD TOOK THE MAN AND SETTLED HIM IN THE GARDEN OF E'DEN TO CULTIVATE IT AND TO TAKE CARE OF IT.]"
He gave man absolute and total charge for earth, to create a type of heaven on earth. God hadn’t an afterthought. And never a time did God purpose for man to come and dwell with him in his villa (heaven) Otherwise, all citizens of every nation will want to go stay in their president’s villa. (Psalm 115:14-16) "[JEHOVAH WILL GIVE YOU AN INCREASE, TO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN. MAY YOU BE BLESSED BY JEHOVAH, THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. AS FOR THE HEAVENS, THEY BELONG TO JEHOVAH, BUT THE EARTH HE HAS GIVEN TO THE SONS OF MEN.]"
(Isaiah 45:12) "[I MADE THE EARTH AND CREATED MAN ON IT. I STRETCHED OUT THE HEAVENS WITH MY OWN HANDS, AND I GIVE ORDERS TO ALL THEIR ARMY.]"
(Isaiah 45:18) "[FOR THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS, THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS, THE TRUE GOD, THE ONE WHO FORMED THE EARTH, ITS MAKER WHO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IT, WHO DID NOT CREATE IT SIMPLY FOR NOTHING, BUT FORMED IT TO BE INHIBITED: "I AM JEHOVAH, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE.]"
THE DESIGNING ROOM
There is a designing room in every standard factory, and establishment and on the door is written ‘’Out of bounds’’ There the Almighty dwells to design all the creation and it is exclusive to him and the God hand no other can get close. Here is the first heaven (Genesis 2:1) "[THUS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING IN THEM WERE COMPLETED. AND BY THE SEVENTH DAY AND GOD COMPLETED THE WORK THAT HE HAD BEEN DOING, AND HE BEGAN TO REST ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORK THAT HE HAD BEEN DOING.]" (Isaiah 42:5) "[THIS IS WHAT THE TRUE GOD, JEHOVAH, SAYS, THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE GRAND ONE WHO STRETCHED THEM OUT, THE ONE WHO SPREAD OUT THE EARTH AND ITS PRODUCE, THE ONE WHO GIVES BREATH TO PEOPLE ON IT AND SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO WALK ON IT.]" (Isaiah 45:12 "[I MADE THE EARTH AND CREATED MAN ON IT. I STRETCHED OUT THE HEAVENS WITH MY OWN HANDS, AND I GIVE ORDERS TO ALL THEIR ARMY.]" (Daniel 4:13) "["'AS I VIEWED THE VISIONS OF MY HEAD WHILE ON MY BED, I SAW A WATCHER, A HOLY ONE, COMING DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS.]" (Daniel 4:17) "[THIS IS BY THE DECREE OF WATCHERS, AND THE REQUEST IS BY THE WORD OF THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONES, SO THAT PEOPLE LIVING MAY KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH IS RULER IN THE KINGDOM OF MANKIND AND THAT HE GIVES IT TO WHOMEVER HE WANTS, AND HE SETS UP OVER IT EVEN THE LOWLIEST OF MEN.]" (Daniel 4:23-26) "["'AND THE KING SAW A WATCHER, A HOLY ONE, COMING DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS, WHO WAS SAYING: "CHOP DOWN THE TREE AND DESTROY IT, BUT LEAVE THE STUMP WITH ITS ROOTS IN THE GROUND, WITH A BANDING OF IRON AND OF COPPER, AMONG THE GRASS OF THE FIELD. AND LET THE DEW OF THE HEAVENS MAKE IT WET, AND LET ITS PORTIONS BE WITH THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD UNTIL SEVEN TIMES PASS OVER IT." THIS IS THE INTERPRETATION, O KING; IT IS THE DECREE OF THE MOST HIGH THAT MUST BEFALL MY LORD THE KING. YOU WILL BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM AMONG MEN, AND YOUR DWELLING WILL BE WITH THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN VEGETATION TO EAT JUST LIKE BULLS; AND YOU WILL BECOME WET WITH THE DEW OF THE HEAVENS, AND SEVEN TIMES WILL PASS OVER YOU, UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH IS RULER IN THE KINGDOM OF MANKIND AND THAT HE GRANTS IT TO WHOMEVER HE WANTS. "'BUT BECAUSE THEY SAID TO LEAVE THE STUMP OF THE TREE WITH ITS ROOTS, YOUR KINGDOM WILL BE YOURS AGAIN AFTER YOU COME TO KNOW THAT THE HEAVENS ARE RULING.]" (Matthew 11:25-27) "[AT THAT TIME JESUS SAID IN RESPONSE: "I PUBLICLY PRAISE YOU, FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HIDDEN THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND INTELLECTUAL ONES AND HAVE REVEALED THEM TO YOUNG CHILDREN. YES, O FATHER, BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROVED. ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO ME BY MY FATHER, AND NO ONE FULLY KNOWS THE SON EXCEPT THE FATHER; NEITHER DOES ANYONE FULLY KNOW THE FATHER EXCEPT THE SON AND ANYONE WHOM THE SON IS WILLING TO REVEAL TO HIM.]" (John 1:1-4) "[IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS A GOD. THIS ONE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. ALL THE THINGS CAME INTO EXISTENCE THROUGH HIM, AND APART FROM HIM NOT EVEN ONE THING CAME INTO EXISTENCE. WHAT HAS COME INTO EXISTENCE BY MEANS OF HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN.]" (Nehemiah 9:6) "[YOU ALONE ARE JEHOVAH; YOU MADE THE HEAVENS, YES, THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. AND YOU PRESERVE ALL OF THEM ALIVE, AND THE ARMY OF THE HEAVENS ARE BOWING DOWN TO YOU.]"
THE SECOND HEAVEN
(Genesis 1:26) "[THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH.]"
(Psalm 139: 13-18) "[FOR YOU PRODUCED MY KIDNEYS; YOU KEPT ME SCREENED OFF IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB. I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE IN AN AWE-INSPIRING WAY I AM WONDERFULLY MADE. YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL, I KNOW THIS VERY WELL. MY BONES WERE NOT HIDDEN FROM YOU WHEN I WAS MADE IN SECRET, WHEN I WAS WOVEN IN THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH. YOUR EYES EVEN SAW ME AS AN EMBRYO; ALL ITS PARTS WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK REGARDING THE DAYS WHEN THEY WERE FORMED, BEFORE ANY OF THEM EXISTED. SO, TO ME, HOW PRECIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS ARE! O GOD, HOW VAST IS THE SUM OF THEM. IF I TRY TO COUNT THEM, THEY OUTNUMBER THE GRAINS OF SAND. WHEN I WAKE, I AM STILL WITH YOU.]"
(Ezekiel 8:1-15) "[AND IN THE SIXTH YEAR, IN THE SIXTH MONTH, ON THE FITH DAY OF THE MONTH, WHEN I WAS SITTING IN MY HOUSE AND THE ELDERS OF JUDAH WERE SITTING BEFORE ME, THE HAND OF THE SOVEEIGN LORD JEHOVAH TOOK HOLD OF ME THERE. AS I WATCHED, I SAW A FORM SIMILAR TO THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE; THERE WAS FIRE BELOW WHAT APPEAREDTO BE HIS WAIST, AND FROM HIS WAIST, AND FROM HIS WAIST UPWARD HIS APPEARANCE WAS BRIGHT, LIKE THE GLOW OF ELECTRUM. THEN HE STRETCHED OUT WHAT APPEARED TO BE A HAND AND TOOK ME BY THE TURFT OF HAIR OF MY HEAD, AND A SPIRIT CARRIED ME BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS AND BROUGHT ME TO JERUSALEM BY MEANS OF THE VISIONS FROM GOD TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE INNER GATE THAT FACES NORTH, WHERE THE UDOLATROUS SYMBOL OF JEALOUSY THAT INCITES JEALOUSY STOOD. AND LOOK! THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS THERE, LIKE THE APPEARANCE THAT I HAD SEEN IN THE VALLEY PLAIN. HE THEN SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, PLEASE RAISE YOUR EYES TOWARD THE NORTH." SO, I RAISED MY EYES TOWARD THE NORTH, AND THERE, NORTH OF THE GATE OF THE ALTAR, WAS THIS SYMBOL OF JEALOUSY IN THE ENTRYWAY. AND HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, DO YOU SEE WHAT TERRIBLE, DETESTABLE THINGS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL IS DOING HERE, THINGS THAT MAKE ME GO FAR AWAY FROM MY SANCTUARY? BUT YOU WILL SEE DETESTABLE THINGS THAT ARE EVEN MORE TERRIBLE." THEN HE BROUGHT ME TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE COURTYARD, AND WHEN I LOOKED, I SAW A HOLE IN THE WALL. HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, PLEASE BORE THROUGH THE WALL." SO, I BORED THROUGH THE WALL, AND I SAW AN ENTRYWAY. HE SAID TO ME: "GO IN AND SEE THE EVIL, DETESTABLE THINGS THAT THEY ARE DOING HERE." SO, I WENT IN AND LOOKED, AND I SAW ALL SORTS OF IMAGES OF CREEPING THINGS AND LOATHSOME BEASTS AND ALL THE DISGUSTING IDOLS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; THEY WERE CARVED ON THE WALL ALL ROUND. and 70 OF THE ELDERS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WERE STANDING BEFORE THEM, WITH JAAZANIAH THE SON OF SHA'PHAN STANDING AMONG THEM. EACH ONE HAD HIS CENSER IN HIS HAND, AND THE PERFUMED CLOUD OF INCENSE WAS ASCENDING. HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, DO YOU SEE WHAT THE ELDERS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ARE DOING IN THE DARKNESS, EACH ONE IN THE INNER ROOMS WHERE HIS IDOLS ARE DISPLAYED? FOR THEY ARE SAYING, 'JEHOVAH IS NOT SEEING US, JEHOVAH HAS LEFT THE LAND."' AND HE FURTHER SAID TO ME: "DO YOU SEE THIS, O SON OF MAN? YOU WILL SEE DESTESTABLE THINGS THAT ARE EVEN MORE TERRIBLE THAN THESE." SO, HE BROUGHT ME TO THE INNER COURTYARD OF THE HOUSE OF JEHOVAH. THERE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH, BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR, WERE ABOUT 25 MEN WITH THEIR BACKS TO THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH AND THEIR FACES TO THE EAST; THEY WERE BOWING DOWN TO THE SUN IN THE EAST. HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, DO YOU SEE THIS? IS IT A TRIVIAL THING FOR THE HOUSE OF JUDAH TO DO THESE DETESTABLE THINGS, TO FILL THE LAND WITH VIOLENCE AND KEEP OFFENDING ME? HERE THEY ARE THRUSTING OUT THE BRANCH TO MY NOSE. SO, I WILL ACT IN MY RAGE. MY EYE WILL NOT FEEL SORRY; NOR WILL I FEEL COMPASSION. EVEN THOUGH THEY CRY OUT LOUDLY IN MY EARS, I WILL NOT HEAR THEM.]"
This Strater of heaven could be said to be God’s workshop as it were, where he meets with other hosts of heaven for fabrication, assembling or fitting in place all the parts secretly provided for by God. These include the Pleiades, Orion’s the seven stars or constellations which have direct effect on the earth where man dwells (Job 9:9) "[HE MADE THE ASH, THE KESIL, AND THE KI'MAH CONSTELLATIONS, AND THE CONSTELLATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SKY.]" (Job 38:31:34) "[CAN YOU TIE THE ROPES OF THE KI'MAH CONSTELLATION OR UNTIE THE CORDS OF THE KE'SIL CONSTELLATION? CAN YOU LEAD OUT A CONSTELLATION IN ITS SEASON OR GUIDE THE ASH CONSTELLATION ALONG WITH ITS SONS? DO YOU KNOW THE LAWS GOVERNING THE HEAVENS, OR CAN YOU IMPOSE THEIR AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE TO THE CLOUDS TO CAUSE A FLOOD OF WATER TO COVER YOU?]" (Psalm 104:20) "[YOU BRING DARKNESS, AND NIGHT FALLS, WHEN ALL THE WILD ANIMALS OF THE FOREST ROAM ABOUT.]" (Amos 4:13) "[FOR LOOK! HE IS THE ONE WHO FORMED THE MOUNTAINS AND CREATED THE WIND; HE TELLS MAN WHAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE, HE TURNS THE DAWN INTO DARKNESS, AND HE TREADS ON EARTH'S HIGH PLACES; JEHOVAH THE GOD OF ARMIES IS HIS NAME.]" (Amos 5:8) "[THE ONE WHO MADE THE KI'MAH CONSTELLATION AND THE KE'SIL CONSTELLATION, THE ONE WHO MAKES DAY AS DARK AS NIGHT, THE ONE WHO SUMMONS THE WATERS OF THE SEA TO POUR THEM OUT ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH- JEHOVAH IS HIS NAME.]"
THE THIRD HEAVEN
The sky, cloud, moon, stars, sun which are visible to earthman. These to have direct influence on man. These could be said to be the showroom for all that have been designed in the secret and crafted for man to see the power and beauty of God (Jeremiah 10:2-5) "[HEAR THE WORD THAT JEHOVAH HAS SPOKEN AGAINST YOU, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL. THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS: "DO NOT LEARN THE WAY OF THE NATIONS, AND DO NOT BE TERRIFIED BY THE SIGNS OF THE HEAVENS BECAUSE THE NATIONS ARE TERRIFIED BY THEM. FOR THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLES ARE A DELUTION. IT IS JUST A TREE OF THE FOREST THAT IS CUT DOWN, WORKED BY THE HANDS OF THE CRAFTMAN WITH HIS TOOL. THEY ADORN IT WITH SILVER AND GOLD AND FASTEN IT WITH HAMMER AND NAILS SO THAT IT WILL NOT FALL OVER LIKE A SCARECROW IN A CUCUMBER FIELD, THEY CANNOT SPEAK; THEY HAVE TO BE CARRIED, FOR THEY CANNOT WALK. DO NOT FEAR THEM FOR THEY CAN DO NO GOOD.]" (Isaiah 26:13) "[O JEHOVAH OUR GOD OTHER MASTERS BESIDES YOU HAVE RULED OVER US, BUT WE MAKE MENTION OF YOUR NAME ALONE.]" (Matthew 16:2-4) "[IN REPLY HE SAID TO THEM: "WHEN EVENING FALLS, YOU SAY, 'IT WILL BE FAIR WEATHER, FOR THE SKY IS FIRE-RED, AND THE MORNING, 'IT WILL BE WINTRY, RAINY WEATHER TODAY, FOR THE SKY IS FIRE-RED BUT GLOOMY.' YOU KNOW HOW TO INTERPRET THE APPEARANCE OF THE SKY, BUT THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES YOU CANNOT INTERPRET. A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION KEEPS SEEKING A SIGN, BUT NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN IT EXCEPT THE SIGN OF JONAH. WITH THAT HE WENT AWAY, LEAVING THEM BEHIND.]"
Authority has been given to man to take charge of the second and third heaven, but man has from creation violated and destroyed God’s plans for the earth.
Desecration of the Earth
(Job 20:27-28) "[HEAVEN WILL UNCOVER HIS ERROR; THE EARTH WILL RISE UP AGAINST HIM. A FLOOD WILL SWEEP HIS HOUSE AWAY; IT WILL BE A HEAVY TORRENT ON THE DAY OF GOD'S ANGER.]" (Psalms 73:25) "[WHO DO I HAVE IN THE HEAVENS? AND BESIDES YOU I DESIRE NOTHING ON EARTH.]" man in the quest for knowledge has rather gone off completely, and not even the advent of Christ has helped matters. (Matthew 24:29-30) "["IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL FROM HEAVEN, AND THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE SHAKEN. THEN THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN WILL APPEAR IN HEAVEN, AND ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL BEAT THEMSELVES IN GRIEF, AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE HEAVENS WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. AND HE WILL SEND OUT HIS ANGELS WITH A GREAT TRUMPET SOUND, AND THEY WILL GATHER HIS CHOSEN ONES TOGETHER FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE EXTRIMITY OF THE HEAVENS TO THEIR OTHER EXTRIMITY.]" (Matthew 26:63-64) "[BUT JESUS KEPT SILENT. SO, THE HIGH PRIEST SAID TO HIM: "I PUT YOU UNDER OATH BY THE LIVING GOD TO TELL US WHETHER YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD!" JESUS SAID TO HIM: "YOU YOURSELF SAID IT. BUT I SAY TO YOU: FROM NOW ON YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.]" (Mark 14:16-62) "[
(Isaiah 7:6) "["LET US GO UP AGAINST JUDAH AND TEAR IT APART AND CONQUER IT FOR OURSELVES AND LET US APPOINT THE SON OF TAB'E.EL AS ITS KING." (Luke 21:25-28) "["ALSO, THERE WILL BE SIGNS IN THE SUN AND MOON AND STARS, AND ON THE EARTH ANGUISH OF NATIONS NOT KNOWING THE WAY OUT BECAUSE OF THE ROARING OF THE SEA AND ITS AGITATION. PEOPLE WILL BECOME FAINT OUT OF FEAR AND EXPECTATION OF THE THINGS COMING UPON THE INHABITED EARTH, FOR THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE SHAKEN. AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. BUT AS THESE THINGS START TO OCCUR, STAND UP STRAIGHT AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, BECAUSE YOUR DELIVERENCE IS GETTING NEAR.]" (John 14:1-4) "["DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. EXERCISE FAITH IN GOD; EXERCISE FAITH ALSO IN ME. IN THE HOUSE OF MY FATHER ARE MANY DWELLING PLACES. OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, FOR I AM GOING MY WAY TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. ALSO, IF I GO MY WAY AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND WILL RECEIVE YOU HOME TO MYSELF, SO THAT WHERE I AM YOU ALSO MAY BE. AND WHERE I AM GOING, YOU KNOW THE WAY.]" (Acts 1:9-11) "[AFTER HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS. WHILE THEY WERE LOOKING ON, HE WAS LIFTED UP AND A CLOUD CAUGHT HIM UP FROM THEIR SIGHT. AND AS THEY WERE GAZING INTO THE SKY WHILE HE WAS ON HIS WAY, SUDDENLY TWO MEN IN WHITE GARMENTS STOOD BESIDE THEM AND SAID: "MEN OF GAL'LEE, WHY DO YOU STAND LOOKING INTO THE SKY? THIS JESUS WHO WAS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO THE SKY WILL COME IN THE SAME MANNER AS YOU HAVE SEEN HIM GOING INTO THE SKY.]" (Hebrew 9:27-28) "[AND JUST AS IT IS RESERVED FOR MEN TO DIE ONCE FOR ALL TIME, BUT AFTER THIS TO RECEIVE A JUDGEMENT, SO ALSO THE CHRIST WAS OFFERED ONCE FOR ALL TIME TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY; AND THE SECOND TIME THAT HE APPEARS IT WILL BE PART FROM SIN, AND HE WILL BE SEEN BY THOSE EARNESTLY LOOKING FOR HIM FOR THEIR SALVATION.]"
Heaven of God’s above Heaven of God’s abode is so pure, clean and crystally glittering that the earth man who from after the fall as defined all of GOD’S and Jesus intervention plan, can approach God’s throne, not to talk of going there to live,(Job 37:21) "[THEY CANNOT EVEN SEE THE LIGHT, THOUGH IT IS BRIGHT IN THE SKY, UNTIL A WIND PASSES BY AND CLEARS AWAY THE CLOUDS.]" (Psalms 24:3-4) "[MAGNIFY JEHOVAH ALONG WITH ME; LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER. I INQUIRED OF JEHOVAH, AND HE ANSWERED ME. HE RESCUED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS.]", it was not designed to accommodate man at any time.
WHERE THEN WILL MAN BE IN THE END?
Even with the advent and teaching of Christ, man has not understood Him. The Psalmist says (Psalms 37:11) "[BUT THE MEEK WILL POSSESS THE EARTH, AND THEY WILL FIND EXQUISITE DELIGHT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF PEACE.]" (Psalms 37:29) "[THE RIGHTEOUS WILL POSSESS THE EARTH, AND THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER ON IT.]" and Jesus too in (Matthew 5:5) "[HAPPY ARE THE MILDTEMPERED, SINCE THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.]"-These quotes have been grossly misunderstood and also the Lord’s Prayer which has the following lines “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
Never a time did God purpose man to come and live with him in Heaven. Man has violated God’s divine principle of living on earth he has destroyed the earth and is wanting to escape to live and dwell in heaven. No scripture supports this line of thinking rather; God will create a new earth for only the meek and righteous in or by Christ.
The following scripture, Isaiah 65:17-26, 66:22-24, Revelation 21:1-8,22-27 explains that yes, the best GOD will do for those who endeavor to live godly in Christ-like life is to create a new heaven and a new earth for man. Even with these, man still intends to go live in heaven. Nobody is reasoning as to this future event, the creation of a new earth. It is obvious that in the new earth only humans with a renewed, change of heart and a heart of flesh shall live there. God himself will give man such heart (Isaiah 65:17-26) "[FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH; AND THE FORMER THINGS WILL NOT BE CALLED TO MIND. NOR WILL THEY COME UP INTO THE HEART. SO, EXULT AND BE JOYFUL FOREVER IN WHAT I AM CREATING. FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING JERUSALEM A CAUSE FOR JOY EXULTATION. AND I WILL REJOICE IN JERUSALEM AND EXULT IN MY PEOPLE; NO MORE WILL THERE BE HEARD IN HER THE SOUND OF WEEPING OR A CRY OF DISTRESS." "NO MORE WILL THERE BE AN INFANT FROM THAT PLACE WHO LIVES BUT A FEW DAYS, NOR AN OLD MAN WHO FAILS TO LIVE BUT A FEW DAYS, NOR AN OLD MAN WHO FAILS TO LIVE OUT HIS DAYS. FOR ANYONE WHO DIES AT A HUNDRED WILL BE CONSIDERED A MERE BOY, AND THE SINNER WILL BE CURSED, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE. THEY WILL BUILD HOUSES AND LIVE IN THEM, AND THEY WILL PLANT VINEYARDS AND EAT THEIR FRUITAGE. THEY WILL NOT BUILD FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO INHIBIT, NOR WILL THEY PLANT FOR OTHERS TO EAT. FOR THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE THE DAYS OF A TREE, AND THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS MY CHOSEN ONES WILL ENJOY TO THE FULL. THEY WILL NOT TOIL FOR NOTHING, NOR WILL THEY BEAR CHILDREN FOR DISTRESS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OFFSPRING MADE UP OF THOSE BLESSED BY JEHOVAH, AND THEIR DESCENDANTS WITH THEM, EVEN BEFORE THEY CALL OUT, I WILL ANSWER; WHILE THEY ARE YET SPEAKING, I WILL HEAR. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB WILL FEED TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW JUST LIKE THE BULL, AND THE SERPENT'S FOOD WILL BE DUST. THEY WILL DO NO HARM NOR CAUSE ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN," SAYS JEHOVAH.]"
Meanwhile, at death, until Christ comes the second time, all the dead are in the grave (Acts 2:29) "["MEN, BROTHERS, IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO SPEAK WITH FREENESS OF SPEECH TO YOU ABOUT THE FAMILY HEAD DAVID, THAT HE DIED AND WAS BURIED, AND HIS TOMB IS WITH US TO THIS DAY.]" (Romans 8:11) "[IF NOW, THE SPIRIT OF HIM WHO RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELLS IN YOU, THE ONE WHO RAISED UP CHRIST JESUS FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO MAKE YOUR MORTAL BODIES ALIVE THROUGH HIS SPIRIT THAT RESIDES IN YOU.]" (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) "[MOREOVER, BROTHERS, WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE SLEEPING IN DEATH, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SORROW AS THE REST DO WHO HAVE NO HOPE. FOR IF WE HAVE FAITH THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, SO TOO GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH THROUGH JESUS. FOR THIS IS WHAT WE TELL YOU BY JEHOVAHS' WORD, THAT WE ARE LIVING WHO SURVIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD WILL IN NO WAY PRECEDE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH; BECAUSE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A COMMANDING CALL, WITH AN ARCHANGEL'S VOICE AND WITH GOD'S TRUMPET, AND THOSE WHO ARE DEAD IN UNION WITH CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. AFTERWARD WE THE LIVING WHO ARE SURVIVING WILL, TOGETHER WITH THEM, BE CAUGHT AWAY IN CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. SO, KEEP COMFORTING ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.]"
DEBUNKING,"LETS GO TO HEAVEN LIES"
Why? In an age when people try to make doctrines more appealing by ignoring or twisting biblical truth, here’s the irony—the true biblical doctrine of Heaven is far more attractive than the dull, inhuman view of the afterlife that has long prevailed in evangelicalism. This off-putting perspective still imprisons many believers.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HEAVEN
"We will spend eternity in the clouds."
After the final judgment, God will remake the universe itself and then relocate the present Heaven to the New Earth, where He will live with His people (Revelation 21:1–4) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN, 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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEIGTHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]" The promise of Heaven on earth shouldn’t surprise us, but it’s shocking and suspicious if we’ve always believed something else.
Many throughout history understood this biblical doctrine, including more recent Reformed theologians such as Herman Bavinck, Cornelius Venema, Anthony Hoekema, and Albert Wolters. Sadly, the great majority of evangelicals have not read their books. Even those who have don’t always grasp the implications.
At Bible college and seminary, my last New Testament classes ended with the final judgment in Revelation 20. In eschatology, we examined the pros and cons of a mid-tribe rapture, and discussed the millennium, but we never talked about the New Earth, the central subject of Scripture’s last two chapters. So, we paid zero attention to the place where we will live with Jesus and each other forever! Pastors who have read Heaven often contact me to share that their education was nearly identical.
As humans, we’re no more drawn to a vague angelic realm than we are to eating gravel. We need to recover the biblical doctrine of Heaven, culminating in the New Earth.
