A New Covenant for a New Creation

Previously published in 2007

Eve, the mother of all humanity, had a unique distinction: She was the last earthly creation of God. Immediately after she was formed from one of Adam’s ribs her Maker declared for himself a great sabbath rest – a seventh day epoch, during which time Jehovah would enjoy a cessation from his earthly creative labors.

During his work “week” God had progressively reviewed his creations at the end of each “day” and expressed deep satisfaction with his own activity – declaring each new phase of his work “good.” More notably, at the end of the sixth epoch of creation, which evidently concluded with the divinely conducted marriage of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Jehovah declared his work to be “very good.”

However, conspicuous in its absence, no such declaration was or has since been made concerning the ongoing, restive Seventh Day. What is more, the remarkable thing about Jehovah’s sabbatical is that he seemingly left his earthly creation undone, but only seemingly. With supreme confidence in his own wisdom and power and the quality of his workmanship – having designed into his intelligent earthly creation, not only a love of God but the ability to perpetually create itself by means of pro-creation – Jehovah willed his earthly children to finish his creation, whilst he “rested.” 

Since God originally created man in his image with the capacity to subjugate the earth in wisdom, not only would mankind continue to procreate itself during God’s rest, but the entire undeveloped earth would also be transformed into paradise under the power of man’s loving dominion. Since God declared that his direct creative labors toward the earth had come to an end and that his purpose was for Adam and Eve to finish his work, it would appear that the Creator entrusted the accomplishment of his purpose to the creation itself.

Quite likely that seeming vulnerability of God’s intended purpose played a part in inducing the covering cherub of Eden to become a satan in opposition to God – “satan” meaning opposer.

Since the Devil implied that Jehovah was a liar more than likely he assumed that if he could induce Adam and Eve to disobey God and eat fruit from the forbidden tree, Jehovah’s declared purpose would be thwarted and that in order to accomplish his word God would be forced to break his word. How so?

Consider: Up to that point Jehovah had issued three basic declarations regarding his will and intended purpose. First, God stated that his intention was for Adam and Eve to produce offspring and for them and their offspring to have in subjection all lower life forms on earth. Secondly, God forbade Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and bad upon pain of death. And finally, Jehovah announced the beginning of his period of rest.

True to God’s word, as soon as Adam and Eve sinned they came under the sentence of death. The question then arose, though, as to how God’s declared purpose for a global paradise could be accomplished since the first humans were no longer morally, spiritually or physically qualified to produce a race of perfect earthly children capable of subjecting the earth to themselves in the manner God intended.

It may have appeared as if Jehovah was faced with a potentially embarrassing predicament. On the one hand, God could not simply pardon the willful sinners. Doing so would have proven God a liar since he had already stated they would “positively die” if they disobeyed. But if Adam and Eve died how could they fulfill the divine mandate to “fill the earth and subdue it”?

Complicating matters further, since Jehovah had already entered into his rest after having declared the creation ending with Adam and Eve to be “very good,” God could not then turn around and create two fresh humans to replace the sinful Adam and Eve without violating his own sacred Sabbath. It appeared as though Jehovah God had failed. The presumptuous Devil may have even thought he had outsmarted God. If so, he could not have been more wrong.

Evidently on the very day that Satan orchestrated the rebellion in Eden Jehovah revealed the means by which his purpose would be accomplished. In passing sentence upon the serpent-like Devil, Jehovah announced his determination to produce a “seed” that would ultimately crush the serpent and set all things straight. As time went on, further developments involved a series of covenants Jehovah made with individuals and organizations in order to accomplish his purpose to produce a victorious “seed.” That primary “seed,” of course, proved to be Jesus Christ.

Though Adam and Eve were condemned to death for their disobedience, God’s objective would succeed by allowing them to bring forth a degenerate and dying race amidst the thorns and thistles beyond the borders of the paradise in Eden. But how could God’s purpose be realized by allowing a corrupt and decrepit civilization to dominate the earth? In his wisdom Jehovah purposed that at a later time he would provide the legal means to reclaim the dying offspring of Adam from death – doing so by means of the substitutionary death of a perfect man. But where might a perfect man be found? Certainly none of Adam’s children qualified for such a sacrifice.

