Bridge of Reason

  In the December 2022 Watchtower Study edition, we read: 'He said: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your Kingdom.” Jesus replied: “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” (Read Luke 23:39-43.) Nothing suggests that this criminal had accepted the message about “the Kingdom of the heavens,” which Jesus preached during his ministry. And Jesus never did say that the man would get into the Kingdom. (Matt. 4:17) Jesus was speaking about the future earthly Paradise.... 'As a Jew, the repentant criminal would have known about Adam and Eve and the Paradise in which Jehovah had placed them. So the criminal could well have realized that the Paradise that Jesus mentioned would be a beautiful garden here on earth.—Read Genesis 2:15.' Will this Jew's dying request not be enough to get him into the kingdom? What is Paradise, and who might this man expect to see when he gets there? With whom will he walk in this restored garden paradise? I Tell You, Today...

  We are, again, in the June 2022 study edition of the Watchtower magazine, looking at the story of Job, and the lessons we can come away with. There is much to encourage a Christian here. Two questions arise from the article: 1 the nature of the hope Christians have, and 2 the reason for being confident in that hope. The Watchtower study article 27 begins: 'JEHOVAH has given a beautiful hope to all those who love him. Soon he will bring an end to sickness, sorrow, and death. (Rev. 21:3, 4) He will help “the meek” who are hoping in him to transform the earth into a paradise. (Ps. 37:9-11) And he will make it possible for each one of us to have a warm, personal relationship with him that will be even more wonderful than what we enjoy now. What a marvelous hope that is! But what basis do we have for believing that God’s promises will come true? Jehovah never breaks a promise. We thus have good reason to “hope in Jehovah.” (Ps. 27:14) We show this by waiting patiently and joyf...

  We have all seen the implausible graphic art on  the covers of Watchtower magazines. Paradise on Earth has been a staple promise of the Society for generations. Mixed generations, species, and races living lives perhaps best described as satisfied. I don’t know what you imagine the afterlife to be like. When I look at these pictures I always think the one who would make paradise a paradise is noticeably absent. Indeed, it is clear the paradise Jehovah’s Witnesses have to look forward to (if they survive Armageddon and pass muster at the judgement) has an absent Saviour and is ruled for eternity by a governing body of 144,000. In The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life chapter 12 we read: ‘ From his heavenly throne Jesus Christ will administer earth’s affairs in a way that will bring lasting benefits... Associated with Jesus in his heavenly kingdom will be 144,000 kings and priests taken from among mankind and made perfect by God...But will this heavenly government have any...

  Paradise is a constant theme with Jehovah's Witnesses, as we saw in last week’s Watch Tower Wednesday. According to this article , Paradise is defined as a place where: There is a one-world government International unity A harmonious environment Perfect health and abundant food Peace and security Ample housing and satisfying work The best education Unending life How would you discuss this with a Jehovah's Witness? Where are they right? Are they right? What have they misunderstood? What does the Christian message bring on this issue? In the Facebook discussion Lois pointed out the absence of labour and production in the illustrations that typically these stories of paradise, including this one. Lois remarks: ‘ They also show this beautiful picture of paradise on earth but how are the buildings and tractors made, no factories or workers are ever shown!’ Given the original purpose of God being man’s stewardship o...