"The Bible says very little about Heaven."
A Christian leader once visited my office, asking what I was researching. “A big book on Heaven,” I answered. He replied, (1 Corinthians 2:9) "[BUT JUST AS IT IS WRITTEN: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, NOR HAVE THERE BEEN CONCEIVED IN THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.]" “So what will you write about?” He paused a question to me. I gave my usual response: “You didn’t complete the sentence: (1 Corinthians 2:10) "[FOR IT IS TO US GOD HAS REVEALED THEM THROUGH HIS SPIRIT, FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHES INTO ALL THINGS, EVEN THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.]"
When God reveals otherwise undiscoverable truths to us, we’d better pay attention (Deuteronomy 29:29) "[THE THINGS CONCEALED BELONG TO JEHOVAH OUR GOD, BUT THE THINGS REVEALED BELONG TO US AND OUR DESCENDANTS FOREVER, SO THAT WE MAY CARRY OUT ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW.]" The Bible’s substantial information about the world to come belongs to us—and the Bible provides far more information than most realize (for example, Isaiah 60 is quoted twice in Revelation 22, suggesting it’s about the New Earth). God wants us to anticipate what awaits us. That’s why Peter says, (2 Peter 3:13) "[BUT THERE ARE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH THAT WE ARE WAITING ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, AND IN THESE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO DWELL.]"
"We can learn about Heaven from people’s claims of going there."
A television network once called my office and asked, “Has Randy been to Heaven?” Our receptionist answered, “If he has, he’s never mentioned it. But he did do years of research in the Bible and church history.” The conversation ended abruptly: “We want to interview people who have actually been there.”
Too often, people view accounts of visiting Heaven as gospel. Obviously, God can show someone the afterlife if He so chooses. But (Hebrew 9:27) "[AND JUST AS IT IS RESERVED FOR MEN TO DIE ONCE FOR ALL TIME, BUT AFTER THIS TO RECEIVE A JUDGEMENT.]" Since these stories are told by people who will “die twice,” it seems likely that they did not truly die the first time, even if vital signs weren’t measurable. A person’s memories under heavy sedation—and his or her ability to distinguish dreams from reality—aren’t reliable, but God’s word is (John 17:17) "[SANCTIFY THEM BY MEANS OF THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.]"
The apostle Paul, who had been to Heaven, said, (2 Corinthians 12:3–4) "[YES, I KNOW SUCH A MAN- WHETHER IN THE BODY OR PART FROM THE BODY, I DO NOT KNOW; GOD KNOWS- WHO WAS CAUGHT AWAY INTO PARADISE AND HEARD WORDS THAT CANNOT BE SPOKEN AND THAT ARE NOT LAWFUL FOR MAN TO SAY.]" Many books, however, claim to divulge secrets that, sadly, some readers believe instead of Scripture.
"Heaven now will be Heaven later."
When Christians die, they enter the present Heaven. “Grandma’s now in Heaven” refers to a temporary period between life on earth and the resurrection.
Though the present Heaven is wonderful, “far better” than earth under the curse (Philippians 1:21-23) "[FOR IN MY CASE, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS AGAIN. NOW IF I AM TO LIVE ON IN THE FLESH, THIS IS A FRUITAGE OF MY WORK; YET WHAT I WOULD CHOOSE, I DO NOT MAKE KNOWN. I AM TORN BETWEEN THESE TWO THINGS, FOR I DO DESIRE THE RELEASING AND THE BEING IN CHRIST, WHICH IS, TO BE SURE I DO NOT KNOW.]" , it is not the place we’re made for. Our destiny is a resurrected life on a resurrected earth, (Revelation 21:1-3) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW 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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]" Heaven is wherever God dwells and His throne is, and God’s dwelling place and throne will be on the New Earth (Revelation 22:1-5) "[AND HE SHOWED ME A RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL, FLOWING OUT FROM THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB DOWN THE MIDDLE OF ITS MAIN STREET. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER WERE TREES OF LIFE PRODUCING 12 CROPS OF FRUIT, YEILDING THEIR FRUITS EACH MONTH. AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREES WERE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. AND THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY CURSE. BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB WILL BE IN THE CITY, AND HIS SLAVES WILL OFFER HIM SACRED SERVICE; AND THEY WILL SEE HIS FACE AND HIS NAME WILL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS. ALSO, NIGHT WILL BE NO MORE, AND THEY HAVE NO NEED OF LAMPLIGHT OR SUNLIGHT, FOR JEHOVAH GOD WILL SHED LIGHT UPON THEM, AND THEY WILL RULE AS KINGS FOREVER AND EVER.]"
God’s ultimate plan is not to take us up to live with Him in His place (which happens at death). His plan is, rather, to come down after the resurrection to live with us forever in our place, the New Earth. As Jesus is God incarnate, so the New Earth will be Heaven incarnate.
"We’ll live forever without a body."
Plato believed that material things, including bodies, are evil, while immaterial things, such as souls, are good. What I call “Christo Platonism” infects many churches, teaching that human spirits are better off without bodies, and Heaven is a disembodied realm.
Our inability to appreciate the physical nature of the resurrection robs believers of excitement for Heaven. God’s future plan of a renewed physical universe means we will live, eat and drink, laugh and play, rest and work, exercise our gifts as God’s image-bearers, and most importantly, be with, worship, and serve King Jesus.
Jesus spoke of the “renewal of all things” (Matthew 19:27-29) "[THEN PETER SAID IN REPLY: "LOOK! WE HAVE LEFT ALL THINGS AND FOLLOWED YOU; WHAT THEN, WILL THERE BE FOR US?" JESUS SAID TO THEM: "TRULY I SAY TO YOU, IN THE RE-CREATION WHEN THE SON OF MAN SITS DOWN ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE, YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ME WILL SIT ON 12 THRONES, JUDGING THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL. AND EVERYONE WHO HAS LEFT HOUSES OR BROTHERS OR SISTERS OR FATHER OR MOTHER OR CHILDREN OR LANDS FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME WILL RECEIVE A HUNDRED TIMES AS MUCH AND WILL INHERIT EVERLASTING LIFE.]"
Peter preached that Christ would remain in Heaven, (Acts 3:21) "[HEAVEN MUST HOLD THIS ONE WITHIN ITSELF UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS OF WHICH GOD SPOKE THROUGH THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS OF OLD.]" Yet somehow, we’ve overlooked an entire biblical vocabulary. Reconcile. Redeem. Restore. Recover. Return. Renew. Resurrect. God plans to physically restore His entire creation, including us, earth, and animals (Isaiah 11:6–10) "[THE WOLF WILL RESIDE FOR A WHILE WITH THE LAMB, AND WITH THE YOUNG GOAT THE LEOPARD WILL LIE DOWN, AND THE CALF AND THE LION AND THE FATTENED ANIMAL WILL ALL BE TOGETHER; AND A LITTLE BOY WILL LEAD THEM. THE COW AND THE BEAR WILL FEED TOGETHER, AND THEIR YOUNG WILL LIE DOWN TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW LIKE THE BULL. THE NURSING CHILD WILL PLAY OVER THE LIAR OF A COBRA, AND A WEANED CHILD WILL PUT HIS HAND OVER THE DEN OF A POISONOUS SNAKE. THEY WILL NOT CAUSE ANY HARM OR ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, BECAUSE THE EARTH WILL CERTAINLY BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF JEHOVAH. IN THAT DAY THE ROOT OF JES'SE WILL STAND UP AS A SIGNAL FOR THE PEOPLES. TO HIM THE NATIONS WILL TURN FOR GUIDANCE, AND HIS RESTING-PLACE WILL BECOME GLORIOUS.]" (Isaiah 65:17-25) "[FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH; AND THE FORMER THINGS WILL NOT BE CALLED TO MIND, NOR WILL THEY COME UP INTO THE HEART. SO EXULT AND BE JOYFUL FOREVER IN WHAT I AM CREATING. FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING JERUSALEM A CAUSE FOR JOY AND HER PEOPLE A CAUSE OF EXULTATION. AND I WILL REJOICE IN JERUSALEM AND EXULT IN MY PEOPLE; NO MORE WILL THERE BE HEARD IN HER THE SOUND OF WEEPING OR A CRY OF DISTRESS." "NO MORE WILL THERE BE AN INFANT FROM THAT PLACE WHO LIVES BUT A FEW DAYS, NOR AN OLD MAN WHO FAILS TO LIVE OUT HIS DAYS. FOR ANYONE WHO DIES A HUNDRED WILL BE CONSIDERED A MERE BOY, AND THE SINNER WILL BE CURSED, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE. THEY WILL BUILD HOUSES AND LIVE IN THEM, AND THEY WILL PLANT VINEYARDS AND EAT THEIR FRUITAGE. THEY WILL NOT BUILD FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO INHIBIT. NOR WILL THEY PLANT FOR OTHERS TO EAT. FOR THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE THE DAYS OF A TREE. AND THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS MY CHOSEN ONES WILL ENJOY TO THE FULL. THEY WILL NOT TOIL FOR NOTHING, NOR WILL THEY BEAR CHILDREN FOR DISTRESS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OFFSPRING MADE UP OF THOSE BLESSED BY JEHOVAH, AND THEIR DESCENDANTS WITH THEM. EVEN BEFORE THEY CALL OUT. I WILL ANSWER; WHILE THEY ARE YET SPEAKING, I WILL HEAR. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB WILL FEED TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW JUST LIKE THE BULL, AND THE SERPENT'S FOOD WILL BE DUST. THEY WILL DO NO HARM NOR CAUSE ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN," SAYS JEHOVAH.]" (Romans 8:18–23) "[FOR I CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS THAT THE PRESENT TIME DO NOT AMOUNT TO ANYTHING IN COMPARISON WITH THE GLORY THAT IS GOING TO BE REVEALED IN US. FOR THE CREATION IS WAITING WITH EAGER EXPECTATION FOR THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD. FOR THE CREATION WAS SUBJECTED TO FUTILITY, NOT BY ITS OWN WILL, BUT THROUGH THE ONE WHO SUBJECTED IT, ON THE BASIS OF HOPE. THAT THE CREATION ITSELF WILL ALSO BE SET FREE FROM ENSLAVEMENT TO CORRUPTION AND HAVE THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. FOR WE KNOW THAT ALL CREATION KEEPS ON GROANING TOGETHER AND BEING IN PAIN TOGETHER UNTIL NOW. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE OURSELVES ALSO WHO HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS, NAMELY, THE SPIRIT, YES, WE OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES WHILE WE ARE EARNESTLY WAITING FOR ADOPTION AS SONS, THE RELEASE FROM OUR BODIES BY RAMSON.]"
"Heaven will be boring."
Believing that eternal life consists of endless harp strumming furthers Satan’s strategy (Revelation 13:6) "[AND IT OPENED ITS MOUTH IN BLASPHEMIES AGAINST GOD TO BLASPHEME HIS NAME AND HIS DWELLING PLACE, EVEN THOSE RESIDING IN HEAVEN.]"
Thinking that Heaven will be boring betrays a heresy—that God is boring. Nonsense! God made our taste buds, adrenaline, the nerve endings that convey pleasure to our brains, our imaginations, and our capacity for happiness and excitement.
(Revelation 22:3) "[AND THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY CURSE. BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB WILL BE IN THE CITY, AND HIS SLAVES WILL OFFER HIM SACRED SERVICE; AND THEY WILL SEE HIS FACE, AND HIS NAME WILL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS.]" Servants have things to do, places to go, people to see. Our most common everyday activities will be worship, punctuated by the joy of joining the multitudes to praise Him.
(1 Corinthians 10:31) "[THEREFORE, WHETHER YOU ARE EATING OR DRINKING OR DOING ANYTHING ELSE, DO ALL THINGS FOR GOD'S GLORY.]" We can worship God now by working, painting, playing, reading, writing, and enjoying every other innocent activity. How much more on a New Earth where righteousness reigns?
"We won’t be us anymore or remember our former lives."
The idea that we’ll lose our identities in Heaven is Hindu, not Christian. Resurrection will forever reestablish us as glorified human individuals.
Christ’s resurrection is our prototype. He proclaimed, “It is I myself” (Luke 24:39) "[SEE MY HANDS AND MY FEET, THAT IT IS I MYSELF; TOUCH ME AND SEE, FOR A SPIRIT DOES NOT HAVE FLESH AND BONES JUST AS YOU SEE THAT I HAVE.]". When Thomas said, “My Lord and my God,” he knew he was speaking to the same Jesus he’d lived with for years. Job said, (Job 19:26–27) "[AFTER MY SKIN HAS THUS BEEN DESTROYED, WHILE YET IN MY FLESH, I WILL SEE GOD, WHOM I WILL SEE FOR MYSELF, WHOM MY OWN EYES WILL SEE, NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S. BUT DEEP INSIDE I FEEL OVERWHELMED!]"
You will be you in Heaven. Who else would you be? Since we’ll give an account of our lives on earth, we must remain us, and our memories will have to be better, not worse. Scripture gives no indication of a memory wipe causing us not to recognize family and friends. In fact, if we wouldn’t know our loved ones, the comfort of an afterlife reunion, taught in (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18) "[MOREOVER, BROTHERS, WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE SLEEPING IN DEATH, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SORROW AS THE REST DO WHO HAVE NO HOPE. FOR IF WE HAVE FAITH THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, SO TOO GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH THROUGH JESUS. FOR THIS IS WHAT WE TELL YOU BY JEHOVAH'S WORD, THAT WE THE LIVING WHO SURVIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD WILL IN NO WAY PRECEDE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH; BECAUSE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A COMMANDING CALL, WITH AN ARCHANGEL'S VOICE AND WITH GOD'S TRUMPET, AND THOSE WHO ARE DEAD IN UNION WITH CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. AFTERWARD WE THE LIVING WHO ARE SURVIVING WILL, TOGETHER WITH THEM, BE CAUGHT AWAY IN CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR; AND THUS WE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. SO KEEP COMFORTING ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.]"
"Heaven will be a spiritual realm with no human culture."
A Bible college professor took offense at my suggestion that culture—including inventions, concerts, drama, and sports—will likely be part of the New Earth. But if we will be God’s resurrected image-bearers living on a resurrected earth, why wouldn’t they be?
We’re told Heaven is a city (Hebrews 11:8-10) "[BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED, OBEYED BY GOING OUT TO A PLACE HE WAS TO RECEIVE AS AN INHERITANCE; HE WENT OUT, ALTHOUGH NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING. BY FAITH HE LIVED AS A FOREIGNER IN THE LAND OF THE PROMISE AS IN A FOREIGN LAND, LIVING IN TENTS WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE VERY SAME PROMISE. FOR HE WAS WAITING THE CITY HAVING REAL FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE DESIGNER AND BUILDER IS GOD.]" (Hebrew 13:14) "[FOR WE DO NOT HAVE HERE A CITY THAT REMAINS, BUT WE ARE EARNESTLY SEEKING THE ONE TO COME.]" Cities have buildings, art, music, commerce, science, and technology. And of course, cities have people engaged in gatherings, conversations, work, and play. Heaven is also a country (Hebrews 11:16) "[BUT NOW THEY ARE REACHING OUT FOR A BETTER PLACE, THAT IS, ONE BELONGING TO HEAVEN. THEREFORE, GOD IS NOT ASHAMED OF THEM, TO BE CALLED ON AS THEIR GOD, FOR HE HAS PREPARED A CITY FOR THEM.]" Countries have land, animals, rulers, and citizens who are both diverse and unified. We’re told “the kings of the earth will bring their glory into” the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22-27) "[I DID NOT SEE A TEMPLE IN IT, FOR JEHOVAH GOD THE ALMIGHTY IS ITS TEMPLE, ALSO THE LAMB IS. AND THE CITY HAS NOT NEED OF THE SUN NOR OF THE MOON TO SHINE ON IT, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ILLUMINATED IT, AND ITS LAMP WAS THE LAMB. AND THE NATIONS WILL WALK BY MEANS OF ITS LIGHT, AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH WILL BRING THEIR GLORY INTO IT. ITS GATES WILL NOT BE CLOSED AT ALL BY DAY, FOR NIGHTWILL NOT EXIST THERE. AND THEY WILL BRING THE GLORY AND THE HONOR OF THE NATIONS INTO IT. BUT ANYTHING DEFILED AND ANYONEWHO DOES WHAT IS DISGUSTING AND DECEITFUL WILL IN NO WAY ENTER INTO IT; ONLY THOSEWRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S SCROLL OF LIFE WILL ENTER.]"
Culture is the natural, God-intended product of His calling for mankind to rule over creation. If we believe Scripture’s teaching that mankind and earth will exist in physical form, as the entire doctrine of resurrection dictates, then culture must continue. How could it not?
"The Best Is Yet To Come"
Since the resurrection awaits God’s children, we haven’t passed our peak happiness and never will. There’s no need for bucket lists, because our new universe adventures will far exceed this life’s. We really will live happily ever after. That’s not wishful thinking. It’s the blood-bought promise of Jesus. We should daily look forward to a world without evil, suffering, or death, where God will live with us and wipe away our tears forever (Revelation 21:1-8) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW 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 IA WITH MANKIND, AND HE WILL RESIDE WITH THEM, AND THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY. AND THE ONE SEATED ON THE THRONE SAID: "LOOK! I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW." ALSO, HE SAYS: "WRITE FOR THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE." AND HE SAID TO ME: "THEY HAVE COME TO PASS! I AM THE AL'PHA AND THE OME'GA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. TO ANYONE THIRSTING I WILL GIVE FROM THE SPRING OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREE. ANYONE CONQUERING WILL INHERIT THESE THINGS, AND I WILL BE HIS GOD AND HE WILL BE MY SON. BUT AS FOR THE COWARDS AND THOSE WITHOUT FAITH AND THOSE WHO ARE DISGUSTING IN THEIR FILTH AND MURDERERS AND THE SEXUALLY IMMORAL AND THOSE PRACTICING SPIRITISM AND IDOLATORS AND ALL THE LIARS, THEIR PORTION WILL BE IN THE LAKE THAT BURNS WITH FIRE AND SULFUR. THIS MEANS THE SECOND DEATH.]" Anticipating the glorious realities of the resurrected earth has breathtaking implications for our present happiness and our sense of the far-reaching scope of the gospel message. Let’s live upon Heaven’s joys now, jettisoning unbiblical and unworthy views of Heaven, and believing that the best truly is yet to come.
YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER IN PARADISE ON EARTH!
Although our first parents Adam and Eve disobeyed God that earning a curse for themselves and their future offspring and cutting off their privilege to live forever; God’s divine purpose for man did not change (Isaiah 55:11) “[SO ALSO WILL BE THE WORD THAT I SPEAK- IT WILL NOT FAIL TO DO WHAT I PLAN FOR IT; IT WILL DO EVERYTHING I SEND IT TO DO]”. God’s original intent for Adam and Eve was that they were to stay in The Garden of Eden which was a paradise of pleasure; this paradise was to be made earth wide and our first parents were to multiply and fill the earth under God’s rulership-That was God’s divine plan which Lucifer The Arch Deceiver, an unemployed cherub because of pride and motivated by envy stepped in to destroy God’s plan thus earning a curse for mankind. The good news is that God’s divine plan for the human species will have to be restored.
That is why Yeshua (Jesus Christ) accepted to leave glorious position in heaven and came to earth, being born through the virgin marry, lived a normal human life, passed through all life toils which the human species go through, passed through all human suffering and eventually tested death as all human pass through and resurrected and God took him to heaven where he will rule as The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords when God’s Government will begin to reign. We are in the end-times and in this era, Satan is using SMART schemes to deceive the human race including even the elect.
WHO GOES TO HEAVEN AND WHY?
Majority of people on the planet earth across the religious divide have for centuries placed their hope to a heavenly life after life here on earth. Most of them goes on to believe that when good people die the go to heaven. When you ask them why good people go to heaven they will reply, "[TO BE WITH GOD]", others will reply, "[IT IS THE REWARD OF BEING GOOD]!”
BUT SHALL ALL GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN?
For centuries man has had an erroneous expectation of a heavenly life after a life here on earth. But will all the good people be vacuumed from the surface of the planet earth and be transported to heaven? The answer is a big NO! Only a little flock of the human race will encounter a resurrection in heaven after their earthly life.
BUT WHO ARE THIS LITTLE FLOCK?
It is a small group of people Yeshua (Jesus) was addressing in (Luke 12:32) "[HAVE NO FEAR, LITTLE FLOCK, FOR YOUR FATHER HAS APPROVED OF GIVING YOU THE KINGDOM]"- To understand scriptures one has to understand the context in which those words were spoken. In this context Yeshua (Jesus) was addressing his disciples. The disciples will be part of the little flock! Yeshua (Jesus) also spoke concerning the little flock in (John 14:2-3) "[IN THE HOUSE OF MY FATHER ARE MANY DWELLING PLACES. OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, FOR I AM GOING MY WAY TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. ALSO, IF I GO MY WAY AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND WILL RECEIVE YOU HOME TO MYSELF, SO THAT WHERE I AM YOU ALSO MAY BE]", - Again, if you analyze the context in which Yeshua(Jesus) spoke those words you will be quick to note that he was addressing his disciples who will be part of the little flock!; I know you are pondering; who are this little flock which disciples are part of? –It is a small group revealed by John the Revelator (Revelation 14:1-2) "[THEN I SAW, AND LOOK! THE LAMB STANDING ON MOUNT ZION AND WITH HIM 144000 WHO HAVE HIS NAME AND THE NAME OF HIS FATHER WRITTEN ON THEIR FOREHEADS]", the scriptures go further to state that THE LITTLE FLOCK have been redeemed from the earth; from the 12 Tribes of Israel. The 144000 saints include the 12 disciples; they will all pass through death after which they will have a resurrection in heaven where they will reign with Yeshua (Jesus) as co-rulers. Be aware that it was not in Yahweh's (Plan) at creation for human beings to populate heaven.
The 144000 saints shall be redeemed from the earth and be co-rulers with Yeshua(Jesus) when Yahweh's Government of Peace shall begin to reign on earth because Yahweh through his plan B after the fall of mankind created an alternative plan for the human race to be ruled MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL (this is the name of Yeshua/Jesus) in heaven) WITH 144000 SAINTS REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH AS CO-RULERS WITH MICHAEL THE GREAT PRINCE(Yeshua/Jesus).
SHALL YESHUA/JESUS STEP FOOT ON EARTH AT HIS SECOND COMING?
Get it clear, Yeshua/Jesus will NOT step foot on earth at his second coming! Yeshua/Jesus is NOT a human being. WHY? Because Yeshua (Jesus) is MICHEAL THE ARCHANGEL (Daniel 12:1-3) & (Revelation 12: 7-9); his throne is in heaven. I know you are asking yourself, "[WHERE WILL MILLIONS OF RIGHTEOUSNES PEOPLE CURRENTLY ON PLANET EARTH BE AFTER THE SECOND COMING OF YESHUA (JESUS?)]". The Scriptures describe This Second Group of People as "THE GREAT CROWD", (Revelation 7:9-10) "[AFTER THIS I SAW, AND LOOK! A GREAT CROWD, WHICH NO MAN WAS ABLE TO NUMBER, OUT OF ALL NATIONS AND TRIBES AND PEOPLES AND TONGUES, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB (Yeshua/Jesus), DRESSED IN WHITE ROBES, AND THERE WERE PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS]". This Great Crowd is what Yeshua/Jesus spoke about in (John 10:16) "[AND I HAVE OTHER SHEEP (The Great Crowd) WHICH IS NOT OF THIS FOLD (The Little Flock); THOSE TOO I MUST BRING IN, AND THEY WILL LISTEN TO MY VOICE, AND THEY WILL BECOME ONE FLOCK, WITH ONE SHEPHERD]!"
WHO SHALL SHEPHARD THE GREAT CROWD?