In order to produce a perfect man God caused the life of his firstborn heavenly son to be transferred to earth; no, not as a materialized angel or spirit, not as a god/man as many religionist believe, but as fully human. This, of course, was brought about by means of holy spirit, which caused a virgin daughter of Eve to serve as an earthly mother for Jehovah’s seed. Having Jehovah as his heavenly Father and Mary, though imperfect, as his earthly mother, the child whom they named Jesus was genetically integrated into the human family. This was necessary in order that Christ might be part of the bloodline of Adam; and hence, part of the original human creation. But, because Jehovah was his Father Jesus was unaffected by inherent sin. He was a perfect man.

Because the man who became Jesus Christ had come into existence long before God created the earth – being the firstborn of all creation, and since spirit sons of God and earthly sons of God are both made in God’s image – man just being “a little lower than angels” – the transferal of God’s Son from heaven merely required that he change nature and substance, while retaining his perfect godly life. In this way Jehovah was able to father a second perfect man, a “last Adam” as Paul later called Christ, without violating his sacred day of resting from his creative works. Hence, the heavenly Son of God became the earthly Son of man. As a perfect human Son of God related to Adam, Jesus was then in a position to serve as Jehovah’s promised seed.

As the Scriptures explain, Christ’s sacrificial death as a perfect human was the price needed to redeem mankind from death. As a result of his obedience unto death Jesus proved he was worthy of carrying out the original mandate God had given to Adam to subdue the earth. The Son of man will accomplish what the sinful son of God, Adam, failed to do. Christ will do so by means of the “re-creation.”

No, not a Sabbath-violating literal re-creation of the earth and mankind, but by a renewal of the original earthly creation that has until now been wrecked by the power of sin. The Son of man will accomplish the recreation by means of resurrecting and rehabilitating Adam’s sin-ravaged offspring and teaching them how to subdue the earth in the way that Jehovah originally intended. By his victory over the world and death Jesus obtained the legal right to become mankind’s father in place of Adam. Paul explained the outworking of this aspect of God’s purpose to the Hebrews, where he wrote: “For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come, about which we are speaking. But a certain witness has given proof somewhere, saying: ‘What is man that you keep him in mind, or the son of man that you take care of him? You made him a little lower than angels; with glory and honor you crowned him, and appointed him over the works of your hands. All things you subjected under his feet.’ For in that he subjected all things to him God left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him; but we behold Jesus, who has been made a little lower than angels, crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, that he by God’s undeserved kindness might taste death for every man.” – Hebrews 2:5-9

No wonder that after recounting Jehovah’s dealings the apostle Paul was moved to exclaim: “O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and past tracing out his ways are! For ‘who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his counselor?’”

But Jesus’ sacrifice did more than provide a ransom for Adam’s dead and dying children. The sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ also serves to validate a new covenant for an entirely new creation. 

WHAT IS THE NEW CREATION?

A question that arises concerning Christ’s resurrection is whether it may have nullified the ransom sacrifice? After all, since Christ received his life back, how can it be that he gave his life to buy back what Adam lost? It would appear as if Jesus’ sacrifice was only temporary.

It is true, from the time of his birth in Bethlehem Jesus was a mere human; albeit, a perfect one (“the second man”). It was, of course, necessary for the Firstborn of the universe to completely empty himself of his divine nature in order for him to become a “corresponding ransom.” That means the value of Jesus’ life as a man had to correspond to the value of the life Adam possessed in his Edenic perfection – no more and no less.

God’s just law required ‘an eye for an eye, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, blow for blow and soul for soul.’ Since Adam forfeited his soul and the souls of his then-unborn children because of his disobeying God, the Son of man was required to demonstrate his obedience to God by giving his perfect soul in exchange for the souls of all of Adam’s imperfect offspring. Again, in order to do so it had been necessary for Jesus to totally divest himself of his heavenly nature. It was not even possible for Jesus to return to heaven without some special provision being made. This is where the new creation comes in.

But in regards to the question already posed, simply put, Jesus’ resurrection did not invalidate his ransom for the reason that Christ was not resurrected as a man. He was resurrected as a spirit. The apostle Peter expressed the truth this way: “Why, even Christ died once for all time concerning sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, that he might lead you to God, he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit.”  – 1 Peter 3:18

Just as Christ had originally forsaken his heavenly nature in order to become a man, conversely, upon his death he relinquished any claim to life as a perfect man – forever. Hence, he sacrificed his right to everlasting life upon the earth. But how could Jehovah justify resurrecting Jesus as a spirit? It was made possible by the creation of something new – hence, a new creation. Jesus became a new creation on the day of his anointing. Prior to his anointing Jesus had been the earthly son of God, but by means of the holy spirit God caused the creation of something entirely new that had never before existed. On the day of his baptism Jesus was born again as a spiritual son of God.

