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| 'Paradise' (Home Sweet Home) (Paradise Series #1) - Download PDF ArticleOur hope is to live a life, age-abidingly, in a place where death will be no more, neither will there be tears or suffering or pain or loneliness; a place where there will be love, comfort, peace and joy; a place where we will labor, play and give of ourselves; a place where the one who is ruling is just, righteous and loving. This place is called the new earth and will be like the Garden of Yahweh ((Eden, See Appendix A) Paradise). Heaven will not be our future home, as is taught by many but rather we will labor, plant and play upon the new earth as did Adam and Eve in the Garden. The scriptures proclaim that the righteous and meek will inherit the earth, while the lawless will be cut off; “a new earth, according to his promise, are we expecting, wherein, righteousness, is to dwell” (2 Pe. 3:13). Our home sweet home will be terrestrial and not celestial. For some unknown reason, a great percentage of pastors have negated the prophesies concerning the new earth that are written in the Old and New Testament and have replaced them with the doctrine that states that we shall dwell in heaven. The book of Isaiah overflows with descriptions about the new earth. For example Isaiah 11:6-9 states, " And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And, the leopard, with the kid, shall lie down,––And the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling––together, With, a little child, leading them; And, the cow, with the bear, shall find pasture, Together, shall their young ones, lie down,––And, the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw; And the sucking child shall caress, over the hole of the asp, Yea, over the viper’s den, hath the weaned child stretched out his hand: They shall not hurt––nor destroy, in all my holy, mountain,––For filled, is the land with the knowledge of Yahweh, As, the waters, to the sea, form a covering." This beautiful description of our future home upon the new earth has now been replaced with the abstract formless man-made teachings about heaven. Man-made teachings on Heaven (I thank Yahweh for all organizations, as the ones listed below, that speak the message of Christ, even though they many times also teach the doctrines of men. The organizations listed below are for illustration purposes only and are chosen to represent the overall body of the Church.) Billy Graham speaks of Heaven as "...a place of glorious life that will never end. Joy inexpressible, limitless peace, pure love, beauty beyond description—that's what heaven is..." We must ask ourselves, what part of the Word of Yahweh is he quoting from? The Roman Catholics description of Heaven is that "...that the souls of all the saints in heaven have seen and do see the Divine Essence by direct intuition and face to face..." Where is this written in the Word of Yahweh? Dallas Theological Seminary speaks of Heaven as, "We believe that at death the spirits and souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss..." Chapter and verse please? These descriptions of heaven, such as ‘conscious bliss,’ ‘beauty beyond description’ and ‘seeing the Divine Essence’ are vague and in my opinion, uninspiring. A writer asked Billy Graham, "I have a hard time getting excited about going to heaven because I can't imagine not being bored there. Eternity is a long, long time, and it seems to me that sooner or later we'll run out of interesting things to do, won't we?" This apprehension is not present when we read about the new earth, as is recorded in the Word of Yahweh. We have been given concrete descriptions, such as is unveiled in Isaiah 65:21-25; “Then shall they build houses, and dwell, in them,––And plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them…And it shall come to pass–That, before they call, I, will answer, And, while yet they, are speaking, I, will hear. The wolf and the lamb, shall feed, in unity, And, the lion, as an ox, shall eat straw; But, as for the serpent, dust, shall be his food: They shall not harm––Nor shall they destroy, In all my holy mountain, saith Yahweh.” We could be as the Beroeans and search the scriptures to see if what these religious groups are saying about heaven is true but I will save you the time because none of the above quotes are in the Word of Yahweh. Also, these groups speak very little or nothing at all about the ‘new earth’ as recorded in scripture. Why might this be we may ask? Sleeping & Awakening I would venture to say, the doctrine of abiding in heaven and not on the earth has come about because people do not want to accept what the Word of Yahweh says on death. The Word of Yahweh is very clear on death and states that when people die, they ‘sleep.’ These dead people are awaiting their awakening (egeiro) from sleep (death), which is called the resurrection from among the dead. Daniel wrote about this by saying, “and, many of the sleepers in the dusty ground, shall awake,––these, shall be to age–abiding life, but, those, to reproach, and age–abiding abhorrence” (12:2). The Apostle Paul wrote, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be awakened [egeiro] incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52). I believe that, upon death, people would rather be immediately with Yahweh, Christ and family members instead of being a sleeper in the dusty ground awaiting their awakening, so they have, according to their own desires, heaped up for themselves teachers; and have turned their ears away from the truth, and turned aside to fables (2 Ti. 4:3-4). These teachers realize that, presently, there is not a new earth for someone to go to when they die but there is a heaven, where Yahweh and Christ presently abide. If they teach that people sleep and will be awakened, during the resurrection, to live on the new earth, as the Word of Yahweh declares, people will realize that their death is not an immediate portal to Yahweh, which is not what they desire. These teachers then design a place, which they call ‘heaven,’ according to the wishes of the people, in much the same way as Aaron, who also was a teacher, made a god for the children of Israel, according to fulfill their own desires. The truth of the matter is that once someone falls asleep, in their next conscience moment, otherwise known as their awakening (egeiro), they will see Christ face to face. Whether a person has been asleep for four thousand years and another person for one second doesn’t matter because both of them will have no memory of the time they were asleep. Billy Graham has a page on his web site called, 'Looking for Answers.' A child asked him whether there will be animals in heaven. His answer is, "God has a special reason and place for each of His created beings. Animals, too, have a purpose in God’s creation. Man, as the highest order of creation, has been given dominion over the animal kingdom (Genesis 1:26-28). We believe that animals were intended for man's enjoyment and use. The Bible itself does not indicate that there is life after death for animals. It may be that God's purpose for animals is fulfilled on this earth..." His reply demonstrates his ignorance or rejection of the scriptures concerning the new earth and the sleeping and awakening of the dead. Another person asked him, "How do we know heaven exists?" He answered, "One of the Bible's greatest truths is that you and I weren't made for this life alone. We were made for eternity - an eternity with God in heaven forever." Where is the verse that states, "We were made for eternity - an eternity with God in heaven forever?" This statement contradicts the many scriptures concerning the New Earth, Paradise. Once we leave the parameters of the Word of Yahweh, as was done by the organizations listed above, we become, "...billow–tossed and shifted round with every wind of teaching,––in the craft of men, in knavery suited to the artifice of error" (Eph. 4:14). (For more information on 'sleeping' and 'awakening,' read the articles, "The Assassination of the Resurrection of the Dead" and "The Awakening.") The New Earth The Word of Yahweh unveils three heavens and three earths. The first heavens and earth began in Genesis 1:1; "In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth." The first heavens and earth perished by water, which is recorded in Genesis 1:2; "Now, the earth, had become waste and wild, and, darkness, was on the face of the roaring deep,––but, the ruah [spirit] of Elohim, was brooding on the face of the waters." Peter calls this time period, 'the world that then was;' "For this they, willfully, forget––that there were, heavens, from of old, and, an earth, on account of water and by means of water, compacted, by Yahweh’s word,–– By which means, the world that then was, with water being flooded, perished" (2 Pe. 3:5-6). The first earth perished by water. The fossils we find, such as dinosaurs are probably from the first heaven and earth. The second heavens and earth, which is our present earth, began to be constructed in Genesis 1:3 and was finished in 2:1. Peter calls this time period, which is our present time period, 'the heavens and the earth that now are;' "While, the heavens and the earth that now are, by the same word, have been stored with fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly men" (2 Pe. 3:7). The heavens and the earth which are now will be destroyed by fire, as is recorded in the Word of Yahweh, especially in the book of Revelation. This time period is called the Day of Yahweh. Genesis 1:2 to Revelation 20:3 is the record of the second heavens and earth. Revelation 20:4 and thereafter is the third heaven and earth, wherein dwells righteous. It appears to be accomplished in two segments. The first being, Christ's 1,000 year reign and the second being, the holy city, New Jerusalem coming to the earth, after death and Sheol are cast into the Lake of Fire; Yahweh abiding with men. The Three Heavens and Earths in 2 Peter 3:5-13 Of this, first, taking note––that there will come, in the last of the days, with scoffing, scoffers, after their own covetings, going on, and saying––Where is the promise of his presence? For, since the fathers fell asleep, all things, thus remain, from the beginning of creation. For this they, willfully, forget––that there were, heavens, from of old, and, an earth, on account of water and by means of water, compacted, by Yahweh’s word,–– By which means, (1) the world that then was, with water being flooded, perished; While, (2) the heavens and the earth that now are, by the same word, have been stored with fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly men. But, this one thing, forget not, beloved,––that, one day, with Yahweh, is as a thousand years, and, a thousand years, as one day. Yahweh is, not slack, concerning his promise, as some count, slackness; but is long–suffering with regard to you, not being minded that any should perish, but that, all, unto repentance, should come. Howbeit the day of Yahweh will be here, as a thief,––in which, the heavens, with a rushing noise, will pass away, while, elements, becoming intensely hot, will be dissolved, and, earth, and the works thereign, will be discovered. Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons, ought ye all the while to be, in holy ways of behaviour and acts of godliness,–– Expecting and hastening the presence of the day of Elohim, by reason of which, heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and, elements, becoming intensely hot, are to be melted; But, (3) new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, are we expecting, wherein, righteousness, is to dwell." Laboring on the New Earth Many of us have been deceived into believing that laboring is undesirable, unheavenly. Many would rather be served for eternity, relaxing, playing and sleeping. To them, this is 'heaven,' the good life, while labor is a dirty word. Many people who have inherited wealth have become alcoholics and some even have committed suicide because their money allowed them to be unproductive, fruitless and sterile. Their lives, which consisted of eating, drinking and making merry, turned into a bleak existence leading them to sin and death. Christ said, "...Mind and be guarding yourselves from all covetousness; for not, in one’s abundance, doth his life spring out of his possessions" (Lk. 12:15). Men have been given the earth; “As for the heavens, the heavens, belong to Yahweh, but the earth, hath he given to the sons of men [adam]” (Ps. 115:6). Their duty was to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it,––and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the bird of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth on the land” (Gen. 1:28). The first Adam failed in his duties but the last Adam (Christ) will not because he will rule the earth. Yahweh has given him, as his possession, the ends of the earth (Ps. 2:8). Christ will return to the earth, his inheritance, and reign over mankind for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:6); “For he must needs reign, until he shall put all his enemies under his feet: As a last enemy, death, is to be destroyed” (1 Cor. 15:25-26). After death and Sheol are cast into the Lake of Fire, Yahshua becomes subject to Yahweh and the holy city, New Jerusalem will descend from heaven to the new earth. A loud voice from the throne will proclaim, “Lo! the tent of Yahweh, is with men, and he will tabernacle [dwell] with them, and, they, shall be, his peoples, and, he, shall be, Elohim with them” (Rev. 21:3). Revelation 21:3 should clearly open our eyes to the lie that men are presently in heaven. If men are presently in heaven with Yahweh then Yahweh’s tent is already with men and he is already dwelling with them. The false teaching that men are presently in heaven contradicts this triumphant future event. This false teaching has also taken away all significance of the triumphal future event of the resurrection of the dead. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 reads, “…the Lord himself, with a word of command, with a chief–messenger’s voice, and with a trumpet of Yahweh, shall descend from heaven,––and, the dead in Christ, shall rise, first, After that, we, the living who are left, together with them, shall be caught away, in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:––and, thus, evermore, with the Lord, shall we be!” If the dead are already in heaven, as taught by many then they are already with the Lord, which would contradict this verse which states that after the Lord comes back will they evermore be with the Lord. The traditions of men have voided the Word of Yahweh. Our Motivation to Obey Yahweh Why did Yahshua endure such horrific torture? "...Yahshua,––who, in consideration of the joy lying before him, endured a cross, shame, despising! And, on the right hand of the throne of Yahweh, hath taken his seat" (Heb. 12:2). Why did Abram and Sarai give up the city life of safety and comfort to dwell in the wilderness in tents? Yahweh told them, "Rise! go up and down in the land, to the length thereof, and to the breadth thereof, for, to thee, will I give it" (Gen. 13:17); "For he was awaiting the city having foundations, whose architect and builder is, Yahweh" (Heb. 11:10). What motivated Paul to finish his course? "...he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter" (2 Cor. 12:4). Yahweh rewards us in our present lives for our obedience and he will especially reward us when we arrive on the new earth:
