safepaulooo:
Friend, Planet earth will remain forever. Please read and meditate on Ecclesiastic 1:4 and Psalm 104:5. The message from these two scriptures is clear about the eternal future of the earth as the eternal home for obedient mankind.

Please note that the word "earth" is used in the bible both literally and figuratively. When used literally, as in the two scriptures cited above, it refers to the planet earth but when used figuratively it refers to people who inhabit the planet earth. Read of the figurative usage in Gen 11: 1 (earth/people speaking language), and Psalm 96:1 (earth/people singing song). It's important to understand which usage (literal or figurative) the bible is referring to when we read any portion of scripture.

Wicked people will eventually be anihilated such that humanity will no longer be comprised of both righteous and wicked people living together as we have it today. Rather we will eventually have only righteous humans living on a paradise planet earth. In that sense, it could be said that we have a "new" earth or new society of human inhabitants. This "old" earth (old human society) where the wicked and righteous coexist will be no more.

In a nutshell, God will never destroy planet earth, it will remain forever and be transformed into a paradise. We are wise to discern and properly understand whether the bible is using the word "earth" literally or figuratively in any bible portion we read. When used literally, it refers to the physical planet earth but when used figuratively it refers to human inhabitants. Hence, the "new earth" will be a new society of human inhabitants comprised mainly of righteous obedient humans, no more will the wicked coexist with the righteous (old earth).

What a glorious future lies just ahead of us, to be actualized by God's appointed rulers - Jesus Christ and his 144,000 co-rulers bought from among mankind.

I know you're a typical JW. But it would be better you study your Bible more properly and ask GOD for His HOLY SPIRIT to enable you understand what you study and read. Also, you'd need to check and read:

(Please lookup the quoted but not posted Bible verses to understand properly.)

Contrary to your belief, GOD is not going to refurbish this earth.

From the Word of JESUS CHRIST, while He was on earth, consoling His disciples about a place 'He will go and prepare' for them, and then 'return again for them that they may be where He is':

John 14:1-3

Indeed, He told His disciples those Words, but today, He is also speaking to us all who believed on Him, accepted Him as our LORD and Saviour, by which He has given us the power to become sons of GOD.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Now in the FATHER'S house where there are many mansions, we know it is not on this earth. How then will this earth be the paradise?
GOD NEVER SAID HE WAS GOING TO REFURBISH THIS EARTH!

Revelation 4:1-2
Confirms that these things that shall be revealed are going to take place in the future. Which proved that this earth also is not remaining for ever. Just as the LORD always say. For GOD'S plan is revealed and unchanged.

Revelation 20:11
Confirms the permanent termination of this present earth and heaven. That there was found no place for them anymore.

If these seem strange, why did JESUS CHRIST always say, "Heaven and earth shall pass away...." Or do we know better than Him?
The Bible never supported the claims of some who says GOD is going to refurbish this current earth to make it a paradise for the saints to dwell in.

He rather spoke of creating a NEW EARTH and a NEW HEAVEN. A decision He had taken even before our LORD JESUS CHRIST came to the world in a human form, which made Him always say, "Heave and earth shall pass away."

Isaiah 65:17-18
Isaiah 66:22

GOD had decided to create a New Earth and a New Heaven, and also confirmed that the both have been created, ready for habitation by His children when the time be fully come.

Revelation 21:1-2
Confirms the creation of the New Earth, New Heaven, the New Jerusalem and extinction of sea. For sea is no longer needed in the new creations of holy habitations made by GOD.

Revelation 21:10-27
Speaks of the description of the holy city, which is coming out of Heaven, from GOD, and not on this present earth.

Therefore, it is a false doctrine to tell or teach people that GOD is going to refurbish this current earth and make it new when GOD Himself made us know He is coming to bombard this earth in wrath.

A heavy bombardment with thunderings, lightnings, earthquakes, seas turning to blood of dead men, waters becoming bitter and deadly, grasses burning up, scorching the earth with heat before filling the earth with the carcases of men who shall be killed by predator birds; to mention but a few.

All these does not seem like refurbishment but rather pollution, contamination, destruction and desolation.
Therefore, be wary of who comes to teach you what they feel and not what the Bible actually says.

Just a thought to ponder over: Faithful servants of God in the past before Christ came to earth like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Job, David, Daniel and a host too numerous to mention, were they hoping to go to heaven as a reward for their faithfulness? What really was their hope for the future?

Personally I have pondered this really deep and I find no scripture that remotely suggests that God promised any of them a heavenly reward I. e attaining heavenly life as a future hope. Christ said in John 3 vs 13 that no man has ascended into heaven. So as at the time he came to earth, no human had gone to heaven.

I know from Genesis 2: 15- 17 that Adam and Eve were to die if they disobeyed God and ate from the tree, obedience in not eating would have meant endless life on a paradise earth for them and their offspring. God did not discard that prospect because they disobeyed him. Isaiah 55 vs 10,11 shows that he fulfills his purpose with certainty, it cannot be thwarted.

Faithful servants of God before Christ came must surely have understood that God fulfills all he intends and purposes. No wonder David wrote under inspiration in Psalms 89: 34 about God that he will not violate his covenant or change what his lips have spoken. It must have been clear to them that God’s words for mankind in Genesis 1 vs 28 to FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT will not prove to be empty words. Those words which are still unrealized will eventually come to pass. God’s purpose to have obedient mankind fill the earth and enjoy it in paradise condition FOREVER (since he never expected Adam to disobey him and introduce death) will be fulfilled with UTMOST CERTAINTY.

