But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth” (Psalm 37:10–11). So the righteous “new earth” is a society of people who receive God’s approval. Sometimes when the Bible speaks of “the earth,” it means the people who live on the earth (Genesis 11:1). This is how Jehovah’s Witnesses understand those Bible verses that speak of the new heavens and a new earth (e.g., 2 Peter 3:13 and Isaiah 65:17): Not all the dead will be raised, however. The Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that billions of people who died before Armageddon will be resurrected with physical bodies to return to earth, and they will be given a “second chance” to repent. They see Armageddon as the time when God will destroy all earthly governments and false religion-which includes all Trinitarian churches and all denominations that do not promote and use the name Jehovah (“Who Is the Antichrist?” Watchtower, June 1, 2015, p. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have been anticipating the battle of Armageddon since before 1914. The majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses do not want to go to heaven but are looking forward to the paradise on earth. The survivors will inherit a “paradise earth” ruled by Jesus Christ in heaven. They believe that God speaks through their organization, and that “Jehovah’s servants already belong to the only organization that will survive the end of this wicked system of things” ( Watchtower, December 15, 2007, p. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Armageddon will happen before the millennial reign of Christ Jesus and that the only survivors will be faithful and obedient Witnesses (“Stay Faithful Through the ‘Great Tribulation,’” Watchtower-Study Edition, October 2019, p. In heaven, the 144,000 co-rulers with Christ who were taken there before the Great Tribulation will receive authority to share with Jesus in wielding “an iron rod” of destruction against all enemies of God’s Kingdom. They anticipate a time of unprecedented persecution when both the religious and political elements of this world (under the control of Satan) will turn on them because they refuse to submit to the Antichrist and those who follow him. Jehovah’s Witnesses take the prophecy of Ezekiel 38:11 about the attack of Gog of Magog and apply it to themselves. All other Witnesses (about 8 million) will be left on earth to go through the Great Tribulation. 14–19), those of their anointed heavenly class (the remnant of the 144,000 still alive) will die and then be taken up into heaven in spirit form (“‘Caught Away to Meet the Lord’-How?” Watchtower, January 15, 1993, p. The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that, before the outbreak of the Great Tribulation (“‘Your Deliverance is Getting Near’!” Watchtower, July 15, 2015, p. The Witnesses say only 144,000 persons since the time of Jesus will ever go to heaven. They believe that God will never destroy the earth, that they will survive the battle of Armageddon to inherit a paradise earth and live upon it for 1,000 years, and then, if they pass the final test, they will live forever on the earth. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that this earth will pass away and be replaced by a new heaven and earth. John records seeing “‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Revelation 21:1). This earth will not last, and God has something better planned. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Peter 3:10, 12). “The heavens will disappear with a roar the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. It is the view of Got Questions Ministries that 2 Peter 3:7–12 is describing a literal event in the future.
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