The Anointed

[Belle]

Br RR,
I, also, have never felt part of this worlld. In fact I never felt part of my family...thought maybe I was an "alien".  Really!

Belle

[Linda]

I believe every Christian should be allowed to develop as Jehovah directs them to. If one feels his or her place is on earth so be it. The meek shall inherit the earth. If Jehovah should call them to another hope, let it also be.

[RR]

I believe every Christian should be allowed to develop as Jehovah directs them to. If one feels his or her place is on earth so be it. The meek shall inherit the earth. If Jehovah should call them to another hope, let it also be.

But there is no other hope that Jehovah is calling people too. The call is to the High Calling. If someone wishes to live on earth, all they have to do is decline the invitation that God sends.

RR

[Linda]

I believe every Christian should be allowed to develop as Jehovah directs them to. If one feels his or her place is on earth so be it. The meek shall inherit the earth. If Jehovah should call them to another hope, let it also be.

But there is no other hope that Jehovah is calling people too. The call is to the High Calling. If someone wishes to live on earth, all they have to do is decline the invitation that God sends.

RR

RR,

I don't believe a Christian can or should be forced to believe what their hearts do not impel them to believe. Heaven or earth, both are from God and both are good.

[balaji]

That is what i am told revelation 21:1-5

[RR]

RR, I don't believe a Christian can or should be forced to believe what their hearts do not impel them to believe. Heaven or earth, both are from God and both are good.

So God opens a door to you and you will tell him, I will do EVERYTHING you ask of me, EXCEPT, I prefer tpo stay on earth, because that is what my heart tells me. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" - Jer 17:9

[Linda]

RR, I don't believe a Christian can or should be forced to believe what their hearts do not impel them to believe. Heaven or earth, both are from God and both are good.

So God opens a door to you and you will tell him, I will do EVERYTHING you ask of me, EXCEPT, I prefer tpo stay on earth, because that is what my heart tells me. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" - Jer 17:9

But you did say, "If someone wishes to live on earth, all they have to do is decline the invitation that God sends."  I am agreeing with you in a way, no?

[humbleservant]

RR, I don't believe a Christian can or should be forced to believe what their hearts do not impel them to believe. Heaven or earth, both are from God and both are good.

So God opens a door to you and you will tell him, I will do EVERYTHING you ask of me, EXCEPT, I prefer tpo stay on earth, because that is what my heart tells me. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" - Jer 17:9

But you did say, "If someone wishes to live on earth, all they have to do is decline the invitation that God sends."  I am agreeing with you in way, no?

I know a small number of Bible Students in Australia, who do not hold a hope for a heavenly resurrection. This is their choice when the offer is made by our Father. If they wish to not avail themselves of the heavenly spiritual resurrection, then they will look to an earthly prospect....their choice entirely.

Ion

[Linda]

Ion,

Yes, I know of a few Bible Students in the U.S. who believe they will have life on earth also.

[humbleservant]

Yes, Sr. Linda,

And I don't believe this makes them any less valuable to the Lord, by them choosing to have an earthly hope following their calling, instead of accepting the upward call.

Ion

[serene searcher]

Matthew 23:11,12
   11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Romans 12
   3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
1 Corinthians 1:27
   But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

I think it would be hard for a truly humble person to say he has the heavenly calling. An extremely knowledgable person can feel he has the calling for just that reason. A humble simple person could as well but might mark him as putting himself above others.

Revelation 20:
3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

 Also, who wouldn't  want to be a part of the heavenly calling. second death has no power over them. So, why would anyone want to be on earth where satan will be let loose upon again.

[RR]

Yes, I know of a few Bible Students in the U.S. who believe they will have life on earth also.

Yes that is correct, those who follow the teachings of Paul S.L. Johnson, (members of the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement and the Epiphany Bible Students Association), believe the door to heaven was completely shut in 1914, and believe there are no more spirit-begotten ones on the earth, that the 144,000 and the great company class are off the scene.

RR

[humbleservant]

Bro. RR, the ones in Australia I was refering to, belong to the Berean BS's, & accept the Divine Plan, as presented by Br. Russell as you do.

Ion

[Broken2]

Yes, Sr. Linda,

And I don't believe this makes them any less valuable to the Lord, by them choosing to have an earthly hope following their calling, instead of accepting the upward call.

Ion

Not of any less value, no more than the rest of mankind in whom the Father loved so much that he sacrificed his only begotten Son, but...

Nevertheless those who have received of a knowledge of the high calling and who have nevertheless declined this offer preferring rather to live upon the earth have in essence "received the grace of God in vain." (2 Cor 6:1) That is to say they have chosen to decline the favor of this invitation to set aside the earthly for the heavenly that they might be where he [our Lord] is), in this they give evidence that they lack the spirit of a sound mind, imagining earthly rewards, pleasures in paradise restored could in anyway come close to the heavenly offering of joint heir-ship with their Lord and immorality.

[RR]

Bro. RR, the ones in Australia I was refering to, belong to the Berean BS's, & accept the Divine Plan, as presented by Br. Russell as you do.

Yes, but as you stated, this is their choice. The door is open, they chose not to enter, as oppose to the Epiphany followers, who believe the door is closed.

RR