Blessed are the Meek...

Just about anybody who hears this phrase recognizes
it as being a well-known quote from the Bible. Christ said it:

"Blessed Are the Meek
 FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH."
 (Matthew 5:5) (King James Version)

What does this mean?

To a typical Christian, it is not obvious,
yet the Bible is full of similar messages:

"But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall
delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
(Psalm 37:11) (New International Version)

"The righteous shall inherit the earth,
And they shall live forever upon it."
(Psalm 37:29) (NIV)

"But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth,
where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to that!"
(2Peter 3:13) (Contemporary English Version)

The people of Christendom have been dutifully taught by their
ministers that they look forward to living forever in Heaven
when they die. This belief has persisted for thousands of years
now, yet - the truth is quite different from what they are taught:

"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
and the former things shall not be remembered, nor
come into mind… And they shall build houses, and
inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat
the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit;
they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a
tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall
long enjoy the work of their hands… And it shall come to
pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are
yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed
together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust
shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy
in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah."
(Isaiah 65:17,21,22,24,25) (American Standard Version)

"...the abrupt culmination of history, in which there will
emerge a new humanity on a new earth that is equivalent
to a restored paradise... a "blest age" in the future when,
in a violent spasm… humanity shall 'burst his fetters', and
'Earth shall once again be a Paradise'."
-The Norton Anthology of English Literature
 The Romantic Period
 Apocalyptic Expectations - An Overview

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth...
(Revelation 21:1) (NIV)

What will living on this “New Earth” be like?

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears
of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man
leap as a deer, and the tongue of the mute shall sing..."
(Isaiah 35:5,6) (ASV)

"...the restoration of Eden is an essential aspect
of the salvation that Christ provides.  The Old
Testament - foretold the coming of the Christ
and the blessings he would bring.  The Paradise
Theme runs throughout the whole Bible, from
Genesis to Revelation."
- PARADISE RESTORED
A Biblical Theology of Dominion; Chapter 3;
by David Chilton ; (1951-1997) M.Div., Ph.D.,
Dominion Press; Tyler, Texas
© 1st 1985 & 6th 1999

Do we look forward to a better world where life goes
on forever with peace and prosperity in abundance?

⁴ but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and
decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he
shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and
with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
⁵ And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist,
and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. ⁶ And the wolf
shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead
them. ⁷ And the cow and the bear shall feed; their
young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall
eat straw like the ox. ⁸ And the sucking child shall play
on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put
his hand on the adder's den. ⁹ They shall not hurt nor
destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be
full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover
the sea.”
(Isaiah 11:4-9) (ASV)

"In recent years many Christians have begun to realize a long
forgotten truth: God wants us to have dominion over the earth,
just as He originally commanded Adam and Eve. By His atonement,
Jesus Christ has restored us to Adam's lost position, guaranteeing
that God's original plan will be fulfilled."
-Paradise Restored:
A Biblical Theology of Dominion;
by David Chilton; Pg. 342
Dominion Press, Tyler, Texas 75711

God’s original plan did not include death! It also did not
include everybody going to Heaven when they died.

Who says so?

¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came
from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake
in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone
who believes in him may have eternal life.
(John 3:13-15) (NIV)

Does this really include everyone?

Do You Love Jesus?

People who attend the churches of Christendom say they
love Jesus. These same people claim that they would gladly
invite Jesus and his apostles into their home to talk to them.

Would they really?

Christ and his apostles were proselytizers: that means they
tried to convert others to their faith and to their way of
thinking. That meant going door-to-door publicly announcing
Jehovah’s plan to return rulership of the earth back to Himself,
just like Jehovah’s Witnesses do.

¹ He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them
authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every
disease and sickness. ⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out
with the following instructions: "Do not go among the
Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go
rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, preach
this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
(Matthew 10:1,5-7) (NIV)

"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house,
they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news."
(Acts 5:42) (NIV)

Christ and his followers preached about Armageddon and
the new kingdom almost two thousand years ago?

That must have been annoying!

When the Messiah and his followers tried to instruct the Jews
about how to show proper respect for his father, Jehovah, the
Pharisees, the most orthodox of the Jews, did not want to
learn from him; instead, they got offended.