Jesus once explained to a curious Pharisee named Nicodemus what it meant to be born again, when he told him: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. What has been born from the flesh is flesh, and what has been born from the spirit is spirit.”

Being born in the flesh as the earthly Son of Jehovah did not entitle Jesus to enter into the kingdom of heaven as a spirit. Contrary to the popular Babylonish myth, humans do not possess a soul or spirit that survives death. Even though perfect, like the original son of God, Adam, Jesus was still just a human – or as Jesus himself worded it: “what has been born from flesh is flesh.” That is why it was necessary for Christ to be born again, in the spirit, so that after his death in the flesh he might be made alive as a spirit.

Jesus was a new creation because never before had Jehovah given birth to such a creature and conferred upon them the gift of immortality and incorruptibleness, as Paul later wrote concerning Christ at 1 Timothy 6:16 – “He the King of those who rule as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords, the one alone having immortality…”

And, again, because the new creation was of a heavenly nature Jehovah did not violate his sacred day of rest, since his sabbatical was merely in regards to his work in the physical realm.

But the new creation is to include more than just Jesus. The new creation is, in fact, an entire organization of immortal Christ-like beings. Together they make up the covenanted “seed” of God. Paul said that Jesus was merely the first of many born again sons of God, writing at Romans 8:29: “those whom he gave his first recognition he also foreordained to be patterned after the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Paul was not here referring to Christ as the “firstborn of all creation,” as he did at Colossians 1:15, but rather his being “firstborn among many brothers” is in reference to his being the first born again son of the new creation – verifying, indeed, that Jesus was himself born again, the first of many such.

In his concluding remarks in the letter to the Galatians, Paul referred to the new creation as a nation – “the Israel of God” – saying: “For neither is circumcision anything nor is uncircumcision, but a new creation is something. And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.”

It is with “the Israel of God” that Jehovah established his covenant.

How many spiritual brothers will Christ ultimately have? Jehovah has announced in the Holy Scriptures he is to be the proud Father of a family of born again sons totaling 144,000 in number (Not including Christ). The 14th chapter of Revelation reveals the exclusivity of the 144,000; indicating they stand before God’s throne singing “as if a new song,” and that “no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth.”  

In the case of Jesus there was nothing that prevented God from begetting him as a spiritual son. He was already a perfect reflection of his Father even as a human. True, the scripture says Christ was made perfect by his sufferings, but that does not mean that Christ was imperfect. It simply means that Jesus’ integrity was completely tested by his sufferings.

But that is not true of the other born again sons of God. They are far from perfection. Hence, in order to accomplish this phase of Jehovah’s purpose it was necessary for God to make a special provision for them by means of a new covenant and for Christ to serve as their High priest and mediator, in order that Jehovah may be justified in crediting to them Christ’s perfection, due to their faith in him.

Paul explained it in great detail in his letter to the Hebrews, saying in part: “For it is by one sacrificial offering that he has made those who are being sanctified perfect perpetually. Moreover, the holy spirit also bears witness to us, for after it has said: ‘This is the covenant that I shall covenant toward them after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them.’” – Hebrews 10:14-16

The context of Paul’s remarks concerning the purpose of the new covenant has to do with Christians gaining access to Jehovah’s residence in heaven through their faith in Christ. Whereas, Jesus’ ransom made it possible for God to extend forgiveness to the world, thereby legally justifying the earthly resurrection of both righteous and unrighteous persons during the thousand year judgment day, a heavenly resurrection of imperfect humans would require something more than just forgiveness. As Paul noted above, the purpose of the new covenant is to allow God to confer a state of perpetual perfection upon those so sanctified. As regards the earthly resurrection, though, it is obvious that the dead to not have to be sanctified in any way in order to be released from death. Nor do the masses of people who now sleep in gravedom need to be in a new covenant with God or have Christ serve as their mediator in order to receive a resurrection. No, Jesus’ mediation of the new covenant is exclusively with the individuals who make up the new creation – “the Israel of God.”