The gist of the matter is where will be The Little Flock and The Great Crowd Be when Yahweh's Government of Peace begins to reign on earth? And who is this single Shepherd who will lead The GREAT CROWD during the reign of Yahweh's Government of Peace. The answers: "[the LITTLE FLOCK will reign as CO-RULERS with YESHUA (Jesus) based in heaven they shall be resurrected for a heavenly life. On the other hand, the GREAT CROWD shall be based on A PARADISE NEW EARTH. The GREAT CROWD shall have ONE SHEPHERD; who is This SHEPHERD? -The Shepherd is MESSIAH SON OF DAVID (Isaiah 11:1) “[A TWIG WILL GROW OUT OF THE STUMP OF JESSE, AND A SPROUT FROM HIS ROOTS WILL BEAR FRUIT]”. Who is this MESSIAH SON OF DAVID? He is The Foretold Male Child Who Shall Rule All Nations with an Iron Rod (Revelation 12:5) “[AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON, A MALE, AND WHO IS TO SHEPHARD ALL THE NATIONS WITH AN IRON ROD. AND HER CHILD WAS SNATCHED AWAY TO GOD AND TO HIS THRONE]”. Who Is This SON Who Shall RULE ALL NATIONS WITH AN IRON ROD? He Is the Foretold SOMEONE LIKE SON OF MAN (Daniel 7:13-14) “[I KEPT WATCHING IN THE VISIONS OF THE NIGHT, AND LOOK! WITH THE CLOUDS OF THE HEAVENS, SOMEONE LIKE A SON OF MAN WAS COMING: AND HE GAINED ACCESS TO THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, AND THE BROUGHT HIM UP CLOSE BEFORE THAT ONE. AND TO HIM THERE WERE GIVEN RULERSHIP, HONOR, AND A KINGDOM, THAT THE PEOPLES, NATIONS, AND LANGUAGE GROUPS SHOULD ALL SERVE HIM. HIS RULERSHIP IS AN EVERLESTING RULERSHIP THAT WILL NOT PASS AWAY, AND HIS KINGDOM WILL NOT BE DESTROYED]”. Who Is This Foretold SOMEONE LIKE SON OF MAN? He Is the Foretold ELIAKIM SON OF HILKIAH (Isaiah 22: 20-21) “[IN THAT DAY I WILL CALL MY SERVANT ELIAKIM THE SON OF HILKIAH, AND I WILL CLOTHE HIM WITH YOUR ROBE AND FIRMLY BIND YOUR SASH AROUND HIM, AND I WILL GIVE YOUR AUTHORITY INTO HIS HAND. AND HE WILL BE A FATHER TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH]”. Who is this ELIAKIM SON OF HILKIAH? He is The PROMISED SAVIOR AND DELIVERER (Isaiah 19:19-20) “[IN THAT DAY THERE WILL BE AN ALTAR TO JEHOVAH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAND OF EGYPT AND A PILLAR TO JEHOVAH AT ITS BOUNDARY. IT WILL BE FOR A SIGN AND FOR A WITNESS TO JEHOVAH OF ARMIES IN THE LAND OF EGYPT: FOR THEY WILL CRY OUT TO JEHOVAH BECAUSE OF THE OPPRESSORS, AND HE WILL SEND THEM A SAVIOR, A GRAND ONE, WHO WILL SAVE THEM]”. Who is this PROMISED SAVIOR AND DELIVERER? He is The Promised PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES (Deuteronomy 18:18) “[I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM FROM THE MIDST OF THEIR BROTHERS A PROPHET LIKE YOU, AND I WILL PUT MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, AND HE WILL SPEAK TO THEM ALL THAT I COMMAND HIM]”. Who this PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES? He is The PROMISED SEED FROM EVE WHO SHALL CRUSH SATAN! (Genesis 3:15) “[AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND HER OFFSPRING. HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD, AND YOU WILL STRIKE HIM IN HIS HEEL]”. Who is this PROMISED OFFSPRING OF EVE? He Is YAHWEH'S SERVANT WHO SHALL ESTABLISH GOD'S GOVERNMENT OF PEACE, (Daniel 2:44) "[IN THE DAYS OF THOSE KINGS THE GOD OF HEAVEN WILL SET UP A KINGDOM THAT WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED. AND THIS KINDOM WILL NOT BE PASSED ON TO ANY OTHER PEOPLE. IT WILL CRUSH AND PUT AN END TO ALL THESE KINGDOMS, AND IT ALONE WILL STAND FOREVER.]" Who is this WHO SHALL ESTABLISH GOD'S GOVERNMENT OF PEACE? He YAHWEH'S SERVANT (Ezekiel 34: 23) "[I WILL RAISE UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, MY SERVANT DAVID, AND HE WILL FEED THEM. HE HIMSELF WILL FEED THEM AND BECOME THEIR SHEPHERD.]" (Ezekiel 37:24-28) "["''''MY SERVANT DAVID WILL BE THEIR KING, AND THEY ALL HAVE SHEPHARD. THEY WILL WALK IN MY JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND CAREFULLY OBSERVE MY STATUTES. THEY WILL DWELL ON THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO MY SERVANT, TO JACOB, WHERE YOUR FOREFATHERS LIVED, AND THEY WILL DWELL ON IT FOREVER, THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN; AND DAVID MY SERVANT WILL BE THEIR CHIEFTAIN FOREVER. "'"AND I WILL MAKE A COVENANT OF PEACE WITH THEM; IT WILL BE AN ETERNAL COVENANT WITH THEM. I WILL ESTABLIASH THEM AND MAKE THEM MANY AND PLACE MY SANCTUARY AMONG THEM FOREVER. MY TENT WILL BE WITH THEM, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE. AND THE NATIONS WILL HAVE TO KNOW THAT I, JEHOVAH, AM SANCTIFYING ISRAEL WHEN MY SANCTUARY IS IN THEIR MIDST FOREVER."'"]" Who is this DAVID, YAHWEH'S SERVANT? He is YAHWEH'S SERVANT, WHO HE SUPPORT, HIS CHOSEN ONE, WHO HE HAS APPROVED (Isaiah 42:1-4) "[LOOK! MY SERVANT, WHOM I SUPPORT! MY CHOSEN ONE, WHOM I HAVE APPROVED! I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT IN HIM; HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS. HE WILL NOT CRY OUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE, AND HE WILL NOT MAKE HIS VOICE HEARD IN THE STREET. NO CRUSHED REED WILL HE BREAK, AND NO SMOLDERING WICK WILL HE EXTINGUISH. IN FAITHFULNESS HE WILL BRING JUSTICE. HE WILL NOT GROW DIM OR BE CRUSHED UNTIL HE ESTABLISHES JUSTICE ON EARTH; AND THE ISLANDS KEEP WAITING FOR HIS LAW.]" (Isaiah 43:10-12) "[YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," DECLARES JEHOVAH, "YES, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW AND FAITH IN ME AND UNDERSTAND THAT I AM THE SAME ONE. BEFORE ME NO GOD WAS FORMED, AND AFTER ME THERE HAS BEEN NONE. I- I AM JEHOVAH, AND BESIDES ME THERE IS NO SAVIOR." "I AM THE ONE WHO DECLARED AND SAVED AND MADE KNOWN WHEN THERE WAS NO FOREIGN GOD AMONG YOU. SO, YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," DECLARES JEHOVAH, "AND I AM GOD.]" (Isaiah 52:13-15) "[LOOK! MY SERVANT WILL ACT WITH INSIGHT. HE WILL BE RAISED UP HIGH, HE WILL BE ELEVATED AND GREATLY EXALTED. JUST AS THERE WERE MANY WHO STARED AT HIM IN AMAZEMENT- FOR HIS APPEARANCE WAS DISFIGURED MORE THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER MAN AND HIS STATELEY FORM MORE THAN THAT OF MANKIND- SO HE WILL STARTLE MANY NATIONS. KINGS WILL SHUT THEIR MOUTHS BEFORE HIM. BECAUSE THEY WILL SEE WHAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN TOLD AND GIVE CONSIDERATION TO WHAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD.]" Who is this SERVANT? He is DAVID'S LORD (Psalms 110:1) "[JEHOVAH DECLAREDTO MY LORD: "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND UNTIL I PLACE YOUR ENEMIES AS A STOOL FOR YOUR FEET.]" Who is this DAVID'S LORD? He is THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE MEASURING LINE (Zechariah 2:1-4) "[AND I LOOKED UP AND SAW A MAN WITH A MEASURING LINE IN HIS HAND. SO I ASKED: "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" HE REPLIED: "TO MEASURE JERUSALEM, TO SEE WHAT IS HER WIDTH AND WHAT IS HER LENGTH." AND LOOK! THE ANGEL WHO WAS SPEAKING WITH ME WENT OUT, AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME TO MEET HIM. THEN HE SAID TO HIM: "RUN OVER THERE AND TELL THAT YOUNG MAN, "JERUSALEM WILL BE INHIBITED AS OPEN RURAL COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF ALL THE MEN AND LIVESTOCK WITHIN HER. AND I WILL BECOME TO HER,' DECLARES JEHOVAH, "A WALL OF FIRE ALL AROUND, AND I WILL BECOME THE GLORY IN HER MIDST.]" Who is this YOUNG MAN WITH A MEASURING LINE? He is THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS SPROUT, WHO SHALL SPROUT FROM HIS OWN PLACE AND BUILD THE TEMPLE OF YAHWEH (Zechariah 6:12-13) "[THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH OF ARMIES SAYS: "HERE IS THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS SPROUT. HE WILL SPROUT FROM HIS OWN PLACE, AND HE WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH. HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH, AND HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL ASSUME THE MAJESTY. HE WILL SIT DOWN ON HIS THRONE AND RULE, AN HE WILL ALSO BE A PRIEST ON HIS THRONE, AND THERE WILL BE A PEACEABLE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO.]" Who is this MAN CALLED SPROUT? He is THE MAN YAHWEH HAS RAISED UP IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HE IS THE ONE WHO SHALL BUILD HIS CITY? (Isaiah 45: 13-14) "[I HAVE RAISED UP A MAN IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND I WILL MAKE ALL HIS WAYS STRAIGHT. HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD MY CITY AND SET MY EXILES FREE WITHOUT A PRICE OR BRIBE, SAYS JEHOVAH OF ARMIES. THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS: "THE PROFIT OF EGYPT AND THE MERCHANDISE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE SABEANS, TALL OF STATURE, WILL COME OVER TO YOU AND BECOME YOURS. THEY WILL WALK BEHIND YOU IN CHAINS. THEY WILL COME OVER AND BOW DOWN TO YOU. TO YOU THEY WILL SAY IN PRAYER, 'SURELY GOD IS WITH YOU, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE; THERE IS NO OTHER GOD.]" Who is THE MAN YAHWEH HAS RAISED UP IN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BUILD HIS CITY? He is JOSHUA THE HIGH RIEST AND THE JUDGE (Zechariah 3:1-10) "[AND HE SHOWED ME JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST STANDING BEFORE THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH, AND SATAN WAS STANDING AT HIS RIGHT HAND TO RESIST HIM. THEN THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH SAID TO SATAN; "MAY JEHOVAH REBUKE YOU, O SATAN, YES, MAY JEHOVAH, WHO HAS CHOSEN JERUSALEM, REBUKE YOU! IS NOT THIS ONE A BURNING LOG SNATCHED OUT OF THE FIRE?" NOW JOSHUA WAS CLOTHED IN FILTHY GARMENTS AND STANDING BEFORE THE ANGEL. THE ANGEL SAID TO THOSE STANDING BEFORE HIM, "REMOVE HIS FILTHY GARMENTS." SO I SAID: "LET A CLEAN TURBAN BE PUT ON HIS HEAD." AND THEY PUT ON HIS HEAD AND CLOTHED HIM WITH GARMENTS; AND THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH WAS STANDING NEARBY. THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH THEN DECLARED TO JOSHUA: "THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH OF ARMIES SAYS, 'IF YOU WILL WALK IN MY WAYS AND CARRY OUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE ME, THEN YOU WILL SERVE AS A JUDGE IN MY HOUSE AND TAKE CARE OF MY COURTYARDS; AND I WILL GIVE YOU FREE ACCESS AMONG THESE WHO ARE STANDING HERE.' "HEAR, PLEASE, O HIGH PRIEST JOSHUA, YOU AND YOUR COMPANIONS WHO SIT BEFORE YOU, FOR THESE MEN SERVE AS A SIGN; LOOK! I AM BRINGING IN MY SERVANT SPROUT! SEE THE STONE THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE JOSHUA! ON THE ONE STONE ARE SEVEN EYES; AND I AM ENGRAVING AN INSCRIPTION ON IT,' DECLARES JOHOVAH OF ARMIES, 'AND I WILL TAKE AWAY THE GUILT OF THAT LAND IN ONE DAY.' "IN THAT DAY,' DECLARES JEHOVAH OF ARMIES, 'EACH OF YOU WILL INVITE YOUR NEIGHBOR TO COME UNDER YOUR VINE AND UNDER YOUR FIG TREE.''' Who is this JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST? He is THE WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM (Hosea 9:7-9) "[THE DAYS OF RECKONING WILL COME, THE DAYS OF RETRIBUTION WILL COME, AND WILL KNOW IT. THEIR PROPHET WILL BE A FOOL, AND THE MAN OF INSPIRATION WILL GO MAD, BECAUSE YOUR ERROR IS ABUNDANT." THE WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM WAS WITH MY GOD. BUT NOW ALL THE WAYS OF HIS PROPHETS ARE AS THE TRAPS OF A BIRDCATCHER: THEY HAVE SUNK DEEP INTO RUIN, AS IN THE DAYS OF GIB'EAH. HE WILL REMEMBER THEIR ERROR AND PUNISH THEIR SINS.]" Who is this WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM? He MESSIAH THE LEADER WHO WAS CUT OFF ON 2ND FEBRUARY 2019, (Daniel 9:25-26) "[YOU SHOULD KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT FROM THE ISSUING OF THE WORD TO RESTORE AND REBUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL MESSIAH THE LEADER, THERE WILL BE 7 WEEKS, ALSO 62 WEEKS. SHE WILL BE RESTORED AND REBUILT, WITH A PUBLIC SQUARE AND MOAT, BUT IN TIMES OF DISTRESS. "AND AFTER THE 62 WEEKS, MESSIAH WILL BE CUT OFF, WITH NOTHING FOR HIMSELF. "AND THE PEOPLE OF A LEADER WHO IS COMING WILL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE HOLY PLACE. AND ITS END WILL BE BY THE FLOOD. AND UNTIL THE END THERE WILL BE WAR; WHAT IS DECIDED UPON IS DESOLATIONS.]" Who is this MESSIAH THE LEADER? He is THE CHIEFTAIN, (Ezekiel 45:7-8) "["'AND FOR THE CHIEFTAIN THERE WILL BE LAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOLY CONTRIBUTION AND OF THE AREA ALLOTED TO THE CITY. IT WILL BE NEXT TO THE HOLY CONTRIBUTION AND THE POSSESSION OF THE CITY. IT WILL BE ON THE WEST SIDE AND ON THE EAST SIDE. ITS LENGTH FROM THE WESTERN BOUNDARY WILL CORRESPOND TO ONE OF THE TRIBAL PORTIONS. THIS LAND WILL BECOME HIS POSSESSION IN ISRAEL. MY CHIEFTAINS WILL NO LONGER MIASTREAT MY PEOPLE, AND THEY WILL GIVE THE LAND TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ACCORDING TO THEIR TRIBES.]" Who is this CHIEFTAIN? He is DAVID'S KING, (Psalms 45:1-17) “["MY HEART IS STIRRED BY SOMETHING GOOD. I SAY: MY SONG IS ABOUT A KING." MAY MY TONGUE BE THE STYLUS OF A SKILLED COPYIST.YOU ARE THE MOST HANDSOME OF THE SONS OF MEN.GRACIOUS SPEECH FLOWS FROM YOUR LIPS.THAT IS WHY GOD HAS BLESSED YOU FOREVER.STRAP YOUR SWORD ON YOUR SIDE, O MIGHTY ONE, IN YOUR DIGNITY AND YOUR SPLENDER. AND IN YOUR SPLENDOR GO ON TO VICTORY; RIDE IN THE CAUSE OF TRUTH AND HUMILITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL ACCOMPLISH AWE-INSPIRING THINGS. YOUR ARROWS ARE SHARP, MAKING PEOPLES FALL BEFORE YOU; THEY PIERCE THE HEARTS OF THE KING’S ENEMIES. GOD IS YOUR THRONE FOREVER AND EVER; THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM IS A SCEPTER OF UPRIGHTNESS. YOU LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND YOU HATED WICKEDNESS. THAT IS WHY GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF EXULTATION MORE THAN YOUR COMPANIONS. ALL YOUR GARMENTS ARE SCENTED WITH MYRRH AND ALOES WOOD AND CASSIA; FROM THE GRAND IVORY PALACE, STRINGED INSTRUMENTS MAKE YOU REJOICE. THE DAUGHTERS OF KINGS ARE AMONG YOUR LADIES OF HONOR. THE ROYAL CONSORT HAS TAKEN HER STAND AT YOUR RIGHT HAND, ADORNED IN GOLD OF O’PHIR. LISTEN, O DAUGHTER, PAY ATTENTION AND INCLINE YOUR EAR; FORGET YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHERS’ HOUSE. AND THE KING WILL LONG FOR YOUR BEAUTY, FOR HE IS YOUR LORD, SO BOW DOWN TO HIM. THE DAUGHTER OF TYRE WILL COME WITH A GIFT; THE WEALTHIEST OF MEN WILL SEEK YOUR FAVOR. INSIDE THE PALACE THE KINGS’ DAUGHTER IS ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT; HER CLOTHING IS ADORNED WITH GOLD. SHE IS BROUGHT TO THE KING IN RICHLY WOVEN GARMENTS. THE VIRGIN COMPANIONS FOLLOWING HER ARE BROUGHT IN BEFORE YOU. THEY WILL BE BROUGHT WITH REJOICING AND JOY; THEY WILL ENTER INTO THE KING’S PALACE. YOUR SONS WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR FOREFATHERS. YOU WILL APPOINT THEM AS PRINCES IN ALL THE EARTH. I WILL MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS TO COME. THAT IS WHY PEOPLE WILL PRAISE YOU FOREVER AND EVER]”. Who is this DAVID'S KING? He is THE LIVING SAINT CAROLI LWANGA! Who is this LIVING SAINT CAROLI LWANGA? Who is this THE LIVING SAINT CAROLI LWANGA? He is PROPHET INVENTOR M-PESA! Who is PROPHET INVENTOR M-PESA? He is The Right Man to Be Hired by GOD; His name is MAPESA LWANGA BITONYE! MAPESA LWANGA BITONYE Is a man on a mission to: "[CHANGE THE HISTORY OF MANKIND FOREVER AND EVER!]" He exists to: "[UPROOT AND OVERTURN THE OLD STYLES OF RUNNING MANKIND'S INTERESTS AND CHANGE THE STATE OF THE EARTH FROM A BATTLEFIELD INTO A PARADISE!]"
AN EARLY RESTORATION OF PARADISE NEEDED!
PARADISE, the original perfect garden home of mankind, is no myth, no fairy tale. It is unlike the theory of evolution, which was taught in ancient Babylon, later taught by pagan Greek philosophers of the fifth and fourth centuries before Christ and recently revived in these last few centuries.
Paradise, where all was beautiful, peaceful, happy, healthful and life-sustaining, was a real parklike residence that was early lost to mankind. For almost six thousand years now mankind has been trying to exist outside and away from that garden home of pleasure and delight.
The effects of this are seen in both the condition of the earth and the condition of mankind today. As the world situation of our generation worsens and becomes more threatening, one thing becomes plainer, becomes more certain: If the human family is to survive, Paradise needs to be restored early to this earth. Nothing could be better or more desirable for all mankind.
It seems almost too good to be true—that Paradise in all its grandeur will be restored, yes, be made earth wide, and that a numberless crowd of right-hearted persons today living shall still be here on earth when this marvelous restoration begins. Why, that would mean entering into an opportunity to live forever on a paradise earth in complete peace, health and happiness! But this hope was held out to us by no one less than YESHUA/JESUS CHRIST.
Paradise is no more a myth or legend than He is. The proof of history is overwhelming that he was on earth as a perfect man nineteen centuries ago. Eyewitnesses and personal companions of His have left us written testimony of what he said and did—his blameless life, his unjust, violent death and his miraculous resurrection from the dead.
THE NEED OF (THEOCRACY)
GOD'S RULE!
Restoration of Paradise to mankind is assured, is guaranteed! This is no thought to be scoffed at by fanatical believers in the theory of evolution or other unbelievers. Even they themselves will have to admit that something needs to be done before very long if the human family is to survive to the end of this twentieth century and into the twenty-first century of our Common Era.
All such doubters and disbelievers will have to agree that this earth needs to undergo a transformation to a Paradise state if what they may call “the human species” is to enjoy existence much longer. If it were left to mankind itself, even in this scientific, nuclear, space age, to bring this about, the case would be hopeless.
Mankind has already gone too far in polluting and ruining his natural environment, and no reversal of the trend is possible, even with the world organization of the United Nations for international cooperation. However, the sorely needed restoration of Paradise to our earth does not rest with deteriorating mankind and disintegrating human society.
The guarantee of this lifesaving transformation comes from a loving Creator, God! This is the only alternative. Man’s rule of the earth cannot do it! People’s rule (democracy) cannot do it! Wealthy persons’ rule (plutocracy) cannot do it! Technical experts’ rule (technocracy) cannot do it! God’s rule (Theocracy) can do it!
Theocracy will not be defeated in its purpose toward mankind and mankind’s earthly residence. Let none of us be fooled any longer by the false philosophies of self-conceited men, but let us all face the fact: Mankind started out under Theocracy! Mankind, at its perfect beginning in Paradise with an unsubdued earthly globe outside, was not absolute ruler of all that it surveyed. Mankind had a ruler higher than whom there is no one. That ruler was mankind’s Creator, God, the Maker of heaven and earth and the Planter of Paradise. He is The Theocrat.
From the start he was mankind’s Theocratic Ruler. He rightly laid down the rule for mankind’s living in the Paradise of Pleasure. He set before mankind its tasks. The Theocratic Ruler had a beautiful purpose concerning mankind’s realm,the earth.
This purpose was conceived within his own Self. It was his moving idea during the six creative days in which he was making the earth ready for being inhabited by mankind under just the right and perfectly balanced conditions. It is set out in the thought that he expressed, of which we read: (Genesis 1:25-28) "[AND GOD WENT ON TO MAKE THE WILD ANIMALS OF THE EARTH ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS AND ALL THE CREEPING ANIMALS OF THE GROUND ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS. AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH." AND GOD WENT ON TO CREATE THE MAN IN HIS IMAGE, IN GOD'S IMAGE HE CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. FRTHER, GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID TO THEM: "BE FRUIFUL AND BECOME MANY, 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 ON THE EARTH.]"
THE RESTORED PARADISE!
YAHWEH created the earth as a planet under his feet, as his figurative footstool. Through his prophet Isaiah, God foretold that he would ‘glorify the very place of his feet.’ (Isaiah 60:13) "[TO YOU THE GLORY OF LEB'ANON WILL COME, THE JUNIPER TREE, THE ASH TREE, AND THE CYPRESS TOGETHER, TO BEAUTIFY THE PLACE OF MY SANCTUARY THE PLACE FOR MY FEET]." With the aid of the inspired Bible, we can look, as if by a powerful telescope, a thousand years into the human future. What a rapturous sight greets our eyes! The entire earth glows with impeccable beauty produced by the greatest Gardener in the entire universe. Paradise will have been restored earth wide to mankind! Yes, the divine Supreme Being who started off man’s existence in a garden paradise has man’s greatest happiness in mind. What a loving Creator indeed for mankind to have, of whom it is no extravagance of speech to say, “God is love”!
In the restored Paradise, mature men and women in flawless human perfection dwell together as loving brothers and sisters. (Isaiah 9:6) "[FOR A CHILD HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US; AND THE RULERSHIP WILL REST ON HIS SHOULDER. HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, MIGHTY GOD, ETERNAL FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE]".Thousands of years previously, in a divinely inspired description of his realm, God spoke these impressive words to his chosen people: "[THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS: "THE HEAVENS ARE MY THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHERE, THEN, IS THE HOUSE THAT YOU COULD BUILD FOR ME. AND WHERE IS MY RESTING PLACE?]" The sheer glory of his “footstool,” the Paradise earth, should appropriately correspond to the glory of his throne in the invisible heights.
At the time of earth’s creation, those who were attendant upon God’s throne in the celestial realm considered the earthly scene below. How enraptured they must have felt as their eyes contemplated its glorious brilliance! How could they refrain from spontaneously bursting into song? (Zephaniah 3:17) "[JEHOVAH YOUR GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST. AS A MIGHTY ONE, HE WILL SAVE. HE WILL EXULT OVER YOU WITH GREAT JOY. HE WILL BECOME SILENT IN HIS LOVE. HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SHOUTS OF JOY.]" (Psalm 100:2) "[SERVE JEHOVAH WITH REJOICING. COME INTO HIS PRESENCE WITH JOYFUL SHOUTING.]" The pleased and happy Creator inspired his earthly scribe to portray an accurate description of the heavenly scene, saying: “The morning stars joyfully cried out together, and all the sons of God began shouting in applause.” (Job 38:7) "[WHEN THE MORNING STARS JOYFULLY CRIED OUT TOGETHER, AND ALL THE SONS OF GOD BEGAN TO SHOUT IN APPLAUSE?]" How much more so will the angelic sons of God cry out in joy, to God’s glory, when Paradise is restored!
YAHEWH'S ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE REGARDING THE EARTH ATTAINED!
It is indeed heartwarming for us to be reassured by the inspired Holy Scriptures that the grand attainment of a paradise earth was the objective at which Jehovah God aimed from the very beginning. This joy-inspiring, praise-evoking culmination of God’s purpose for this earth is just the right thing to be expected of a God who goes on from glory to glory with no failure in displaying his excellency. All praise to him! (Psalms 150:1) "[PRAISE JAH! PRAISE GOD IN HIS HOLY PLACE. PRAISE HIM IN THE EXPANSE OF HIS STRENGTH.]" (Isaiah 45:18) "[FOR THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS, THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS, THE TRUE GOD, THE ONE WHO FORMED THE EARTH, ITS MAKER WHO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IT, WHO DID NOT CREATE IT SIMPLY FOR NOTHING, BUT FORMED IT TO BE INHIBITED: I AM JEHOVAH, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE.]" (Revelation 21:3-5) "[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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]"
RESURRECTED ONES ASSIST IN RESTORING PARADISE
After Armageddon, how will the earth be populated?
Though the Armageddon survivors will be relatively few in number, it will not be entirely by childbearing on their part that the earth will be fully populated. Yahweh, will also ‘glorify the place of his feet’ by restoring to life those who are in the memorial tombs and who come under the benefits of Christ’s ransom sacrifice. These, in turn, will have the privilege of sharing in the delightful work of transforming our earthly globe into a surpassingly beautiful paradise. (Acts 24:15) "[AND I HAVE HOPE TOWARD GOD, WHICH HOPE THESE MEN ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO, THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A RESURRECTION OF BOTH THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS.]"