How could the Jews be offended by Christ and the Apostles?
They had at one time worshipped the same God, Jehovah!

¹About this time some Pharisees and teachers of the Law
of Moses came from Jerusalem. They asked Jesus, ² "Why
don't your disciples obey what our ancestors taught us to do?
They don't even wash their hands before they eat." ³ Jesus
answered: Why do you disobey God and follow your own
teaching? ⁴ Didn't God command you to respect your father
and mother? Didn't he tell you to put to death all who curse
their parents? ⁵ But you let people get by without helping their
parents when they should. You let them say that what they have
has been offered to God. ⁶ Is this any way to show respect to
your parents? You ignore God's commands in order to follow
your own teaching. ⁷ And you are nothing but show-offs! Isaiah
the prophet was right when he wrote that God had said, ⁸ "All of
you praise me with your words, but you never really think about
me. ⁹ It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules
made up by humans." ¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd together and said,
"Pay attention and try to understand what I mean. ¹¹ The food that
you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to
worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are
what make you unclean." ¹² Then his disciples came over to him
and asked, "Do you know that you insulted the Pharisees by
what you said?" ¹³ Jesus answered, "Every plant that my Father in
heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. ¹⁴ Stay away from
those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind
people, and all of them will fall into a ditch."
(Matthew 15:1-14) (New International Version)

In fact, the very people he was trying so hard to reach
did not want to listen to him, they wanted to kill him:

“¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area
and began driving out those who were buying and selling
there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and
the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow
anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My
house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But
you have made it 'a den of robbers.' " ¹⁸ The chief priests
and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking
for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole
crowd was amazed at his teaching.
(Mark 11:15-18) (NIV)

Yet Christ continued to promote his father's name publicly.
In prayer to his Father, His Son said:

"O righteous Father, even though the world does not know
you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I
made known to them your name, and I will continue to make
it known... I have manifested Your name to the men whom
You gave me out of the world."
(John 17:25,26,6) (English Standard Version)

What ability did Christ have to show his authority? How did
he prove to the people that he was indeed the Messiah?

He and his apostles had the power to perform miracles. 
This made them a great attraction to the general public.

"So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the
Good News and healing the sick."
(Luke 9:6) (New Living Translation)

If Jehovah's Witnesses could heal the sick, raise the dead, and
bring sight and hearing back to the deaf and blind; maybe people
today would not be so annoyed with them. Unfortunately, the
Bible makes it clear that although the prophets of old could
perform miracles and so could the apostles - those miraculous
powers would end and never be seen again from Jehovah until
Christ returns to the earth.

"...But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where
there are tongues, they will be stilled..."
(1Corinthians 13:8) (NIV)

So Jehovah's Witnesses are operating with a disadvantage -
they have all the spunk and zeal of the early Christians and
they preach the same good news but have nothing to really
dazzle the house-holders with except a pamphlet or magazine
which usually only irritates the householder.

Why do they do it?

This is everybody’s opportunity to learn the truth and
show faith in it. Proof is not being offered anymore. 
There will be no widespread show of miracles. People
who lack faith will not believe the truth when they hear
it and that will be their undoing:

"Behold, YOU scoffers, and marvel, and perish; for I am
accomplishing a work in YOUR days, a work which YOU
will never believe, though someone should describe it to
YOU.'"
(Acts 13:41) (New American Standard Bible) 

Jehovah's Witnesses do indeed endure the smirks and laughter
when today’s comedians portray them as mindless fools.

Why do they put up with it?

"But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not."
(Ezekiel 2:7) (NASB) 

There is no money in it for them so they must be
driven by some really powerful force. And they are.

"...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses...
even to the remotest parts of the earth."
(Acts 1:8) (NASB)

Like John the Baptist, someone has to pave the way for the coming
of Christ. Jehovah is getting ready to send his Son back a second time. 
Only this time his Son will return as a KING - ready to battle with God's
enemies, and to take over rule of the entire earth. This good news that
“will be preached” was prophesied before our Saviour was even born:

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before
me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come... But who
can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?
For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. "
(Malachi 3:1,2)  (NIV)

"But before the end comes, the good news must be
preached to all nations."
(Mark 13:10) (CEV)

Jehovah's people - His Witnesses - are doing this very special
work for HIM. They are almost seven million strong and present
in every country - almost like a plague upon the earth.