Rewards motivate us to work hard if we can conceive the outcome of our labors. On the new earth we could be receiving a close working relationship to Christ in his kingdom; a large dwelling in a prime location; a large allotment of fruitful land etc., for our labors in this life. The better the vision I have of the new earth, the more I am motivated to serve Christ. I am inspired and motivated if someone promises me $100,000, if I labor for them for one month. I am uninspired and unmotivated if someone just promises me something really good, if I labor for them for one month. Without this vision, I have no idea of what I will receive for my labors in a heavenly existence. To me, the vision of a heaven is vague and uninspiring. Yahweh has painted a beautiful picture of the new earth to order to inspire and motivate us to finish our courses. The Chain of Future Events The chains of events associated with the awakening of the dead are a puzzle that must be pieced together with the information given to us in the Word of Yahweh. We have a very complete picture even though we do not have all of the pieces. The first awakening of the dead occurs when Christ comes for his Body, the Assembly, which is recorded in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4. These records appear no where in the Old Testament or the Gospels because this event, the Body of the Christ ascending with Christ into the heavens was a sacred secret, hidden away in Yahweh until revealed to the apostles and prophets (Eph. 3). These believers will be with Christ in heaven for a period of time, only to return with Christ to the earth, probably as his army (Rev. 19:14). This event occurs before the Day of Yahweh. The Day of Yahweh begins sometime thereafter lasting seven years. The second awakening of the dead occurs after the chaining of the dragon. This is called the resurrection of the just, which was recorded in the Old Testament and the Gospels; “and, many of the sleepers in the dusty ground, shall awake,––these, shall be to age–abiding life…(Dan. 12:2); “and shall come forth,––they who, the good things, have done, unto a resurrection, of life…” (Jn. 5:29). “…and they lived and reigned with the Christ, for a thousand years. The rest of the dead, lived not, until the thousand years, were ended. This, is the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:4-5). These just individuals died before the age of what I will call the sacred secret, our present time period, which began in Acts 10 and will end when 1 Thessalonians 4:13 occurs. This is the time period from Adam and Eve until Acts chapter ten. The just are awakened from their sleep into Christ 1,000 year reign on the earth. These people will be immortal, whom the second death has no authority (Rev. 20:6). There will also be mortal people who live during this 1,000 year period. These people are the ones who survived the Day of Yahweh. They will have children who live far beyond a 100 years old but will die at sometime. Some of the mortals who live in this time period are the ones who after the dragon is loosened will attempt to overthrow Christ, the result being their death, which is why we know that they are mortal (Rev. 20:7-9). The third awakening of the dead is called the resurrection of the unjust, which is also recorded in the Old Testament and the Gospels; “and, many of the sleepers in the dusty ground, shall awake…but, those, to reproach, and age–abiding abhorrence” (Dan. 12:2); “and shall come forth…but, they who the corrupt things, have practised, unto a resurrection, of judgment” (Jn. 5:29); “The rest of the dead, lived not, until the thousand years, were ended…” (Rev. 20:5). In this resurrection it also appears that the people who lived and died during Christ's 1,000 years reign will also be judged. This is the last awakening of the dead. These dead are judged according to their works recorded in the Book of Life. Death and Sheol are then thrown into the Lake of Fire, which is called the Second Death. Death shall be no more. Well what about the children who died before they had a chance to choose life or death? The Word of Yahweh does not give us instruction on this matter but we know Yahweh is just, which means that they also will receive a chance to choose Christ as their Lord or to reject him. In my opinion, I believe that the best time for their awakening to occur is during Christ’s 1,000 year reign. I believe they will be awakened from their sleep, as mortals who will die again, as did Lazarus, in order to live a life on the new earth with Christ as their King. Their experience will be similar to Adam and Eve, who also lived in a perfect place. They can then choose life or death, as did Adam and Eve. I believe they will live and die in Christ’s 1,000 year reign to be awakened again from their sleep in the last resurrection, being judged according to their works (Rev. 20:13). Synopsis of the New Earth Concerning Christ’s 1,000 year reign, Yahweh proclaims, “For, behold me! Creating new heavens, and a new earth,––And the former, shall not be mentioned, neither shall they come up on the heart. But joy ye and exult, perpetually, in what I, am about to create,––For, behold me! Creating Jerusalem an exultation, and, Her People a joy; Therefore will I Exult in Jerusalem, and, Joy in my People,––And there shall be heard in her, no more, The sound of weeping, or the sound of a cry: There shall be thenceforward, no more, A suckling of a few days, or an elder, Who filleth not up his days,––But, a youth, a hundred years old, may die, Yea, a sinner, a hundred years old, shall be accursed, Then shall they build houses, and dwell, in them,––And plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them; They shall not build, and, another, dwell, They shall not plant, and, another, eat,––For, as the days of a tree, shall be the days of my people, And, the work of their own hands, shall my chosen ones, use to the full: They shall not labour in vain, Nor have children for terror,––For, the seed of the blessed ones of Yahweh, shall they be, And their offspring, with them. And it shall come to pass–That, before they call, I, will answer, And, while yet they, are speaking, I, will hear. The wolf and the lamb, shall feed, in unity, And, the lion, as an ox, shall eat straw; But, as for the serpent, dust, shall be his food: They shall not harm––Nor shall they destroy, In all my holy mountain, saith Yahweh” (Is. 65:17-25)