The Armageddon survivors will ever keep in mind the soul-stirring words of the Lord Jesus Christ on the occasion when he was moved to say: (John 5:28-29) "[DO NOT BE AMAZED AT THIS, FOR THE HOUR IS COMING IN WHICH ALL THOSE IN THE MEMORIAL TOMBS WILL HEAR HIS VOICE AND COME OUT, THOSE WHO DID GOOD THINGS TO A RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO PRACTICED VILE THINGS TO A RESURRECTION OF JUDGEMENT.]" What an hour that will be when the human dead in their memorial tombs begin to hear the voice of the Son of God saying words similar to those addressed to Lazarus, whose corpse lay in the tomb at Bethany, (John 11:43) "[WHEN HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS, HE CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE: "[LAZARUS, COME OUT!]"
THE FIRST RESSURECTION
Who will likely be the first ones to be resurrected to renewed life on earth, bringing what delight to Armageddon survivors?Who will likely be the first ones to be resurrected to renewed life on earth under the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ and in response to his command? It would reasonably be the “other sheep” who died during the last days preceding the end of this system of things. They will experience an earlier resurrection. (John 10:16) "[AND I HAVE OTHER SHEEP, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD; THOSE TOO I MUST BRING IN, AND THEY WILL BECOME ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD.]" They would probably have the least difficulty in adjusting themselves to the new world. (Matthew 25:34) "[THEN THE KING WILL SAY TO THOSE ON HIS RIGHT: "COME, YOU WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDING OF THE WORLD.]" (John 6:53-54) "[SO JESUS SAID TO THEM: "MOST TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES. WHOEVER DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, AND I WILL RESURRECT HIM ON THE LAST DAY.]"
How delightful it will be for the Armageddon survivors when they see resurrected those of the “other sheep” who died during the generation before the “great tribulation”! (Matthew 24:21) "[FOR THEN THERE WILL BE GREAT TRIBULATION SUCH AS HAS NOT OCCURED SINCE THE WORLD'S BEGINNING UNTIL NOW, NO, NOR WILL OCCUR AGAIN.]" With clear powers of identification, the Armageddon survivors recognize them, welcome them, and with them proceed to renew their united service to the YAHWEH!
BY SURVIVING ARMAGEDDON, WHAT MAY YOU WITNESS?
By being one of the Armageddon survivors, you may witness the resurrection of the first one of your own earthly relatives. How could the emotional effect of this upon you be otherwise than that upon the parents who saw the Lord Jesus restore their 12-year-old daughter alive to their yearning arms? (Mark 5:42) "[AND IMMEDIATELY THE GIRL ROSE AND BEGAN WALKING. (SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD.) AND AT ONCE THEY WERE BESIDE THEMSELVES WITH GREAT ECSTASY.]" Ah, indeed, unspeakable joy will be yours at the resurrection of the dead from Hades and the sea. (Revelation 20:13) ''[AND THE SEA GAVE GAVE UP THE DEAD IN IT, AND DEATH AND THE GRAVE GAVE UP THE DEAD IN THEM, AND THEY WERE JUDGED INDIVIDUALLY ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS.]" Oh, what a glorious tomorrow that will be, a tomorrow that will soon be here!
“PRINCES IN ALL THE EARTH”
By the exercise of his power to resurrect the human dead for whom he laid down his perfect human life as a ransom sacrifice, MESSIAH SON OF DAVID will be able to bring about the fulfillment of(Psalms 45:16) “[YOUR SONS WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR FATHERS; YOU WILL MAKE THEM PRINCES THROUGHOUT THE LAND]”- This psalm is prophetically addressed to MESSIAH SON OF DAVID as the installed King. This psalm emphasizes that MESSIAH SON OF DAVID will become a father to THE REMNANTS down here on the earth and that he will install His sons as “princes in all the earth."
Think of such ones who are in line for resurrection under the Messianic Kingdom. Look! Can we believe our eyes? There is Abel, the first human martyr, and Enoch, who kept walking with the true God. There, too, is Noah, the ark builder. There are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, forefathers of the nation of Israel. There are Moses (of the priestly tribe of Levi) and David with whom the everlasting covenant for the Kingdom was made. And there, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and all the other Bible-writing Hebrew prophets down to the last of them, Malachi, and, of course, John the Baptizer and also Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus. On one occasion Jesus said to the Jews that they would “see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but [they themselves would be] thrown outside.” (Luke 13:28) "[THERE IS WHERE YOUR WEEPING AND THE GNASHING OF YOUR TEETH WILL BE, WHEN YOU SEE ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB, AND ALL THE PROPHETS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BUT YOU YOURSELVES THROWN OUTSIDE.]" The “great crowd” of earthly survivors of “the war of the great day of God the Almighty” will be favored with the privilege of literally seeing the resurrected “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets” back here on the Paradise earth and in royal service under the Kingdom of God.
How soul-stirring it will be for you who survive the end of this present evil world to compare notes with Noah and his immediate family, “eight souls,” who survived the end of the first world in the global Deluge in 2370 B.C.E.! No one else to all eternity will have had experiences like yours and thus be able to serve as a Witness of Jehovah God in this outstanding, unrepeatable regard. (2 Peter 3:5-7) "[FOR THEY DELIBERATELY IGNORE THIS FACT, THAT LONG AGO THERE WERE HEAVENS AND AN EARTH STANDING FIRMLY OUT OF WATER AND IN THE MIDST OF WATER BY THE WORD OF GOD; AND THAT BY THOSE MEANS THE WORLD OF THAT TIME SUFFERED DESTRUCTION WHEN IT WAS FLOODED WITH WATER. BUT BY THE SAME WORD THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH THAT NOW EXIST ARE RESERVED FOR FIRE AND ARE BEING KEPT UNTIL THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND OF DESTRUCTION OF THE UNGODLY PEOPLE.]"
A SYMPATHETIC EVILDOER REMEMBERED
When Jesus remembers the sympathetic evildoer, what privilege will the Armageddon survivors and others then alive have? What hope is entertained regarding the resurrected evildoer?
Doubtless, by then the restoring of Paradise to earth will be well under way. The malefactor who was impaled on Calvary alongside Jesus and who said in recognition of the sign above His head, “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom,” will be resurrected to earthly life in the restored Paradise. (Luke 23:42) "[THEN HE SAID: "[JESUS, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU GET INTO YOUR KINGDOM.]" It will be the privilege of the survivors of Armageddon and the others then alive to welcome him back from the dead. They will teach him fully about the now reigning King, Jesus Christ, toward whom he showed deep sympathy on Nisan 14 of the year 33 C.E. The Lord Jesus Christ will not fail to remember him sometime during His reign of a thousand years. No doubt that sympathetic, resurrected evildoer will demonstrate his appreciation for the reigning King, Jesus Christ, to whom he owes his resurrection, by proving his faithfulness to the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah God. Then he would be counted worthy to enjoy living in the Paradise new world to all eternity along with the rest of restored, obedient humankind.
LIFE IN THE GLOBAL, RESTORED GARDEN OF EDEN
In the restored Paradise, everyone is a friend to everybody else. The bonds of the worldwide family relationship are felt to the depths of each one’s soul. All understand one another. They are speaking a common world language. It is likely mankind’s original language, which everybody on earth spoke for the first 1,800 years of human existence—from Adam’s creation in 4026 B.C.E. until Peleg’s day (2269 to 2030 B.C.E.), for “in his days the earth [that is, earth’s population] was divided.” (Genesis 10:25) "[TWO SONS WERE BORN TO EBER. THE NAME OF THE ONE WAS PELEG, BECAUSE IN HIS LIFE TIME THE EARTH WAS DIVIDED. THE NAME OF HIS BROTHER WAS JOKTAN.]" (Genesis 11:1-2) "[NOW ALL THE EARTH CONTINUED TO BE OF ONE LANGUAGE AND OF ONE SET OF WORDS. AS THEY TRAVELED EASTWARD, THEY DISCOVERED A VELLEY PLAIN IN THE LAND OF SHI'NAR, AND THEY BEGAN DWELLING THERE.]"
WHAT WILL BE OBSERVED ABOUT THOSE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN HANDICAPPED?
And look! The once lame are walking, yes, skipping about for joy. Lost arms and legs have been miraculously restored. The previously blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak and sing for sheer joy. (Isaiah 35:5-6) "[AT THAT TIME THE EYES OF THE BLIND WILL BE OPENED, AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF WILL BE UNSTOPPED. AT THAT TIME THE LAME WILL LEAP LIKE THE DEER, AND THE TONGUE OF THE SPEECHLESS WILL SHOUT FOR JOY. FOR WATERS WILL BURST FORTH IN THE WILDERNESS, AND STREAMS IN THE DESERT PLAIN.]" .Unsightliness about human form and figure disappears. Human masculinity is beautifully balanced by human femininity. (Genesis 2:18) "[THEN JEHOVAH GOD: "IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO CONTINUE TO BE ALONE. I AM GOING TO MAKE HIM A HELPER FOR HIM AS A COMPLIMENT OF HIM.]" Human perfection glorifies Jehovah God, the Creator of the perfect human body.
WHAT WILL BE OBSERVED ABOUT THE FORCES OF NATURE, FOOD SUPPLIES, THE ANIMAL CREATION, AND HOW THE EARTH SHALL BE USED?
The whole earth is becoming one global beauty spot. From no part of the earth is there any report of drought or of rainfall in ruinous downpours or of destructive cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes. (Mark 4:37-41) "[NOW A GREAT VIOLENT WINDSTORM BROKE OUT, AND THE WAVES KEPT THE CRASHING INTO THE BOAT, SO THAT THE BOAT WAS CLOSE TO BEING SWAMPED. BUT HE WAS IN THE STERN, SLEEPING ON THE PILLOW. SO THEY WOKE HIM UP AND SAID TO HIM: "TEACHER, DO YOU NOT CARE THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO PERISH?" WITH THAT HE GOT UP AND REBUKED THE WIND AND SAID TO THE SEA: "HUSH! BE QUIET!" AND THE WIND ABATED, AND A GREAT CALM SET IN. SO HE SAID TO THEM: "WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID? DO YOU NOT YET HAVE ANY FAITH?" BUT THEY FELT AN UNUSUAL FEAR, AND THEY SAID TO ONE ANOTHER: "WHO REALLY IS THIS?" EVEN THE WIND AND THE SEA OBEY HIM.]"
All the forces of nature are being brought into a perfect balance for making the whole earth an exquisite place in which to live. There is no lack of food anywhere, for the earth is yielding its produce to the full. (Psalms 72:16) "[THERE WILL BE AN ABUNDANCE OF GRAIN ON THE EARTH; ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS IT WILL OVERFLOW. HIS FRUIT WILL FLOURISH AS IN LEBANON. AND IN THE CITIES PEOPLE WILL BLOSSOM LIKE THE VEGETATION OF THE EARTH.]" Peace and security obtain worldwide for both man and animal, just as Jehovah states: (Isaiah 11:9) "[THEY WILL NOT CAUSE ANY HARM OR ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, BECAUSE THE EARTH WILL CERTAINLY BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF JEHOVAH.]" (Isaiah 11:6-8) "[THE WOLF WILL RESIDE WITH THE LAMB, AND WITH THE YOUNG GOAT THE LEOPARD WILL LIE DOWN, AND THE CALF AND THE LION AND THE FATTENED ANIMAL WILL ALL BE TOGETHER; AND A LITTLE BOY WILL LEAD THEM. THE COW AND THE BEAR WILL FEED TOGETHER, AND THEIR YOUNG WILL LIE DOWN TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW LIKE THE BULL. THE NURSING CHILD WILL PLAY OVER THE LAIR OF A COBRA, AND A WEANED CHILD WILL PUT HIS HAND OVER THE DEN OF A POISONOUS SNAKE.]"
In this way the earth will be made a delightful place in which to live and carry on the worship and service of Jehovah God, the Creator and Owner of the earth. It being his property by right of creation, it deserves to be used in a way that pleases him and that glorifies him. (Isaiah 35:1) "[THE WILDERNESS AND THE PARCHED LAND WILL EXULT, AND THE DESERT PLAIN WILL BE JOYFUL AND BLOSSOM AS THE SAFFRON.]"
How will redeemed mankind view everything on earth, and what music will be heard?Refreshingly new—that is what everything on earth is for redeemed humans who were never inside the Paradise garden of Eden where human life started out in beautiful perfection! (Revelation 21:5) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAS PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW 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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]"
What delightful music, instrumental and vocal, will then be heard—all of it praising Jehovah! (Psalms 150:3-6) "[PRAISE HIM WITH THE SOUNDING OF THE HORN. PRAISE HIM WITH THE THE STRINGED INSTRUMENT AND THE HARP. PRAISE HIM WITH THE TAMBOURINE AND THE CIRCLE DANCE. PRAISE HIM WITH RINGING CYMBALS. PRAISE HIM WITH CRASHING CYMBOLS. EVERY BREATHING THING-LET IT PRAISE JAH. PRAISE JAH!]"
LIFE IN THE PARADISE NEW WORLD!
How wonderful it will be to live in an earth in which human life abounds to the full and where all the stages of the dying process due to the original sin of Adam will have been effaced! (John 10: 10) "[THE THIEF DOES NOT COME UNLESS IT IS TO STEAL AND SLAY AND DESTROY. I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE.]" Yes, it will be an earth wherein every approved human creature radiates the image and likeness of Jehovah God with which the first man Adam was created! (Genesis 1:26-27) "[THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH. AND GOD WENT ON TO CREATE THE MAN IN HIS IMAGE, IN GOD'S IMAGE HE CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM.]"
The earth will then no longer be an eyesore to the seraphs, to the cherubs, and to the radiant angels of heaven. When they turn lovable faces toward the earth, peering down at it adorned with paradisaic beauty, they will have only praise and gratitude to express to the One whose countenance they have the privilege of beholding directly—Jehovah, the Universal Sovereign (Matthew 18:10) "[SEE THAT YOU DO NOT DESPISE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES, FOR I TELL YOU THAT THEIR ANGELS IN HEAVEN ALWAYS LOOK UPON THE FACE OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.]"
A HAPPY, ENDLESS FUTURE ON A PARADISE NEW EARTH!
It is within the realm of possibility and of likelihood that, some day in the future, the names of all those anointed People who have made their “calling and choosing” to the heavenly Kingdom sure and who have been blessed by this supernal resurrection will be published in full for the information of the human family in their earthly Paradise. (2 Peter 1:10) "[THEREFORE, BROTHERS, BE ALL THE MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND CHOOSING SURE FOR YOURSELVES FOR IF YOU KEEP ON DOING THESE THINGS, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS EVER FAIL]." (Psalms 87:5-6) "[AND ABOUT ZION IT WILL BE SAID: "EACH AND EVERY ONE WAS BORN IN HER." AND THE MOST HIGH WILL FIRMLY ESTABLISH HER. JEHOVAH WILL DECLARE, WHEN RECORDING THE PEOPLES: "THIS IS ONE WHO WAS BORN THERE.]" Thus, the absence of the 144,000 spirit-begotten anointed disciples of Jesus Christ from the earthly Paradise will be fully understood to the satisfaction of everybody and with a wholehearted rejoicing over them and together with them.
YAHWEH'S ACCOMPLISHMENT REGARDING HIS “FOOTSTOOL”? THE NEW WORLD SHALL NEVER END, AND THE PROPHETIC SONG THAT SHALL BE FULFILLED?
Happy shall be the endless future for all who remain in unbreakable devotion to YAHWEH, the ideal Sovereign of all the universe. The comfortably filled Paradise earth shall be a suitable place, a creditable place, as a “footstool” upon which God’s feet may figuratively rest. Yes, for all eternity YAHWEH will have glorified ‘the very place of his feet,’ and all mankind will be in unswerving subjection to him! (Matthew 5: 34-35) "[HOWEVER, I SAY TO YOU: DO NOT SWEAR AT ALL, NEITHER BY HEAVEN, FOR IT IS GOD'S THRONE; NOR BY EARTH, FOR IT IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF HIS FEET; NOR BY JERUSALEM, FOR IT IS THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.]" (Acts 7:49) "[THE HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHAT SORTS OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME? JEHOVAH SAYS, OR WHERE IS MY RESTING PLACE?]"
The new world will be a world without end because “to the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7) "[TO THE INCREASE OF HIS RULERSHIP AND TO PEACE, THERE WILL BE NO END, ON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND ON HIS KINGDOM IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH IT FIRMLY AND TO SUSTAIN IT THROUGH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, FROM NOW ON AND FOREVER. THE ZEAL OF JEHOVAH OF ARMIES WILL DO THIS.]"
Then, the prophetic song of the heavenly angels at the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea in 2 B.C.E. will be fulfilled: “Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill.” (Luke 2:13-14) "[SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY ARMY, PRAISING GOD AND SAYING: "GLORY IN THE HEIGHTS ABOVE TO GOD, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG MEN OF GOODWILL.]"
THE “GREAT CROWD” OF “OTHER SHEEP” APPRECIATION AND HEARTFELT DESIRES.
Those who belong to the “great crowd” of the Fine Shepherd’s “other sheep” appreciate the soul-stirring words of promise of Paradise restored. It is their privilege to be associated with God’s organization now and to be zealously engaged in the work foretold by the Lord Jesus Christ, the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth for the final witness. (Matthew 24:14) "[AND THIS GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE INHABITED EARTH FOR A WITNESS TO ALL THE NATIONS AND THEN THE END WILL COME]." (Mark 13:10) "[ALSO, IN ALL THE NATIONS, THE GOOD NEWS HAS TO BE PREACHED FIRST.
Our sincere, heartfelt desire should be to maintain our integrity unsullied throughout all eternity, to the everlasting glory and vindication of the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah God, and under the royal rulership of his only-begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST who is enthroned in heaven and MESSIAH SON OF DAVID Who is enthroned on earth as The Single Shepard of the "other sheep" or "the great crowed. “Hallelujah!”
PARADISE RESTORED GLORIFIES YAHWEH(Mapesa Lwanga Bitonye)
THE RESTORED PARADISE SHALL GLORIFY YAHWEH
By Mapesa Lwanga Bitonye
YAHWEH GIVES MAN A PARADISE
God creates the physical universe and life on earth; he creates a perfect man and woman, settles them in a beautiful garden, and gives them commands to obey.
Lions, birds, and deer in the garden of Eden
THEY have been called the most famous opening words ever written. (Genesis 1:1) "[IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.]" With that simple, majestic sentence, the Bible introduces us to the Person who is the central figure throughout the Holy Scriptures—the almighty God, YAHWEH. The Bible’s first verse reveals that God is the Creator of the vast physical universe, including the planet we live on. The verses that follow explain that in a series of long periods, figuratively called days, God went on to prepare our earthly home, bringing into existence all the wonders of our natural world.
The greatest of God’s earthly creations was man. Here was a creature made in the image of God—able to reflect YAHWEH’s own personal qualities, such as his love and wisdom. God made man out of the dust of the earth. God named him Adam, then placed him in a paradise—the garden of Eden. God himself planted that garden, filling it with beautiful, fruitful trees.
God saw the need for man to have a mate. Using one of Adam’s ribs, God made a woman and brought her to the man as his wife, later named Eve. Elated, Adam burst into poetry, saying: (Genesis 2:22-24) "[AND JEHOVAH GOD BUILT THE RIB THAT HE HAD TAKEN FROM THE MAN INTO A WOMAN, AND HE BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN. THEN THE MAN SAID: "THIS IS AT LAST BONE OF MY BONES AND FLESH OF MY FLESH. THIS ONE WILL BE CALLED WOMAN, BECAUSE FROM MAN SHE WAS TAKEN." THAT IS WHY A MAN WILL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND HE WILL STICK TO HIS WIFE, AND THEY WILL BECOME ONE FLESH. AND BOTH OF THEM CONTINUED TO BE NAKED, THE MAN AND HIS WIFE; YET THEY WERE NOT ASHAMED.]" (Genesis 3:20) "[AFTER THIS ADAM NAMED HIS WIFE EVE, BECAUSE SHE WAS TO BECOME THE MOTHER OF EVERYONE LIVING.]"
God gave Adam and Eve two commands. First, he directed them to cultivate and care for their earthly home and eventually fill it with their offspring. Second, he told them not to eat the fruit of just one tree in all that vast garden (Genesis 2:17) "[BUT FOR THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND BAD, YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM IT, FOR IN THE DAY YOU EAT FROM IT YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE.]"
If they disobeyed, they would die. With those commands, God gave the man and the woman a way to show that they accepted him as their Ruler. Their obedience would also show their love and gratitude. They had every reason to accept his kindly rule. There was no flaw in those perfect humans. The Bible tells us: (Genesis 1:31) "[AFTER THAT GOD SAW EVERYTHING HE HAD MADE, AND LOOK! IT WAS VERY GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, A SIXTH DAY.]"
THE DIVINE NAME
The Holy Scriptures refer to God by various titles, such as Creator and Almighty God. Some titles stress God’s attributes, such as his holiness, his power, his justice, his wisdom, and his love. However, God also gave himself a unique personal name—YAHWEH. In the Bible as written in its original languages, this divine name appeared about 7,000 times, first at Genesis 2:4) "[THIS IS A HISTORY OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH IN THE TIME THEY WERE CREATED, IN THE DAY THAT JEHOVAH GOD MADE THE EARTH AND HEAVEN.]" The name YAHWEH means “He Causes to Become.” That is comforting to know, for it means that God can carry out any purpose that he has in mind and can fulfill any promise that he makes.
HOW MANKIND LOST PARADISE
A rebel angel influences the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, to reject God’s rulership. As a result, sin and death enter the world. LONG before creating humans, God created many invisible spirit creatures—angels. In Eden, a rebellious angel, who came to be known as Satan the Devil, slyly endeavored to tempt Eve into eating the fruit of the one tree that God had ruled out.
Using a serpent, or snake, as a mouthpiece, Satan implied that God was withholding something desirable from the woman and her husband. The angel told Eve that she and her husband would not die if they ate the forbidden fruit. Satan thus accused God of lying to His human children.
The Deceiver presented disobedience to God as an appealing course that would lead to enlightenment and freedom. But this was all a lie—in fact, the first lie ever spoken on earth. The real point at issue involved God’s sovereignty, or supreme rulership—whether God has the right to rule and whether he exercises it in a righteous way and in the best interests of his subjects.
Eve believed Satan’s lie. She began to desire the fruit, and then she actually ate some of it. Later she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. Thus, they became sinners. That seemingly simple act was actually an expression of rebellion. By deliberately choosing to disobey God’s command, Adam and Eve rejected the rule of the Creator who had given them everything, including perfect life.
YAHWEH CALLS THE REBELS TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ACTIONS
God called the rebels to account for their actions. He foretold the coming of the promised Seed, or Deliverer, who would destroy Satan, the one represented by the serpent (Genesis 3:15) "[AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND HER OFFSPRING. HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD, AND YOU WILL STRIKE HIM IN THE HEEL.]" God deferred the execution of the death sentence upon Adam and Eve for a time, thereby showing mercy to their unborn offspring. Those children would have a basis for hope because the One whom God would send would undo the tragic consequences set in motion by the rebellion in Eden. Just how God’s purpose concerning this future Savior would be fulfilled—and who the send-forth One would be—was gradually revealed as Bible writing progressed.
God drove Adam and Eve out of Paradise. Sweat and toil would be required to eke out a living from the soil outside the garden of Eden. Eve then became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, the first child of Adam and Eve. The couple had other sons and daughters, including Abel and Seth, the forefather of Noah.
IMPERFECTION AND DEATH
God created Adam and Eve perfect, with the prospect of living forever in Paradise. When they rebelled against God, they sinned. Adam and Eve thereby lost perfection and severed their relationship with the Source of life, Jehovah. From then on, they and all their imperfect descendants could not avoid sin and ultimately death (Romans 5:12) "[THAT IS WHY, JUST AS THROUGH ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND SO DEATH THROUGH SIN, SO DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL SINNED.]"
WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?
What happens to a person when he dies? Is he still alive somewhere? Will the living ever again be able to enjoy on earth the company of those dead? Majority of people under the sun including a section of the clergy cannot answer the above questions correctly. Allow me to teach you concerning this subject using biblical proofs. First, let us examine what happened to Adam at his death; when Adam sinned God told him, “[YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD AND SWEAT TO MAKE THE SOIL PRODUCE ANYTHING, UNTIL YOU GO BACK TO THE SOIL FROM WHICH YOU WERE FORMED. YOU WERE MADE FROM SOIL, AND YOU WILL BECOME SOIL AGAIN].” (Genesis 3:17-19). What does this mean? Before God created Adam from the dust, there was no Adam, he did not exist. So, after Adam died, he returned to that same state of nonexistence. Simply stated, death is the opposite of life (Ecclesiastes 9:5) “[YES, THE LIVING KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO DIE, BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING. THEY HAVE NO FURTHER REWARD; THEY ARE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN].” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) “[WORK HARD AT WHATEVER YOU DO, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO ACTION, NO THOUGHT, NO KNOWLEDGE, NO WISDOM IN THE WORLD OF THE DEAD, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE GOING].” This means that the dead cannot do anything and cannot feel anything. (Psalms 146:3-4) “[DON’T PUT YOUR TRUST IN HUMAN LEADERS; NO HUMAN BEING CAN SAVE YOU WHEN THEY DIE, THEY RETURN TO THE DUST; ON THAT DAY ALL THEIR PLANS COME TO AN END].”
At death man’s spirit, his life-force, which is sustained by breathing, “goes out”. It no longer exists. So, man’s sense of hearing, sight, touch, smell and test, which depend upon his being able to think, all stop working, and man enters a complete state of unconsciousness. When they are dead, both humans and animals are in this same state of complete unconsciousness (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20) “[AFTER ALL, THE SAME FATE AWAITS HUMAN BEINGS AND ANIMALS ALIKE. ONE DIES JUST LIKE THE OTHER. THEY ARE BOTH SAME KIND OF CREATURE. A HUMAN BEING IS NO BETTER OFF THAN AN ANIMAL, BECAUSE LIFE HAS NO MEANING FOR EITHER. THEY ARE BOTH GOING TO THE SAME PLACE- THE DUST. THEY BOTH CAME FROM IT; THEY WILL BOTH GO BACK TO IT].”