"...ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. "
(Isaiah 43:12) (ASV) 

"And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify
that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge..."
(Acts 10:42) (NASB)

Jehovah's Witnesses do not care if anyone likes them
or not - for they have someone much more important
to answer to - someone much higher has sent them.

¹ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who
will judge the living and the dead, and in view of
his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this
charge: ² Preach the Word; be prepared in season
and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—
with great patience and careful instruction.
(2Timothy 4:1,2) (NIV)

Many people consider Jehovah's Witnesses to be a “plague”
in the world. Plague or not - they are here to stay and will
not let up until Christ returns. Yes, right to the very end:

¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached
in the whole world as a testimony to all nations,
and then the end will come.
(Matthew 24:14) (NIV)

People have a choice now. They can join others in laughing
at Jehovah’s servants or they can listen to them.

What do they have to say?

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he
commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has
set a day when he will judge the world with justice by
the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this
to all men by raising him from the dead."
(Acts 17:30,31) (NIV)

Are the people who say: “I love Jesus” and “I love God”
but hate Jehovah's Witnesses just deluding themselves?

Are Blood Transfusions Wise?

Years ago people who had serious injuries or operations were
routinely given blood transfusions from blood donors. Today,
the Red Cross still collects and distributes donated blood products
for the purpose of transfusion in spite of the widespread medically
supported fact that the risks involved from donated blood
outweigh the benefits:

"Many of those contributing to blood banks are people you
might not desire to drink from the same cup with, let alone
consume their blood into your circulatory system.  Some
critics of transfusions argue that it is nothing more than a
modern form of cannibalism."
- JAMA, July 25, 1990:476.
The New England Journal of Medicine, 322-11:777.

It is now the 21st century and the Red Cross still conducts
blood drives to promote blood as "life giving" without discussing
how many people have died from their products. The Red Cross
does not guarantee that their blood products are pure and safe
because they cannot guarantee that the donors are suitable.

According to the Red Cross of Southern California,
the good news is:

“Since the Red Cross began testing blood for the HIV-
antibody in early 1985, the risk of HIV-contaminated
blood entering the blood supply has dropped dramatically.
According to latest medical research, the chance of
receiving an HIV-infected transfusion is estimated to
be 1 in 2,000,000 or less.”

From: http://www.socalredcross.org/facts/facts_safety.html

The bad news is:

“Approximately 4 million patients receive a blood
transfusion each year.”

From: http://www.socalredcross.org/facts/facts.html

Since the Red Cross cannot guarantee that the blood they collect
is completely safe they have to admit that the chances are
that 1-2 recipients will become infected with HIV each year.
This is indeed a very low risk, but small consolation to these
patients who will now certainly suffer and die from AIDS.

Fortunately, this practice is obsolete. New techniques and
non-blood substitutes such as Ringer’s Lactate are widely
available. These artificial blood products are pure. The recipient’s
chance of acquiring hazardous diseases from them are zero.
Medical experts are constantly discovering new blood substitutes
such as perflourocarbon compounds:

From: http://www.usatoday.com/news/science/aaas/2002-02-07-blood.htm

Today, bloodless surgical techniques exist for most common
medical procedures and numerous hospitals report that the result
is better health and better safety for the patient:

"Our patients who have chosen to receive non-blood
medical care have found that the benefits outweigh
the risk of transfusion."
- Joan Karnell Cancer Center; at Pennsylvania Hospital
The University of Pennsylvania Health System @2004

"As a physician, I am absolutely thrilled with the results
we are seeing from bloodless surgery," says Dr. Burzon.
"Our patients are doing extremely well."
- Meridian Health; July 3, 2003

"Bloodless surgery techniques not only reduce the
risk of exposure to diseases, they also have a number
of other tangible benefits for patients. There is well
documented evidence that transfusions weaken
the recipient's immune system, leaving it more
vulnerable to infection and disease. Some patients
suffer a reaction to transfusion that can cause chills,
fever, shock or even death. The bloodless approach
to treatment means shorter hospital stays, reduced
blood loss, and no chance of blood contamination."
-  Allegheny General Hospital; Pittsburgh, PA
Bloodless Surgery and Medicine Center

