Has anyone tried this type of discussion with Jehovah's Witness missionaries?
Thanks, Jim.
The Kingdom of God – JW booklet “What does the Bible really teach?”
Page 76 - What does the Bible tell us of the Kingdom of God?
Page 77 - … God’s Kingdom is—in heaven. That is why the Bible calls it a “heavenly
Kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:18) Although God’s Kingdom is in heaven, it will rule over
the earth.—Read Revelation 11:15.
Page 78 - … the apostle John was given a vision in which he saw “the Lamb [Jesus
Christ] standing on Mount Zion [his royal position in heaven], and with him 144,000
who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.” Who are
those 144,000? John himself tells us: “These are the ones who keep following the
Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits
to God and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:1, 4) Yes, they are faithful followers of
Jesus Christ specially chosen to rule in heaven with him. After being raised out
of death to heavenly life, “they are to rule as kings over the earth” along with
Jesus. (Revelation 5:10) Since the days of the apostles, God has been selecting
faithful Christians in order to complete the number 144,000.
The Kingdom of God – according to the Bible
John 3:3 - In response Jesus said to him: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone
is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Those not born again will never see the Kingdom of God. Who will see the Kingdom
of God? Put yourself in the following parables and see what happens if you are
not found in the Kingdom of God.
(Luke 13:28-29) “… you will stand outside knocking at the door, saying, ‘Lord,
open to us.’ But in answer he will say to you: ‘I do not know where you are from.’
… Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’ There is where your
weeping and the gnashing of your teeth will be, when you see Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown
outside. Furthermore, people will come from east and west and from north and
south, and will recline at the table in the Kingdom of God.”
(Matthew 21:28-32) “What do you think? A man had two children. Going up to the
first, he said, ‘Child, go work today in the vineyard.’ In answer this one said,
‘I will not,’ but afterward, he felt regret and went out. Approaching the second,
he said the same. This one replied, ‘I will, Sir,’ but did not go out. Which of
the two did the will of his father?” They said: “The first.” Jesus said to them:
“Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead
of you into the Kingdom of God. For John came to you in a way of righteousness,
but you did not believe him. However, the tax collectors and the prostitutes
believed him, and even when you saw this, you did not feel regret afterward so
as to believe him.”
(Romans 14:17) “For the Kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but
means righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit.”
(Luke 14:12-24) “When you spread a dinner or an evening meal, do not call your
friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors. Otherwise,
they might also invite you in return, and it would become a repayment to you. But
when you spread a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; and
you will be happy, because they have nothing with which to repay you. For you
will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous ones.” On hearing these things,
one of the fellow guests said to him: “Happy is the one who dines in the Kingdom
of God.” Jesus said to him: “A man was spreading a grand evening meal, and he
invited many. He sent his slave out at the hour of the evening meal to say to the
invited ones, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began
to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I bought a field and need to go out and
see it; I ask you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I bought five yoke of
cattle and am going to examine them; I ask you, have me excused.’ Still another
said, ‘I just got married, and for this reason I cannot come.’ So the slave
came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became
angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly to the main streets and the alleys
of the city, and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ In time
the slave said, ‘Master, what you ordered has been done, and still there is room.’
So the master said to the slave, ‘Go out to the roads and the lanes and compel
them to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I say to you, none of those
men who were invited will taste my evening meal.’”
Will you accept the Master’s invitation in this parable?
