Jehovah Witness, Earth As A Paradise

[dUSt]

So these Jehovah Witnesses come to my house every Monday. I have no clue why they haven't given up on me yet.

 

The latest question they asked me was, "Do you think the earth is permanent or temporary?"

 

I was like, "I don't know, probably temporary considering that our sun, at some point, will explode or go away."

 

They then started quoting from their Bible about the earth being a permanent paradise or something.

 

Thoughts?

[KnightofChrist]

So these Jehovah Witnesses come to my house every Monday. I have no clue why they haven't given up on me yet.

 

The latest question the asked me was, "Do you think the earth is permanent or temporary?"

 

I was like, "I don't know, probably temporary considering that our sun, at some point, will explode or go away."

 

They then started quoting from their Bible about the earth being a permanent paradise or something.

 

Thoughts?

 

The Church does teach "world without end" and that that Heaven and Earth will one day become one again as it was before the fall of man.

[dUSt]

The Church does teach "world without end" and that that Heaven and Earth will one day become one again as it was before the fall of man.

 

So does that mean, literally, earth (as in planet earth) will never end?

[arfink]

Well, after the resurrection there will be a new heavens and a new earth. I suppose since creation was pretty darn good to begin with, the new one will probably be similar but more awesome.

[dUSt]

I suppose the bottom line is how can I show them that the Catholic Church has more street cred than Watchtower Publications?

[KnightofChrist]

Earth will exist when Christ returns, and He will renew it as He will renew the Universe.

 

THE HOPE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

 

1042 At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign for ever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed:

 

The Church . . . will receive her perfection only in the glory of heaven, when will come the time of the renewal of all things. At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself, which is so closely related to man and which attains its destiny through him, will be perfectly re-established in Christ.⁶³¹

 

1043 Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform humanity and the world, "new heavens and a new earth."⁶³² It will be the definitive realization of God's plan to bring under a single head "all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth."⁶³³

 

1044 In this new universe, the heavenly Jerusalem, God will have his dwelling among men.⁶³⁴ "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."⁶³⁵

 

1045 For man, this consummation will be the final realization of the unity of the human race, which God willed from creation and of which the pilgrim Church has been "in the nature of sacrament."⁶³⁶ Those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, "the holy city" of God, "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."⁶³⁷ She will not be wounded any longer by sin, stains, self-love, that destroy or wound the earthly community.⁶³⁸ The beatific vision, in which God opens himself in an inexhaustible way to the elect, will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion.

 

1046 For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man:

 

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God . . . in hope because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. . . . We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.⁶³⁹

 

1047 The visible universe, then, is itself destined to be transformed, "so that the world itself, restored to its original state, facing no further obstacles, should be at the service of the just," sharing their glorification in the risen Jesus Christ.⁶⁴⁰

 

1048 "We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in which the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away, and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men."⁶⁴¹

 

1049 "Far from diminishing our concern to develop this earth, the expectancy of a new earth should spur us on, for it is here that the body of a new human family grows, foreshadowing in some way the age which is to come. That is why, although we must be careful to distinguish earthly progress clearly from the increase of the kingdom of Christ, such progress is of vital concern to the kingdom of God, insofar as it can contribute to the better ordering of human society."⁶⁴²

 

1050 "When we have spread on earth the fruits of our nature and our enterprise . . . according to the command of the Lord and in his Spirit, we will find them once again, cleansed this time from the stain of sin, illuminated and transfigured, when Christ presents to his Father an eternal and universal kingdom."⁶⁴³ God will then be "all in all" in eternal life:⁶⁴⁴

 

True and subsistent life consists in this: the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit, pouring out his heavenly gifts on all things without exception. Thanks to his mercy, we too, men that we are, have received the inalienable promise of eternal life.⁶⁴⁵

[dUSt]

Still don't see where this says that planet earth, of the Orion Arm, in the Milky Way galaxy, will exist forever.

[KnightofChrist]

Still don't see where this says that planet earth, of the Orion Arm, in the Milky Way galaxy, will exist forever.

 

Well, if Heaven and Earth become one and God dwells there how would it not exist forever?

[dUSt]

Well, if Heaven and Earth become one and God dwells there how would it not exist forever?

 

How would all the people fit?

[KnightofChrist]

How would all the people fit?

 

I would trek the universe, I'm sure others would as well.

[KnightofChrist]

But seriously the whole Universe is renewed when Earth is renewed. I don't believe we would be stuck on Earth anymore. We could expand through out the Universe, God did create it for a purpose after all, why not use it?

[arfink]

God created everything, and we are made to be like him. I wonder if we'll get to create. I would love to spend eternity making things with God.

[dUSt]

God created everything, and we are made to be like him. I wonder if we'll get to create. I would love to spend eternity making things with God.

 

Can't we already do that in Second Life?

[Luigi]

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that 144,000 people will be admitted to Heaven - these are the holiest poeple who have lived

 

All other people - good, but not among the holiest - will enjoy eternal paradise on Earth.

 

My question to the JW's who come by my house is, "If I wanted to be among the 144,000, why would I go around trying to recruit others? Some of them are bound to be holier to me, and I'll lose my place in Heaven and be remanded to Earth for all eternity. The better ploy is to get yourself into the 144,000 and then shut up about it!"

 

 

Also, to Dust, when they've come to my house, I tell them, "I am Catholic and I will remain a Catholic. I am not going to covert to Jehovah's Witness. Your time would be better spent talking to someone who is at least open to your ideas." They didn't come back after that.

[dUSt]

But what if I feel like converting them?