"Patients avoid the potential for acquiring blood-borne
illnesses. Patients avoid untoward effects of blood
transfusions such as infection and transfusion
reactions that may include kidney failure, anemia
and heart failure. It has been documented that many
patients have shorter hospital stays because they
have not received blood and so have avoided
associated risks. Patients are able to follow their
religious and moral beliefs with dignity."
- Deborah H. Riddick, R.N.
North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System 
BLOODLESS MEDICINE AND SURGERY

"People are often unaware of the benefits of bloodless
surgery, which include reduced risk of infection and
immune suppression and quicker recovery times
compared to surgery performed using blood transfusions.
The reasons for choosing bloodless surgery go well
beyond a person's religious convictions, Butler said."
-Bloodless Medicine Program Off to Strong Start;
Baptist Health; Baptist Medical Center;
Wolfson Children's Hospital; Jacksonville Florida

"The excellent results of major surgery without
blood transfusion is a powerful argument for
transfusion-free surgery. We have performed
hundreds of open-heart operations without a drop
of blood. Our success is due to careful planning
and execution of sound principles to avoid transfusion."
-Manuel Estioko, M.D.
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Good Samaritan Hospital
Los Angeles, CA

"Bloodless medicine and surgery is a driving force
in the practice of medicine today. It is quite possible
that in the very near future transfusion will be
eliminated altogether."
- Ciril Godec
Professor, Clinic of Urology
University of New York

Yes, medical science is gradually discovering that transfusing
foreign blood into people is a bad idea. There are countless
stories of unfortunate people who accepted donated blood and
acquired serious diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Some died
immediately from a blood-type mismatch. Others died slowly
either from other blood-borne pathogens or merely from the
expected autoimmune reaction to the foreign blood. These
people would probably still be alive and healthy if they had
followed God’s law against consuming blood in any form.

WHAT LAW?

"This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to
come, wherever you live: You must NOT eat...
any BLOOD."
(Leviticus 3:17) (New International Version) 

"You must not eat the blood of any creature,
because the life of every creature is its blood;
anyone who eats it must be cut off."
(Leviticus 17:14) (NIV)

"...according to the hand of Jehovah... Whatsoever
is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be
done exactly."
(Ezra 7:6,23) (American Standard Version)

"You must abstain from eating food offered to idols,
from consuming blood ...and from sexual immorality.
If you do this, you will do well. Farewell."
(Acts 15:29) (New Living Translation)

²⁵ "As for the Gentile Christians, all we ask of them is
what we already told them in a letter: They should not
eat food offered to idols, nor consume blood, nor eat
meat from strangled animals, and they should stay
away from all sexual immorality."
(Acts 21:25) (NLT)  

Many people just love to point out that a blood
transfusion is not the same as eating blood.

HOW SMART ARE JEHOVAH'S LAWS
AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW THEM?

"We should be grateful to Jehovah's Witnesses
because by raising this issue, they have not only
drawn attention to their own rights but also helped
the entire medical community to understand the
dangers of blood transfusions."
-Michel de Guillenchmidt, professor of law in France
The medical newspaper Meditsinskaya Gazeta

"The Patient Rights Act-1991 has repeatedly echoed
the same theme that Jehovah's Witnesses have
sounded for years. Adult patients have the right
to decide for themselves what type of medical treat-
ment to accept or reject. Few treatments in modern
medicine have the escalating risks of blood transfusions.
The history of the use of blood products is dismal
and does not promise to get any better. Is it any
wonder that not only Jehovah's Witnesses but the
community-at-large demands that physicians and
hospitals offer medical and surgical care
without the use of blood or blood products."
-Sharon Vernon, RN ; Director, CBMS
St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SET THE TREND

"No blood!   If you think that statement is solely
 linked with Jehovah’s Witnesses, then you are well
behind the times. Today, there is an ever increasing
groundswell of disdain for blood transfusions and the
dangers associated with them. More and more
people, from all walks and life, are actively seeking
safer medical treatment. Worldwide there are more
than 90,000 doctors who specialize in non-blood
treatment. The tragedy of AIDS has made the public
aware that the blood supply can never be completely
safe. In fact, a recent poll in Canada showed that 89%
of people there would prefer an alternative to donated
blood."

