[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
|
Religion See other Religion Articles Title: ETERNAL LIFE ETERNAL LIFE What does the term mean, and, do these particular words appear together in the Bible? First off, no, those two words, used together to signify life to time indefinite, do not appear in the Bible. Secondly, that is what the term does mean; life to time indefinite. Or, stated another way, death will be no more. Neither will aging nor disease exist, because the former things have been done away with/have passed away. Revelation 21:4 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.” Life to time indefinite. Does that term appear in the Bible? Yes, once, in Psalms. Psalms 133:3 …. It is like the dew of Her82;mon That is descending upon the mountains of Zion. For there Jehovah commanded the blessing [to be], [Even] life to time indefinite. Why is their so much effort taken in explaining the concept of the heavenly hope in the so-called New Testament (actually, the Christian Greek Scriptures)? Because the Israelites had no concept of going to heaven. The only promise of Jehovah God that they had from the original Scriptures, the Hebrew Scriptures, was the hope of the Resurrection to life to time indefinite here on the earth. We should always remember that, prior to the teachings of Jesus the Christ, the only people on the earth who had direct contact with Jehovah God were the Israelites, so they were the only people who had access to the Scriptures which showed the original lie told by Satan the Devil in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:4 At this the serpent said to the woman: “YOU positively will not die. With this statement, Satan the Devil was calling Jehovah God a liar, for He had said; Genesis 2:17 But as 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 positively die.” This is the choice that we, as people alive today, all of whom have access to the Holy Scriptures, must make; whom do we believe? Jehovah God, or, Satan the Devil? Do we really die, as Jehovah God stated, or, is some part of us, an immortal soul, capable of living forever, as Satan the Devil claimed? This is the choice that you, and I, and every man and woman alive today must make; whom do we believe. What other basis do we have to understand the term eternal life? How about the tree of life? The term “tree of life” appears eight times in the Bible. Three of those references are in the Book of Genesis, the first one being; Genesis 2:9 Thus Jehovah God made to grow out of the ground every tree desirable to one’s sight and good for food and also the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. The other two times are in Genesis Chapter 3, verses 22 and 24, where we are told that man’s access to the tree of life has been blocked. The term ‘tree of life’ appears four times in the Book of Proverbs. AND, it appears once in the Book of Revelation; Revelation 2:7 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: To him that conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ What are we being told here? That there will come a time when Jehovah God unblocks access to the tree of life, and we are allowed to once again eat from it, and we know this to be true for two reasons. First off, as quoted above in Revelation 21:4, we are promised that at some point in time (established by Jehovah God to serve His Purposes), death will be no more. As fleshly creatures, having bodies of flesh and blood, we are not capable of immortality. These bodies that we have must be maintained, and that requires a blessing from the Creator who understands very well what is necessary for us to live forever. That blessing apparently comes through the tree of life. Secondly, Jehovah God does not change, nor do His Purposes; Malachi 3:6 “For I am Jehovah; I have not changed. Jehovah God does not change, and His Word does not change. He, and His Word, are eternal, even forever. What is the point of this? His Purposes do not change either. That means that at some point in time, as designated by Jehovah God, the earth will be returned to its original state of a paradise. AND, we will live on it even forever. This is explained to us very clearly in Psalms; Psalms 104:5 He has founded the earth upon its established places; It will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever. This is the Word of Jehovah God; the earth is forever, and it will not be destroyed. Those who fear such simply have no faith. Psalms 115:16 As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, But the earth he has given to the sons of men. The earth was intended for us, and the Israelites understood this very well. They knew they were not to go to heaven; when they died, they would be asleep in death until called forth from the memory of Jehovah God in the Resurrection. The term, “asleep in death,” occurs 11 times in the Bible. The first time is in the Book of Psalms, Psalms 13:3 Do look [upon me]; answer me, O Jehovah my God. Do make my eyes shine, that I may not fall asleep in death, The term occurs two times in Acts, 5 times in 1 Corinthians, 2 times in 1 Thessalonians, and once in 2 Peter. (Please note also the term ‘sleeping in death.’) 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Moreover, brothers, we do not want YOU to be ignorant concerning those who are sleeping [in death]; that YOU may not sorrow just as the rest also do who have no hope. 14 For if our faith is that Jesus died and rose again, so, too, those who have fallen asleep [in death] through Jesus God will bring with him. 15 For this is what we tell YOU by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep [in death]; 16 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. 