{Awake 6/22/2002 page. 10}

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

The WTS in its endless pursuit of new converts, occasionally depicts existence with God as either a picnic in a park or an agricultural commune in which we will exist in the presence of God. By depicting Revelation 21:3, the WTS breaks the second commandment Exodus 20:4. In Exodus 20:4, God explicitly states that there is nothing in his creation that can capture his essence. There is nothing that can be made by man that can give justice to his eternal nature. The above scenario in unbiblical, for it can never display the joy that is expected for those who will dwell in the presence of God.   

Note the gentleman to the far right. Is he reclining on a picnic basket? Are we to imagine that in God’s paradise, there will still be a need for food? Are we to believe that the animal kingdom will become docile, regardless of the fact that these people will still be eating them?  Is it the WTS’s intention to instruct us that the top predators will be as tame as lambs regardless of the danger that they might become the main course of an afternoon picnic? Paul writes to the Corinthians that there will be no need for food in heaven. God will do away with the need for physical nourishment. In Mark 12 Jesus is recorded stating that after the resurrection, we will be of the same nature of the angels in heaven. Angels in heaven are spiritual beings and according to Luke 24, spirits have no flesh or bone. If they have no flesh or bone, then there is no need for food.  If they are spiritual beings, why did this couple bring a picnic basket along with them on this outing with their children?

 1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Who are these children and where did they come from?

In the resurrection, life will not be merely a continuation of the existence we have here on earth. Those who enter into the new heaven and new earth will find that their lives in God’s presence will not be an extension of this physical existence, but something most different. Marriage was instituted by God for the purpose of reproduction. This will not be needed in the Kingdom, because no one will die there. If there is no death, then there is no need for God’s chosen people to reproduce, and therefore there will be no children in the Kingdom.

The above addresses the subject of sex after the resurrection. But can the case be that these children were alive during the last days and endured the Apocalypse, and now are children in the Kingdom? Are they to remain children for eternity? What happens to the children that died before the resurrection? Are they to remain children for eternity also? Is the WTS telling us through the picture above that we will be resurrected the same age that we die at or survived the Apocalypse? Why does the artist want to clearly convey the idea that families will exist in God’s Kingdom? In the picture, we can logically make out two families enjoying an outing. Is the WTS as ignorant as the Sadducees when it comes to the understanding of the resurrection? 

Luke 20:33-36 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The WTS teaches that the present earth will not be destroyed, but God would correct all that is wrong with creation, and the “Great Crowd” will inhabit this earth. That somehow we will live in a paradise community ruled by the “little flock” from heaven. According to Rev. 20:11, the present heaven and earth will pass away. According to Rev. 21:1 a new heaven and earth will appear. What Biblical evidence does the WTS have to support the notion that the present earth will not pass away that will be in harmony with Revelation 21 and 22?

Why are these ducks floating on water? According to Rev. 21:1 there will be no more sea. Then where did this water come from? If the WTS can answer that then can they explain the snow that is on top of the mountains? From Revelation 21 and 22, we can conclude that paradise with God will not be anything compatible with earthly existence. 

The Bible teaches that there will be no need for candle light or sunlight for the light of the Lamb will be sufficient. The light of God will be all consuming. It will not come from any direction, but will be radiant throughout. Look at the picture carefully. All the subjects are casting shadows. This is indication that the artist is portraying the sun as the source of the light in the picture. If it was the light of God, there will be no shadow. 

According to elementary science, a plant needs water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis. If there is no water, and no sun light where did all these plants come from?  If two of the three ingredients necessary for photosynthesis are missing, then there should be no plants. If there are no plants then there is no food for the animals to consume. What have these animals been eating? Are we to believe that 1 Corinthians 6:13 applies to the animals also? Or are they spiritual beings also?

Revelation 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:23-25 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Why are they wearing clothes? Are we to understand that the textile industry will be included in the God’s Kingdom? God forbid if a believer that works in a garment sweat shop should wake up and find out that their eternal reward will be making shirts.

Notice the mother sitting in the front. She is wearing shoes. Are these the shoes she will wear for eternity? Are these the shoes she was wearing when she died? God forbid she died fashionably incorrect and has to wear the wrong shoes for eternity. Or is there going to be a shoe industry in the future? Again, will forever with God for some be making shoes for eternity?  

