Why do the Jehovah's Witnesses feel that Paradise Earth is a literal place?
I posted this question in Yahoo Answers if anyone is interested: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20150125163818AAtmbTR
Why believe poetic Promised Land prophecy is to be taken literally, but
Scriptures saying the earth will end must be taken figuratively?
End of Earth-Not literal??
Psalms 102:25-26, Isaiah 51:6-,Isaiah 65:17-18,Matthew 24:34-35, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Hebrews 1:10-12, 2 Peter 3:10-13
2 Bible books referring to earth lasting to time indefinite or forever: Psalms and Ecclesiastes, both devoted to poetry.
Psalm 37:29 (see also Psalm 104:5; Psalm 78:69; Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:2-4)
Taken from poetic books, these are not literal, nor refer to Jesus kingdom rule. As the Watchtower admits, the accepted meaning is that they refer to the Israelites inheriting the Promised Land.
“‘E´rets can refer to a distinct region or to the territory of a nation, such as “the land of Shinar” or “the land of Egypt.”—Genesis 10:10, 11; 21:21; Psalm 78:12; Jeremiah 25:20.
So Psalm 37:11, 29 might indicate that the Israelites could have been and should have been permanent occupants of the Promised Land. In accord with God’s covenant with Abraham, they could have remained in that territory that God gave them, with generation after generation enjoying his blessings there.” Watchtower 1986 Jan 1 p.31
Forever and time indefinite can be figurative and come to an end, such as at 1 Kings 1:31
Why believe poetic Promised Land prophecy is to be taken literally, but Scriptures saying the earth will end must be taken figuratively?
End of Earth-Not literal??
Psalms 102:25-26, Isaiah 51:6-,Isaiah 65:17-18,Matthew 24:34-35, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Hebrews 1:10-12, 2 Peter 3:10-13
2 Bible books referring to earth lasting to time indefinite or forever: Psalms and Ecclesiastes, both devoted to poetry.
Psalm 37:29 (see also Psalm 104:5; Psalm 78:69; Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:2-4)
Taken from poetic books, these are not literal, nor refer to Jesus kingdom rule. As the Watchtower admits, the accepted meaning is that they refer to the Israelites inheriting the Promised Land.
“‘E´rets can refer to a distinct region or to the territory of a nation, such as “the land of Shinar” or “the land of Egypt.”—Genesis 10:10, 11; 21:21; Psalm 78:12; Jeremiah 25:20.
So Psalm 37:11, 29 might indicate that the Israelites could have been and should have been permanent occupants of the Promised Land. In accord with God’s covenant with Abraham, they could have remained in that territory that God gave them, with generation after generation enjoying his blessings there.” Watchtower 1986 Jan 1 p.31
Forever and time indefinite can be figurative and come to an end, such as at 1 Kings 1:31
Why believe poetic Promised Land prophecy is to be taken literally, but Scriptures saying the earth will end must be taken figuratively?
Here is something interesting to note:
The Watchtower identifies this as heaven;
"Eating in "the Paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 mentions a "tree of life" in "the paradise of God" and that eating from it would be the privilege of the one "that conquers." Since other promises given in this section of Revelation to such conquering ones clearly relate to their gaining a heavenly inheritance (Re 2:26-28; 3:12, 21), it seems evident that "the paradise of God" in this case is a heavenly one."
The Watchtower identifies this as heaven;
"Eating in "the Paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 mentions a "tree of life" in "the paradise of God" and that eating from it would be the privilege of the one "that conquers." Since other promises given in this section of Revelation to such conquering ones clearly relate to their gaining a heavenly inheritance (Re 2:26-28; 3:12, 21), it seems evident that "the paradise of God" in this case is a heavenly one."
Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2 p.576 Paradise
