From Insight on the scriptures vol. 1 under "flesh"(a JW publication):
"The apostle Paul declares that “if there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one.” (1Co 15:44) This is corroborated by the apostle Peter when he tells persons of fleshly, human nature, called to be joint heirs with Christ, that they are to become partakers of “divine nature,” namely, spirit life in the invisible heavens. (2 Pe 1:4) This requires a change in organism, for “flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom, neither does corruption inherit incorruption.”—1Co 15:50-54."
Now the WT means a WHOLE lot by this that is unwarranted and inferred beneath the surface.Let's go over a few of those things.We'll take it sentence by sentence.And there are 3 sentences ;)
1."The apostle Paul declares that “if there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one.” (1Co 15:44) "
What the WT inexplicably does is divorce most Christians from these resurrection passages in 1 Cor. 15 and tells their sheeple that this only applies to 144,000 men for all time.(a few thousand at the most currently and only within their organization)With positively zero indication in the texts themselves.This is accomplished through an elaborate system of inference based upon the misuse of a literal few texts.By this method and an unfounded separation of Christians,a few elite men are allowed to maintain control over millions of misled JW's who think those with a soon to come "divine nature" are *somehow* superior in knowledge because they receive a sealing of the holy spirit that just simply isn't available to any of them but these elect few who dispense spiritual "food" to them at the "proper time."They have been led to believe via deceptive rhetoric and repetition and ,yes folks,propaganda techniques,that they cannot understand the bible at all without whoever happens to be on the WT governing body at any given time.In dire and sad contradiction to :
1 John 2:26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 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.
How does the WT get around these texts?Well,by saying they don't apply to anyone but the governing body and a few others only of course.Which is an easy lie to spot for anyone on the outside of the organization but becomes of commonplace blind acceptance with strong deception and indoctrination in the WT "box."Where no one is allowed to think outside that box without feeling intimidated and afraid of what might happen.It's psychological abuse to have people this scared.Independent thought is ok if it's from men who have consistently misled millions.It is simply shameful for them to compare independent thought from their brand of indoctrination to independent thought from the Most High's statutes!
Let me get back on the thought train I intended to stay on here and say that “if there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one" applies to everyone who God grants imperishability to..not just a few men in the WT organization.But any Christian actually reading the bible who exercises faith to the end when Christ returns...**Every.true.Christian.**...Let's move on to the next sentence:
The WT's Insight book says:
2.This is corroborated by the apostle Peter when he tells persons of fleshly, human nature, called to be joint heirs with Christ, that they are to become partakers of “divine nature,” namely, spirit life in the invisible heavens. (2 Pe 1:4)
The WT does the same thing here,applying 2 Pet. 1:4 to ONLY 144,000 men for all time.It is utter unfounded,and I would certainly maintain unbiblical,inference to say that the meek who shall inherit the earth,those who will possess the earth that will be "like it is in heaven" won't have a divine nature in Christ.All Christians have the same inheritance.It is a fictitious invention of the WT that they won't.The 1 Corinthians ch. 15 resurrection passages and 2 Peter 1:4 apply to not a few Christians,but ALL Christians.I cannot stress this easy point enough.Our identity in Christ lies at the very heart of our Christian walk.If we don't have that,we aren't covered in his imputed righteousness and we're adrift, unsafe,insecure,dead in our trespasses.
The WT also believes that the 144,000 become invisible like they believe Christ is in sober contradiction to Luke 24:39 where the resurrected Christ says:"See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
Jesus here identifies his resurrected visible body as "flesh and bone."We need not go beyond that and assume "spirit creature materialized" when Jesus said he was NOT a spirit.I know 1 Cor. says he was raised a life giving spirit in contrast to the first Adam who didn't have that capacity to grant life but the context is a spiritualized life granting BODY,as corroborated in :
Colossians 2:9: For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells BODILY
The Greek word for *bodily* means *corporeally* which isn't invisible but rather tenable,touchable.1 Cor. 15 also says those in Christ,along with Christ,will be "clothed"(verses 53,54) as opposed to being invisible and bodiless.1 Corinthians 15:35-54 is all about BODIES,perishable and corruptible ones being distinguished from imperishable,immortal,and incorruptible spiritual ones.Nothing in this chapter about disembodiment.
Now for the last sentence in this WT Insight book quote:
3."This requires a change in organism, for “flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom, neither does corruption inherit incorruption.”—1Co 15:50-54."
