We keep hoping for a new heavens and a new earth and yet there does seem to be a formula in the scriptures which indicates that we need to actively participate in something before the hoped for blessings actually start to happen.
Compare these scriptures:
Isaiah 60:1
1 “Arise, O woman, shed forth light, for your light has come and upon you the very glory of Jehovah has shone forth. 2 For, look! darkness itself will cover the earth, and thick gloom the national groups; but upon you Jehovah will shine forth, and upon you his own glory will be seen. 3 And nations will certainly go to your light, and kings to the brightness of your shining forth.
The question which begs to be answered after reading the above scripture is;... ....... shed forth what light?
There is a kind of formula which explains this "light shed forth" mentioned in this scripture:
Isaiah 58:6
“Is not this the fast that I choose? To loosen the fetters of wickedness, to release the bands of the yoke bar, and to send away the crushed ones free, and that YOU people should tear in two every yoke bar? 7 Is it not the dividing of your bread out to the hungry one, and that you should bring the afflicted, homeless people into [your] house? That, in case you should see someone naked, you must cover him, and that you should not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 “In that case your light would break forth just like the dawn; and speedily would recuperation spring up for you. And before you your righteousness would certainly walk; the very glory of Jehovah would be your rear guard. 9 In that case you would call, and Jehovah himself would answer; you would cry for help, and he would say, ‘Here I am!’
Now compare it to a scripture in Malachi:
Malachi 3:10
Bring all the tenth parts into the storehouse, that there may come to be food in my house; and test me out, please, in this respect,†Jehovah of armies has said, “whether I shall not open to YOU people the floodgates of the heavens and actually empty out upon YOU a blessing until there is no more want.â€
In my opinion Christians are waiting around for a new heaven and a new earth however, if we really do want a new heaven and a new earth the scriptures seem to indicate that we need to do something in order to realize the new heaven and the new earth.
I think as Christians we should be living our lives in a completely different way than the rest of the world or nations live their lives.
and then:
upon you Jehovah will shine forth
In Christ
abe
This is what we need to do...we need to write to the Governing Body, and tell them this....
Malachi 3:10
Bring all the tenth parts into the storehouse, that there may come to be food in my house; and test me out, please, in this respect,†Jehovah of armies has said, “whether I shall not open to YOU people the floodgates of the heavens and actually empty out upon YOU a blessing until there is no more want
For a long time...I have been pulled in my heart by the holy Spirit to write to them and say the above. Do you think God wants them to horde all those riches, at this great hour of need? Why are they not selling what they have, and feeding the poor? I believe this will be the final test, to see if they will listen, and repent, so that they will receive a blessing. So we need to warn them now of this...if they listen, then they will be forgiven.
Is it not the dividing of your bread out to the hungry one, and that you should bring the afflicted, homeless people into [your] house? That, in case you should see someone naked, you must cover him, and that you should not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 “In that case your light would break forth just like the dawn; and speedily would recuperation spring up for you. And before you your righteousness would certainly walk; the very glory of Jehovah would be your rear guard. 9 In that case you would call, and Jehovah himself would answer; you would cry for help, and he would say, ‘Here I am!’ [/i]
How can we put on our heavenly bodies if we are walking around naked? when we see others naked and unclothed and in need, we are seeing ourselves naked, because we are one.
in case you should see someone naked, you must cover him, and that you should not hide yourself from your own flesh? These poor and in need are "us".
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 2 cor. 5:4
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 16 so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil. 2 cor 5:10
If we allow others to be naked while we have much, then we are also naked. In order for change to happen, we must be the change...we must do something, because when we neglect the poor and those homeless, we are neglecting ourselves, and are naked too, and we do not want to be found naked when Christ arrives to judge. For the WTS to be be reconciled to God, they must put off outward appearances, because this makes them naked.
:heartbeat:
New Heart