Christ’s 1,000 year reign will end after the dragon, death and Sheol are cast into the Lake of Fire. The earth will then be prepared for Yahweh and the holy city, New Jerusalem, which will descend out of heaven to the earth; “And, sanctuary, saw I none therein; for, Yahweh Elohim of Host, is the sanctuary thereof, and the Lamb. And, the city, hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they should shine therein; for, the glory of Yahweh, illumined it, and, the lamp thereof, was the Lamb. And the nations, shall walk, through her light; and, the kings of the earth, do bring their glory into it, and, the gates thereof, shall in nowise be shut, by day,––night, in fact, shall not be there,–– and they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. And in nowise shall there enter into it, anything common, or he that doeth abomination and falsehood,––but only they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. And he pointed out to me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, issuing forth out of the throne of Yahweh and of the Lamb, in the midst of the broadway thereof. And, on this side of the river and on that, was a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, every several month, yielding its fruit; and, the leaves of the tree, were for the healing of the nations, And, no curse, shall there be, any more; and, the throne of Yahweh and of the Lamb, shall be, therein,––and his servants will render divine service unto him, and they shall see his face, and, his name, shall be upon their foreheads. And, night, shall be, no more; and they have no need of the light of a lamp or the light of a sun, because, Yahweh Elohim, will give them light,––and they shall reign unto the ages of ages” (Rev. 21:22-2:5). In my opinion, the earth will have then been purified from sin, death and the slanderer as it was originally, before Adam and Eve sinned. It appears that Yahweh was abiding on the second earth with Adam and Eve until they sinned. This purification of the earth from the dragon, sin and death allows Yahweh to descend and abide with men on the new earth. This new earth will require no sun for Yahweh is the light thereof (Rev. 21:23). I believe that the first heaven and earth, Genesis one, probably also did not have a sun because Yahweh was also its light. Sin also must have occurred on the first earth resulting in it “…become waste and wild, and, darkness, was on the face of the roaring deep” (Gen. 1:2). Conclusion Yahshua through death, paralyzed him that held the dominion of death, that is, the slanderer (diabolos),–– that he might release those––as many as, by fear of death, were all their lifetime liable, to bondage (Heb. 2:14-15). Christ awakening from the dead, never to die again has given us hope that we will live age-abidingly upon a perfect earth with him, our Lord and our Father, Yahweh. The hope of life age-abiding in Paradise, dwelling with Christ and Yahweh is our fuel, that energizes us to be the mouth, hands and feet of our Head, Christ, presenting our bodies a living, holy sacrifice, unto Yahweh. It gives us hope of a future day so that we place our treasures in the heavens by doing his will. These deposits will be opened and distributed to us when we are awakened to live life on a perfect earth. Why we have lost such a foundational truth, such as the promise of a 'New Earth' (Paradise) is because people have rejected what Yahweh has said and replaced it with what man has said. Yahweh told man, “For, dust, thou art, And, unto dust, shalt thou return,” but man says, “For dust your body is but your soul or spirit shall return to heaven upon death.” Yahweh told man, “Thy dead, shall come to life again, My dead body, they shall arise,––Awake and shout for joy, ye that dwell in the dust, For, a dew of light, is thy dew, And, earth, to the shades, shall give birth,” but man has said “only your body dies while your soul and spirit go immediately to heaven after you die” (Is. 26:19). Yahweh told man, “For, behold me! Creating new heavens, and a new earth,” but man says “the dead are already with Yahweh and Christ in heaven, living in conscious bliss.” We must put aside all the doctrines of men and embrace fully the Word of Yahweh, regardless of the cost. The Garden of Yahweh (Paradise) upon a New Earth is our future home and not heaven. All people who have died are asleep awaiting their awakening. If you think the vacation spots of the world are so amazing, just multiply their beauty by 100 per cent and then imagine the 'New Earth' that Yahweh has for those who have labored for him. Wherefore we faint not, but, even if, our outer man, is decaying, (For more information on the 'New Earth,' read the book, (For footnotes, see the PDF verison) (*When quoting scriptures, from the Rotherham Emphasized Bible New Testament, I will substitute the Hebrew word Yahshua for Jesus, Yahweh and Elohim for God and the LORD and Anointed for Christ. |
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