Jehovah's Witnesses -  false teaching that most of the saved will live forever with fleshly human bodies in the Kingdom - on an earthly paradise with human bodies that will never get old, or die.

 

The Jehovah's Witnesses teach a two tier system for the saved. According to their doctrine 144,000 of the resurrected will rule with Christ from heaven. They will be spirit beings.

 

The rest of the saved, who are not part of the 144,000 will not be given eternal spiritual bodies, but rather they will live forever here on an earthy paradise with perfect physical fleshy bodies. 

 

To quote from page 167 of a Jehovah's Witnesses publication called Survival Into A New Earth, " The earth will be transformed into a Paradise in which the worshippers of the true God will be able to enjoy perfect human life forever. "

 

The 144,000 will be according to their doctrine part of the ruling class in God's Kingdom. Let me quote from page 154 of their publication Survival Into A New Earth from the paragraph entitled ' The Little One Becomes A Thousand'  :   "  When World War 1 ended, the gathering of the Kingdom heirs had not yet been completed. There were still more "sons" and "daughters" of heavenly Jerusalem needed to fill the foretold 144,000 that would rule with Christ in heaven. " 

 

They write in their publication True Peace and Security -How Can We Find It ?  on page 102: " But the Bible also contains God's promise that in the restored Paradise, death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain anymore (Revelation 21:3.4;compare 7:16,17). " 

Their publications are full of very seductive images of joyous people living in an earthy paradise - growing an abundance of crops, and with happy children playing, and people coexisting peacefully with animals like tigers and lions that have become tame and harmless. Apparently we are told that the lower tier of the saved (who are not part of the 144,000 saved ruling class) will nevertheless live on forever here on earth with human bodies just like now, except they will be perfect physical bodies that even though still flesh - will be perfect and eternal. According to their doctrine these perfect earth dwellers will not suffer pain, won't cry and mourn.

 

Let me try to basically summarize their teaching here, since much of their doctrine on the matter is rather long winded and convoluted. 

The following is taken from their official web site, but not word for word - you can go to their official web site and read it there for yourselves: 

 

They teach that Jehovah created the earth so humans could enjoy living on it forever. He wanted the earth always to be inhabited by righteous, happy people.  They claim the earth will never be destroyed; it will last forever.

 

They teach that before God created man, He chose one small part of earth and made it into a beautiful paradise - the garden of Eden. Here he put Adam and Eve. God planned for them to have children and fill the earth, and gradually make the earth into a paradise.

 

They teach that Adam and Eve sinned by breaking God's law. So Jehovah put them out of the garden of Eden and paradise was lost. But they say that Jehovah did not forget his purpose for this earth. He promised to make it into a paradise, where humans will live forever.

 

The Jehovah Witnesses also teach that before earth can become paradise, the wicked must be removed.  This according to them happens at Armageddon, which they say is God's war to end wickedness. Then after that Satan is imprisoned for 1,000 years. This means that no wicked ones will be left to spoil the earth. Only God's people survive.

 

They also teach that Jesus Christ will then rule as King over this earth for 1,000 years. And He will gradually take sin away from our minds and bodies, and we will become perfect humans just as Adam and Eve were before they sinned. Then there will be no more sickness, old age, and death. Sick people will be cured, and old persons will become young again.

 

They also teach that during Jesus' Thousand Year Reign, faithful humans will work to turn the whole earth into a paradise. Millions of the dead will be resurrected to human life on the earth. If they obey God they will live on earth forever. If not, they will be destroyed forever.

 

I find their literature on this subject to be very seductive and misleading. The images of happy smiling people (always young, usually with happy kids, and smiling couples that never marry someone of the other race), growing an abundance of lush crops, and living peacefully with lions and tigers, are also very seductive and manipulative in my judgment. To project an image of joy, peace and abundance - that arise from living in an earthly paradise. So of course the implied message is that you should join the Jehovah's Witnesses, because then you too will be part of the joyous world, and of the Kingdom. It is just in my view a cleverly crafted Jehovah's Witness image of joy and abundance here on earth - a paradise on earth - a crafted image and perception designed to attract more members.

 

The pictures in their publications are extremely well done, but in my judgment it is just image building and crafty attempts to project a certain public perception - that in turn will attract more people to join their church. I feel they are misleading the people. 

 

Let me explain.

First of all my Bible does not teach that there are two classes of the saved - one that will have spiritual bodies and rule with Christ in heaven, and another that will live forever with perfect physical bodies here on earth.

 

1 Corinthians 15:42-50  "  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 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. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. "

 

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Yet the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that most of the saved will live forever, into God's Kingdom in fleshly bodies - in flesh and blood. However, they probably try to get around this by saying that only the 144,000 will be part of God's ruling Kingdom, while the rest will just remain humans - but with perfect bodies that will never get old and never die. Apparently for the Jehovah's Witnesses us lower cast types will have to settle for second best.

The 144,000. They teach that the resurrected 144,000 will be spiritual beings ruling with Christ from heaven. I have already thoroughly debunked the false doctrine that  heaven is the reward of the saved (even if there are only 144,000 who get to heaven). Please go to my article article; Debunking the Myth That Heaven is the Reward of the Saved.