What kind of body does these people possess? The WTS teaches that they will have a spiritual flesh that has no blood flowing through it.

1 Corinthians 15:50-54.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Paul explains that the resurrected bodies will have to be different from our present bodies because flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God. God has prepared new bodies for us that will live forever. Paul goes to great lengths to emphasis that upon Christ return any believer, dead or alive, will be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. These will be spiritual bodies that God will give us. From where did the WTS get the idea that in the Kingdom of God people would look like the picture above? There is nothing found in the New Testament that describes with detail what our heavenly bodies will look like. The reason for this is that the spiritual cannot be seen with our five senses. The spiritual can only be seen and understood outside of our five senses through faith. When we operate through faith, we can start to understand the spiritual. John, who was an apostle of Jesus, and one of his favorites, writes that he does not know what we shall be. If John, a close apostle of Christ and a Godly inspired writer of the New Testament does not know, then who told the WTS?

1 John 3:2.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Why are these people so happy? Are we to imagine that eternal joy with The Almighty will be compatible with an afternoon picnic, or visiting a petting zoo? If this is paradise, then we need not await the coming blessing, all we need is to take an afternoon trip with a picnic basket, and experience paradise. It will be in heaven with the Miraculous.

  Phil.3:20-21.  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

2 Corinthians 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

1 Cor. 15:45-49.  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

In Philippians, Paul strikes a cord with the Philippians on the subject of citizenship in heaven. Philippi was a Roman colony, in which its citizens highly prized their Roman citizenship, even though many have never seen Rome. Paul teaches the Philippians that they should value their citizenship in heaven far more than their Roman citizenship. It is from heaven that the Lord Jesus Christ rules and all believers hold their ultimate citizenship there. In Hebrews, the author states that all believers are eventually bound for heaven. In Second Corinthians, Paul compares our earthly bodies to an earthly tabernacle. He states that when the earthly tabernacle dissolves {physical death}, believers will be given a new home {body} in heaven. Paul did not state that this new body will be given on earth. In 1 Peter, Peter, explains that believers have their inheritance, prepared, reserved, and waiting in heaven, not on earth.

It is apostasy to attempt to illustrate the Kingdom of God with God as the core in an earthly setting. There can never be an illustration that can capture eternity in the presence of God. But to create a picture that is not in harmony with biblical facts is heresy. Always remember what Paul states on this subject.

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Free Hit Counter

 

Jehovah, Jehovahs, Jehovah's Witness, Truth, truth, Bible, Watchtower, False religions, cults, God, Jesus, Love, Kingdom Hall, The organization, Charles Russell, Rutherford Jehovah, Jehovahs, Jehovah's Witness, Truth, truth, Bible, Watchtower, False religions, cults, God, Jesus, Love, Kingdom Hall, The organization, Charles Russell, Rutherford
Jehovah, Jehovahs, Jehovah's Witness, Truth, truth, Bible, Watchtower, False religions, cults, God, Jesus, Love, Kingdom Hall, The organization, Charles Russell, Rutherford
Jehovah, Jehovahs, Jehovah's Witness, Truth, truth, Bible, Watchtower, False religions, cults, God, Jesus, Love, Kingdom Hall, The organization, Charles Russell, Rutherford
Jehovah, Jehovahs, Jehovah's Witness, Truth, truth, Bible, Watchtower, False religions, cults, God, Jesus, Love, Kingdom Hall, The organization, Charles Russell, Rutherford
Jehovah, Jehovahs, Jehovah's Witness, Truth, truth, Bible, Watchtower, False religions, cults, God, Jesus, Love, Kingdom Hall, The organization, Charles Russell, Rutherford
Jehovah, Jehovahs, Jehovah's Witness, Truth, truth, Bible, Watchtower, False religions, cults, God, Jesus, Love, Kingdom Hall, The organization, Charles Russell, Rutherford, jehovah witness,jehovah witness,jehovah witness,jehovah witness, jehovah witness,jehovah's witness,jehovah's witness,jehovah's witness,jehovah's witness, jehovah's witness, Jehovah witness, Jehovah's witnesses, Jehovah witness,Jehovah's witnesses, Jehovah witness,Jehovah's witnesses, Jehovah witness,Jehovah's witnesses, Jehovah witness,