Paul further explained the purpose of the new covenant in the 12th chapter of his letter to the Hebrews. In the context of contrasting and comparing certain features of the old and new covenants, Paul likened those in the new covenant to the Israelites when they were made to approach the base of Mount Sinai, as Moses served as the mediator of the Law covenant on the top of the mountain in a face-to-face meeting with Jehovah. Paul wrote: “But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.” – Hebrews 12:22-24

Anointed Christians are called and made to approach “the city of the living God,” heavenly Mount Zion, as those “who have been enrolled in the heavens” as born again sons, in order that they might stand before “God, the Judge of all.” It is in reference to them that Paul wrote concerning “the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect.” As the context indicates, their having a righteous standing in such an exulted place as Jehovah’s very residence is due to “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,” and “the blood of sprinkling” in behalf of “the congregation of the firstborn.”

In the 9th chapter of Hebrews Paul also referred to Jesus being the mediator of the new covenant in behalf of “ones who have been called.” At Hebrews 9:15 we read: “So that is why he is a mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because a death has occurred for their release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant, the ones who have been called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance.”

Being “called” by God is a frequently used expression in the Greek Scriptures that has to do with being anointed. For example, at Philippians 3:14 Paul said: “I am pursuing down toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus.”

Also, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, admonishing them to “walk worthily of the calling with which you were called.”

More to the point, at Romans 11:27-29 Paul also makes reference to God’s covenant with those whom he calls. ‘“And this is the covenant on my part with them, when I take their sins away’…. For the gifts and the calling of God are not things he will regret.”

The anointed sons of God who are called into the new covenant are also spoken of as being in union with Christ; and because of their union with him, they too are a new creation.

Commenting on the new creation and Christ’s transition from flesh to spirit, Paul wrote: “Consequently from now on we know no man according to the flesh. Even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, certainly we now know him so no more. Consequently if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away, look! new things have come into existence.” – 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

The question is, though, how does one come to be “in union with Christ”? Does merely having faith in Jesus mean that a person is in union with Jesus? No, being in union with Christ requires that a person be born again – anointed by holy spirit – like Jesus was. In that way a spiritual union is formed.

Also, being in union with Christ requires believers to be baptized, not merely in a pool of water, but into Christ’s death. Paul explained it in his letter to the Romans, writing the following: “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, we also should likewise walk in a newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection; because we know that our old personality was impaled with him, that our sinful body might be made inactive, that we should no longer go on being slaves to sin. For he who has died has been acquitted from his sin. Moreover, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ, now that he has been raised up from the dead, dies no more; death is master over him no more.” – Romans 6:3-9

What does it mean to be “baptized into his death”? It means that anointed Christians must relinquish any claim to their earthly life – as did Jesus. Afterwards, those so baptized are said to “walk in a newness of life” in expectation of receiving a heavenly resurrection.

The primary purpose of the new creation is to demonstrate Jehovah’s magnanimity in order to dispel the devilish lie that God does not trust his creation. By granting the new creation indestructibility, something that no angel ever possessed, Jehovah essentially created an organization that is no longer even answerable to himself, thereby demonstrating his complete confidence in their undying loyalty. The new covenant makes that possible by producing a nation of persons whose hearts are implanted with the love of Jehovah to the extent that they become as he is.

Secondarily, the new creation will crush Satan and bring about the re-creation of the world, so that in his ultimate review at the end of his great Day of rest Jehovah might pronounce all his works, including the glorious new creation, to be very, very good.

Comments

[FutureMan]

Thank you for your extensive post Watchman, on the "New Creation" and I agree with you that the "New Creation" has a psychical component and that those whom become the first-fruits of the " New Creation" will be granted incorruptibility and immortality in the Heavens as spirit beings, yet this does not rule out the spiritual aspect of the "New Creation" as being reborn by God's Holy Spirit, for as I understand it, all the human race, that is those who have being judged worthy for Everlasting Life at the end of the one thousand years, will become children of God, just like Adam and Eve originally were and this purpose of God has not changed, as it has only taken a detour because of Satan's interruption of plunging all mankind into sin through devious means.

As children of God in a sense all of God's children will become immortal, though not in the sense of spirit beings where their bodies are incorruptible and do not decay as does those whose bodies are earthly and are prone to decaying. All matter in this universe decays.

But it is obvious that to have ongoing everlasting life, God's children on the earth would have to have bodies that completely regenerate over a period of time to stay youthful and to keep on living forever as Jesus had promised all those that put their faith in him and follow him.