I agree to some extent on the surface here..the "organism" will be "changed."We will be "clothed" in imperishability,all Christians,as opposed to the WT interpretation of not but a few of them.The WT also believes,and correct me if I'm wrong,that "flesh and blood" CAN inherit the earth,just not heaven,which is reserved for a prime elite few.Just for JW consideration,keep in mind that "flesh and blood" in scripture oft is in reference to the corrupt flesh we now possess as Adam's fallen descendants..then there will be RESURRECTION bodies(flesh!) clothed in glory,imperishability and perfection like Jesus's resurrected body,which he himself identified as being "flesh and bone" as opposed to "flesh and blood."So the WT assertion that because some will possess a "divine spiritual nature" while others will still have "flesh" on earth proves that there are 2 separate locales is just plain wrong on so many levels given that the future clothed flesh of true Christians isn't the corruptible "flesh and blood" that Paul wrestled with as his human inheritance from Adam's fall.(Romans 7:14-25,8:1-17)Basically,the clothed FLESH of the "new creation" in the resurrection IS of a "divine nature."Imperishability is derived from the divine.What it isn't is the the CORRUPTIBLE perishable "flesh and blood" we currently possess as the offspring of Adam that CANNOT enter the kingdom till it's swallowed in glory and made completely new.
The WT carries such a twisted reading of their own theological system INTO texts by assuming that the "kingdom of the heavens" and the "kingdom of God" is not the "inhabited earth to come."(Hebrews 2:5)Scripture would beg to differ!The keys to understanding this are the Lord's prayer and the Sermon on the mount,to name a couple.
Matt 5:3,5:the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them ... They will inherit the earth
Matt 6:10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
How will this be accomplished?Well,by a descension of what's being stored and reserved in the heavens to this earth.
1 Peter 1:4, 5:an incorruptible…and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you … for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last period of time
This explains why the kingdom that will be on this earth is called a heavenly one.It descends from heaven from whence the blessings flow to a renewed earth "in the last period of time."
Heb. 11:16:But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven
Some of those who reached for this "better place belonging to heaven" were the OT saints that the WT knows will inhabit the earth,proving once again that the heavenly kingdom will be here.
Heb. 13:14:We are earnestly seeking the one [a city] to come
Rev. 21:2:I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, COMING DOWN out of heaven FROM God and prepared as a bride
To quote this blog:
http://kingdomready.org/blog/2010/08/27/heaven/
"The Kingdom of Heaven is a coming Kingdom upon this earth, and this is our reward. A heavenly reward, there is no doubt!, but we will receive it at the day of the lord messiah’s return to this earth, to reward us as we deserve. Just as Abraham was looking forward to this heavenly kingdom in Hebrews 11:16, “they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”
It is very plain that this city is a ‘heavenly one,’ meaning it is created and designed by God, our Heavenly Father, who is its architect. It describes a dominion, a rule of our Messiah here upon this earth. "This kingdom will be indestructible and without end. It will come down TO us in the rulership of Jesus Christ when he returns. We are not going UP to it. We are not coming DOWN WITH it. That is not what the Bible teaches. Rather, the ultimate plan of God is to have the earth renewed and restored, and all evil, sin and death destroyed, so that our Most HOLY GOD can finally come down and ‘dwell’ with us. Nowhere does it speak of us going up to dwell with Him. This Kingdom is our ultimate reward; albeit a heavenly one, here upon the earth. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Repent (turn away) from your sins and be ready for our Lord Messiah’s return to the earth."
Examine:
1 Thess. 1:10:Christians must “…wait for His Son from heaven
Acts 3:20, 21:that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago
So the bible says heaven receives Jesus temporarily until the time comes to restore everything!Our inheritance is being reserved in the heavens..because it belonged to heaven..was prepared in heaven..but will descend to the earth(Psalm 115:16; Proverbs 11:31,Acts 1:6)...we meet Christ as he comes down..where does it say we follow him back up?
Heaven and earth will be united when the kingdom of heaven becomes the kingdom of Yahweh and Yahshua here on earth.The kingdom on earth IS the heavenly kingdom.Who do you think will build and uphold our home on a new earth?God in heaven!It belongs to heaven.Hence we store treasures up there that will descend to a new earth.
