XPost: alt.bible, alt.religion   
   From: nospam@nightbulb.net   
      
   On Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:06:40 -0400   
   James  wrote:   
      
   > Or to a paradise earth.   
      
   The bible says nothing about a paradise earth. Yet you continue to lie.   
      
   The bible says paradise is in heaven:   
      
    2 Corinthians 12:4   
    How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words,   
    which it is not lawful for a man to utter.   
      
    Revelation 2:7   
    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the   
    churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of   
    life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.   
      
     "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,   
     proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of   
     the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree   
     of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit   
     every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the   
     nations."   
      
   The tree of life near the throne of God is in heaven, not on terra   
   firma. Your interpretation of paradise is eisegetical and apriori   
   reasoning.   
      
   > -- Revised Standard   
   > Matthew 5:5  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.   
   > >He IS the way, the truth, and Life. NO MAN can come unto the Father   
   > >but by Him. Not you, nor any JW, likewise for me.   
      
   "Inherit the earth" is a idomatic phrase for inheriting the blessing of   
   Israel, the prince who rules with God. It has nothing to do with terra   
   firma. Those who "inherit the earth" occupy God's throne with him:   
      
    Revelation 3:21   
    To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even   
    as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.   
      
    Revelation 21:7   
    He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God,   
    and he shall be my son.   
      
   This "earth" is God's footstool, which is surrounded by the Israel of   
   God, IN HEAVEN. It is spiritual symbolism of spiritual power and has   
   nothing to do with a literal paradise planet. Because God formed Adam   
   (Israel) from up out of the earth, he is referred to as, "the earth"   
   all throughout the bible. The earthly man must die (be crucified) and   
   raise again spiritual. The nation of Israel and Judea represents the   
   first Adam, who is "of the earth". The body of believers represent the   
   second Adam, Jesus Christ, who is a quickening spirit.   
      
   The Watchtower's earth-based religion is from Esau and the way of Cain.   
   You are providing your own sacrifices from forcing the ground with   
   religion, instead of the sacrifice provided by God, the Lamb. All your   
   repentance with tears and sacrifices are polluted by your impure   
   motives. Such sacrifices are unacceptable to God:   
      
     "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the   
     fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also   
     brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And   
     the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto   
     Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth,   
     and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art   
     thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest   
     well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin   
     lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt   
     rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it   
     came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against   
     Abel his brother, and slew him."   
      
   This is the story of the crucifixion prefigured in the story of Cain   
   and Abel. Cain is religion, inventing its own sacrifices, which only   
   bring it under the power of sin. Abel represents the sacrifice of   
   Christ, the firstborn Lamb.   
      
    1 John 3:12   
    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And   
    wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his   
    brother's righteous.   
      
   The religious people of the world are wicked, and the oppress the   
   righteous who refuse to submit to their phony religious sacrifices.   
      
    Jude 1:11   
    Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily   
    after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying   
    of Core.   
      
   Here it is--the crux of the matter. Religion is done for gain or   
   reward, to puff up or enrich oneself, while pretending to serve God,   
   going through the motions of doing some holy deed. This is why Ananias   
   (and Sapphira) were stricken dead, because he was giving to profit   
   himself--riding the fence to please God and man.   
      
    But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to   
    the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?   
      
   What is the "price of the land?"   
      
   Your Watchtower sacrifices don't even amount to the down payment. Yet   
   you dare claim you will inherit the entire earth with your filthy   
   religion of lies. Indeed, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to   
   the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"   
      
   --   
   NightBulb | https://nightbulb.net | Flip the night switch.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)