by leo999 12 Replies latest jw experiences
To piggy-back on Black Sheep's comment about seeming contradictions about who goes to heaven, take a look at Matthew 8:11, where Jesus is quoted as saying "I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."
As you know, the JWs teach that the Old Testament folks didn't (and won't) go to heaven. Kinda makes this verse stick out like a sore thumb, eh?
Great thread. Bookmarking.
"I think we can agree that Jesus was the first to go to heaven because the Old Testament does not speak of a heavenly life."
Not quite right. In the Hebrew scriptres we read about both Elijah and Elisha being caught up in winds, and being transported to heaven.
This fact is also useful when someone asks who was the oldest person named in the Bible. Most people will with thinking answer Methusalah. However, this response can be countered by answering Elijah who - being ushered up bodily to heaven - never died at all. So, it can be claimed that he is thousands of years old and still going strong like the Energizer bunny.