"Largely due to the stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses –
bloodless medicine and surgery has reached an
advanced level of development and is the preferred
treatment of many informed people."

From - Blood transfusion complications and alternatives;
   Copyright 2001 by PageWise Inc.

In fact The World Health Organization has stated that 5% to
10% of all HIV infections worldwide have been acquired from
contaminated blood or blood products. That risk is still
present today!

From: http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/blood/safety/en/

To reduce the possibility of acquiring HIV, hepatitis, etc
to zero, bloodless medicine is the best solution.

"...due to the efforts of the Witnesses,  hospitals
around the country have started bloodless surgery units,
said Dr. Jeffrey Carson, medical director of the Center
for Innovations in Bloodless Surgery and Medicine at
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick,
N.J. Studies have shown that patients who refuse transfusions
often gain significant medical benefits, Carson said".
-Steve Ellman; Miami Daily Business Review
     03-04-2004

"Because of consistent success in Jehovah's Witnesses
and the fact that blood transfusion carries a risk of serious
complications, we are currently performing most of our
pediatric cardiac operations without transfusion."
-Circulation, September 1984.

REGARDLESS OF MANKIND'S ADVANCES IN 
MEDICINE HUMANS WILL NEVER KNOW MORE 
THAN GOD DOES

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts."
(Isaiah 55:8,9) (ASV)

"...He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done from
beginning to end."
(Ecclesiastes 3:11) (NIV)

The World As We Know It
Is Changing Soon!

Most people have heard that there will be an "End of the world"

but do not really expect it to happen. This is understandable because
even though it was prophesied by many of the Bible's prophets, it

was a very long time ago. The most recent prophesies by God's Son
and the apostle John were written almost 2,000 years ago and as we
can plainly see, the world has still not come to an end.

Will the world, as we now know it, eventually “come to an end”?

Yes, and soon! Jehovah, Himself has promised us that it will.
Our world can and will change overnight! The World Trade
Center buildings in New York City disappeared overnight -
yet did anyone think that would ever happen?

So too – from the numerous Bible Prophecies that
say so - we know that our "World as we now know
it" is in for very big changes. 

"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered, nor will
they come to mind."
(Isaiah 65:17) (New International Version)

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will
make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your
seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to
another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith
Jehovah. And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead
bodies of the men that have transgressed against me..."
(Isaiah 66:22-24) (American Standard Version)

"But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth,
where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to that!"
(2Peter 3:13 (Contemporary English Version)

"THEN I saw a new heaven and a new earth... Then I
heard a mighty voice from the throne... saying, See! The
abode of God is with men, and He will live among them;
and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be
with them and be their God.  God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall
there be anguish nor grief nor pain any more, for the old
conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
(Revelation 21:1,3,4) (Amplified Bible)

Do we pray for it in our prayers?

⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy
will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:9-10) (King James Version)

What does this mean?

"Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth
will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven."
(Matthew 6:10) (Contemporary English Version)

How do we prove that this will happen?

“Proof” does not exist. There are signs but no “proof”. Because
there is no proof in existence, most people will not believe. This
fact was prophesied by Peter as a warning:

"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers
will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They
will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? By the same
word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,
being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly
men."
(2Peter 3:3,4,7) (NIV)

So what will be the fate of the willful non-believers?

The Bible says that the “Wheat” will be separated from the “Chaff”.

"...the wicked... They are like chaff that the wind blows
away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment..."
(Psalm 1:4,5) (NIV)

⁵ And the multitude of thine enemies shall be like small dust,
and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth
away; and it shall be in an instant, suddenly. ⁶ Thou shalt be
visited by Jehovah of hosts with thunder and with earthquake
and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame
of devouring fire.
(Isaiah 29:5,6) (NIV)

"...he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks..."
(Luke 3:17) (CEV)

Will we be the “Wheat” or the “Chaff”?

