Paradise on Earth

[onewithhim]

When I learned that the Bible speaks of a restored Garden of Eden and the restoration of mankind to the perfection and endless life that Adam forfeited, I was thrilled. Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

If God said to you today, "When do you want to die?" would you say "now!!"? I don't think very many people would say that.

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

[JoeyKnothead]

Also the principle of charitiable donations is that the givers have in principle already paid tax on their income and that their contributions are for all intents and puposes gifts for charitible services not for profit making endeavors. Thus it is a universal principle that charities and churches offering non-profit services to their communties do not pay tax.

What the Norwegian government is doing is discriminatory to put it mildly; it is in my opinon an attempt to use finances to influence internal "church" policies.

Do JWs vote? If so, wouldn't that be ,"the church" trying to influence government policies?

Just curious, I sense they don't.

[tam]

Peace to you both,

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible. It is pretty clear which religion is the true one. Every religion out there, except one, dodges what is required in the Scriptures and have excuses as to why they are not following, for example, Jesus' instructions. He said love your enemies. Most religions support war. He said not to be any part of the world's schemes, i.e., politics. Most religions are into politics up to their eyebrows. He said to revere and honor the name of his Father. Most religions spurn it. I could go on.

If ya wanna see a political uproar from Christians, try to get their churches to pay taxes.

You are right.

However, JWs reveal just how they spend their donations, and they are willing to pay taxes if that is what the government dictates. I believe it is in Norway that JWs are the only religion that must pay taxes. Go figure.

Interesting thing in Norway. I googled religion and taxes in Norway based on what you said above. It seems that Norway FUNDS religious groups with grants (which would come from individual taxpayer money). The more members you have, the more grant money you receive. There are some conditions attached to being able to get a grant, however. The JW religion has received this funding from the government for the last 30 years, but the government has only just denied them that funding, due to the practice of disfellowshipping. The JW religion is appealing this (I think it was denied, and they are deciding what to do next).


https://onlysky.media/hemant-mehta/norw ... witnesses/
https://www.au.org/the-latest/church-an ... in-norway/#
https://cne.news/artikel/1837-jehovah-s ... te-support


Peace again to you both.

[onewithhim]

Also the principle of charitiable donations is that the givers have in principle already paid tax on their income and that their contributions are for all intents and puposes gifts for charitible services not for profit making endeavors. Thus it is a universal principle that charities and churches offering non-profit services to their communties do not pay tax.

What the Norwegian government is doing is discriminatory to put it mildly; it is in my opinon an attempt to use finances to influence internal "church" policies.

Do JWs vote? If so, wouldn't that be ,"the church" trying to influence government policies?

Just curious, I sense they don't.

No, we don't vote, for the reason you gave, among other reasons.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to tam in post #2632]
Thank you, tam.

[William]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2620]

Ah yes - the old True Scotsman Fallacy.

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible.

How does one "test the spirit" re The Bible books?

Pray to Jehovah about it.

What would such a prayer consist of?

Do you pray at all?

In many ways, yes.

Could you think of a prayer to Jehovah that would mean something to you?

Yes. I was specifically interested in what the prayer would consist of, if you ever felt to pray it.

How about asking Him to reveal to you the integrity of the Bible books with His Holy Spirit.

I am informed through that channel that all the books of the bible are to be examined where and when necessary, and not to believe that because a book is considered holy by religious folk, that it is to be exempt from the "testing of the spirits."
This also informs me that YHVH does not consider the Hole Bible to being a satisfactory device in which the individual personality can connect and form a relationship with YHVH.

He has said that He will give you spirit if you ask Him.....

Indeed.

"Him" being specifically Jehovah....no other gods or even a nameless God. If you want a meaningful answer, you must pray to Jehovah, the Most High. (Psalm 83:18, KJV)

Indeed. YHVH is ruler of this world - the most high over all the Earth.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2620]

Ah yes - the old True Scotsman Fallacy.

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible.

How does one "test the spirit" re The Bible books?

Pray to Jehovah about it.

What would such a prayer consist of?

Do you pray at all?

In many ways, yes.

Could you think of a prayer to Jehovah that would mean something to you?

Yes. I was specifically interested in what the prayer would consist of, if you ever felt to pray it.

How about asking Him to reveal to you the integrity of the Bible books with His Holy Spirit.

I am informed through that channel that all the books of the bible are to be examined where and when necessary, and not to believe that because a book is considered holy by religious folk, that it is to be exempt from the "testing of the spirits."
This also informs me that YHVH does not consider the Hole Bible to being a satisfactory device in which the individual personality can connect and form a relationship with YHVH.

He has said that He will give you spirit if you ask Him.....

Indeed.

"Him" being specifically Jehovah....no other gods or even a nameless God. If you want a meaningful answer, you must pray to Jehovah, the Most High. (Psalm 83:18, KJV)

Indeed. YHVH is ruler of this world - the most high over all the Earth.

Yes, Jehovah is the Most High, but he gave Satan temporary power over all the kingdoms of men.

"...The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (I John 5:19)

"So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent,the one called the Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth..." (Revelation 12:9)

Said the Devil to Jesus: "...'I will give you all this authority [all the kingdoms of the earth] and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.'" (Luke 4:6)


Though Jehovah is the Most High, he has let Satan try to prove his point that mankind doesn't need Jehovah to live meaningful lives and be happy. His time is up. We are living now in the last days. Jehovah gives us the way to circumvent much of Satan's "burning arrows." (Ephesians 6:16) We "put on" faith and truth and follow Jesus' example of preaching the good news of peace, continually praying to Jehovah and trusting Him to save us.

[William]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2636]

YHVH informs me that YHVH is the most high over all the Earth and always has been.

It would appear that if Satan works for YHVH as a means of sorting out those who understand YHVH is the most high over all the Earth from those who believe otherwise, then this does not change the fact that YHVH is the most high over all the Earth.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2636]

YHVH informs me that YHVH is the most high over all the Earth and always has been.

It would appear that if Satan works for YHVH as a means of sorting out those who understand YHVH is the most high over all the Earth from those who believe otherwise, then this does not change the fact that YHVH is the most high over all the Earth.

Satan is not working FOR Jehovah. He is working against Him. He challenged Jehovah that he could prove that mankind could live without Him and was given the opportunity by Jehovah. Jehovah is the Most High but has allowed Satan to take over rulership of the world for a set amount of time. Why else do you think the world is in such a mess? You think Jehovah rules this way? Satan is fast losing his challenge.

[William]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2638]

Satan is not working FOR Jehovah. He is working against Him.

YHVH has no adversary.

[Miles]

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

Which read:

Matthew 5:5
Great blessings belong to those who are humble.
    They will be given the land God promised.

and

Psalm 37:9-11,29
9 The wicked will be destroyed,
    but those who call to the Lord for help will get the land he promised.
10 In a short time there will be no more evil people.
    You can look for them all you want, but they will be gone.
11 Humble people will get the land God promised,
    and they will enjoy peace.
___________
29 Good people will get the land God promised
    and will live on it forever.

Now, all this peaceful land was promised around 3,000 years ago, but so far nada. So, why is god dragging his feet? Could it be that humble people just don't exist? God simply can't find anyone worthy of his promise? Boy, if I was an all knowing god I'd certainly make sure such people would be around before creating such a land (wherever he put it) and promising it to folk.

Another one of god's mistakes perhaps? Or maybe he withdrew his promise without telling anyone. Possible?

.