So in this sense they are also a "New Creation" because their bodies as of now do decay, quite rapidly after 30 years or so and eventually our cells do not regenerate and so they deteriorate and die of old age.
But this will change and so in a sense those on the earth also receive new bodies, because eventually all our cells over a period of time will be replaced with perfect cells that will continue replicating perfect cells that do not have any genetic flaws that causes cancer, heart disease etc.

The gene that is switched of that allows complete body regeneration every thirty years or so, would have to be switched on, to allow this to occur.
Even now the scientists are trying to isolate this gene, so as to obtain longevity.

On top of that their bodies will be in complete physical form and fitness.
As well as that, the way may be opened also for these sons of God to have access to his Holy Spirit as never before, and this could involve spiritually and physically.

It is quite possible that God may allow his children on the earth and other places in the physical universe that they inhabit to utilize his force to achieve wonderful things, such as none of us have ever dreamed of.

Yes the future is very bright for these ones and the potential for God's earthly children to grow in ways that we do not even perceive as of now, is there.

Of course this growth would be in the boundaries that God will set and expand as they progress in knowledge and maturity.
I feel certain that God wants the human race to grow as a collective race and glorify his name in a wonderful way.

Did not God say himself at the tower of Babel, that nothing would be unattainable for man, if he let them?

You say this number of 144,000 is a literal number, yet there is really is no definite proof of this apart from the scripture that you quoted in Revelation chapter 14, so I reserve my opinion on this as this I cannot personally disprove, but neither can I accept this scripture as a basis for proof for a literal number. Indeed there is also some indication that this number is symbolic, so I'm in two minds on this. Simply I just do not know.
I guess we will just have to wait and see as this prophecy is fulfilled when all of these ones whom have being invited to heavenly life are finally approved and sealed as heavenly sons of God and of the Heavenly part of God's Kingdom.

More than likely God will reveal to those who are his people on the earth as to who these ones are.

[watchman]

Jehovah has already designed into the human body the capacity for self-regeneration. There is no reason for him to make a new human creation. The purpose of the kingdom reign is to restore what God originally created in Eden. That is why Jesus even called it, the RE-CREATION. However, the re-creation should not be confused with the new creation.

[FutureMan]

True what you say, except that it appears you are forgetting about the tree of life, that was standing in the middle of the garden of Eden.

This tree of course represented Everlasting life.

They would not receive this "everlasting life" until at such a time that God had determined they were "eligible" to receive it.

So even though as you say Adam and Eve did posses regenerative powers, this only lasted for just under 1000 years for both of them.

To keep on living for ever, they both needed the "tree of life".

[Eddie]

FutureMan,
I agree with Robert that God already designed the human body for self-regeneration and yes you bring up a good point with the Tree of Life but you see that even if they did not disobey God and ate of the tree they would have gained everlasting life but would this make them into a new creation? No. They would not become a new human race they would still be the same perfect humans Jehovah had created just with everlasting life, so this ties back to what Robert said about the re-creation, that humans will one day be brought back to perfection with everlasting life. I'ts not that humans are going to be brought back and be made into a new creation but we will have the opportunity to be brought back to perfection (physically and spiritually) with ever lasting life.So in a sense not a new creation, just brought back to the state of perfection that we would have had if Adam and Eve did not disobey Jehovah...

[FutureMan]

It is very clear from the Bible that Adam and Eve would not be eternal creatures until they ate of the tree of life.

This scripture clearly shows why the garden of Eden was guarded by God's angels.

Genesis 4 [LITV]
22 And Jehovah God said, Behold! The man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put forth his hand and also take from the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever,

So whether some of the human race become spirit creatures with immortality granted them or whether they have earthly bodies that continue on living for ever, the result is the same and that is the hope that we all have, and that is "everlasting life" just as Jesus promised his followers.

We know of course that there will be eternal life on the earth because of this prophecy in Psalms 37 [LITV]
28 For Jehovah loves judgment and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever; but the wicked's seed shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the earth and live on it forever.

So technically there is only one hope, that all Christ followers have.
It is just that the destination is different, one is to heavenly life, and the other is to an earthly life.
That is how I understand it as of now.
Now Watchman here along with the Watchtower Society say that only a literal number of 144,000 (new creation) will go to this destination in heaven and the rest of Christ's followers here on a paradise earth.