The “Chaff” are the people who are not willing to
listen to and obey Our God:

"You warned them to return to your law, but they became
arrogant and disobeyed your commands... Stubbornly they
turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused
to listen."
(Nehemiah 9:29) (NIV)

"These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words,
who follow the stubbornness of their hearts..."
(Jeremiah 13:10) (NIV)

"...they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and
despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."
(Isaiah 5:24) (ASV)

"The wise men are put to shame, they are dismayed and
taken: lo, they have rejected the word of Jehovah;
and what manner of wisdom is in them?
(Jeremiah 8:9) (ASV)

Our Saviour foretold that the majority of mankind would
prefer the wide and easy way to destruction and that very
few would choose the narrow way to life.

"...For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to
destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For
the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life,
and those who find it are few."
(Matthew 7:13,14) (English Standard Version)

Why is it necessary to destroy the wicked people?

"...Punish them for doing wrong and make them stop. Our
LORD, you will always rule, but nations will vanish from
the earth. You listen to the longings of those who suffer.
You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries
for help. You defend orphans and everyone else in need,
so that no one on earth can terrify others again.
(Psalm 10:15-18) (CEV)

Obviously, in order to truly have an earthly paradise forever, it will
be necessary to rid the earth of all of the corruption and evil.

What should the good people, who want to be spared, do?

"Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as
the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon
you, before the day of Jehovah's anger come upon you.
Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have
kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness:
it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger."
(Zephaniah 2:2,3) (ASV)

How bad will the slaughter of the disobedient people be?

"A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your
right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only
observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the
wicked."
(Psalm 91:7,8) (NIV)

How can we avoid this punishment?

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he
commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set
a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man
he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by
raising him from the dead."
(Acts 17:30,31) (NIV)

"All these events happened to them as examples for us.
They were written down to warn us, who live at the time
when this age is drawing to a close.
(1Corinthians 10:11) (New Living Translation)

What is this "New World" that our God is making?

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; 
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, 
as the waters cover the sea."
(Isaiah 11:9) (ASV)

"The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall
eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. 
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith
Jehovah."
(Isaiah 65:25) (ASV)

^"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish nor grief
nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former
order of things have passed away."
(Revelation 21:4,5) (AMP)

These prophecies were written for us a long time ago by
Jehovah’s prophets. We can be sure that when Jehovah
makes promises, He will keep them, and soon. Very soon!

The Wide and Narrow Road

Most people do not understand why there are so many
different religions in the world. Many people honestly
believe either that religions are a hoax or that “all roads
lead to the same place”. In a sense, they are correct
on both points! Many people practice some form of
religious beliefs to some degree thinking that they are
free to do so. They are free to do so, but it is not a
good idea since all of the false religion’s “roads” do
indeed lead to the same place: destruction!

Christ said it:

¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad
is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
and only a few find it.”
(Matthew 7:13-14) (New International version)

Because Our Heavenly Creator, Jehovah, gave us free will,
we do pretty much what we please to do. Just like the
people who perished in the Great Flood that only
Noah and his family survived.

³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

(Matthew 24:38) (NIV)

Those people were on the wrong road, Noah tried to warn
them, but they did not care and they were destroyed.
Most people are on the wrong “road” now! If today’s people
do not find the right road in time and get right on it, they
will all be destroyed too!

Why is it that we sometimes find ourselves on the wrong road?

Jeremiah prophesied about this well over 2,000 years ago:

²³ “I know, Jehovah, that the way of man is not his own;
it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps.”

(Jeremiah 10:23) (Darby)

So it is very unlikely that we will find the right road on our
own. Most people do not. The vast majority of mankind is
“traveling on the broad road through the wide gate” and do
not even realize it - just as Jesus prophesied. The priests and
ministers of the false religions will tell us with a straight face
that we are on the right road with them.

How can we know which road we are on?

Our Savior said the small road “leads to life”.

What does that mean?

Most people tend to believe that death is the end of life
forever. Christendom specifically teaches that at the end of
life comes “Heaven or Hell”. So do many other false religions.
How can a road lead to “Life”?

God's Son came to us almost 2,000 years ago to teach us:

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

(Matthew 5:5) (King James Version)

Yes, Our God who made us and the entire universe originally
made us to live forever! If we believe that the Bible is the
word of God and that He cannot lie, then it would be wise
indeed to heed these words.

² This truth gives them the confidence of eternal life, which God
promised them before the world began--and he cannot lie.