God did not create man with a soul, man is soul. So, as we expect, when man dies, his soul dies. Never does the Bible say the soul is deathless or that it cannot die. At death the life-force in time leaves all the body cells and the body begins to decay. But this does not mean that our life-force literally leaves the earth and travels through space to God. Rather, the spirit returns to God in the sense that now our hope for future life rests entirely with God. Only by his power can the spirit or life-force be given back so that we can live again (Psalms 104:29-30) “[WHEN YOU TURN AWAY, THEY ARE AFRAID; WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY YOUR BREATH, THEY DIE AND GO BACK TO THE DUST FROM WHICH THET CAME. BUT WHEN YOU GIVE THEM BREATH, THEY ARE CREATED; YOU GIVE NEW LIFE TO THE EARTH]”.
THE ESCAPIST THEORY OF HUMANS GOING TO LIVE IN HEAVEN
MAN has had this erroneous belief of home in heaven afterlife on earth thus, like Prophet Isaiah said (Isaiah 1:18) "["COME, NOW, AND LET US SET MATTERS STRAIGHT BETWEEN US," SAYS JEHOVAH. "THOUGH YOUR SINS ARE LIKE SCARLET, THEY WILL BE MADE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY ARE AS RED AS CRIMSON CLOTH, THEY WILL BECOME LIKE WOOL.]" I invite you to let’s reason the following scriptures:
WHAT IS EARTH?
It is one of the planetary bodies that make up the universe. It is the only known place that sustains life. There is a supernatural energy or force that designed it so, and He is YAHWEH.
God called forth founded, created or formed the earth from the waters, (Genesis 1:2-19) "[NOW THE EARTH WAS FORMLESS AND DESOLATE, AND THERE WAS DARKNESS UPON THE SURFACE OF THE WATERY DEEP, AND GOD'S ACTIVE FORCE WAS MOVING ABOUT OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WATERS. AND GOD SAID: "LET THERE BE LIGHT." THEN THERE WAS LIGHT. AFTER THAT GOD SAW THAT THE LIGHT WAS GOOD, AND GOD BEGAN TO DIVIDE THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY, BUT THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, A FIRST DAY. THEN GOD SAID: "LET THE WATERS UNDER THE HEAVENS BE COLLECTED TOGETHER INTO ONE PLACE, AND LET THE DRAY LAND APPEAR." AND IT WAS SO. GOD CALLED THE DRY LAND EARTH, BUT THE COLLECTING OF WATERS, HE CALLED SEAS. AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. THEN GOD SAID: "LET THE EARTH CAUSE GRASS TO SPROUT, SEED-BEARING PLANTS AND FRUIT TREES ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS, YIELDING FRUIT ALONG WITH SEED ON THE EARTH." AND IT WAS SO. AND THE EARTH BEGAN TO PRODUCE GRASS, SEED-BEARING PLANTS AND TREES YIELDING FRUIT ALONG WITH SEED, ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS. THEN GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, A THIRD DAY. THEN GOD SAID: "LET THERE BE LUMINARIES IN THE EXPANSE OF THE HEAVENS TO MAKE A DIVISION BETWEEN THE DAY AND THE NIGHT, AND THEY WILL SERVE AS SIGNS FOR SEASONS AND FOR DAYS AND YEARS. THEY WILL SERVE AS LUMINARIES IN THE EXPANSE OF THE HEAVENS TO SHINE UPON THE EARTH." AND IT WAS SO. AND GOD WENT ON TO MAKE THE TWO GREAT LUMINARIES, THE GREATER LUMINARY FOR DOMINATING THE DAY AND THE LESSER LUMINARY FOR DOMINATING THE NIGHT, AND ALSO THE STARS. THUS, GOD PUT THEM IN THE EXPANSE OF THE HEAVENS TO SHINE UPON THE EARTH AND TO DOMINATE BY DAY AND BY NIGHT AND TO MAKE A DIVISION BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND THE DARKNESS. THEN GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, THE FOURTH DAY.]"
(Job 26:7) "[HE STRETCHES OUT THE NORTHERN SKY OVER EMPTY SPACE, SUSPENDING THE EARTH UPON NOTHING.]"
(Job 28:5-11) "[FOOD GROWS ON TOP OF THE EARTH; BUT BELOW, THERE IS AN UPHEAL AS IF BY FIRE. THERE IN THE STONES IS SAPPHIRE, AND THE DUST CONTAINS GOLD. NO BIRD OF PREY KNOWS THE PATH TO IT; THE EYE OF A BLACK KITE HAS NOT SEEN IT. NO MAJESTIC BEASTS HAVE TRODDEN ON IT; THE YOUNG LION HAS NOT PROWLED THERE. MAN STRIKES THE FLINTY ROCK WITH HIS HAND; HE OVERTURNS THE MOUNTAINS AT THEIR FOUNDATION. HE CUTS WATER CHANNELS IN THE ROCK; HIS EYES SPOT EVERY PRECIOUS THING. HE DAMS UP THE SOURCES OF RIVERS AND BRINGS WHAT WAS HIDDEN TO THE LIGHT.]"
(Psalms 24:1-10) "[TO JEHOVAH BELONG THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING IN IT, THE PRODUCTIVE LAND AND THOSE DWELLING ON IT. FOR HE HAS SOLIDLY FIXED IT ON THE SEAS AND FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IT ON THE RIVERS. WHO MAY ASCEND TO THE MOUNTAIN OF JEHOVAH, AND WHO MAY STAND UP IN HIS HOLY PLACE? ANYONE WITH INNOCENT HANDS AND A PURE HEART, WHO HAS NOT SWORN A FALSE OATH BY MY LIFE, NOR TAKEN AN OATH DECEITFULLY. HE WILL RECEIVE BLESSINGS FROM JEHOVAH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM HIS GOD OF SALVATION. THIS IS THE GENERATION OF THOSE SEEKING HIM, OF THOSE SEEKING YOUR FACE, O GOD OF JACOB. LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YOUR GATES; OPEN UP, YOUR ANCIENT DOORWAYS, THAT THE GLORIOUS KING MAY ENTER! WHO IS THIS GLORIOUS KING? JEHOVAH, STRONG AND MIGHTY, JEHOVAH, MIGHTY IN BATTLE. LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YOUR GATES; OPEN UP, YOUR ANCIENT DOORWAYS, THAT THE GLORIOUS KING MAY ENTER! WHO IS HE, THIS GLORIOUS KING? JEHOVAH OF ARMIES- HE IS THE GLORIOUS KING.]"
(Psalms 9:11) "[SING PRAISES TO JEHOVAH, WHO IS DWELLING IN ZION; MAKE HIS DEEDS KNOWN AMONG THE PEOPLES.]" In all of the quoted scriptures, earth is one. It is written in the singular tense, while heaven is in the form, indicating that there are many heavens.
INTENTION AND PURPOSE OF EARTH BY GOD
The all-wise and knowledgeable God formed the earth for man to perpetually live and dwell on (Genesis 1:26-31) "[THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH." AND GOD WENT ON 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, 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 ON THE EARTH." THEN GOD SAID: "HERE I HAVE GIVEN TO YOU EVERY SEED-BEARING PLANT THAT IS ON THE ENTIRE EARTH AND EVERY TREE WITH SEED-BEARING FRUIT. LET THEM SERVE AS FOOD FOR YOU. AND TO EVERY WILD ANIMAL OF THE EARTH AND TO EVERY FLYING CREATURE OF THE HEAVENS AND TO EVERYTHING MOVING ON THE EARTH IN WHICH THERE IS LIFE, I HAVE GIVEN ALL GREEN VEGETATION FOR FOOD." AND IT WAS SO. AFTER THAT GOD SAW EVERYTHING HE HAD MADE, AND LOOK! IT WAS VERY GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING.]"
(Genesis 2:15) "[JEHOVAH GOD TOOK THE MAN AND SETTLED HIM IN THE GARDEN OF E'DEN TO CULTIVATE IT AND TO TAKE CARE OF IT.]"
He gave man absolute and total charge for earth, to create a type of heaven on earth. God hadn’t an afterthought. And never a time did God purpose for man to come and dwell with him in his villa (heaven) Otherwise, all citizens of every nation will want to go stay in their president’s villa. (Psalm 115:14-16) "[JEHOVAH WILL GIVE YOU AN INCREASE, TO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN. MAY YOU BE BLESSED BY JEHOVAH, THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. AS FOR THE HEAVENS, THEY BELONG TO JEHOVAH, BUT THE EARTH HE HAS GIVEN TO THE SONS OF MEN.]"
(Isaiah 45:12) "[I MADE THE EARTH AND CREATED MAN ON IT. I STRETCHED OUT THE HEAVENS WITH MY OWN HANDS, AND I GIVE ORDERS TO ALL THEIR ARMY.]"
(Isaiah 45:18) "[FOR THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS, THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS, THE TRUE GOD, THE ONE WHO FORMED THE EARTH, ITS MAKER WHO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IT, WHO DID NOT CREATE IT SIMPLY FOR NOTHING, BUT FORMED IT TO BE INHIBITED: "I AM JEHOVAH, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE.]"
THE DESIGNING ROOM
There is a designing room in every standard factory, and establishment and on the door is written ‘’Out of bounds’’ There the Almighty dwells to design all the creation and it is exclusive to him and the God hand no other can get close. Here is the first heaven (Genesis 2:1) "[THUS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING IN THEM WERE COMPLETED. AND BY THE SEVENTH DAY AND GOD COMPLETED THE WORK THAT HE HAD BEEN DOING, AND HE BEGAN TO REST ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORK THAT HE HAD BEEN DOING.]" (Isaiah 42:5) "[THIS IS WHAT THE TRUE GOD, JEHOVAH, SAYS, THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE GRAND ONE WHO STRETCHED THEM OUT, THE ONE WHO SPREAD OUT THE EARTH AND ITS PRODUCE, THE ONE WHO GIVES BREATH TO PEOPLE ON IT AND SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO WALK ON IT.]" (Isaiah 45:12 "[I MADE THE EARTH AND CREATED MAN ON IT. I STRETCHED OUT THE HEAVENS WITH MY OWN HANDS, AND I GIVE ORDERS TO ALL THEIR ARMY.]" (Daniel 4:13) "["'AS I VIEWED THE VISIONS OF MY HEAD WHILE ON MY BED, I SAW A WATCHER, A HOLY ONE, COMING DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS.]" (Daniel 4:17) "[THIS IS BY THE DECREE OF WATCHERS, AND THE REQUEST IS BY THE WORD OF THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONES, SO THAT PEOPLE LIVING MAY KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH IS RULER IN THE KINGDOM OF MANKIND AND THAT HE GIVES IT TO WHOMEVER HE WANTS, AND HE SETS UP OVER IT EVEN THE LOWLIEST OF MEN.]" (Daniel 4:23-26) "["'AND THE KING SAW A WATCHER, A HOLY ONE, COMING DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS, WHO WAS SAYING: "CHOP DOWN THE TREE AND DESTROY IT, BUT LEAVE THE STUMP WITH ITS ROOTS IN THE GROUND, WITH A BANDING OF IRON AND OF COPPER, AMONG THE GRASS OF THE FIELD. AND LET THE DEW OF THE HEAVENS MAKE IT WET, AND LET ITS PORTIONS BE WITH THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD UNTIL SEVEN TIMES PASS OVER IT." THIS IS THE INTERPRETATION, O KING; IT IS THE DECREE OF THE MOST HIGH THAT MUST BEFALL MY LORD THE KING. YOU WILL BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM AMONG MEN, AND YOUR DWELLING WILL BE WITH THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN VEGETATION TO EAT JUST LIKE BULLS; AND YOU WILL BECOME WET WITH THE DEW OF THE HEAVENS, AND SEVEN TIMES WILL PASS OVER YOU, UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH IS RULER IN THE KINGDOM OF MANKIND AND THAT HE GRANTS IT TO WHOMEVER HE WANTS. "'BUT BECAUSE THEY SAID TO LEAVE THE STUMP OF THE TREE WITH ITS ROOTS, YOUR KINGDOM WILL BE YOURS AGAIN AFTER YOU COME TO KNOW THAT THE HEAVENS ARE RULING.]" (Matthew 11:25-27) "[AT THAT TIME JESUS SAID IN RESPONSE: "I PUBLICLY PRAISE YOU, FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HIDDEN THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND INTELLECTUAL ONES AND HAVE REVEALED THEM TO YOUNG CHILDREN. YES, O FATHER, BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROVED. ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO ME BY MY FATHER, AND NO ONE FULLY KNOWS THE SON EXCEPT THE FATHER; NEITHER DOES ANYONE FULLY KNOW THE FATHER EXCEPT THE SON AND ANYONE WHOM THE SON IS WILLING TO REVEAL TO HIM.]" (John 1:1-4) "[IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS A GOD. THIS ONE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. ALL THE THINGS CAME INTO EXISTENCE THROUGH HIM, AND APART FROM HIM NOT EVEN ONE THING CAME INTO EXISTENCE. WHAT HAS COME INTO EXISTENCE BY MEANS OF HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN.]" (Nehemiah 9:6) "[YOU ALONE ARE JEHOVAH; YOU MADE THE HEAVENS, YES, THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. AND YOU PRESERVE ALL OF THEM ALIVE, AND THE ARMY OF THE HEAVENS ARE BOWING DOWN TO YOU.]"
THE SECOND HEAVEN
(Genesis 1:26) "[THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH.]"
(Psalm 139: 13-18) "[FOR YOU PRODUCED MY KIDNEYS; YOU KEPT ME SCREENED OFF IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB. I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE IN AN AWE-INSPIRING WAY I AM WONDERFULLY MADE. YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL, I KNOW THIS VERY WELL. MY BONES WERE NOT HIDDEN FROM YOU WHEN I WAS MADE IN SECRET, WHEN I WAS WOVEN IN THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH. YOUR EYES EVEN SAW ME AS AN EMBRYO; ALL ITS PARTS WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK REGARDING THE DAYS WHEN THEY WERE FORMED, BEFORE ANY OF THEM EXISTED. SO, TO ME, HOW PRECIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS ARE! O GOD, HOW VAST IS THE SUM OF THEM. IF I TRY TO COUNT THEM, THEY OUTNUMBER THE GRAINS OF SAND. WHEN I WAKE, I AM STILL WITH YOU.]"
(Ezekiel 8:1-15) "[AND IN THE SIXTH YEAR, IN THE SIXTH MONTH, ON THE FITH DAY OF THE MONTH, WHEN I WAS SITTING IN MY HOUSE AND THE ELDERS OF JUDAH WERE SITTING BEFORE ME, THE HAND OF THE SOVEEIGN LORD JEHOVAH TOOK HOLD OF ME THERE. AS I WATCHED, I SAW A FORM SIMILAR TO THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE; THERE WAS FIRE BELOW WHAT APPEAREDTO BE HIS WAIST, AND FROM HIS WAIST, AND FROM HIS WAIST UPWARD HIS APPEARANCE WAS BRIGHT, LIKE THE GLOW OF ELECTRUM. THEN HE STRETCHED OUT WHAT APPEARED TO BE A HAND AND TOOK ME BY THE TURFT OF HAIR OF MY HEAD, AND A SPIRIT CARRIED ME BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS AND BROUGHT ME TO JERUSALEM BY MEANS OF THE VISIONS FROM GOD TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE INNER GATE THAT FACES NORTH, WHERE THE UDOLATROUS SYMBOL OF JEALOUSY THAT INCITES JEALOUSY STOOD. AND LOOK! THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS THERE, LIKE THE APPEARANCE THAT I HAD SEEN IN THE VALLEY PLAIN. HE THEN SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, PLEASE RAISE YOUR EYES TOWARD THE NORTH." SO, I RAISED MY EYES TOWARD THE NORTH, AND THERE, NORTH OF THE GATE OF THE ALTAR, WAS THIS SYMBOL OF JEALOUSY IN THE ENTRYWAY. AND HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, DO YOU SEE WHAT TERRIBLE, DETESTABLE THINGS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL IS DOING HERE, THINGS THAT MAKE ME GO FAR AWAY FROM MY SANCTUARY? BUT YOU WILL SEE DETESTABLE THINGS THAT ARE EVEN MORE TERRIBLE." THEN HE BROUGHT ME TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE COURTYARD, AND WHEN I LOOKED, I SAW A HOLE IN THE WALL. HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, PLEASE BORE THROUGH THE WALL." SO, I BORED THROUGH THE WALL, AND I SAW AN ENTRYWAY. HE SAID TO ME: "GO IN AND SEE THE EVIL, DETESTABLE THINGS THAT THEY ARE DOING HERE." SO, I WENT IN AND LOOKED, AND I SAW ALL SORTS OF IMAGES OF CREEPING THINGS AND LOATHSOME BEASTS AND ALL THE DISGUSTING IDOLS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; THEY WERE CARVED ON THE WALL ALL ROUND. and 70 OF THE ELDERS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WERE STANDING BEFORE THEM, WITH JAAZANIAH THE SON OF SHA'PHAN STANDING AMONG THEM. EACH ONE HAD HIS CENSER IN HIS HAND, AND THE PERFUMED CLOUD OF INCENSE WAS ASCENDING. HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, DO YOU SEE WHAT THE ELDERS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ARE DOING IN THE DARKNESS, EACH ONE IN THE INNER ROOMS WHERE HIS IDOLS ARE DISPLAYED? FOR THEY ARE SAYING, 'JEHOVAH IS NOT SEEING US, JEHOVAH HAS LEFT THE LAND."' AND HE FURTHER SAID TO ME: "DO YOU SEE THIS, O SON OF MAN? YOU WILL SEE DESTESTABLE THINGS THAT ARE EVEN MORE TERRIBLE THAN THESE." SO, HE BROUGHT ME TO THE INNER COURTYARD OF THE HOUSE OF JEHOVAH. THERE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH, BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR, WERE ABOUT 25 MEN WITH THEIR BACKS TO THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH AND THEIR FACES TO THE EAST; THEY WERE BOWING DOWN TO THE SUN IN THE EAST. HE SAID TO ME: "SON OF MAN, DO YOU SEE THIS? IS IT A TRIVIAL THING FOR THE HOUSE OF JUDAH TO DO THESE DETESTABLE THINGS, TO FILL THE LAND WITH VIOLENCE AND KEEP OFFENDING ME? HERE THEY ARE THRUSTING OUT THE BRANCH TO MY NOSE. SO, I WILL ACT IN MY RAGE. MY EYE WILL NOT FEEL SORRY; NOR WILL I FEEL COMPASSION. EVEN THOUGH THEY CRY OUT LOUDLY IN MY EARS, I WILL NOT HEAR THEM.]"
This Strater of heaven could be said to be God’s workshop as it were, where he meets with other hosts of heaven for fabrication, assembling or fitting in place all the parts secretly provided for by God. These include the Pleiades, Orion’s the seven stars or constellations which have direct effect on the earth where man dwells (Job 9:9) "[HE MADE THE ASH, THE KESIL, AND THE KI'MAH CONSTELLATIONS, AND THE CONSTELLATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SKY.]" (Job 38:31:34) "[CAN YOU TIE THE ROPES OF THE KI'MAH CONSTELLATION OR UNTIE THE CORDS OF THE KE'SIL CONSTELLATION? CAN YOU LEAD OUT A CONSTELLATION IN ITS SEASON OR GUIDE THE ASH CONSTELLATION ALONG WITH ITS SONS? DO YOU KNOW THE LAWS GOVERNING THE HEAVENS, OR CAN YOU IMPOSE THEIR AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE TO THE CLOUDS TO CAUSE A FLOOD OF WATER TO COVER YOU?]" (Psalm 104:20) "[YOU BRING DARKNESS, AND NIGHT FALLS, WHEN ALL THE WILD ANIMALS OF THE FOREST ROAM ABOUT.]" (Amos 4:13) "[FOR LOOK! HE IS THE ONE WHO FORMED THE MOUNTAINS AND CREATED THE WIND; HE TELLS MAN WHAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE, HE TURNS THE DAWN INTO DARKNESS, AND HE TREADS ON EARTH'S HIGH PLACES; JEHOVAH THE GOD OF ARMIES IS HIS NAME.]" (Amos 5:8) "[THE ONE WHO MADE THE KI'MAH CONSTELLATION AND THE KE'SIL CONSTELLATION, THE ONE WHO MAKES DAY AS DARK AS NIGHT, THE ONE WHO SUMMONS THE WATERS OF THE SEA TO POUR THEM OUT ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH- JEHOVAH IS HIS NAME.]"
THE THIRD HEAVEN
The sky, cloud, moon, stars, sun which are visible to earthman. These to have direct influence on man. These could be said to be the showroom for all that have been designed in the secret and crafted for man to see the power and beauty of God (Jeremiah 10:2-5) "[HEAR THE WORD THAT JEHOVAH HAS SPOKEN AGAINST YOU, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL. THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS: "DO NOT LEARN THE WAY OF THE NATIONS, AND DO NOT BE TERRIFIED BY THE SIGNS OF THE HEAVENS BECAUSE THE NATIONS ARE TERRIFIED BY THEM. FOR THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLES ARE A DELUTION. IT IS JUST A TREE OF THE FOREST THAT IS CUT DOWN, WORKED BY THE HANDS OF THE CRAFTMAN WITH HIS TOOL. THEY ADORN IT WITH SILVER AND GOLD AND FASTEN IT WITH HAMMER AND NAILS SO THAT IT WILL NOT FALL OVER LIKE A SCARECROW IN A CUCUMBER FIELD, THEY CANNOT SPEAK; THEY HAVE TO BE CARRIED, FOR THEY CANNOT WALK. DO NOT FEAR THEM FOR THEY CAN DO NO GOOD.]" (Isaiah 26:13) "[O JEHOVAH OUR GOD OTHER MASTERS BESIDES YOU HAVE RULED OVER US, BUT WE MAKE MENTION OF YOUR NAME ALONE.]" (Matthew 16:2-4) "[IN REPLY HE SAID TO THEM: "WHEN EVENING FALLS, YOU SAY, 'IT WILL BE FAIR WEATHER, FOR THE SKY IS FIRE-RED, AND THE MORNING, 'IT WILL BE WINTRY, RAINY WEATHER TODAY, FOR THE SKY IS FIRE-RED BUT GLOOMY.' YOU KNOW HOW TO INTERPRET THE APPEARANCE OF THE SKY, BUT THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES YOU CANNOT INTERPRET. A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION KEEPS SEEKING A SIGN, BUT NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN IT EXCEPT THE SIGN OF JONAH. WITH THAT HE WENT AWAY, LEAVING THEM BEHIND.]"
Authority has been given to man to take charge of the second and third heaven, but man has from creation violated and destroyed God’s plans for the earth.
Desecration of the Earth
(Job 20:27-28) "[HEAVEN WILL UNCOVER HIS ERROR; THE EARTH WILL RISE UP AGAINST HIM. A FLOOD WILL SWEEP HIS HOUSE AWAY; IT WILL BE A HEAVY TORRENT ON THE DAY OF GOD'S ANGER.]" (Psalms 73:25) "[WHO DO I HAVE IN THE HEAVENS? AND BESIDES YOU I DESIRE NOTHING ON EARTH.]" man in the quest for knowledge has rather gone off completely, and not even the advent of Christ has helped matters. (Matthew 24:29-30) "["IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL FROM HEAVEN, AND THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE SHAKEN. THEN THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN WILL APPEAR IN HEAVEN, AND ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL BEAT THEMSELVES IN GRIEF, AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE HEAVENS WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. AND HE WILL SEND OUT HIS ANGELS WITH A GREAT TRUMPET SOUND, AND THEY WILL GATHER HIS CHOSEN ONES TOGETHER FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE EXTRIMITY OF THE HEAVENS TO THEIR OTHER EXTRIMITY.]" (Matthew 26:63-64) "[BUT JESUS KEPT SILENT. SO, THE HIGH PRIEST SAID TO HIM: "I PUT YOU UNDER OATH BY THE LIVING GOD TO TELL US WHETHER YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD!" JESUS SAID TO HIM: "YOU YOURSELF SAID IT. BUT I SAY TO YOU: FROM NOW ON YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.]" (Mark 14:16-62) "[
(Isaiah 7:6) "["LET US GO UP AGAINST JUDAH AND TEAR IT APART AND CONQUER IT FOR OURSELVES AND LET US APPOINT THE SON OF TAB'E.EL AS ITS KING." (Luke 21:25-28) "["ALSO, THERE WILL BE SIGNS IN THE SUN AND MOON AND STARS, AND ON THE EARTH ANGUISH OF NATIONS NOT KNOWING THE WAY OUT BECAUSE OF THE ROARING OF THE SEA AND ITS AGITATION. PEOPLE WILL BECOME FAINT OUT OF FEAR AND EXPECTATION OF THE THINGS COMING UPON THE INHABITED EARTH, FOR THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE SHAKEN. AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. BUT AS THESE THINGS START TO OCCUR, STAND UP STRAIGHT AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, BECAUSE YOUR DELIVERENCE IS GETTING NEAR.]" (John 14:1-4) "["DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. EXERCISE FAITH IN GOD; EXERCISE FAITH ALSO IN ME. IN THE HOUSE OF MY FATHER ARE MANY DWELLING PLACES. OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, FOR I AM GOING MY WAY TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. ALSO, IF I GO MY WAY AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND WILL RECEIVE YOU HOME TO MYSELF, SO THAT WHERE I AM YOU ALSO MAY BE. AND WHERE I AM GOING, YOU KNOW THE WAY.]" (Acts 1:9-11) "[AFTER HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS. WHILE THEY WERE LOOKING ON, HE WAS LIFTED UP AND A CLOUD CAUGHT HIM UP FROM THEIR SIGHT. AND AS THEY WERE GAZING INTO THE SKY WHILE HE WAS ON HIS WAY, SUDDENLY TWO MEN IN WHITE GARMENTS STOOD BESIDE THEM AND SAID: "MEN OF GAL'LEE, WHY DO YOU STAND LOOKING INTO THE SKY? THIS JESUS WHO WAS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO THE SKY WILL COME IN THE SAME MANNER AS YOU HAVE SEEN HIM GOING INTO THE SKY.]" (Hebrew 9:27-28) "[AND JUST AS IT IS RESERVED FOR MEN TO DIE ONCE FOR ALL TIME, BUT AFTER THIS TO RECEIVE A JUDGEMENT, SO ALSO THE CHRIST WAS OFFERED ONCE FOR ALL TIME TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY; AND THE SECOND TIME THAT HE APPEARS IT WILL BE PART FROM SIN, AND HE WILL BE SEEN BY THOSE EARNESTLY LOOKING FOR HIM FOR THEIR SALVATION.]"