17 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 shall always be with [the] Lord. I am using the above for a reason. Possibly this Scripture is the most misunderstood in the Bible; note this carefully: and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. These are the ones who will be resurrected FIRST out of all of the dead who have inhabited the earth, and, it does not refer to all of mankind, but ONLY to those who had a heavenly hope: those who are dead in union with Christ, as detailed at Revelation Chapter 7: Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: The sons of Israel are NOT the original Israelites, which is easy to understand by simply comparing the tribes detailed in Revelation Chapter 7; there are differences in the names of the tribes of the sons of Israel than the original twelve tribes. These hundred and forty-four thousand started with the original apostles, and those who were given the Holy Spirit in the beginning. We are told in the Bible that there will be a small remnant of these spirit-anointed ones down to the time of the end of this system of things. The bottom line is that the only people who have a heavenly hope are those 144,000. At Pentecost, Peter likewise said of David that he “did not ascend to the heavens.” (Ac 2:34) In reality, there is nothing in the Scriptures to show that a heavenly hope was held out to God’s servants prior to the coming of Christ Jesus. Acts 2:34 Actually David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, Is this confirmed elsewhere? John 3:13 Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man. Men do not go to heaven; they fall asleep in death, to await the resurrection; John 5:28 Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment. The choice is actually very, very clear; either you believe the statements of Jehovah God, starting when He stated that you will positively die, or, you believe Satan the Devil, when he stated that you positively will not die. The choice is yours, but the message in the Bible is very, very clear on these subjects. If, you are willing to spend the time to really understand what the Bible teaches. Most, unfortunately, are not. And then we have this clear prophecy, Daniel 12:4 “And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of [the] end. Many will rove about, and the [true] knowledge will become abundant.” That time has come, and the true knowledge is now abundant. And, you do not have to take my word for this. You have access to all of the proof that you need to make an informed decision as to where the truth is to be found; Matthew 7:15 “Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to YOU in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits YOU will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? 17 Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; 18 a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. 19 Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those [men]. What part of the above Scripture is difficult to understand? What is confusing to you on this subject? Do you enjoy seeing practicing homosexuals openly preaching from the pulpits of Christendom? Do you enjoy reading about the activities of the Catholic church (and other so-called churches as well) in supporting organizations such as ACORN, various governments of the world, and the United Nations? Shall we discuss the many, many scandals involving Catholic priests and young children? Or should we simply discuss the morality of the people who cling to the teachings of such ‘churches?’ The ever-increasing rates of divorce and drug addictions being but two examples (drug-addictions include smoking and alcohol as well as so-called illegal drugs). On the other hand, I am a Jehovah Witness, and I know of the morality of the people who are my brothers and sisters world wide. I watch their children when we are together as a Congregation. Children as young as six with their own Bibles, and they follow along with the adults as we study the Bible. I listen to children as young as that answer Bible questions during our studies. My wife is a teacher. She tells me of the children of the Witnesses in her school; their homework is done, they are always neatly dressed and never cause problems in the school. And, they do not skip school. Far and away, the best children in the school – her opinion; not mine. And no, she is not a Jehovah’s Witness -- not yet. But because of what she has seen and learned, she is well along in her Bible studies and talking about baptism. The people of this world are being separated into two different groups (see Matthew 13:37), the children of Jehovah God, and the children of the wicked one. The process is accelerating. Make your choice, now. Of course, if you enjoy what you see going on in the churches of Christendom, so be it; Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if YOU do not want to share with her in her sins, and if YOU do not want to receive part of her plagues. Who, really, are the sons of the wicked one? Matthew 13:37 In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. 41 The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, 42 and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be. 43 At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him that has ears listen. When did the harvest detailed above begin? 1914, of course. Just please remember this; even if you have left the churches of Christendom, if you cling to their teachings, then you are clinging to the fruitage that they have sown. There is a reason why ALL of the churches of Christendom teach the same basic theology; it all came from the Catholic church. But that is a decision that you must make; no one can make it for you; Galatians 6:5 For each one will carry his own load.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 2.
#2. To: richard9151 (#0)
You might want to take some time and read more scripture. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Matthew 7 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Luke 18 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
There are no replies to Comment # 2. End Trace Mode for Comment # 2.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest |
||
|
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
|
||