(Titus 1:2) (New Living Translation)

After all, how can the “meek inherit the earth” if they all
go to Heaven when they die?

They Can’t! But here is what the Apostle John said about resurrection:

²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

(John 5:21) (New International Version)

²⁸ "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all
who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out--
those who have done good will rise to live, and those who
have done evil will rise to be condemned. 

(John 5:28-29) (NIV)

Notice here that neither Heaven nor Hell is mentioned. Christ
and his apostles resurrected many people and they came back
to life here on earth every time. The dead are merely “asleep”;
they are not snatched back from paradise Heaven or fiery Hell!
There are numerous other scriptures in the Bible that say plainly
that we have a promise from Jehovah, Himself, of “eternal life”.
Yet, we do not live forever and the priests and ministers of
Christendom do not explain about “eternal life”. They teach that
eternal life is in Heaven and eternal destruction is in Hell. Many
other faiths have a similar belief. Many teach reincarnation.
These popular beliefs are false and widespread.

What really happens then, when people die?

⁵ For the living know that they will die, but the dead
know nothing; they have no further reward, and even
the memory of them is forgotten.

(Ecclesiastes 9:5) (NIV)

¹⁰ Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there
will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

(Ecclesiastes 9:10) (New Living Translation)

Jehovah gave us this knowledge thousands of years ago
but people today believe what they want to believe.

Do any people die and go to Heaven at all?

⁴ Then I heard the number of those who were sealed:
144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

(Revelation 7:4) (NIV)

Jehovah designated 144,000 people only to serve in Heaven
– 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Jacob, to honor the
descendants of his 12 sons. 

Is it true that only 12,000 from each of the
twelve tribes of Jacob are serving in Heaven?

No. So many Jews fell away from the teachings of Christ that
it was necessary to acquire many people for this privilege from
outside of the Jewish nation.  But that is another story.

What happens to people who are not chosen for service in Heaven?

When they die, they are just asleep. As long as they can be
resurrected again, to our Saviour, they are just “asleep”.

¹¹ Then he said, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,
but now I will go and wake him up."

(John 11:11) (NLT)

The disciples didn’t understand what he meant at first:

¹² The disciples said, "Lord, if he is sleeping, that means he is
getting better!" ¹³ They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was having
a good night's rest, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

(John 11:12) (NLT)

So Christ had to clarify himself.

¹⁴ Then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.”

(John 11:14) (NLT)

Notice here that Christ did not say, “Lazarus is in Heaven.”
Before he came to us to teach us the truth, many people
already knew the basics about life and death. The sister of
Lazarus, Martha, knew the truth:

²³ Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." ²⁴ Martha said to
him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."

(John 11:23-24) (English Standard Version)

False religious beliefs were widespread at the time Christ lived
and are still widespread today. In order to demonstrate that
resurrection was truly possible, Jehovah and His Son performed
many resurrections:

⁴³ When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus,
come out! ⁴⁴ And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands
and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial]
napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the
burial wrappings and let him go.

(John 11:43-44) (Amplified Bible)

People heard about his remarkable powers and came looking for him.

¹⁸ While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came
in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but
come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." ¹⁹ And Jesus
rose and followed him, with his disciples.

(Matthew 9:18-19) (ESV)

When Christ arrived at the home, the mourners laughed at him
when he told them that she was just “asleep”.

²⁴ he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And
they laughed at him. ²⁵ But when the crowd had been put outside,
he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
(Matthew 9:24-25) (ESV)

When our Messiah died, many dead and buried people arose
on the spot as a grand finale:

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his
spirit. ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from
top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. ⁵² The tombs broke
open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised
to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they
went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

(Matthew 27:52-53) (NIV)

Last of all, he was resurrected from death. An Angel explained:

⁶ He is not here; He has risen, as He said [He would do]. Come, see
the place where He lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell His disciples, He
has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.

(Matthew 28:6-7) (AMP)

So, the truth is that the dead are asleep in the grave and
awaiting resurrection. We do not likely have an eternity in
Heaven or Hell to look forward to. We have the promise of
everlasting life on a paradise earth in the near future!

The living had a choice to make.

Did we stay on the wide road to destruction
or exit to the narrow road to life?

It was up to us...