I believe faithful servants before christ lived their lives with this prospect clearly in their minds, since no portion of scripture indicates that God promised something different - heavenly life. They lived and served God faithfully with strong hope and faith of eventually seeing God's prospect for obedient mankind realized, that even if they died God will resurrect them back to life on EARTH to live forever on a paradise earth. Living in heaven was obviously not in the picture and God did not change the prospect they cherished, lived and died for. He will resurrect them in the very near future back to life on a restored paradise earth - a prospect that cannot change and will certainly not die. Jesus and his 144,000 co-rulers bought from among mankind are poised to bring this to reality. Keep focused dear ones!

orisa37:
YES.

ALL WHO RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRITS AT PENTECOST AND ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM THROUGH THE APOSTLES AND RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRITS BAPTISM.


From Orunto27

Looking back at the posts on this thread so far, I must remark with appreciation the point made by @ orisa37. He correctly stated that "ALL WHO RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT AT PENTECOST AND ALL WHO................RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM" are those christ promised heavenly life reward. Yes for sure all who receive the holy spirit baptism, also referred to as anointing with holy spirit, look forward to heavenly life reward and ruling with Jesus Christ. Being anointed with holy spirit or baptized with holy spirit is a privilege that began to be extended to humans after christ came to earth, with the first experience occurring at Pentecost 33 CE.

All faithful servants of God who died before Christ came and before this first experience at Pentecost (which includes John the Baptist) did not receive holy spirit baptism or anointing and as such are not of the heavenly class of rulers. They will enjoy a restored paradise earth which God whose purpose cannot fail will actualize.

Watch this space as an enlightening write-up on the meaning of the "NEW HEAVENS" is next presented.

So what is the “NEW HEAVENS” which the bible talks about? It would be a mistake to believe that the physical heavens as we know it today needs to be replaced with new ones as if it has been so badly devastated or totally outdated as to require a replacement with “NEW PHYSICAL HEAVENS”. Or does God’s dwelling place also need a replacement? Far from it!

Understanding the term “NEW HEAVENS” as used in the scriptures depends on appreciating the fact that the bible often speaks in FIGURATIVE terms and certain words that are used literally can also be used in a figurative sense in the scriptures. So when reading any portion of scripture it is very important to find out whether the bible is speaking literally or figuratively so as not to miss the message or misunderstand scripture. For example if Mr A tells Mr B, “I will show you pepper” and Mr B takes it literally that Mr A will bring fresh pepper to show him, he misses the point entirely because what Mr A means is that he will cause mischief, problems and pain for Mr B. So it’s important to discern whether the bible is speaking literally or figuratively in any bible portion we read so as not to misunderstand scripture and miss the message. The context or other related portions of scripture will help us establish this.

In an earlier write-up on this thread, it was explained that the word “earth” is also used figuratively in the bible to refer to people or human inhabitants and as such the “new earth” refers to a new society of righteous human inhabitants. The bible says in Eccl 1 vs 4 and Psalm 104 vs 5 that LITERAL PLANET EARTH will remain forever. Hence, the expression “new earth” is best understood FIGUATIVELY as mentioned above (please read the previous write-up on this thread explaining “new earth”). Therefore, just as the physical heavens are above the physical earth, the figurative heavens (governments and authorities) are also above the figurative earth (human inhabitants / subjects).

At Isaiah 65 vs 17, God says “I am creating new heavens and a new earth”. He goes further to explain what these mean in verse 18 saying “I am creating Jerusalem a cause for joy and her PEOPLE a cause for exultation”. We know that Jerusalem was the seat of government for the Jewish nation and as such that word “Jerusalem” was used to refer to the Jewish governmental system. We also know that God did not create new physical heavens and a new physical earth after Isaiah declared that prophecy. The prophecy was fulfilled after the Jews returned from their exile in Babylon upon which God established a new governmental system in Jerusalem (new heavens), a cause for joy and also re-settled its people, faithful returning Jewish inhabitants (new earth), a cause for exultation. So, in that prophecy by Isaiah God was speaking purely in FIGURATIVE TERMS not LITERAL.

At Ephesians 3 vs 10, Paul mentions “the governments and the authorities in the HEAVENLY places”. The context shows that he was referring to human governments and authorities, but the point to note is that these are in HEAVENLY places. In other words Paul (as a side point) was helping us understand why the bible figuratively uses the word “heaven” to refer to governments and authorities. They occupy higher vantage positions / place relative to their subjects. So, the bible uses the word “heaven” figuratively to refer to governments and authorities since they are higher and occupy vantage positions / place than their subjects / people (figurative earth).

With this background, what therefore is the “new heavens” spoken of in 2 Peter 3 vs 13 and Revelation 21 vs 1? Well, simply put the “new heavens” refer to the new governmental system which God has established – God’s Kingdom, placed firmly in the hands of Jesus and his 144,000 co-rulers bought from among mankind. God’s Kingdom (new heavens) will replace the existing human governmental systems (old heavens) and eventually dominate the entire earth forever.

This replacement is well described in Daniel 2 vs 44 which says “...... the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this Kingdom 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”. Before this summary conclusion in verse 44, Daniel explains the dream to Nebuchadnezzar that there would be a succession of human world powers represented by the different body parts of a huge image. This image is eventually destroyed by a “stone” released by God (not human hands) to strike the feet of the image, such that it crashes, becomes powder and gets blown away by wind. The “stone” then becomes a mountain and fills the whole earth. Daniel explains that the “stone” is God’s Kingdom that totally destroys the long line of human rule and governmental systems, completely wiping them away and replacing them so as to dominate the entire earth forever.

So in conclusion, the “new heavens” is God’s Kingdom government ruled by Jesus and his 144,000 co-rulers bought from among mankind. This will replace the current existing human governmental systems (old heaven), dominate the entire earth and restore a global earthly paradise to be enjoyed by a new righteous human society (new earth).

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