To quote :
http://www.biblicaltruthseekers.co.uk/
a site which has several amazing little studies on this topic:
"The kingdom of heaven” is ‘the kingdom of God’ (Matt. 19:14//Mark 10:14; Matt. 19:23-24). It is described as being on the earth (Matt. 5:5 [quoted from Psalm 37:1]; 6:10).—paradise, Israel (Acts 1:6), and Jerusalem. "
Heb. 3:1 says "you who share in a heavenly calling"
You wouldn't assume this means you have to fly away to heaven but simply that you have a calling from God to be a Christian.Similarly,a "heavenly" kingdom doesn't have to mean "residence in literal heaven" but simply a kingdom FROM heaven,from God,perfectly capable of being on a renewed earth sustained by heaven.
Now to bring all this home,to irrefutably prove what I'm sayin' here,carefully examine all the following:
Galatians 3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
So if you're in Christ,a son of God,you are the offspring of Abraham and heirs of the promise that he was promised.Which means what?Yes!That those in Christ's body will inherit the earth with Abraham.Otherwise this text is moot.Watchtower or holy scripture?What shall it be?
In addition:
Acts 13:32:And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers
So the anointed Christians in the 1st century were having declared to them the same hope Abraham had while the WT has the nerve to say it's a completely different hope altogether.
Finally,examine:
Matt. 8:11:many from eastern parts and western parts will come and recline at the table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens
Because the Watchtower doesn't believe that Abraham,Isaac and Jacob will ACTUALLY be in the kingdom of the heavens because they erroneously don't believe it will be a "new earth",they maintain a figurative interpretation here in a futile and desperate attempt to keep their theological system in regards to these matters intact.Sorry,your views about the separation of believers in eternal different destinations isn't scripturally valid and this text has too many explicit others that corroborate it's literalness(many of which I just gave!) to justify a figurative one.Abraham and everyone else will be in the same kingdom at the same location.A kingdom belonging to,from heaven on this earth.
Romans 15:8: For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs
This is written to anointed Christians.Yep,again,apparently they have the SAME promises given to the OT saints corroborated for themselves.An earthly inheritance from heaven.A gift from God. For it isn't to angels that God gives a renewed earth,though that renewed earth be "like it is in heaven" as blessings descend!
And what is the only way we can make it there?
John 3:3:Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
So even the OT saints will be "born from above" when their resurrected bodies are clothed with imperishability in Christ.We can have a taste now of what they couldn't in OT times though BEFORE the resurrection by being "born anew" as a "new creature" in Christ NOW,our Christian renewal a foreshadowing of a grander renewal to come!Why deny yourself that?It's offered freely by Yahweh in Christ.No sense or excuse in running backward pretending Christ hasn't come to seal you with a new birth.As if any faithful man of old like Abraham would have refused the gifts available from what Christ has done had he lived in our time!
Some of what we've established:
1.the meek shall inherit the earth
2.Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob will be in the kingdom of God WITH Christians,proving not only that the WT system of theology in regards to these matters is in shocking error,but that many Christians are absolutely mistaken that Christians will be separated eternally from OT saints.Ours being a "spiritual inheritance"..theirs a "physical one."What right do these Christians have to criticize the WT when they're perfectly willing to separate true believers as well into separate locations eternally?Hypocrisy.
3.There is corruptible and perishable flesh and blood that CANNOT inherit the kingdom.There is incorruptible and imperishable corporeal bodies that can.And that kingdom of God is a new earth.
It's surprising what the WT gets away with in their interpretations sometimes!You have to literally be blind,which God allows if you prefer error and following men who aren't Christ to actually following Christ,to accept much of it.You can't cling tight to a corrupt system and expect God to reward you with a spirit of true understanding that the WT says you can't even have yourself!Only a few thousand out of several million of them can.This is so utterly unscriptural and baseless so as to venture into the realms of theological absurdity.It isn't like there aren't tons of websites and books exposing the WT organization for the false doctrines they uphold,the hypocrisy they harbor,the propaganda they promote etc..to wake up JW's who aren't scared of men.And if you're scared to question these men..if you choose to believe them with fists clenched and eyes closed,how in the world can God help you?He condemns that.First obey God and be willing to think independently from MEN who may be wrong THEN his spirit of truth can open your eyes and He can embrace you as his child,something else the WT denies its adherents,devastatingly.I understand to bear the cross of losing potentially everyone you love as well as your many blind traditions can seem utterly wreckless and depressing,but we are called as Christians to suffer this kind of thing for Christ,to bear his cross or we aren't worthy.(Matt 10:37-38)Everything is refuse next to Yahweh and Christ.(Phil. 3:8)Everything's a shadow next to their light.Nothing compares to the glory that is to be revealed in the sons of God!How can you obtain that glory if you aren't even a son of God?Don't let the WT continue deceiving you and controlling your mind.Break free in Christ!
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