Heaven of God’s above Heaven of God’s abode is so pure, clean and crystally glittering that the earth man who from after the fall as defined all of GOD’S and Jesus intervention plan, can approach God’s throne, not to talk of going there to live,(Job 37:21) "[THEY CANNOT EVEN SEE THE LIGHT, THOUGH IT IS BRIGHT IN THE SKY, UNTIL A WIND PASSES BY AND CLEARS AWAY THE CLOUDS.]" (Psalms 24:3-4) "[MAGNIFY JEHOVAH ALONG WITH ME; LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER. I INQUIRED OF JEHOVAH, AND HE ANSWERED ME. HE RESCUED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS.]", it was not designed to accommodate man at any time.
WHERE THEN WILL MAN BE IN THE END?
Even with the advent and teaching of Christ, man has not understood Him. The Psalmist says (Psalms 37:11) "[BUT THE MEEK WILL POSSESS THE EARTH, AND THEY WILL FIND EXQUISITE DELIGHT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF PEACE.]" (Psalms 37:29) "[THE RIGHTEOUS WILL POSSESS THE EARTH, AND THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER ON IT.]" and Jesus too in (Matthew 5:5) "[HAPPY ARE THE MILDTEMPERED, SINCE THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.]"-These quotes have been grossly misunderstood and also the Lord’s Prayer which has the following lines “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
Never a time did God purpose man to come and live with him in Heaven. Man has violated God’s divine principle of living on earth he has destroyed the earth and is wanting to escape to live and dwell in heaven. No scripture supports this line of thinking rather; God will create a new earth for only the meek and righteous in or by Christ.
The following scripture, Isaiah 65:17-26, 66:22-24, Revelation 21:1-8,22-27 explains that yes, the best GOD will do for those who endeavor to live godly in Christ-like life is to create a new heaven and a new earth for man. Even with these, man still intends to go live in heaven. Nobody is reasoning as to this future event, the creation of a new earth. It is obvious that in the new earth only humans with a renewed, change of heart and a heart of flesh shall live there. God himself will give man such heart (Isaiah 65:17-26) "[FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH; AND THE FORMER THINGS WILL NOT BE CALLED TO MIND. NOR WILL THEY COME UP INTO THE HEART. SO, EXULT AND BE JOYFUL FOREVER IN WHAT I AM CREATING. FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING JERUSALEM A CAUSE FOR JOY EXULTATION. AND I WILL REJOICE IN JERUSALEM AND EXULT IN MY PEOPLE; NO MORE WILL THERE BE HEARD IN HER THE SOUND OF WEEPING OR A CRY OF DISTRESS." "NO MORE WILL THERE BE AN INFANT FROM THAT PLACE WHO LIVES BUT A FEW DAYS, NOR AN OLD MAN WHO FAILS TO LIVE BUT A FEW DAYS, NOR AN OLD MAN WHO FAILS TO LIVE OUT HIS DAYS. FOR ANYONE WHO DIES AT A HUNDRED WILL BE CONSIDERED A MERE BOY, AND THE SINNER WILL BE CURSED, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE. THEY WILL BUILD HOUSES AND LIVE IN THEM, AND THEY WILL PLANT VINEYARDS AND EAT THEIR FRUITAGE. THEY WILL NOT BUILD FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO INHIBIT, NOR WILL THEY PLANT FOR OTHERS TO EAT. FOR THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE THE DAYS OF A TREE, AND THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS MY CHOSEN ONES WILL ENJOY TO THE FULL. THEY WILL NOT TOIL FOR NOTHING, NOR WILL THEY BEAR CHILDREN FOR DISTRESS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OFFSPRING MADE UP OF THOSE BLESSED BY JEHOVAH, AND THEIR DESCENDANTS WITH THEM, EVEN BEFORE THEY CALL OUT, I WILL ANSWER; WHILE THEY ARE YET SPEAKING, I WILL HEAR. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB WILL FEED TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW JUST LIKE THE BULL, AND THE SERPENT'S FOOD WILL BE DUST. THEY WILL DO NO HARM NOR CAUSE ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN," SAYS JEHOVAH.]"
Meanwhile, at death, until Christ comes the second time, all the dead are in the grave (Acts 2:29) "["MEN, BROTHERS, IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO SPEAK WITH FREENESS OF SPEECH TO YOU ABOUT THE FAMILY HEAD DAVID, THAT HE DIED AND WAS BURIED, AND HIS TOMB IS WITH US TO THIS DAY.]" (Romans 8:11) "[IF NOW, THE SPIRIT OF HIM WHO RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELLS IN YOU, THE ONE WHO RAISED UP CHRIST JESUS FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO MAKE YOUR MORTAL BODIES ALIVE THROUGH HIS SPIRIT THAT RESIDES IN YOU.]" (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) "[MOREOVER, BROTHERS, WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE SLEEPING IN DEATH, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SORROW AS THE REST DO WHO HAVE NO HOPE. FOR IF WE HAVE FAITH THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, SO TOO GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH THROUGH JESUS. FOR THIS IS WHAT WE TELL YOU BY JEHOVAHS' WORD, THAT WE ARE LIVING WHO SURVIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD WILL IN NO WAY PRECEDE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH; BECAUSE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A COMMANDING CALL, WITH AN ARCHANGEL'S VOICE AND WITH GOD'S TRUMPET, AND THOSE WHO ARE DEAD IN UNION WITH CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. AFTERWARD WE THE LIVING WHO ARE SURVIVING WILL, TOGETHER WITH THEM, BE CAUGHT AWAY IN CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. SO, KEEP COMFORTING ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.]"
DEBUNKING,"LETS GO TO HEAVEN LIES"
Why? In an age when people try to make doctrines more appealing by ignoring or twisting biblical truth, here’s the irony—the true biblical doctrine of Heaven is far more attractive than the dull, inhuman view of the afterlife that has long prevailed in evangelicalism. This off-putting perspective still imprisons many believers.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HEAVEN
"We will spend eternity in the clouds."
After the final judgment, God will remake the universe itself and then relocate the present Heaven to the New Earth, where He will live with His people (Revelation 21:1–4) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN, 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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEIGTHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]" The promise of Heaven on earth shouldn’t surprise us, but it’s shocking and suspicious if we’ve always believed something else.
Many throughout history understood this biblical doctrine, including more recent Reformed theologians such as Herman Bavinck, Cornelius Venema, Anthony Hoekema, and Albert Wolters. Sadly, the great majority of evangelicals have not read their books. Even those who have don’t always grasp the implications.
At Bible college and seminary, my last New Testament classes ended with the final judgment in Revelation 20. In eschatology, we examined the pros and cons of a mid-tribe rapture, and discussed the millennium, but we never talked about the New Earth, the central subject of Scripture’s last two chapters. So, we paid zero attention to the place where we will live with Jesus and each other forever! Pastors who have read Heaven often contact me to share that their education was nearly identical.
As humans, we’re no more drawn to a vague angelic realm than we are to eating gravel. We need to recover the biblical doctrine of Heaven, culminating in the New Earth.
"The Bible says very little about Heaven."
A Christian leader once visited my office, asking what I was researching. “A big book on Heaven,” I answered. He replied, (1 Corinthians 2:9) "[BUT JUST AS IT IS WRITTEN: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, NOR HAVE THERE BEEN CONCEIVED IN THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.]" “So what will you write about?” He paused a question to me. I gave my usual response: “You didn’t complete the sentence: (1 Corinthians 2:10) "[FOR IT IS TO US GOD HAS REVEALED THEM THROUGH HIS SPIRIT, FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHES INTO ALL THINGS, EVEN THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.]"
When God reveals otherwise undiscoverable truths to us, we’d better pay attention (Deuteronomy 29:29) "[THE THINGS CONCEALED BELONG TO JEHOVAH OUR GOD, BUT THE THINGS REVEALED BELONG TO US AND OUR DESCENDANTS FOREVER, SO THAT WE MAY CARRY OUT ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW.]" The Bible’s substantial information about the world to come belongs to us—and the Bible provides far more information than most realize (for example, Isaiah 60 is quoted twice in Revelation 22, suggesting it’s about the New Earth). God wants us to anticipate what awaits us. That’s why Peter says, (2 Peter 3:13) "[BUT THERE ARE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH THAT WE ARE WAITING ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, AND IN THESE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO DWELL.]"
"We can learn about Heaven from people’s claims of going there."
A television network once called my office and asked, “Has Randy been to Heaven?” Our receptionist answered, “If he has, he’s never mentioned it. But he did do years of research in the Bible and church history.” The conversation ended abruptly: “We want to interview people who have actually been there.”
Too often, people view accounts of visiting Heaven as gospel. Obviously, God can show someone the afterlife if He so chooses. But (Hebrew 9:27) "[AND JUST AS IT IS RESERVED FOR MEN TO DIE ONCE FOR ALL TIME, BUT AFTER THIS TO RECEIVE A JUDGEMENT.]" Since these stories are told by people who will “die twice,” it seems likely that they did not truly die the first time, even if vital signs weren’t measurable. A person’s memories under heavy sedation—and his or her ability to distinguish dreams from reality—aren’t reliable, but God’s word is (John 17:17) "[SANCTIFY THEM BY MEANS OF THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.]"
The apostle Paul, who had been to Heaven, said, (2 Corinthians 12:3–4) "[YES, I KNOW SUCH A MAN- WHETHER IN THE BODY OR PART FROM THE BODY, I DO NOT KNOW; GOD KNOWS- WHO WAS CAUGHT AWAY INTO PARADISE AND HEARD WORDS THAT CANNOT BE SPOKEN AND THAT ARE NOT LAWFUL FOR MAN TO SAY.]" Many books, however, claim to divulge secrets that, sadly, some readers believe instead of Scripture.
"Heaven now will be Heaven later."
When Christians die, they enter the present Heaven. “Grandma’s now in Heaven” refers to a temporary period between life on earth and the resurrection.
Though the present Heaven is wonderful, “far better” than earth under the curse (Philippians 1:21-23) "[FOR IN MY CASE, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS AGAIN. NOW IF I AM TO LIVE ON IN THE FLESH, THIS IS A FRUITAGE OF MY WORK; YET WHAT I WOULD CHOOSE, I DO NOT MAKE KNOWN. I AM TORN BETWEEN THESE TWO THINGS, FOR I DO DESIRE THE RELEASING AND THE BEING IN CHRIST, WHICH IS, TO BE SURE I DO NOT KNOW.]" , it is not the place we’re made for. Our destiny is a resurrected life on a resurrected earth, (Revelation 21:1-3) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW 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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]" Heaven is wherever God dwells and His throne is, and God’s dwelling place and throne will be on the New Earth (Revelation 22:1-5) "[AND HE SHOWED ME A RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL, FLOWING OUT FROM THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB DOWN THE MIDDLE OF ITS MAIN STREET. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER WERE TREES OF LIFE PRODUCING 12 CROPS OF FRUIT, YEILDING THEIR FRUITS EACH MONTH. AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREES WERE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. AND THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY CURSE. BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB WILL BE IN THE CITY, AND HIS SLAVES WILL OFFER HIM SACRED SERVICE; AND THEY WILL SEE HIS FACE AND HIS NAME WILL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS. ALSO, NIGHT WILL BE NO MORE, AND THEY HAVE NO NEED OF LAMPLIGHT OR SUNLIGHT, FOR JEHOVAH GOD WILL SHED LIGHT UPON THEM, AND THEY WILL RULE AS KINGS FOREVER AND EVER.]"
God’s ultimate plan is not to take us up to live with Him in His place (which happens at death). His plan is, rather, to come down after the resurrection to live with us forever in our place, the New Earth. As Jesus is God incarnate, so the New Earth will be Heaven incarnate.
"We’ll live forever without a body."
Plato believed that material things, including bodies, are evil, while immaterial things, such as souls, are good. What I call “Christo Platonism” infects many churches, teaching that human spirits are better off without bodies, and Heaven is a disembodied realm.
Our inability to appreciate the physical nature of the resurrection robs believers of excitement for Heaven. God’s future plan of a renewed physical universe means we will live, eat and drink, laugh and play, rest and work, exercise our gifts as God’s image-bearers, and most importantly, be with, worship, and serve King Jesus.
Jesus spoke of the “renewal of all things” (Matthew 19:27-29) "[THEN PETER SAID IN REPLY: "LOOK! WE HAVE LEFT ALL THINGS AND FOLLOWED YOU; WHAT THEN, WILL THERE BE FOR US?" JESUS SAID TO THEM: "TRULY I SAY TO YOU, IN THE RE-CREATION WHEN THE SON OF MAN SITS DOWN ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE, YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ME WILL SIT ON 12 THRONES, JUDGING THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL. AND EVERYONE WHO HAS LEFT HOUSES OR BROTHERS OR SISTERS OR FATHER OR MOTHER OR CHILDREN OR LANDS FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME WILL RECEIVE A HUNDRED TIMES AS MUCH AND WILL INHERIT EVERLASTING LIFE.]"
Peter preached that Christ would remain in Heaven, (Acts 3:21) "[HEAVEN MUST HOLD THIS ONE WITHIN ITSELF UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS OF WHICH GOD SPOKE THROUGH THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS OF OLD.]" Yet somehow, we’ve overlooked an entire biblical vocabulary. Reconcile. Redeem. Restore. Recover. Return. Renew. Resurrect. God plans to physically restore His entire creation, including us, earth, and animals (Isaiah 11:6–10) "[THE WOLF WILL RESIDE FOR A WHILE WITH THE LAMB, AND WITH THE YOUNG GOAT THE LEOPARD WILL LIE DOWN, AND THE CALF AND THE LION AND THE FATTENED ANIMAL WILL ALL BE TOGETHER; AND A LITTLE BOY WILL LEAD THEM. THE COW AND THE BEAR WILL FEED TOGETHER, AND THEIR YOUNG WILL LIE DOWN TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW LIKE THE BULL. THE NURSING CHILD WILL PLAY OVER THE LIAR OF A COBRA, AND A WEANED CHILD WILL PUT HIS HAND OVER THE DEN OF A POISONOUS SNAKE. THEY WILL NOT CAUSE ANY HARM OR ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, BECAUSE THE EARTH WILL CERTAINLY BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF JEHOVAH. IN THAT DAY THE ROOT OF JES'SE WILL STAND UP AS A SIGNAL FOR THE PEOPLES. TO HIM THE NATIONS WILL TURN FOR GUIDANCE, AND HIS RESTING-PLACE WILL BECOME GLORIOUS.]" (Isaiah 65:17-25) "[FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH; AND THE FORMER THINGS WILL NOT BE CALLED TO MIND, NOR WILL THEY COME UP INTO THE HEART. SO EXULT AND BE JOYFUL FOREVER IN WHAT I AM CREATING. FOR LOOK! I AM CREATING JERUSALEM A CAUSE FOR JOY AND HER PEOPLE A CAUSE OF EXULTATION. AND I WILL REJOICE IN JERUSALEM AND EXULT IN MY PEOPLE; NO MORE WILL THERE BE HEARD IN HER THE SOUND OF WEEPING OR A CRY OF DISTRESS." "NO MORE WILL THERE BE AN INFANT FROM THAT PLACE WHO LIVES BUT A FEW DAYS, NOR AN OLD MAN WHO FAILS TO LIVE OUT HIS DAYS. FOR ANYONE WHO DIES A HUNDRED WILL BE CONSIDERED A MERE BOY, AND THE SINNER WILL BE CURSED, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE. THEY WILL BUILD HOUSES AND LIVE IN THEM, AND THEY WILL PLANT VINEYARDS AND EAT THEIR FRUITAGE. THEY WILL NOT BUILD FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO INHIBIT. NOR WILL THEY PLANT FOR OTHERS TO EAT. FOR THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE THE DAYS OF A TREE. AND THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS MY CHOSEN ONES WILL ENJOY TO THE FULL. THEY WILL NOT TOIL FOR NOTHING, NOR WILL THEY BEAR CHILDREN FOR DISTRESS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OFFSPRING MADE UP OF THOSE BLESSED BY JEHOVAH, AND THEIR DESCENDANTS WITH THEM. EVEN BEFORE THEY CALL OUT. I WILL ANSWER; WHILE THEY ARE YET SPEAKING, I WILL HEAR. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB WILL FEED TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW JUST LIKE THE BULL, AND THE SERPENT'S FOOD WILL BE DUST. THEY WILL DO NO HARM NOR CAUSE ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN," SAYS JEHOVAH.]" (Romans 8:18–23) "[FOR I CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS THAT THE PRESENT TIME DO NOT AMOUNT TO ANYTHING IN COMPARISON WITH THE GLORY THAT IS GOING TO BE REVEALED IN US. FOR THE CREATION IS WAITING WITH EAGER EXPECTATION FOR THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD. FOR THE CREATION WAS SUBJECTED TO FUTILITY, NOT BY ITS OWN WILL, BUT THROUGH THE ONE WHO SUBJECTED IT, ON THE BASIS OF HOPE. THAT THE CREATION ITSELF WILL ALSO BE SET FREE FROM ENSLAVEMENT TO CORRUPTION AND HAVE THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. FOR WE KNOW THAT ALL CREATION KEEPS ON GROANING TOGETHER AND BEING IN PAIN TOGETHER UNTIL NOW. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE OURSELVES ALSO WHO HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS, NAMELY, THE SPIRIT, YES, WE OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES WHILE WE ARE EARNESTLY WAITING FOR ADOPTION AS SONS, THE RELEASE FROM OUR BODIES BY RAMSON.]"
"Heaven will be boring."
Believing that eternal life consists of endless harp strumming furthers Satan’s strategy (Revelation 13:6) "[AND IT OPENED ITS MOUTH IN BLASPHEMIES AGAINST GOD TO BLASPHEME HIS NAME AND HIS DWELLING PLACE, EVEN THOSE RESIDING IN HEAVEN.]"
Thinking that Heaven will be boring betrays a heresy—that God is boring. Nonsense! God made our taste buds, adrenaline, the nerve endings that convey pleasure to our brains, our imaginations, and our capacity for happiness and excitement.
(Revelation 22:3) "[AND THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY CURSE. BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB WILL BE IN THE CITY, AND HIS SLAVES WILL OFFER HIM SACRED SERVICE; AND THEY WILL SEE HIS FACE, AND HIS NAME WILL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS.]" Servants have things to do, places to go, people to see. Our most common everyday activities will be worship, punctuated by the joy of joining the multitudes to praise Him.
(1 Corinthians 10:31) "[THEREFORE, WHETHER YOU ARE EATING OR DRINKING OR DOING ANYTHING ELSE, DO ALL THINGS FOR GOD'S GLORY.]" We can worship God now by working, painting, playing, reading, writing, and enjoying every other innocent activity. How much more on a New Earth where righteousness reigns?
"We won’t be us anymore or remember our former lives."
The idea that we’ll lose our identities in Heaven is Hindu, not Christian. Resurrection will forever reestablish us as glorified human individuals.
Christ’s resurrection is our prototype. He proclaimed, “It is I myself” (Luke 24:39) "[SEE MY HANDS AND MY FEET, THAT IT IS I MYSELF; TOUCH ME AND SEE, FOR A SPIRIT DOES NOT HAVE FLESH AND BONES JUST AS YOU SEE THAT I HAVE.]". When Thomas said, “My Lord and my God,” he knew he was speaking to the same Jesus he’d lived with for years. Job said, (Job 19:26–27) "[AFTER MY SKIN HAS THUS BEEN DESTROYED, WHILE YET IN MY FLESH, I WILL SEE GOD, WHOM I WILL SEE FOR MYSELF, WHOM MY OWN EYES WILL SEE, NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S. BUT DEEP INSIDE I FEEL OVERWHELMED!]"
You will be you in Heaven. Who else would you be? Since we’ll give an account of our lives on earth, we must remain us, and our memories will have to be better, not worse. Scripture gives no indication of a memory wipe causing us not to recognize family and friends. In fact, if we wouldn’t know our loved ones, the comfort of an afterlife reunion, taught in (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18) "[MOREOVER, BROTHERS, WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE SLEEPING IN DEATH, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SORROW AS THE REST DO WHO HAVE NO HOPE. FOR IF WE HAVE FAITH THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, SO TOO GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH THROUGH JESUS. FOR THIS IS WHAT WE TELL YOU BY JEHOVAH'S WORD, THAT WE THE LIVING WHO SURVIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD WILL IN NO WAY PRECEDE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN DEATH; BECAUSE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A COMMANDING CALL, WITH AN ARCHANGEL'S VOICE AND WITH GOD'S TRUMPET, AND THOSE WHO ARE DEAD IN UNION WITH CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. AFTERWARD WE THE LIVING WHO ARE SURVIVING WILL, TOGETHER WITH THEM, BE CAUGHT AWAY IN CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR; AND THUS WE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. SO KEEP COMFORTING ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.]"
"Heaven will be a spiritual realm with no human culture."
A Bible college professor took offense at my suggestion that culture—including inventions, concerts, drama, and sports—will likely be part of the New Earth. But if we will be God’s resurrected image-bearers living on a resurrected earth, why wouldn’t they be?
We’re told Heaven is a city (Hebrews 11:8-10) "[BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED, OBEYED BY GOING OUT TO A PLACE HE WAS TO RECEIVE AS AN INHERITANCE; HE WENT OUT, ALTHOUGH NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING. BY FAITH HE LIVED AS A FOREIGNER IN THE LAND OF THE PROMISE AS IN A FOREIGN LAND, LIVING IN TENTS WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE VERY SAME PROMISE. FOR HE WAS WAITING THE CITY HAVING REAL FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE DESIGNER AND BUILDER IS GOD.]" (Hebrew 13:14) "[FOR WE DO NOT HAVE HERE A CITY THAT REMAINS, BUT WE ARE EARNESTLY SEEKING THE ONE TO COME.]" Cities have buildings, art, music, commerce, science, and technology. And of course, cities have people engaged in gatherings, conversations, work, and play. Heaven is also a country (Hebrews 11:16) "[BUT NOW THEY ARE REACHING OUT FOR A BETTER PLACE, THAT IS, ONE BELONGING TO HEAVEN. THEREFORE, GOD IS NOT ASHAMED OF THEM, TO BE CALLED ON AS THEIR GOD, FOR HE HAS PREPARED A CITY FOR THEM.]" Countries have land, animals, rulers, and citizens who are both diverse and unified. We’re told “the kings of the earth will bring their glory into” the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22-27) "[I DID NOT SEE A TEMPLE IN IT, FOR JEHOVAH GOD THE ALMIGHTY IS ITS TEMPLE, ALSO THE LAMB IS. AND THE CITY HAS NOT NEED OF THE SUN NOR OF THE MOON TO SHINE ON IT, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ILLUMINATED IT, AND ITS LAMP WAS THE LAMB. AND THE NATIONS WILL WALK BY MEANS OF ITS LIGHT, AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH WILL BRING THEIR GLORY INTO IT. ITS GATES WILL NOT BE CLOSED AT ALL BY DAY, FOR NIGHTWILL NOT EXIST THERE. AND THEY WILL BRING THE GLORY AND THE HONOR OF THE NATIONS INTO IT. BUT ANYTHING DEFILED AND ANYONEWHO DOES WHAT IS DISGUSTING AND DECEITFUL WILL IN NO WAY ENTER INTO IT; ONLY THOSEWRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S SCROLL OF LIFE WILL ENTER.]"
Culture is the natural, God-intended product of His calling for mankind to rule over creation. If we believe Scripture’s teaching that mankind and earth will exist in physical form, as the entire doctrine of resurrection dictates, then culture must continue. How could it not?
"The Best Is Yet To Come"
Since the resurrection awaits God’s children, we haven’t passed our peak happiness and never will. There’s no need for bucket lists, because our new universe adventures will far exceed this life’s. We really will live happily ever after. That’s not wishful thinking. It’s the blood-bought promise of Jesus. We should daily look forward to a world without evil, suffering, or death, where God will live with us and wipe away our tears forever (Revelation 21:1-8) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW 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 IA WITH MANKIND, AND HE WILL RESIDE WITH THEM, AND THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY. AND THE ONE SEATED ON THE THRONE SAID: "LOOK! I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW." ALSO, HE SAYS: "WRITE FOR THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE." AND HE SAID TO ME: "THEY HAVE COME TO PASS! I AM THE AL'PHA AND THE OME'GA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. TO ANYONE THIRSTING I WILL GIVE FROM THE SPRING OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREE. ANYONE CONQUERING WILL INHERIT THESE THINGS, AND I WILL BE HIS GOD AND HE WILL BE MY SON. BUT AS FOR THE COWARDS AND THOSE WITHOUT FAITH AND THOSE WHO ARE DISGUSTING IN THEIR FILTH AND MURDERERS AND THE SEXUALLY IMMORAL AND THOSE PRACTICING SPIRITISM AND IDOLATORS AND ALL THE LIARS, THEIR PORTION WILL BE IN THE LAKE THAT BURNS WITH FIRE AND SULFUR. THIS MEANS THE SECOND DEATH.]" Anticipating the glorious realities of the resurrected earth has breathtaking implications for our present happiness and our sense of the far-reaching scope of the gospel message. Let’s live upon Heaven’s joys now, jettisoning unbiblical and unworthy views of Heaven, and believing that the best truly is yet to come.
YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER IN PARADISE ON EARTH!
Although our first parents Adam and Eve disobeyed God that earning a curse for themselves and their future offspring and cutting off their privilege to live forever; God’s divine purpose for man did not change (Isaiah 55:11) “[SO ALSO WILL BE THE WORD THAT I SPEAK- IT WILL NOT FAIL TO DO WHAT I PLAN FOR IT; IT WILL DO EVERYTHING I SEND IT TO DO]”. God’s original intent for Adam and Eve was that they were to stay in The Garden of Eden which was a paradise of pleasure; this paradise was to be made earth wide and our first parents were to multiply and fill the earth under God’s rulership-That was God’s divine plan which Lucifer The Arch Deceiver, an unemployed cherub because of pride and motivated by envy stepped in to destroy God’s plan thus earning a curse for mankind. The good news is that God’s divine plan for the human species will have to be restored.
That is why Yeshua (Jesus Christ) accepted to leave glorious position in heaven and came to earth, being born through the virgin marry, lived a normal human life, passed through all life toils which the human species go through, passed through all human suffering and eventually tested death as all human pass through and resurrected and God took him to heaven where he will rule as The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords when God’s Government will begin to reign. We are in the end-times and in this era, Satan is using SMART schemes to deceive the human race including even the elect.
WHO GOES TO HEAVEN AND WHY?
Majority of people on the planet earth across the religious divide have for centuries placed their hope to a heavenly life after life here on earth. Most of them goes on to believe that when good people die the go to heaven. When you ask them why good people go to heaven they will reply, "[TO BE WITH GOD]", others will reply, "[IT IS THE REWARD OF BEING GOOD]!”
BUT SHALL ALL GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN?
For centuries man has had an erroneous expectation of a heavenly life after a life here on earth. But will all the good people be vacuumed from the surface of the planet earth and be transported to heaven? The answer is a big NO! Only a little flock of the human race will encounter a resurrection in heaven after their earthly life.
BUT WHO ARE THIS LITTLE FLOCK?
It is a small group of people Yeshua (Jesus) was addressing in (Luke 12:32) "[HAVE NO FEAR, LITTLE FLOCK, FOR YOUR FATHER HAS APPROVED OF GIVING YOU THE KINGDOM]"- To understand scriptures one has to understand the context in which those words were spoken. In this context Yeshua (Jesus) was addressing his disciples. The disciples will be part of the little flock! Yeshua (Jesus) also spoke concerning the little flock in (John 14:2-3) "[IN THE HOUSE OF MY FATHER ARE MANY DWELLING PLACES. OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, FOR I AM GOING MY WAY TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. ALSO, IF I GO MY WAY AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND WILL RECEIVE YOU HOME TO MYSELF, SO THAT WHERE I AM YOU ALSO MAY BE]", - Again, if you analyze the context in which Yeshua(Jesus) spoke those words you will be quick to note that he was addressing his disciples who will be part of the little flock!; I know you are pondering; who are this little flock which disciples are part of? –It is a small group revealed by John the Revelator (Revelation 14:1-2) "[THEN I SAW, AND LOOK! THE LAMB STANDING ON MOUNT ZION AND WITH HIM 144000 WHO HAVE HIS NAME AND THE NAME OF HIS FATHER WRITTEN ON THEIR FOREHEADS]", the scriptures go further to state that THE LITTLE FLOCK have been redeemed from the earth; from the 12 Tribes of Israel. The 144000 saints include the 12 disciples; they will all pass through death after which they will have a resurrection in heaven where they will reign with Yeshua (Jesus) as co-rulers. Be aware that it was not in Yahweh's (Plan) at creation for human beings to populate heaven.
The 144000 saints shall be redeemed from the earth and be co-rulers with Yeshua(Jesus) when Yahweh's Government of Peace shall begin to reign on earth because Yahweh through his plan B after the fall of mankind created an alternative plan for the human race to be ruled MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL (this is the name of Yeshua/Jesus) in heaven) WITH 144000 SAINTS REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH AS CO-RULERS WITH MICHAEL THE GREAT PRINCE(Yeshua/Jesus).
SHALL YESHUA/JESUS STEP FOOT ON EARTH AT HIS SECOND COMING?
Get it clear, Yeshua/Jesus will NOT step foot on earth at his second coming! Yeshua/Jesus is NOT a human being. WHY? Because Yeshua (Jesus) is MICHEAL THE ARCHANGEL (Daniel 12:1-3) & (Revelation 12: 7-9); his throne is in heaven. I know you are asking yourself, "[WHERE WILL MILLIONS OF RIGHTEOUSNES PEOPLE CURRENTLY ON PLANET EARTH BE AFTER THE SECOND COMING OF YESHUA (JESUS?)]". The Scriptures describe This Second Group of People as "THE GREAT CROWD", (Revelation 7:9-10) "[AFTER THIS I SAW, AND LOOK! A GREAT CROWD, WHICH NO MAN WAS ABLE TO NUMBER, OUT OF ALL NATIONS AND TRIBES AND PEOPLES AND TONGUES, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB (Yeshua/Jesus), DRESSED IN WHITE ROBES, AND THERE WERE PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS]". This Great Crowd is what Yeshua/Jesus spoke about in (John 10:16) "[AND I HAVE OTHER SHEEP (The Great Crowd) WHICH IS NOT OF THIS FOLD (The Little Flock); THOSE TOO I MUST BRING IN, AND THEY WILL LISTEN TO MY VOICE, AND THEY WILL BECOME ONE FLOCK, WITH ONE SHEPHERD]!"
WHO SHALL SHEPHARD THE GREAT CROWD?
The gist of the matter is where will be The Little Flock and The Great Crowd Be when Yahweh's Government of Peace begins to reign on earth? And who is this single Shepherd who will lead The GREAT CROWD during the reign of Yahweh's Government of Peace. The answers: "[the LITTLE FLOCK will reign as CO-RULERS with YESHUA (Jesus) based in heaven they shall be resurrected for a heavenly life. On the other hand, the GREAT CROWD shall be based on A PARADISE NEW EARTH. The GREAT CROWD shall have ONE SHEPHERD; who is This SHEPHERD? -The Shepherd is MESSIAH SON OF DAVID (Isaiah 11:1) “[A TWIG WILL GROW OUT OF THE STUMP OF JESSE, AND A SPROUT FROM HIS ROOTS WILL BEAR FRUIT]”. Who is this MESSIAH SON OF DAVID? He is The Foretold Male Child Who Shall Rule All Nations with an Iron Rod (Revelation 12:5) “[AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON, A MALE, AND WHO IS TO SHEPHARD ALL THE NATIONS WITH AN IRON ROD. AND HER CHILD WAS SNATCHED AWAY TO GOD AND TO HIS THRONE]”. Who Is This SON Who Shall RULE ALL NATIONS WITH AN IRON ROD? He Is the Foretold SOMEONE LIKE SON OF MAN (Daniel 7:13-14) “[I KEPT WATCHING IN THE VISIONS OF THE NIGHT, AND LOOK! WITH THE CLOUDS OF THE HEAVENS, SOMEONE LIKE A SON OF MAN WAS COMING: AND HE GAINED ACCESS TO THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, AND THE BROUGHT HIM UP CLOSE BEFORE THAT ONE. AND TO HIM THERE WERE GIVEN RULERSHIP, HONOR, AND A KINGDOM, THAT THE PEOPLES, NATIONS, AND LANGUAGE GROUPS SHOULD ALL SERVE HIM. HIS RULERSHIP IS AN EVERLESTING RULERSHIP THAT WILL NOT PASS AWAY, AND HIS KINGDOM WILL NOT BE DESTROYED]”. Who Is This Foretold SOMEONE LIKE SON OF MAN? He Is the Foretold ELIAKIM SON OF HILKIAH (Isaiah 22: 20-21) “[IN THAT DAY I WILL CALL MY SERVANT ELIAKIM THE SON OF HILKIAH, AND I WILL CLOTHE HIM WITH YOUR ROBE AND FIRMLY BIND YOUR SASH AROUND HIM, AND I WILL GIVE YOUR AUTHORITY INTO HIS HAND. AND HE WILL BE A FATHER TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH]”. Who is this ELIAKIM SON OF HILKIAH? He is The PROMISED SAVIOR AND DELIVERER (Isaiah 19:19-20) “[IN THAT DAY THERE WILL BE AN ALTAR TO JEHOVAH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAND OF EGYPT AND A PILLAR TO JEHOVAH AT ITS BOUNDARY. IT WILL BE FOR A SIGN AND FOR A WITNESS TO JEHOVAH OF ARMIES IN THE LAND OF EGYPT: FOR THEY WILL CRY OUT TO JEHOVAH BECAUSE OF THE OPPRESSORS, AND HE WILL SEND THEM A SAVIOR, A GRAND ONE, WHO WILL SAVE THEM]”. Who is this PROMISED SAVIOR AND DELIVERER? He is The Promised PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES (Deuteronomy 18:18) “[I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM FROM THE MIDST OF THEIR BROTHERS A PROPHET LIKE YOU, AND I WILL PUT MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, AND HE WILL SPEAK TO THEM ALL THAT I COMMAND HIM]”. Who this PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES? He is The PROMISED SEED FROM EVE WHO SHALL CRUSH SATAN! (Genesis 3:15) “[AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND HER OFFSPRING. HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD, AND YOU WILL STRIKE HIM IN HIS HEEL]”. Who is this PROMISED OFFSPRING OF EVE? He Is YAHWEH'S SERVANT WHO SHALL ESTABLISH GOD'S GOVERNMENT OF PEACE, (Daniel 2:44) "[IN THE DAYS OF THOSE KINGS THE GOD OF HEAVEN WILL SET UP A KINGDOM THAT WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED. AND THIS KINDOM WILL NOT BE PASSED ON TO ANY OTHER PEOPLE. IT WILL CRUSH AND PUT AN END TO ALL THESE KINGDOMS, AND IT ALONE WILL STAND FOREVER.]" Who is this WHO SHALL ESTABLISH GOD'S GOVERNMENT OF PEACE? He YAHWEH'S SERVANT (Ezekiel 34: 23) "[I WILL RAISE UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, MY SERVANT DAVID, AND HE WILL FEED THEM. HE HIMSELF WILL FEED THEM AND BECOME THEIR SHEPHERD.]" (Ezekiel 37:24-28) "["''''MY SERVANT DAVID WILL BE THEIR KING, AND THEY ALL HAVE SHEPHARD. THEY WILL WALK IN MY JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND CAREFULLY OBSERVE MY STATUTES. THEY WILL DWELL ON THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO MY SERVANT, TO JACOB, WHERE YOUR FOREFATHERS LIVED, AND THEY WILL DWELL ON IT FOREVER, THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN; AND DAVID MY SERVANT WILL BE THEIR CHIEFTAIN FOREVER. "'"AND I WILL MAKE A COVENANT OF PEACE WITH THEM; IT WILL BE AN ETERNAL COVENANT WITH THEM. I WILL ESTABLIASH THEM AND MAKE THEM MANY AND PLACE MY SANCTUARY AMONG THEM FOREVER. MY TENT WILL BE WITH THEM, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE. AND THE NATIONS WILL HAVE TO KNOW THAT I, JEHOVAH, AM SANCTIFYING ISRAEL WHEN MY SANCTUARY IS IN THEIR MIDST FOREVER."'"]" Who is this DAVID, YAHWEH'S SERVANT? He is YAHWEH'S SERVANT, WHO HE SUPPORT, HIS CHOSEN ONE, WHO HE HAS APPROVED (Isaiah 42:1-4) "[LOOK! MY SERVANT, WHOM I SUPPORT! MY CHOSEN ONE, WHOM I HAVE APPROVED! I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT IN HIM; HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS. HE WILL NOT CRY OUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE, AND HE WILL NOT MAKE HIS VOICE HEARD IN THE STREET. NO CRUSHED REED WILL HE BREAK, AND NO SMOLDERING WICK WILL HE EXTINGUISH. IN FAITHFULNESS HE WILL BRING JUSTICE. HE WILL NOT GROW DIM OR BE CRUSHED UNTIL HE ESTABLISHES JUSTICE ON EARTH; AND THE ISLANDS KEEP WAITING FOR HIS LAW.]" (Isaiah 43:10-12) "[YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," DECLARES JEHOVAH, "YES, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW AND FAITH IN ME AND UNDERSTAND THAT I AM THE SAME ONE. BEFORE ME NO GOD WAS FORMED, AND AFTER ME THERE HAS BEEN NONE. I- I AM JEHOVAH, AND BESIDES ME THERE IS NO SAVIOR." "I AM THE ONE WHO DECLARED AND SAVED AND MADE KNOWN WHEN THERE WAS NO FOREIGN GOD AMONG YOU. SO, YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," DECLARES JEHOVAH, "AND I AM GOD.]" (Isaiah 52:13-15) "[LOOK! MY SERVANT WILL ACT WITH INSIGHT. HE WILL BE RAISED UP HIGH, HE WILL BE ELEVATED AND GREATLY EXALTED. JUST AS THERE WERE MANY WHO STARED AT HIM IN AMAZEMENT- FOR HIS APPEARANCE WAS DISFIGURED MORE THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER MAN AND HIS STATELEY FORM MORE THAN THAT OF MANKIND- SO HE WILL STARTLE MANY NATIONS. KINGS WILL SHUT THEIR MOUTHS BEFORE HIM. BECAUSE THEY WILL SEE WHAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN TOLD AND GIVE CONSIDERATION TO WHAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD.]" Who is this SERVANT? He is DAVID'S LORD (Psalms 110:1) "[JEHOVAH DECLAREDTO MY LORD: "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND UNTIL I PLACE YOUR ENEMIES AS A STOOL FOR YOUR FEET.]" Who is this DAVID'S LORD? He is THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE MEASURING LINE (Zechariah 2:1-4) "[AND I LOOKED UP AND SAW A MAN WITH A MEASURING LINE IN HIS HAND. SO I ASKED: "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" HE REPLIED: "TO MEASURE JERUSALEM, TO SEE WHAT IS HER WIDTH AND WHAT IS HER LENGTH." AND LOOK! THE ANGEL WHO WAS SPEAKING WITH ME WENT OUT, AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME TO MEET HIM. THEN HE SAID TO HIM: "RUN OVER THERE AND TELL THAT YOUNG MAN, "JERUSALEM WILL BE INHIBITED AS OPEN RURAL COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF ALL THE MEN AND LIVESTOCK WITHIN HER. AND I WILL BECOME TO HER,' DECLARES JEHOVAH, "A WALL OF FIRE ALL AROUND, AND I WILL BECOME THE GLORY IN HER MIDST.]" Who is this YOUNG MAN WITH A MEASURING LINE? He is THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS SPROUT, WHO SHALL SPROUT FROM HIS OWN PLACE AND BUILD THE TEMPLE OF YAHWEH (Zechariah 6:12-13) "[THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH OF ARMIES SAYS: "HERE IS THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS SPROUT. HE WILL SPROUT FROM HIS OWN PLACE, AND HE WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH. HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH, AND HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL ASSUME THE MAJESTY. HE WILL SIT DOWN ON HIS THRONE AND RULE, AN HE WILL ALSO BE A PRIEST ON HIS THRONE, AND THERE WILL BE A PEACEABLE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO.]" Who is this MAN CALLED SPROUT? He is THE MAN YAHWEH HAS RAISED UP IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HE IS THE ONE WHO SHALL BUILD HIS CITY? (Isaiah 45: 13-14) "[I HAVE RAISED UP A MAN IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND I WILL MAKE ALL HIS WAYS STRAIGHT. HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD MY CITY AND SET MY EXILES FREE WITHOUT A PRICE OR BRIBE, SAYS JEHOVAH OF ARMIES. THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS: "THE PROFIT OF EGYPT AND THE MERCHANDISE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE SABEANS, TALL OF STATURE, WILL COME OVER TO YOU AND BECOME YOURS. THEY WILL WALK BEHIND YOU IN CHAINS. THEY WILL COME OVER AND BOW DOWN TO YOU. TO YOU THEY WILL SAY IN PRAYER, 'SURELY GOD IS WITH YOU, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE; THERE IS NO OTHER GOD.]" Who is THE MAN YAHWEH HAS RAISED UP IN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BUILD HIS CITY? He is JOSHUA THE HIGH RIEST AND THE JUDGE (Zechariah 3:1-10) "[AND HE SHOWED ME JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST STANDING BEFORE THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH, AND SATAN WAS STANDING AT HIS RIGHT HAND TO RESIST HIM. THEN THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH SAID TO SATAN; "MAY JEHOVAH REBUKE YOU, O SATAN, YES, MAY JEHOVAH, WHO HAS CHOSEN JERUSALEM, REBUKE YOU! IS NOT THIS ONE A BURNING LOG SNATCHED OUT OF THE FIRE?" NOW JOSHUA WAS CLOTHED IN FILTHY GARMENTS AND STANDING BEFORE THE ANGEL. THE ANGEL SAID TO THOSE STANDING BEFORE HIM, "REMOVE HIS FILTHY GARMENTS." SO I SAID: "LET A CLEAN TURBAN BE PUT ON HIS HEAD." AND THEY PUT ON HIS HEAD AND CLOTHED HIM WITH GARMENTS; AND THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH WAS STANDING NEARBY. THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH THEN DECLARED TO JOSHUA: "THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH OF ARMIES SAYS, 'IF YOU WILL WALK IN MY WAYS AND CARRY OUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE ME, THEN YOU WILL SERVE AS A JUDGE IN MY HOUSE AND TAKE CARE OF MY COURTYARDS; AND I WILL GIVE YOU FREE ACCESS AMONG THESE WHO ARE STANDING HERE.' "HEAR, PLEASE, O HIGH PRIEST JOSHUA, YOU AND YOUR COMPANIONS WHO SIT BEFORE YOU, FOR THESE MEN SERVE AS A SIGN; LOOK! I AM BRINGING IN MY SERVANT SPROUT! SEE THE STONE THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE JOSHUA! ON THE ONE STONE ARE SEVEN EYES; AND I AM ENGRAVING AN INSCRIPTION ON IT,' DECLARES JOHOVAH OF ARMIES, 'AND I WILL TAKE AWAY THE GUILT OF THAT LAND IN ONE DAY.' "IN THAT DAY,' DECLARES JEHOVAH OF ARMIES, 'EACH OF YOU WILL INVITE YOUR NEIGHBOR TO COME UNDER YOUR VINE AND UNDER YOUR FIG TREE.''' Who is this JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST? He is THE WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM (Hosea 9:7-9) "[THE DAYS OF RECKONING WILL COME, THE DAYS OF RETRIBUTION WILL COME, AND WILL KNOW IT. THEIR PROPHET WILL BE A FOOL, AND THE MAN OF INSPIRATION WILL GO MAD, BECAUSE YOUR ERROR IS ABUNDANT." THE WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM WAS WITH MY GOD. BUT NOW ALL THE WAYS OF HIS PROPHETS ARE AS THE TRAPS OF A BIRDCATCHER: THEY HAVE SUNK DEEP INTO RUIN, AS IN THE DAYS OF GIB'EAH. HE WILL REMEMBER THEIR ERROR AND PUNISH THEIR SINS.]" Who is this WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM? He MESSIAH THE LEADER WHO WAS CUT OFF ON 2ND FEBRUARY 2019, (Daniel 9:25-26) "[YOU SHOULD KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT FROM THE ISSUING OF THE WORD TO RESTORE AND REBUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL MESSIAH THE LEADER, THERE WILL BE 7 WEEKS, ALSO 62 WEEKS. SHE WILL BE RESTORED AND REBUILT, WITH A PUBLIC SQUARE AND MOAT, BUT IN TIMES OF DISTRESS. "AND AFTER THE 62 WEEKS, MESSIAH WILL BE CUT OFF, WITH NOTHING FOR HIMSELF. "AND THE PEOPLE OF A LEADER WHO IS COMING WILL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE HOLY PLACE. AND ITS END WILL BE BY THE FLOOD. AND UNTIL THE END THERE WILL BE WAR; WHAT IS DECIDED UPON IS DESOLATIONS.]" Who is this MESSIAH THE LEADER? He is THE CHIEFTAIN, (Ezekiel 45:7-8) "["'AND FOR THE CHIEFTAIN THERE WILL BE LAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOLY CONTRIBUTION AND OF THE AREA ALLOTED TO THE CITY. IT WILL BE NEXT TO THE HOLY CONTRIBUTION AND THE POSSESSION OF THE CITY. IT WILL BE ON THE WEST SIDE AND ON THE EAST SIDE. ITS LENGTH FROM THE WESTERN BOUNDARY WILL CORRESPOND TO ONE OF THE TRIBAL PORTIONS. THIS LAND WILL BECOME HIS POSSESSION IN ISRAEL. MY CHIEFTAINS WILL NO LONGER MIASTREAT MY PEOPLE, AND THEY WILL GIVE THE LAND TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ACCORDING TO THEIR TRIBES.]" Who is this CHIEFTAIN? He is DAVID'S KING, (Psalms 45:1-17) “["MY HEART IS STIRRED BY SOMETHING GOOD. I SAY: MY SONG IS ABOUT A KING." MAY MY TONGUE BE THE STYLUS OF A SKILLED COPYIST.YOU ARE THE MOST HANDSOME OF THE SONS OF MEN.GRACIOUS SPEECH FLOWS FROM YOUR LIPS.THAT IS WHY GOD HAS BLESSED YOU FOREVER.STRAP YOUR SWORD ON YOUR SIDE, O MIGHTY ONE, IN YOUR DIGNITY AND YOUR SPLENDER. AND IN YOUR SPLENDOR GO ON TO VICTORY; RIDE IN THE CAUSE OF TRUTH AND HUMILITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL ACCOMPLISH AWE-INSPIRING THINGS. YOUR ARROWS ARE SHARP, MAKING PEOPLES FALL BEFORE YOU; THEY PIERCE THE HEARTS OF THE KING’S ENEMIES. GOD IS YOUR THRONE FOREVER AND EVER; THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM IS A SCEPTER OF UPRIGHTNESS. YOU LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND YOU HATED WICKEDNESS. THAT IS WHY GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF EXULTATION MORE THAN YOUR COMPANIONS. ALL YOUR GARMENTS ARE SCENTED WITH MYRRH AND ALOES WOOD AND CASSIA; FROM THE GRAND IVORY PALACE, STRINGED INSTRUMENTS MAKE YOU REJOICE. THE DAUGHTERS OF KINGS ARE AMONG YOUR LADIES OF HONOR. THE ROYAL CONSORT HAS TAKEN HER STAND AT YOUR RIGHT HAND, ADORNED IN GOLD OF O’PHIR. LISTEN, O DAUGHTER, PAY ATTENTION AND INCLINE YOUR EAR; FORGET YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHERS’ HOUSE. AND THE KING WILL LONG FOR YOUR BEAUTY, FOR HE IS YOUR LORD, SO BOW DOWN TO HIM. THE DAUGHTER OF TYRE WILL COME WITH A GIFT; THE WEALTHIEST OF MEN WILL SEEK YOUR FAVOR. INSIDE THE PALACE THE KINGS’ DAUGHTER IS ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT; HER CLOTHING IS ADORNED WITH GOLD. SHE IS BROUGHT TO THE KING IN RICHLY WOVEN GARMENTS. THE VIRGIN COMPANIONS FOLLOWING HER ARE BROUGHT IN BEFORE YOU. THEY WILL BE BROUGHT WITH REJOICING AND JOY; THEY WILL ENTER INTO THE KING’S PALACE. YOUR SONS WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR FOREFATHERS. YOU WILL APPOINT THEM AS PRINCES IN ALL THE EARTH. I WILL MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS TO COME. THAT IS WHY PEOPLE WILL PRAISE YOU FOREVER AND EVER]”. Who is this DAVID'S KING? He is THE LIVING SAINT CAROLI LWANGA! Who is this LIVING SAINT CAROLI LWANGA? Who is this THE LIVING SAINT CAROLI LWANGA? He is PROPHET INVENTOR M-PESA! Who is PROPHET INVENTOR M-PESA? He is The Right Man to Be Hired by GOD; His name is MAPESA LWANGA BITONYE! MAPESA LWANGA BITONYE Is a man on a mission to: "[CHANGE THE HISTORY OF MANKIND FOREVER AND EVER!]" He exists to: "[UPROOT AND OVERTURN THE OLD STYLES OF RUNNING MANKIND'S INTERESTS AND CHANGE THE STATE OF THE EARTH FROM A BATTLEFIELD INTO A PARADISE!]"
AN EARLY RESTORATION OF PARADISE NEEDED!
PARADISE, the original perfect garden home of mankind, is no myth, no fairy tale. It is unlike the theory of evolution, which was taught in ancient Babylon, later taught by pagan Greek philosophers of the fifth and fourth centuries before Christ and recently revived in these last few centuries.
Paradise, where all was beautiful, peaceful, happy, healthful and life-sustaining, was a real parklike residence that was early lost to mankind. For almost six thousand years now mankind has been trying to exist outside and away from that garden home of pleasure and delight.
The effects of this are seen in both the condition of the earth and the condition of mankind today. As the world situation of our generation worsens and becomes more threatening, one thing becomes plainer, becomes more certain: If the human family is to survive, Paradise needs to be restored early to this earth. Nothing could be better or more desirable for all mankind.