 

There has been a lot of speculation and confusion regarding the 144,000. My own judgment is that this is the number of resurrected saints Christ needs to fill the various positions in His world ruling kingdom when He returns. This may not be correct. Probably none of us can honestly say with 100 % certainty what exactly is meant by the 144,000 in Revelation. We may have to wait for Christ to return and explain it to us. 

 

The 144,000 are shown in Revelation to be before God's throne in heaven (Revelation 14:1-5). This may be just a presentation ceremony where the resurrected saints are just taken to heaven to meet God the Father. They will follow Christ, and Christ will be here on earth setting up His world ruling Kingdom, but this doesn't mean Christ might not travel with them to heaven so God the Father can officially welcome His children into His family. There is no point in getting all worked up about the meaning of the 144,000, because most of our interpretations would be just speculative. 

 

The Physical Body is Only Temporary

Our bodies are of the earth, and we return to the earth at death. But there is the hope of the resurrection. If we understand God's Holy Days we can understand God's plan here in earth, and then we won't get confused as to what God is doing here on earth.

One of the great lessons we learn during the Feast of Tabernacles is that the world and the things of the world are only temporary. We are just strangers and pilgrims passing through (Hebrews 11:13-16). Our physical bodies are of the earth and only temporary (Genesis 3:19) (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20). In this world we have no permanent home. Our permanent home is with God in His Kingdom as spiritual beings. 

 

The earth is only temporary, and one day God will change it.

Hebrews 1:10-12  " And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. "

 

1 John 2:15-17  " Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. " 

 

My Bible teaches that we shouldn't set our hearts on the things of the world. Yet the Jehovah's Witnesses say that most of the saved will live forever here in the world. This is dangerous doctrine, because people don't concentrate on the spiritual as they should, but can very easily get caught up in the things of this physical earthly life. Like the seeds that fall among thorns - people who get caught up in the cares and things of the world, and who subsequently produce no spiritual fruits for God. 

 

We Are Of The Earth So We Cry and Suffer Pain

Revelation 21:4-5   " And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. "

 

The Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the lower tier of those receiving eternal salvation will live here on earth as flesh and blood, but in an earthly paradise where there will be no more pain, and crying.

 

This doctrine is ridiculous. Pain, crying and sorrow are part of the physical existence we live. It is impossible for a physical human being to live without pain. Pain is a part of this life, and is essential for our survival. 

 

In the new heaven and the new earth there will be no more pain, suffering, crying or sorrow. Why ? Because it will be an existence on the spiritual level. We will have spiritual bodies that will not suffer pain, won't die and won't be subject to all the sufferings and sorrows of this physical existence.

 

The Jehovah's Witnesses world would be a disaster. Let me explain. They claim the lower tier of the saved will live forever in an earthly paradise where they won't cry, won't feel pain, and where there will be no more sorrow. Yet pain is part of this physical world.

 

Let us say that there was a little Jehovah Witness living in this paradise, with his perfect body. They decide to cook some dinner, because they still need to eat - right. They turn on the stove, and the heating element is red hot. Accidentally they place their hand on the red hot element, but are unaware of it. Suddenly they smell something burning, and think it is the meat they are cooking. Opps it is their hand that is smoking, but they can't feel any pain. They don't cry neither, even though their hand is all burnt. Strange eh ? 

Another scenario would be perhaps some children who are playing in the Jehovah Witness paradise.  And apparently there will be children in this paradise, because I always see children with their loving parents in the pictures within the literature they give out. Anyways the kids are playing. Some boys are playing, and they are getting kind of rough. However, they can't feel any pain. So they toss and throw each other around, like balls. One jumps off of a high place and breaks his leg, but he feels nothing, yet the broken leg bone is sticking out of his flesh. Ridiculous, eh ? 

 

Flesh and blood human being cannot exist without pain. We need pain to help keep us from dangerous matters. However, in the Jehovah Witness world these second tier saints, the ones not good enough for heaven will live forever in the flesh, and will never die and never suffer pain. Ridiculous. You could just imagine people starting to do all kinds of stupid things in this fantasy world, because they would never die, and there would not be the deterrent of pain to keep them in check. 

 

Let us say someone is pruning their apple tree in this paradise. Opps they accidentally slice off their finger. Yet they have no pain. Silly, eh ? 

 

That kind of a world would not be a paradise, it would be a hell. 

 

And what about animals ?  The Bible teaches that in the new heaven and new earth there will be no more death, pain, sorrow or crying. In the Jehovah Witness paradise there will still be animals around, yet they won't die. Huh ? They will still breed, but won't die ? Huh ? What will the animals eat ? Only veggies? Silly, eh? 

The whole idea is silly.

No we can't live forever with the bodies we have now. The things of this world are only temporary, including our physical bodies. We look for permanent bodies, spiritual bodies. We look for a new heaven and a  new earth, where there will be no more pain, sorrow, suffering and death. This is a spiritual existence in God's new heaven and new earth, which will be on the spiritual plane.