In fact nowhere in the Greek scriptures apart from the book of Revelation, does it mention that there is only a predestined number of ones who will rule with Christ.

Only in the book of Revelation which is basically of a symbolic nature as far as the visions that the apostle John received do we find mention of the number 144,000.
But then if we look at the size of New Jerusalem, (the bride of Christ) it becomes apparent that it's size, 12,000 * 12000 square is purely symbolic, symbolizing as far as I understand in any case, divine completion or perfection. The wall being 144 cubits.

Revelation 21 [LITV]
10 And he carried me in spirit on to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. And its light was like a very precious stone, as a jasper stone, being clear as crystal,
12 and having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates and names having been inscribed, which are of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
13 From the east, three gates; from the north, three gates; from the south, three gates; and from the west, three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he speaking with me had a golden reed, that he may measure the city, and its gates, and its wall.
16 And the city lies four cornered, even its length as much as the width also. And he measured the city with the reed at twelve thousand stadia; its length and width and height are equal.
17 And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty four cubits, a measure of a man, which is of an angel.

Now the scripture in Revelation 2 does not seem to support this view of a fixed number, so I do not know about this.
26 And the one overcoming, and the one keeping My works until the end, "I will give to him authority over the nations,"
27 and "he will shepherd them with an iron staff" (they are "broken to pieces like clay vessels"), as I also have received from My Father. Psa. 2:8, 9
28 And I will give to him the Morning Star.

Now the first scripture says that the one overcoming will be given authority over the nations and I assume this to be from heaven.
This seems to indicate to me that there really is no fixed number because Jesus has basically promised here that anyone overcoming would be given authority over the nations.
It does not make sense to me that here he is talking about a predestined number of individuals unless he is talking about those that are faithful out of the number chosen and that does not make sense either.
That would mean then that if one is unfaithful then this position would have to be filled by someone else out of another group of faithful individuals who are not of the chosen anointed originally.

So while we have any number of ones overcoming out of those who have not being chosen in the first place, then why would one faithful individual be picked over another faithful individual.
It does not make any sense at all to my sense of logic in view that the Bible clearly shows that "God is not partial".

Now the next scripture that I have quoted says very clearly in case anyone is mistaken, "if anyone hears my voice and opens the door" and if this one was overcoming then it would be granted to that one to sit with Jesus on the throne.

Now I do believe that the "new creation" is also very much from a spiritual aspect as well as the physical and that you really cannot separate the two, because our very own faith and spirituality which is founded on Christ is what will lead us to everlasting life, whether it be in an immortal sense as a spirit being or an earthly body that continues on living forever.

Since this word "new creation" is only mentioned twice in the Greek scriptures or indeed anywhere in the Bible, a question mark arises as to what really is meant semantically by this term.
So whether or not this term of "new creation" is used purely in a physical sense, to me is very much debatable.

It does appear however that the ones who are resurrected to heavenly life will be different to the angels as they will posses immortality, in this way in a physical sense then, they are indeed a "new creation" as the angels even though they are eternal beings (living forever conditionally) apparently are not immortal beings.

I say the angels are living forever conditionally because as we know that Satan and his angels most likely have lived a long time, perhaps millions of years, but still God has passed a judgment of eternal destruction for these ones for their willful disobedience.

1 Peter 1 [LITV]
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, He according to His great mercy having regenerated us to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in Heaven for you

In fact the word incorruptibility, denotes to me, that they would be not decay in a spiritual sense as well as in a physical sense.

in·cor·rupt·i·ble (nk-rpt-bl)
adj.
1. Incapable of being morally corrupted.
2. Not subject to corruption or decay. (quoted from The Free Dictionary by Farlex)

[FutureMan]

In my previous comment I missed quoting a scripture, so sorry about that.
I will quote it here.

Revelation 3 [LITV]
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with Me.
21 The one overcoming, I will give to him to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father in His throne.

[proxygnosis]

Watchman,

just got around to reading this post, and must say that you have got this part of the sacred secret
spot on - well reasoned and scripturally referenced, except, perhaps, for your use of the term
'organization' - though correctly and accurately applied in THIS text - but which, because of being
habitually associated in your writings with the heretical 'WT-anointed set,' if not to say 'sect' - would
require a more robust and universally dispersed qualifying on your part, in order to avoid the attendant
and potentially grave consequences of confusion among the undiscerning reader and uninitiated
appropriators of your theology - in all fairness, in my humble opinion, if I may say so.