It seems almost too good to be true—that Paradise in all its grandeur will be restored, yes, be made earth wide, and that a numberless crowd of right-hearted persons today living shall still be here on earth when this marvelous restoration begins. Why, that would mean entering into an opportunity to live forever on a paradise earth in complete peace, health and happiness! But this hope was held out to us by no one less than YESHUA/JESUS CHRIST.
Paradise is no more a myth or legend than He is. The proof of history is overwhelming that he was on earth as a perfect man nineteen centuries ago. Eyewitnesses and personal companions of His have left us written testimony of what he said and did—his blameless life, his unjust, violent death and his miraculous resurrection from the dead.
THE NEED OF (THEOCRACY)
GOD'S RULE!
Restoration of Paradise to mankind is assured, is guaranteed! This is no thought to be scoffed at by fanatical believers in the theory of evolution or other unbelievers. Even they themselves will have to admit that something needs to be done before very long if the human family is to survive to the end of this twentieth century and into the twenty-first century of our Common Era.
All such doubters and disbelievers will have to agree that this earth needs to undergo a transformation to a Paradise state if what they may call “the human species” is to enjoy existence much longer. If it were left to mankind itself, even in this scientific, nuclear, space age, to bring this about, the case would be hopeless.
Mankind has already gone too far in polluting and ruining his natural environment, and no reversal of the trend is possible, even with the world organization of the United Nations for international cooperation. However, the sorely needed restoration of Paradise to our earth does not rest with deteriorating mankind and disintegrating human society.
The guarantee of this lifesaving transformation comes from a loving Creator, God! This is the only alternative. Man’s rule of the earth cannot do it! People’s rule (democracy) cannot do it! Wealthy persons’ rule (plutocracy) cannot do it! Technical experts’ rule (technocracy) cannot do it! God’s rule (Theocracy) can do it!
Theocracy will not be defeated in its purpose toward mankind and mankind’s earthly residence. Let none of us be fooled any longer by the false philosophies of self-conceited men, but let us all face the fact: Mankind started out under Theocracy! Mankind, at its perfect beginning in Paradise with an unsubdued earthly globe outside, was not absolute ruler of all that it surveyed. Mankind had a ruler higher than whom there is no one. That ruler was mankind’s Creator, God, the Maker of heaven and earth and the Planter of Paradise. He is The Theocrat.
From the start he was mankind’s Theocratic Ruler. He rightly laid down the rule for mankind’s living in the Paradise of Pleasure. He set before mankind its tasks. The Theocratic Ruler had a beautiful purpose concerning mankind’s realm,the earth.
This purpose was conceived within his own Self. It was his moving idea during the six creative days in which he was making the earth ready for being inhabited by mankind under just the right and perfectly balanced conditions. It is set out in the thought that he expressed, of which we read: (Genesis 1:25-28) "[AND GOD WENT ON TO MAKE THE WILD ANIMALS OF THE EARTH ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS AND ALL THE CREEPING ANIMALS OF THE GROUND ACCORDING TO THEIR KINDS. AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH." AND GOD WENT ON TO CREATE THE MAN IN HIS IMAGE, IN GOD'S IMAGE HE CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. FRTHER, GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID TO THEM: "BE FRUIFUL AND BECOME MANY, 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 ON THE EARTH.]"
THE RESTORED PARADISE!
YAHWEH created the earth as a planet under his feet, as his figurative footstool. Through his prophet Isaiah, God foretold that he would ‘glorify the very place of his feet.’ (Isaiah 60:13) "[TO YOU THE GLORY OF LEB'ANON WILL COME, THE JUNIPER TREE, THE ASH TREE, AND THE CYPRESS TOGETHER, TO BEAUTIFY THE PLACE OF MY SANCTUARY THE PLACE FOR MY FEET]." With the aid of the inspired Bible, we can look, as if by a powerful telescope, a thousand years into the human future. What a rapturous sight greets our eyes! The entire earth glows with impeccable beauty produced by the greatest Gardener in the entire universe. Paradise will have been restored earth wide to mankind! Yes, the divine Supreme Being who started off man’s existence in a garden paradise has man’s greatest happiness in mind. What a loving Creator indeed for mankind to have, of whom it is no extravagance of speech to say, “God is love”!
In the restored Paradise, mature men and women in flawless human perfection dwell together as loving brothers and sisters. (Isaiah 9:6) "[FOR A CHILD HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US; AND THE RULERSHIP WILL REST ON HIS SHOULDER. HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, MIGHTY GOD, ETERNAL FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE]".Thousands of years previously, in a divinely inspired description of his realm, God spoke these impressive words to his chosen people: "[THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS: "THE HEAVENS ARE MY THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHERE, THEN, IS THE HOUSE THAT YOU COULD BUILD FOR ME. AND WHERE IS MY RESTING PLACE?]" The sheer glory of his “footstool,” the Paradise earth, should appropriately correspond to the glory of his throne in the invisible heights.
At the time of earth’s creation, those who were attendant upon God’s throne in the celestial realm considered the earthly scene below. How enraptured they must have felt as their eyes contemplated its glorious brilliance! How could they refrain from spontaneously bursting into song? (Zephaniah 3:17) "[JEHOVAH YOUR GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST. AS A MIGHTY ONE, HE WILL SAVE. HE WILL EXULT OVER YOU WITH GREAT JOY. HE WILL BECOME SILENT IN HIS LOVE. HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SHOUTS OF JOY.]" (Psalm 100:2) "[SERVE JEHOVAH WITH REJOICING. COME INTO HIS PRESENCE WITH JOYFUL SHOUTING.]" The pleased and happy Creator inspired his earthly scribe to portray an accurate description of the heavenly scene, saying: “The morning stars joyfully cried out together, and all the sons of God began shouting in applause.” (Job 38:7) "[WHEN THE MORNING STARS JOYFULLY CRIED OUT TOGETHER, AND ALL THE SONS OF GOD BEGAN TO SHOUT IN APPLAUSE?]" How much more so will the angelic sons of God cry out in joy, to God’s glory, when Paradise is restored!
YAHEWH'S ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE REGARDING THE EARTH ATTAINED!
It is indeed heartwarming for us to be reassured by the inspired Holy Scriptures that the grand attainment of a paradise earth was the objective at which Jehovah God aimed from the very beginning. This joy-inspiring, praise-evoking culmination of God’s purpose for this earth is just the right thing to be expected of a God who goes on from glory to glory with no failure in displaying his excellency. All praise to him! (Psalms 150:1) "[PRAISE JAH! PRAISE GOD IN HIS HOLY PLACE. PRAISE HIM IN THE EXPANSE OF HIS STRENGTH.]" (Isaiah 45:18) "[FOR THIS IS WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS, THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS, THE TRUE GOD, THE ONE WHO FORMED THE EARTH, ITS MAKER WHO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IT, WHO DID NOT CREATE IT SIMPLY FOR NOTHING, BUT FORMED IT TO BE INHIBITED: I AM JEHOVAH, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE.]" (Revelation 21:3-5) "[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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]"
RESURRECTED ONES ASSIST IN RESTORING PARADISE
After Armageddon, how will the earth be populated?
Though the Armageddon survivors will be relatively few in number, it will not be entirely by childbearing on their part that the earth will be fully populated. Yahweh, will also ‘glorify the place of his feet’ by restoring to life those who are in the memorial tombs and who come under the benefits of Christ’s ransom sacrifice. These, in turn, will have the privilege of sharing in the delightful work of transforming our earthly globe into a surpassingly beautiful paradise. (Acts 24:15) "[AND I HAVE HOPE TOWARD GOD, WHICH HOPE THESE MEN ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO, THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A RESURRECTION OF BOTH THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS.]"
The Armageddon survivors will ever keep in mind the soul-stirring words of the Lord Jesus Christ on the occasion when he was moved to say: (John 5:28-29) "[DO NOT BE AMAZED AT THIS, FOR THE HOUR IS COMING IN WHICH ALL THOSE IN THE MEMORIAL TOMBS WILL HEAR HIS VOICE AND COME OUT, THOSE WHO DID GOOD THINGS TO A RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO PRACTICED VILE THINGS TO A RESURRECTION OF JUDGEMENT.]" What an hour that will be when the human dead in their memorial tombs begin to hear the voice of the Son of God saying words similar to those addressed to Lazarus, whose corpse lay in the tomb at Bethany, (John 11:43) "[WHEN HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS, HE CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE: "[LAZARUS, COME OUT!]"
THE FIRST RESSURECTION
Who will likely be the first ones to be resurrected to renewed life on earth, bringing what delight to Armageddon survivors?Who will likely be the first ones to be resurrected to renewed life on earth under the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ and in response to his command? It would reasonably be the “other sheep” who died during the last days preceding the end of this system of things. They will experience an earlier resurrection. (John 10:16) "[AND I HAVE OTHER SHEEP, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD; THOSE TOO I MUST BRING IN, AND THEY WILL BECOME ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD.]" They would probably have the least difficulty in adjusting themselves to the new world. (Matthew 25:34) "[THEN THE KING WILL SAY TO THOSE ON HIS RIGHT: "COME, YOU WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDING OF THE WORLD.]" (John 6:53-54) "[SO JESUS SAID TO THEM: "MOST TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES. WHOEVER DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, AND I WILL RESURRECT HIM ON THE LAST DAY.]"
How delightful it will be for the Armageddon survivors when they see resurrected those of the “other sheep” who died during the generation before the “great tribulation”! (Matthew 24:21) "[FOR THEN THERE WILL BE GREAT TRIBULATION SUCH AS HAS NOT OCCURED SINCE THE WORLD'S BEGINNING UNTIL NOW, NO, NOR WILL OCCUR AGAIN.]" With clear powers of identification, the Armageddon survivors recognize them, welcome them, and with them proceed to renew their united service to the YAHWEH!
BY SURVIVING ARMAGEDDON, WHAT MAY YOU WITNESS?
By being one of the Armageddon survivors, you may witness the resurrection of the first one of your own earthly relatives. How could the emotional effect of this upon you be otherwise than that upon the parents who saw the Lord Jesus restore their 12-year-old daughter alive to their yearning arms? (Mark 5:42) "[AND IMMEDIATELY THE GIRL ROSE AND BEGAN WALKING. (SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD.) AND AT ONCE THEY WERE BESIDE THEMSELVES WITH GREAT ECSTASY.]" Ah, indeed, unspeakable joy will be yours at the resurrection of the dead from Hades and the sea. (Revelation 20:13) ''[AND THE SEA GAVE GAVE UP THE DEAD IN IT, AND DEATH AND THE GRAVE GAVE UP THE DEAD IN THEM, AND THEY WERE JUDGED INDIVIDUALLY ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS.]" Oh, what a glorious tomorrow that will be, a tomorrow that will soon be here!
“PRINCES IN ALL THE EARTH”
By the exercise of his power to resurrect the human dead for whom he laid down his perfect human life as a ransom sacrifice, MESSIAH SON OF DAVID will be able to bring about the fulfillment of(Psalms 45:16) “[YOUR SONS WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR FATHERS; YOU WILL MAKE THEM PRINCES THROUGHOUT THE LAND]”- This psalm is prophetically addressed to MESSIAH SON OF DAVID as the installed King. This psalm emphasizes that MESSIAH SON OF DAVID will become a father to THE REMNANTS down here on the earth and that he will install His sons as “princes in all the earth."
Think of such ones who are in line for resurrection under the Messianic Kingdom. Look! Can we believe our eyes? There is Abel, the first human martyr, and Enoch, who kept walking with the true God. There, too, is Noah, the ark builder. There are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, forefathers of the nation of Israel. There are Moses (of the priestly tribe of Levi) and David with whom the everlasting covenant for the Kingdom was made. And there, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and all the other Bible-writing Hebrew prophets down to the last of them, Malachi, and, of course, John the Baptizer and also Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus. On one occasion Jesus said to the Jews that they would “see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but [they themselves would be] thrown outside.” (Luke 13:28) "[THERE IS WHERE YOUR WEEPING AND THE GNASHING OF YOUR TEETH WILL BE, WHEN YOU SEE ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB, AND ALL THE PROPHETS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BUT YOU YOURSELVES THROWN OUTSIDE.]" The “great crowd” of earthly survivors of “the war of the great day of God the Almighty” will be favored with the privilege of literally seeing the resurrected “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets” back here on the Paradise earth and in royal service under the Kingdom of God.
How soul-stirring it will be for you who survive the end of this present evil world to compare notes with Noah and his immediate family, “eight souls,” who survived the end of the first world in the global Deluge in 2370 B.C.E.! No one else to all eternity will have had experiences like yours and thus be able to serve as a Witness of Jehovah God in this outstanding, unrepeatable regard. (2 Peter 3:5-7) "[FOR THEY DELIBERATELY IGNORE THIS FACT, THAT LONG AGO THERE WERE HEAVENS AND AN EARTH STANDING FIRMLY OUT OF WATER AND IN THE MIDST OF WATER BY THE WORD OF GOD; AND THAT BY THOSE MEANS THE WORLD OF THAT TIME SUFFERED DESTRUCTION WHEN IT WAS FLOODED WITH WATER. BUT BY THE SAME WORD THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH THAT NOW EXIST ARE RESERVED FOR FIRE AND ARE BEING KEPT UNTIL THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND OF DESTRUCTION OF THE UNGODLY PEOPLE.]"
A SYMPATHETIC EVILDOER REMEMBERED
When Jesus remembers the sympathetic evildoer, what privilege will the Armageddon survivors and others then alive have? What hope is entertained regarding the resurrected evildoer?
Doubtless, by then the restoring of Paradise to earth will be well under way. The malefactor who was impaled on Calvary alongside Jesus and who said in recognition of the sign above His head, “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom,” will be resurrected to earthly life in the restored Paradise. (Luke 23:42) "[THEN HE SAID: "[JESUS, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU GET INTO YOUR KINGDOM.]" It will be the privilege of the survivors of Armageddon and the others then alive to welcome him back from the dead. They will teach him fully about the now reigning King, Jesus Christ, toward whom he showed deep sympathy on Nisan 14 of the year 33 C.E. The Lord Jesus Christ will not fail to remember him sometime during His reign of a thousand years. No doubt that sympathetic, resurrected evildoer will demonstrate his appreciation for the reigning King, Jesus Christ, to whom he owes his resurrection, by proving his faithfulness to the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah God. Then he would be counted worthy to enjoy living in the Paradise new world to all eternity along with the rest of restored, obedient humankind.
LIFE IN THE GLOBAL, RESTORED GARDEN OF EDEN
In the restored Paradise, everyone is a friend to everybody else. The bonds of the worldwide family relationship are felt to the depths of each one’s soul. All understand one another. They are speaking a common world language. It is likely mankind’s original language, which everybody on earth spoke for the first 1,800 years of human existence—from Adam’s creation in 4026 B.C.E. until Peleg’s day (2269 to 2030 B.C.E.), for “in his days the earth [that is, earth’s population] was divided.” (Genesis 10:25) "[TWO SONS WERE BORN TO EBER. THE NAME OF THE ONE WAS PELEG, BECAUSE IN HIS LIFE TIME THE EARTH WAS DIVIDED. THE NAME OF HIS BROTHER WAS JOKTAN.]" (Genesis 11:1-2) "[NOW ALL THE EARTH CONTINUED TO BE OF ONE LANGUAGE AND OF ONE SET OF WORDS. AS THEY TRAVELED EASTWARD, THEY DISCOVERED A VELLEY PLAIN IN THE LAND OF SHI'NAR, AND THEY BEGAN DWELLING THERE.]"
WHAT WILL BE OBSERVED ABOUT THOSE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN HANDICAPPED?
And look! The once lame are walking, yes, skipping about for joy. Lost arms and legs have been miraculously restored. The previously blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak and sing for sheer joy. (Isaiah 35:5-6) "[AT THAT TIME THE EYES OF THE BLIND WILL BE OPENED, AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF WILL BE UNSTOPPED. AT THAT TIME THE LAME WILL LEAP LIKE THE DEER, AND THE TONGUE OF THE SPEECHLESS WILL SHOUT FOR JOY. FOR WATERS WILL BURST FORTH IN THE WILDERNESS, AND STREAMS IN THE DESERT PLAIN.]" .Unsightliness about human form and figure disappears. Human masculinity is beautifully balanced by human femininity. (Genesis 2:18) "[THEN JEHOVAH GOD: "IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO CONTINUE TO BE ALONE. I AM GOING TO MAKE HIM A HELPER FOR HIM AS A COMPLIMENT OF HIM.]" Human perfection glorifies Jehovah God, the Creator of the perfect human body.
WHAT WILL BE OBSERVED ABOUT THE FORCES OF NATURE, FOOD SUPPLIES, THE ANIMAL CREATION, AND HOW THE EARTH SHALL BE USED?
The whole earth is becoming one global beauty spot. From no part of the earth is there any report of drought or of rainfall in ruinous downpours or of destructive cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes. (Mark 4:37-41) "[NOW A GREAT VIOLENT WINDSTORM BROKE OUT, AND THE WAVES KEPT THE CRASHING INTO THE BOAT, SO THAT THE BOAT WAS CLOSE TO BEING SWAMPED. BUT HE WAS IN THE STERN, SLEEPING ON THE PILLOW. SO THEY WOKE HIM UP AND SAID TO HIM: "TEACHER, DO YOU NOT CARE THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO PERISH?" WITH THAT HE GOT UP AND REBUKED THE WIND AND SAID TO THE SEA: "HUSH! BE QUIET!" AND THE WIND ABATED, AND A GREAT CALM SET IN. SO HE SAID TO THEM: "WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID? DO YOU NOT YET HAVE ANY FAITH?" BUT THEY FELT AN UNUSUAL FEAR, AND THEY SAID TO ONE ANOTHER: "WHO REALLY IS THIS?" EVEN THE WIND AND THE SEA OBEY HIM.]"
All the forces of nature are being brought into a perfect balance for making the whole earth an exquisite place in which to live. There is no lack of food anywhere, for the earth is yielding its produce to the full. (Psalms 72:16) "[THERE WILL BE AN ABUNDANCE OF GRAIN ON THE EARTH; ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS IT WILL OVERFLOW. HIS FRUIT WILL FLOURISH AS IN LEBANON. AND IN THE CITIES PEOPLE WILL BLOSSOM LIKE THE VEGETATION OF THE EARTH.]" Peace and security obtain worldwide for both man and animal, just as Jehovah states: (Isaiah 11:9) "[THEY WILL NOT CAUSE ANY HARM OR ANY RUIN IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, BECAUSE THE EARTH WILL CERTAINLY BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF JEHOVAH.]" (Isaiah 11:6-8) "[THE WOLF WILL RESIDE WITH THE LAMB, AND WITH THE YOUNG GOAT THE LEOPARD WILL LIE DOWN, AND THE CALF AND THE LION AND THE FATTENED ANIMAL WILL ALL BE TOGETHER; AND A LITTLE BOY WILL LEAD THEM. THE COW AND THE BEAR WILL FEED TOGETHER, AND THEIR YOUNG WILL LIE DOWN TOGETHER. THE LION WILL EAT STRAW LIKE THE BULL. THE NURSING CHILD WILL PLAY OVER THE LAIR OF A COBRA, AND A WEANED CHILD WILL PUT HIS HAND OVER THE DEN OF A POISONOUS SNAKE.]"
In this way the earth will be made a delightful place in which to live and carry on the worship and service of Jehovah God, the Creator and Owner of the earth. It being his property by right of creation, it deserves to be used in a way that pleases him and that glorifies him. (Isaiah 35:1) "[THE WILDERNESS AND THE PARCHED LAND WILL EXULT, AND THE DESERT PLAIN WILL BE JOYFUL AND BLOSSOM AS THE SAFFRON.]"
How will redeemed mankind view everything on earth, and what music will be heard?Refreshingly new—that is what everything on earth is for redeemed humans who were never inside the Paradise garden of Eden where human life started out in beautiful perfection! (Revelation 21:5) "[AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FORMER HEAVEN AND THE FORMER EARTH HAS PASSED AWAY, AND THE SEA IS NO MORE. I ALSO SAW 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 PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.]"
What delightful music, instrumental and vocal, will then be heard—all of it praising Jehovah! (Psalms 150:3-6) "[PRAISE HIM WITH THE SOUNDING OF THE HORN. PRAISE HIM WITH THE THE STRINGED INSTRUMENT AND THE HARP. PRAISE HIM WITH THE TAMBOURINE AND THE CIRCLE DANCE. PRAISE HIM WITH RINGING CYMBALS. PRAISE HIM WITH CRASHING CYMBOLS. EVERY BREATHING THING-LET IT PRAISE JAH. PRAISE JAH!]"
LIFE IN THE PARADISE NEW WORLD!
How wonderful it will be to live in an earth in which human life abounds to the full and where all the stages of the dying process due to the original sin of Adam will have been effaced! (John 10: 10) "[THE THIEF DOES NOT COME UNLESS IT IS TO STEAL AND SLAY AND DESTROY. I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE.]" Yes, it will be an earth wherein every approved human creature radiates the image and likeness of Jehovah God with which the first man Adam was created! (Genesis 1:26-27) "[THEN GOD SAID: "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS, AND LET THEM HAVE IN SUBJECTION THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE FLYING CREATURES OF THE HEAVENS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ALL THE EARTH AND EVERY CREEPING ANIMAL THAT IS MOVING ON THE EARTH. AND GOD WENT ON TO CREATE THE MAN IN HIS IMAGE, IN GOD'S IMAGE HE CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM.]"
The earth will then no longer be an eyesore to the seraphs, to the cherubs, and to the radiant angels of heaven. When they turn lovable faces toward the earth, peering down at it adorned with paradisaic beauty, they will have only praise and gratitude to express to the One whose countenance they have the privilege of beholding directly—Jehovah, the Universal Sovereign (Matthew 18:10) "[SEE THAT YOU DO NOT DESPISE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES, FOR I TELL YOU THAT THEIR ANGELS IN HEAVEN ALWAYS LOOK UPON THE FACE OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.]"
A HAPPY, ENDLESS FUTURE ON A PARADISE NEW EARTH!
It is within the realm of possibility and of likelihood that, some day in the future, the names of all those anointed People who have made their “calling and choosing” to the heavenly Kingdom sure and who have been blessed by this supernal resurrection will be published in full for the information of the human family in their earthly Paradise. (2 Peter 1:10) "[THEREFORE, BROTHERS, BE ALL THE MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND CHOOSING SURE FOR YOURSELVES FOR IF YOU KEEP ON DOING THESE THINGS, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS EVER FAIL]." (Psalms 87:5-6) "[AND ABOUT ZION IT WILL BE SAID: "EACH AND EVERY ONE WAS BORN IN HER." AND THE MOST HIGH WILL FIRMLY ESTABLISH HER. JEHOVAH WILL DECLARE, WHEN RECORDING THE PEOPLES: "THIS IS ONE WHO WAS BORN THERE.]" Thus, the absence of the 144,000 spirit-begotten anointed disciples of Jesus Christ from the earthly Paradise will be fully understood to the satisfaction of everybody and with a wholehearted rejoicing over them and together with them.
YAHWEH'S ACCOMPLISHMENT REGARDING HIS “FOOTSTOOL”? THE NEW WORLD SHALL NEVER END, AND THE PROPHETIC SONG THAT SHALL BE FULFILLED?
Happy shall be the endless future for all who remain in unbreakable devotion to YAHWEH, the ideal Sovereign of all the universe. The comfortably filled Paradise earth shall be a suitable place, a creditable place, as a “footstool” upon which God’s feet may figuratively rest. Yes, for all eternity YAHWEH will have glorified ‘the very place of his feet,’ and all mankind will be in unswerving subjection to him! (Matthew 5: 34-35) "[HOWEVER, I SAY TO YOU: DO NOT SWEAR AT ALL, NEITHER BY HEAVEN, FOR IT IS GOD'S THRONE; NOR BY EARTH, FOR IT IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF HIS FEET; NOR BY JERUSALEM, FOR IT IS THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.]" (Acts 7:49) "[THE HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHAT SORTS OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME? JEHOVAH SAYS, OR WHERE IS MY RESTING PLACE?]"
The new world will be a world without end because “to the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7) "[TO THE INCREASE OF HIS RULERSHIP AND TO PEACE, THERE WILL BE NO END, ON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND ON HIS KINGDOM IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH IT FIRMLY AND TO SUSTAIN IT THROUGH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, FROM NOW ON AND FOREVER. THE ZEAL OF JEHOVAH OF ARMIES WILL DO THIS.]"
Then, the prophetic song of the heavenly angels at the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea in 2 B.C.E. will be fulfilled: “Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill.” (Luke 2:13-14) "[SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY ARMY, PRAISING GOD AND SAYING: "GLORY IN THE HEIGHTS ABOVE TO GOD, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG MEN OF GOODWILL.]"
THE “GREAT CROWD” OF “OTHER SHEEP” APPRECIATION AND HEARTFELT DESIRES.
Those who belong to the “great crowd” of the Fine Shepherd’s “other sheep” appreciate the soul-stirring words of promise of Paradise restored. It is their privilege to be associated with God’s organization now and to be zealously engaged in the work foretold by the Lord Jesus Christ, the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth for the final witness. (Matthew 24:14) "[AND THIS GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE INHABITED EARTH FOR A WITNESS TO ALL THE NATIONS AND THEN THE END WILL COME]." (Mark 13:10) "[ALSO, IN ALL THE NATIONS, THE GOOD NEWS HAS TO BE PREACHED FIRST.
Our sincere, heartfelt desire should be to maintain our integrity unsullied throughout all eternity, to the everlasting glory and vindication of the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah God, and under the royal rulership of his only-begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST who is enthroned in heaven and MESSIAH SON OF DAVID Who is enthroned on earth as The Single Shepard of the "other sheep" or "the great crowed. “Hallelujah!”
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