[continued from previous message]   
      
   >substance, not imaginary or metaphorical, while suited to the nature of   
   >the beings involved.   
   >   
   >A spirit does not respond to earthly physics. Fire on earth consumes   
   >physical material. A spirit has no physical composition to burn. This   
   >does not make the fire unreal. It means the fire belongs to God’s realm   
   >and operates according to God’s nature, not earthly physics.   
      
   Where in the Bible does it say all of that?   
      
   >   
   >God is spirit (John 4:24, ESV). He cannot be harmed by earthly fire, yet   
   >He acts as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29, ESV). His fire is literal in   
   >its own order. It truly harms or comforts according to God’s design. It   
   >simply does not follow the rules of carbon, oxygen, and combustion.   
   >   
   >Jesus described unquenchable fire and undying worm in the place of   
   >judgment (Mark 9:48, ESV), and He spoke of eternal punishment in Matthew   
   >25:46 (ESV). John revealed that the smoke of their torment rises forever   
   >and ever (Revelation 14:11, ESV). These statements describe real,   
   >conscious suffering. The imagery uses earthly pictures to communicate   
   >truths that remain consistent with the picture, not contrary to it.   
   >   
   >So literal means actual, not symbolic-only. It means the fire truly   
   >inflicts torment, even though it belongs to the spiritual order and does   
   >not rely on earthly chemistry.   
      
   Again, where in the Bible does it say that?   
      
   >   
   >   
   >> Churches: At death, **soul survives body and is immortal.   
   >> Bible: A soul can die. (Eze 18:4) Man IS a soul. (Gen 2:7)   
   >> **Soul can also mean "life". (Gen 35:16-18)   
   >   
   >Bible: Men can kill the body, but not the soul (Matthew 10:28).   
   >   
   >Church: Men can kill the body, but not the soul (Matthew 10:28).   
      
   But God CAN kill the soul. THUS IT CANNOT BE IMMORTAL! (Mt 10:28)   
   >   
   >Watchtower: Men can kill the soul, but God can revive it ("Do not be   
   >	    afraid" 2016).   
   >   
   >      “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.   
   >       Rather fear him who can destroy the soul in ‘hell’ [Gehenna]”   
   >       (Matthew 10:28, ESV).   
      
   So a soul is not immortal if it can be killed.   
      
   >   
   >	Jesus separates body and soul and teaches that the soul   
   >         remains beyond bodily death.   
      
   Negatrons. That is not what the Bible teaches. Eze 18:4,   
      
   -- New King James   
   Ezekiel 18:4  "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as   
   well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.   
      
   >   
   >      “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns   
   >       to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, ESV).   
   >   
   >	The verse distinguishes body and spirit and shows conscious   
   >         return to God after physical death.   
      
   Oh, is that where Hitler's 'soul' went? Please answer.   
   >   
   >      “As her soul was departing (for she was dying)” (Genesis 35:18,   
   >       ESV).   
      
   As a dying person, her soul (life) was leaving her body.   
      
   CEB   
   As her life faded away, just before she died, she named him Ben-oni,   
   but his father named him Benjamin.   
      
   EHV   
   Then as her life was slipping away (for she was dying), she named her   
   son Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.   
      
   LEB   
   And it happened that when her life was departing (for she was dying),   
   she called his name Ben-Oni. But his father called him Benjamin.   
      
   VOICE   
   But as her life slipped away, just before she died, Rachel named her   
   son Ben-oni, but his father decided to call him Benjamin instead.   
      
   Those translators understood that a soul (nephesh) can also mean   
   "LIFE".   
      
   >   
   >	Death involves the soul’s departure, not its extinction.   
      
   See Eze 18:4 again.   
      
   >   
   >      “…the life [soul; nephesh] of the child came into him again, and he   
   revived” (1   
   >       Kings 17:22, ESV).   
   [brackets mine]   
   >   
   >	The term rendered “life” refers to the soul. The soul left and   
   >         then returned, showing distinction from the body.   
      
   Yes, if you remove the life, the body dies.   
      
   >   
   >      “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see   
   >        corruption” (Psalm 16:10, ESV).   
      
   Yes, Jesus knew God would not abandon his life to the grave.   
   >   
   >	Soul and body follow different paths; the body faces   
   >         corruption, the soul does not.   
      
   Corruption means decay of the body. God never let that happen to His   
   Son.   
      
   >   
   >      “…as when a sick man wastes away” (Isaiah 10:18, ESV).   
   >   
   >	The Hebrew idiom contrasts flesh and soul, treating the soul   
   >         as distinct from the perishing body.   
   >   
   >      “I saw the souls of those who had been slain…” (Revelation 6:9,   
   >       ESV).   
   >   
   >	These souls remain conscious after bodily death.   
      
   I   
   t says they are RESTING, which means they are dead   
   >   
   >      “…my desire is to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23,   
   >       ESV).   
      
   Paul was part of the 144,000. So he immediately went right to Heaven   
   when he died.   
      
   Question. Where did John the Baptist go when he died?   
      
   >   
   >	Paul expects conscious fellowship with Christ immediately   
   >         after death.   
      
   See above.   
      
   >   
   >      “…away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians   
   >       5:8, ESV).   
      
   See above.   
      
   >   
   >	Being “away from the body” means the person continues in   
   >         conscious presence with Christ.   
      
   Yes, he was given a spirit body so he get into Heaven.   
      
   >   
   >      “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43, ESV).   
      
   Being in the grave, is not Paradise. Jesus was dead for 3 days, so the   
   comma is in the wrong place.   
   >   
   >	Jesus promises immediate conscious presence after death.   
      
   For who?   
      
   >   
   >   
   >      “…the rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades he lifted   
   >       up his eyes…” (Luke 16:22–23, ESV).   
      
   That was a parable, and was not literal. There is no fire in the   
   grave. (Hades)   
      
   >   
   >	Conscious existence continues after the body dies and is   
   >         buried.   
      
   When death occurs, all thinking ability ends for that person. (Ec   
   9:5,10; Ps 146:3,4)   
   >   
   >      “…He is not God of the dead, but of the living” (Matthew 22:32,   
   >       ESV).   
      
   Yes, Jehovah has people in His memory, and will give them a new body   
   at the resurrection.   
   >   
   >	Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob continue as living persons after   
   >         bodily death.   
      
   Negatrons. Where are they living, if not in Heaven? Please answer.   
      
   >   
   >      “…the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23,   
   >       ESV).   
   >   
   >	The spirits of departed believers remain conscious and   
   >         perfected in God’s presence.   
      
   Where are they at before the resurrection?   
      
   >   
   >   
   >Works Cited   
   >   
   >*The Watchtower*, July 15, 1898, p. 216; *The Watchtower*, October 15,   
   >1945, p. 313.   
   >   
   >(*The Watchtower*, November 1, 1964, p. 671; *The Watchtower*, May 15,   
   >1978, p. 31; *The Watchtower*, March 1, 1986, p. 5).   
   >   
   >Watchtower, April 1, 2001, p. 14   
   >   
   >Watchtower, July 1, 1962, p. 389   
   >   
   >Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. “Do Not Be   
   >Afraid—You Are Worth More Than Many Sparrows.” The Watchtower Announcing   
   >Jehovah’s Kingdom—Study Edition, 15 July 2016, pp. 9–13.   
      
   "What does the Bible say about   
   Gratitude? Find Out".   
   See jw.org (11/29/2025)   
   James: zebrabible@proton.me   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)