Channel C²

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INTERNATIONAL BIBLICAL DISCUSSION FORUMS

Conscientious Jehovah's Witnesses

and Former Jehovah's Witnesses

CTR was platonically mistaken on heavenly hope

Posted by Sherwood on Thu - Jul 10 - 2:16pm:

The bible not once says people go to Heaven when they die. The false teaching that people go to Heaven was developed during the Great Apostasy after the apostles died. Greek philosophy infiltrated and infected the pure christian teachings taught by Jesus.

When you go to Heaven, what will you do?

JW's teach that a select 144,000 will go to Heaven with the divine purpose of being Kings and Priests with Jesus for the thousand years. See Rev 5:10, 7:4, 14:1, 20:4-6

However, the bible does not say they will *go to Heaven* to be Kings and Priest. The bible gives no explanation HOW they will rule as Kings and Priests from Heaven. The bible gives no explanation HOW humans will communicate with our 144,000 Kings and Priests. This is because they do not rule from Heaven but from the Earth.

The Jews that Jesus preached to, never entertained a Heavenly existence in the resurrection, and Jesus never preached a Heavenly existence as a hope for them. The Jews only entertained being resurrected in the "Last Day" on the earth and that is all Jesus ever preached to them. See Matthew 5:5 John 6:31-58, 11:21-27, 12:44-50, Rev 21:1-5

ALL resurrections will happen on earth. Jesus was the only exception whereby he was the only one who came down from Heaven. When Jesus resurrected people during his ministry he never demonstrated a floating soul in heavenly type resurrection. He only resurrected people back to the earth.

Jehovah will select the 144,000 and they will be in the First Resurrection on Earth. They will rule over the earth while they are in the earth. It makes total sense, doesn't it?

Interestedly, I preceive this teaching would undermine JW authority and would probably rid the congregation of competitive tension that exists among elders.

Scriptural Consideration:

NASU Matt 20:20-23

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left." 22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."

The question one may entertain here is did the Apostles think they would rule in the Kingdom from heaven? Other scriptures show there disposition was to rule with Jesus on the Earth.

AMP Luke 19:11

11 Now as they were listening to these things, He proceeded to tell a parable, because He was approaching Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to be brought to light and shown forth immediately.

The apostles give no thought of ruling FROM heaven instantly or even after a long time.

AMP Acts 1:6-7

6 So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom and restore it to Israel?

7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.

Again the apostles have no thought of entertaining a rulership by them IN Heaven.

May the mannerism of Christ be in the spirit you show

Sherwood