Q: I hope this email works!  I am a brother living in --- and have for the past few years enjoyed reading your website.  When I read it I always feel better about the truth so thank you for your encouragement and insight.

I have a question and I wonder if you could provide some help.  .  . My question has to do with Paradise earth.  I have just finished reading the gospels and am surprised at how many references there are to everlasting life in heaven.  Even Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Moses and Elijah are depicted there.  I know we understand that to be symbolic, it's just that at first reading, heavenly life does appear to be the emphasis.  Furthermore, references to inheriting the earth at Psalm 37 and Matt 5 are applied by the Watchtower to the anointed, since they will be rulers over the earth.  That being the case, how would you go about proving there is a future paradise earth for the great crowd?  The sheep of Matt 25 are to inherit the kingdom of God, which also suggests a heavenly reward.  Hebrews 11 points to the a city, Heavenly New Jerusalem, that faithful men and women were reaching out for.  Again, the reader is left with the impression that heaven is his/her destiny.

Please be assured I am not writing for any other reason than to find the truth on this matter and to clear up confusion in my head.  I love the truth and love Jehovah very much and feel that writing to you will help.  Indeed, I want to believe in paradise on earth because I'm not anointed and feel lost otherwise!  Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

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A: I hope that you have not been unduly influenced by the many contradictory views being expressed on the many forums and websites. There is an abundant smorgasbord of teachings to pick and choose from to satisfy any appetite. It has become just as the apostle Paul foretold: “For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.” (2 Timothy 4:3,4, Amplified Bible)

You asked about the validity of the hope of obedient mankind living forever on a Paradise earth.

The basic truth is that Jehovah created man, Adam, out of the dust of the ground, gave him a wife, blessed them and commissioned them to fill the earth with their offspring; to live forever upon it. With that purpose in mind, God started them out in a beautiful garden that he had prepared for them. Eventually, as Adam's children grew in numbers, and they would receive their own plot of land, they would work to expand the garden, until eventually the entire earth would be a paradise, filled with perfect and happy people to God's glory. Nowhere do the Scriptures even hint at the idea that earth was merely a stepping stone to heaven.

“So God created man in his own likeness. He created him in the likeness of God. He created them as male and female. God blessed them. He said to them, "Have children and increase your numbers. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the waters and the birds of the air. Rule over every living creature that moves on the ground.” “Then the Lord God formed a man. He made him out of the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person. The Lord God had planted a garden in the east. It was in Eden. There he put the man he had formed.” (Gen. 1:27,28; 2:7,8; NIRV)

As we all know, Adam did not remain in that beautiful garden. He lost all that because of his rebellion against God. But that did not alter Jehovah’s original purpose. He knew that from among Adam’s countless offspring there would be many who would love him and obey him, unlike their original father. History has recorded the names of many of such persons who proved faithful until they fell asleep in death, looking forward to the resurrection. (Heb. 11:4-32; John 5:28,29) All these faithful men and women of old had no concept of eventually living in heaven. They looked forward to a restored paradise on earth.

What Jesus said about John the Baptist makes it clear that the heavenly hope did not exist before his time. “I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.” (Matt. 11:11; CEV) By saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist, it goes to reason that John was not among them, not even among the least of them. And since none who has ever lived before John’s time is greater than he was, including the faithful men of old such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc., it is clear that none of them could have had the heavenly hope.

Then why does it say at Hebrews 11:10 that Abraham “was awaiting the city having real foundations,” and verse 16, concerning him and his family that “they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven”?

Abraham did not know how Jehovah was going to fulfill his promise regarding making him into a great nation and have the promised seed descend from his offspring, by means of which all the nations would bless themselves. Throughout the centuries God kept adding more information to the promise made to Abraham, and the means by which he would redeem mankind, that could not be understood until the time for their fulfillment actually arrived; keeping these things his "sacred secret." Those "mysteries" of God have to do with his heavenly kingdom, of which the promised seed would be the king, and along with him his "the holy ones." (Gen. 22:17,18; Gal. 3:8,16; Eph. 3:4, 9-11; Col. 1:25-27) Abraham did not need to understand all the details in order for him to exercise faith in God’s promise. For example, Abraham did not know and could not have understood that it would be God’s own heavenly Son, who would prove to be the promised seed. Yet it can be said that Abraham was awaiting Christ Jesus because he would be the seed by means of whom Jehovah would fulfill his promise. In the same way he was "awaiting the city having real foundations. . . one belonging to heaven," New Jerusalem, although not having any understanding of these details. But that in no way suggests that Abraham looked forward to going to heaven.

It is clear, in view of what Jesus said in regards to John the Baptist that neither Abraham nor any of the other faithful men of old had any inkling about living in heaven. Jesus said it was only “from the days of John the Baptist” that those who had been baptized by John, such as the twelve apostles, were pressing toward the goal of the kingdom of the heavens and were seizing it. (Matt. 11:12) Important details of God's "sacred secret" included that certain ones from among mankind would be chosen by him to rule in heaven as close associates with his Son. He had “foreordained” this arrangement “before the founding of the world.” (Rom. 11:25; Eph. 1:4,5, 8-11) Not that he had foreknown the particular individuals who had not yet been born, but rather he determined their number when he first spoke of the seed. (Gen. 3:15; John 17:24; Gal. 3:16, 29) It is by means of this seed, Christ Jesus, and those chosen by God to rule with Jesus in the “kingdom of the heavens,” that God will undo the harm that Adam brought upon mankind. (1 Cor. 15:21-28) The prophet Daniel wrote about the ones who make up God's heavenly kingdom, although he himself did not understand what he wrote:

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, on the clouds of the heavens came One like a Son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 And there was given Him [the Messiah] dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom is one which shall not be destroyed. . . “18 But the saints of the Most High [God] shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Daniel 7:13,14, 18, 27, 12:9,10; Amplified Bible)

In the apostle John's Revelation these "saints of the Most High" are revealed to be chosen from among mankind:

“And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!” (Rev. 5:9,10; 14:3,4; 20:6, Amplified Bible)

The choosing of the holy ones began when Jesus arrived as the promised Messiah, and he selected from among his disciples the twelve apostles. (Luke 6:12-17) Jesus promised them that they will sit down with him on thrones, even as he sat down with his Father on his throne. (Matt. 19:27,28; Rev. 3:21) It was now the time for Jehovah to reveal to these ones the prophecies regarding them, which had until then been a sacred secret. The holy spirit changed their inner natural desire of living forever on a future paradise earth to one reserved for them in the heavens. They needed to understand these new things, which affected their whole outlook on life, in order for them to make that hope sure. That is why there is such emphasis in the Greek Scriptures on explaining the heavenly hope. Do you think it would have been better if God had written a separate book for these "holy ones," in order to avoid confusion for everyone else to whom it does not apply?

As you know, the Scriptures contain numerous Messianic prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus. (It might be worthwhile and faith-strengthening to research them; there are over 300.) Do you find it a challenge to tell apart the Scriptures and prophecies that apply only to Jesus as the Messiah, from the rest of the Bible that applies to everyone who benefits from the Messiah, since they are recorded in the same Bible? Of course, there are people who apply Messianic Scriptures to themselves, but Jesus warned us against such ones. (Matt. 24:24,25)

God foretold that there will be those, whom he calls the "holy ones," who will rule in his heavenly kingdom with Jesus, the "Son of man." (Dan. 7:13,14, 18, 21,22, 27; Luke 12:32; Rev. 5:9,10; 20:4, 6) Naturally, Jehovah would also record in his Word the Bible matters pertaining to these "holy ones," since they are closely associated with Jesus. They are in fact said to be the "bride of the Lamb," and they are seen standing with him on heavenly Mount Zion. (Rev. 14:1-3; 19:6-8; 21:9,10) They will rule in heaven as kings and priests with Jesus for the thousand years. (Rev. 20:6) Should we believe that the Scriptures that address the "holy ones" apply equally to all of God's people, even all of mankind? Wouldn't that be the same as applying the Scriptures about Jesus to oneself? A person who has been chosen by God will definitely know what Scriptures are meant for him, as the apostle John explains: "I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him." (1 John 2:26,27; ESV)

It is God's holy spirit that teaches the holy ones about their hope and heavenly destiny. Paul, who had that anointing, explains that "a physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually." (1 Cor. 2:10-14) A person who is taught by God's spirit is not confused; he will understand the Scriptures that apply to him personally, such as whether he belongs to the Lamb's bride, the 144,000, who will rule with Christ in his heavenly kingdom; or whether he will enjoy the blessings under that kingdom, together with the countless faithful men and women of old who will return to earth in the resurrection of the righteous.

The fact that the Bible speaks to Jesus' associate rulers in no way suggests that everyone goes to heaven. It does not void God's original promise of making this earth a paradise under their rulership during the thousand years. “The LORD has kept the heavens for himself, but he has given the earth to us humans.” (Psalm 115:16, CEV) “For thus says the Lord--Who created the heavens, God Himself, Who formed the earth and made it, Who established it and did not create it to be a worthless waste; He formed it to be inhabited--I am the Lord, and there is no one else.” (Isaiah 45:18; Amplified Bible)

Please consider some of these promises that all God's faithful men and woman of old put their trust in, and yearned for:

"The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants. ² The spirit of the Lord will give him wisdom
and the knowledge and skill to rule his people. He will know the Lord's will and honor him, ³ and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay; ⁴ he will judge the poor fairly and defend the rights of the helpless. At his command the people will be punished, and evil persons will die. ⁵ He will rule his people with justice and integrity.

⁶ Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. ⁷ Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do. ⁸ Even a baby will not be harmed if it plays near a poisonous snake. ⁹ On Zion, God's sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil. The land will be as full of knowledge of the Lord as the seas are full of water." (Isaiah 11:1-10; Good News Translation)

“For, see, I will make new heavens and a new earth. The past things will not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and have joy forever in what I make. For see, I make Jerusalem for joy, and her people for happiness. 19 I will have joy in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The voice of crying will no longer be heard in it, or the cry of trouble. 20 No more will there be in it a child who lives only a few days, or an old man who does not live many years. For the child will live to be a hundred years old. And the one who does not live a hundred years will be thought to be cursed. 21 They will build houses and live in them. They will plant grapes and eat their fruit. 22 They will not build a house and another live in it. They will not plant and another eat. For My people will live a long time, like the days of a tree. And for a long time My chosen ones will enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not work for nothing, or give birth to children and have trouble. For they will be the children of those who receive good from the Lord, and their children with them. 24 And it will be before they call, I will answer. While they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will eat together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. And dust will be the snake’s food. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 65:17-25; New Life Version)

"Turn away from evil and do good, and your descendants will always live in the land; 28 for the Lord loves what is right and does not abandon his faithful people. He protects them forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out. 29 The righteous will possess the land and live in it forever. (Psalm 37:27-29; Good News Translation)

You might find additional information in the answer to the following Question: "I find the view of different destinations to be a total contradiction to Jesus words."

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