Every last Saturday of the month, we, as theology students, meet to discuss various Christian topics. So, last Saturday, we discussed the concept of paradise in different Christian denominations.
When it was time to examine that of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the group burst into arguments because everyone had a different idea of the concept of paradise in Jehovah’s Witness.
Consequently, the discussion ended without any conclusion on the subject. As a theology student, I felt it was expedient to have concrete knowledge on this topic.
So I went on a journey to study deeply on paradise according to Jehovah’s Witness. I consulted various books, members, and clergy of this faith, and now I must say that I have solid knowledge on this topic.
Therefore, I decided to write the article “What is paradise according to Jehovah’s Witness?”
Jehovah’s Witnesses say paradise is a restored earth like the Garden of Eden. It is a world without suffering, sickness, and death. To them, even the dead, both righteous and unrighteous, will be resurrected during paradise to live again. For the unrighteous, they will have to reform their ways.
Therefore, in this article I will discuss what paradise is according to Jehovah’s Witness and many more other information related to the topic.
Please read to the end of the article to discover more about the understanding of paradise to Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs.
What is paradise in Jehovah’s Witness?
According to Jehovah’s Witness belief, paradise is a future state of the earth that they believe will be restored to its original and perfect condition .
They think God’s original purpose for man was to live in a paradise on earth; a place without sin, suffering, and death.
However, some theologians and bible scholars have always debated on this because of the different scriptures with different views.
For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 talks of how God will come down from heaven and the dead shall rise: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
It also emphasizes that the living at the time will be meet God in the air and live with Him forever. This means that Jesus will have to return first for the dead to rise to life, and the ones still alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
So, the transformation of the people alive and the raising of the dead will happen on the return of Jesus, and they will live in paradise.
Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses say paradise will be on earth, not heaven?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe paradise will be on earth rather than heaven based on their Bible interpretation.
For example, they point to Psalm 37:29, which talks about the righteous possessing the earth and living in it forever, as evidence that God’s goal is to restore and perfect the earth for the righteous to live in: “The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.”
The Witnesses of Jehovah believe in the concept of the new earth.
They interpret the new earth in 2 Peter 3:13 as the restoration and transformation of the current earth, which will become a paradise for faithful individuals: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
The Jehovah’s Witnesses use the Lord’s Prayer in Mathew 6:10 to indicate that God’s plan involves earth rather than heaven as the primary location for His purpose: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
So, based on this, they believe that paradise will be on earth and not in heaven.
Is there scriptural evidence for the Jehovah’s Witness concept of paradise on earth?
Yes. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the concept of a paradise on earth and base their belief on their interpretation of various biblical scriptures.
However, the understanding of the same scriptures varies among other religious groups. Jehovah’s Witnesses have developed a unique theology around this belief, which plays a significant role in their teachings and beliefs.
They stand in scriptures like Revelation 21:1-4 and interpret it as a promise of a new heaven and earth where God will live with man, and there will be no more tears, death, or pain.
They also believe God created the earth as a paradise for humans, as seen in the Garden of Eden Genesis 2:15. They understand this verse as foreshadowing the future heaven on earth.
However, interpretations of scriptures are highly subjective, and religious groups hold different views on the meaning and importance of these scriptures.
How many chances do Jehovah’s Witnesses have to get to paradise?
According to Jehovah’s Witness theology, the chances to get to paradise are not a straightforward numerical matter.
They believe the path to heaven is based on one’s faith, obedience to their religious teachings, and righteous life. They also believe that Jehovah judges people and decides who is worthy of living in the paradise they envision.
However, these beliefs are specific to Jehovah’s Witnesses since they have their interpretations of the bible.
They believe it is up to God to determine who will be granted access to paradise, and this cannot be calculated.
Is paradise the same as heaven for Jehovah’s Witnesses?
According to the theology of the Jehovah’s Witness, paradise and heaven have different meanings, and they are not considered the same.
On paradise, they teach that it’s the earth transformed into a perfect environment where they can enjoy life without sin, suffering, or death.
They base this on various Bible passages, especially the Old Testament.
In heaven, after Armageddon, only a limited number of faithful Jehovah’s witnesses will go to heaven to rule with Christ.
It is reserved for a specific group of 144,000 anointed who have been chosen to rule with Christ.
As a Christian, I have always been passionate about sharing God’s word with young people. This inspired me to pursue a Certificate in Christian Education, an Undergraduate degree in Religious Studies, and a Graduate degree in Theology. My knowledge in school and experience from dealing with the youth made me an expert at discussing Christian-related topics. I feel privileged working as the Coordinator of the Christian Youth Ministry at Christian Faith Guide. You can read more about me on the about us page.