[Brian]

You know what? I will be 53 years old next May!!! And I was trying to think how many times I have heard this most beautiful of all the truth story’s – you know the one you just told us. (easy 50000 times maybe more)
I’ve heard it told by my mother from public discourses, I have even read a few versions from you Robert I have read endless versions of it from books and or magazines; I have rehearsed it in my mind I have pondered over it from every possible angle with in my little pea brain. I have fantasized about it and admittedly even tried to come up with my own version (well sort of anyways)
But you know what I never get tired of hearing it, it seams that it gets better with time or some one comes up with a new facet of reasoning on it.. Bottom line I just love it even if I’m not counted worthy on inheriting the promises, I will always count my self blessed that while I breathed I knew the truth of why things are the way they are, and there is a God and his name is Jehovah, it doesn’t get any better than that , If I know one thing I know that for sure.!!!!

Thanks Robert for your persistent beating the drum of truth, it is so obvious to me you Love Jehovah and your not going to shut up about it until you get shut up by Jah or some other means.

Blessings to you bro and thanks for your tireless efforts!!!

[A Stone Crying Out]

This "New Creation" article is a nose of wax from the Watchtower. The Watchman is merely manipulating this nose of wax and somewhat embellishing it to make the Bible say something that is contrary to God's Word. God will always stand above and apart from his creation. He does not share this aspect of his sovereignty with anyone. This article promotes Satan's lie to Eve that if she ate of the forbidden fruit she would be like God. Therefore, the new creation will function as an agency through which God will work out his purpose, of which Christ is God's Chief Agent of life. It will always remain subject to God, as Jesus will in the end submit himself to the One who has submitted all things under his feet.

[tag heuer]

I have always liked Outdoor movies, a child standing at the window, looked out from home to the following. Will be able to see the staff busy figure, a huge white cloth has a child hang up and soon will be able to see the movie.
breitling watches

[Brian]

Thanks for rehighlighting this artical Robert!!

[Elena Maree]

FUTUREman
Re: 144,000 symbolic or not ?

Firstly looking at the "tribes in Rev 7" one of tem is "Mannasseh" which is NOT one of the 'sons of Jacob GENESIS 49'

There were probably 144,000 "called & anointed" back in the Apostles time, then counting from 3rd century to the 19th century
1600 years of GODs "calling & choosing' the Sons of His Kingdom, yes, even through the "dark ages" there were many (christian sects)
who were taught by God's HOLY SPIRIT in circumstances fraught with danger, in fact they were literally putting their lives on the line,
for thr "truth in His WORD" e.g the Trinitarian John Calvin was considered an important religious cleric? who was responsible for
manipulating authorities in his day, in hunting down, the true christians .

Soon I wil be putting on the Forum , an article on "How the Apostles died"., some were be-headed.

We know that the NWO has advanced its plans in the past decade, and has on some Military Bases in the USA, detention camps
(FEMA) with guillotines & plastic coffins "stored up" for the time of public anarchy, which the NWO will be provoking.

We are "not uising the World to the full" so by keeping 'separate' & exclusive to "seek YHWH & His Son' we will have PEACE

[Elena Maree]

FUTUREman
Re: 144,000 symbolic or not ?

Firstly looking at the "tribes in Rev 7" one of tem is "Mannasseh" which is NOT one of the 'sons of Jacob GENESIS 49'

There were probably 144,000 "called & anointed" back in the Apostles time, then counting from 3rd century to the 19th century
1600 years of GODs "calling & choosing' the Sons of His Kingdom, yes, even through the "dark ages" there were many (christian sects)
who were taught by God's HOLY SPIRIT in circumstances fraught with danger, in fact they were literally putting their lives on the line,
for thr "truth in His WORD" e.g the Trinitarian John Calvin was considered an important religious cleric? who was responsible for
manipulating authorities in his day, in hunting down, the true christians .

Soon I wil be putting on the Forum , an article on "How the Apostles died"., some were be-headed.

We know that the NWO has advanced its plans in the past decade, and has on some Military Bases in the USA, detention camps
(FEMA) with guillotines & plastic coffins "stored up" for the time of public anarchy, which the NWO will be provoking.

We are "not uising the World to the full" so by keeping 'separate' & exclusive to "seek YHWH & His Son' we will have PEACE