Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 9 paras. 33-39 and Box 9E.
33-35. a) What did the prophecy of Ezekiel 36:35 mean for the Jewish exiles?
For Ezekiel and the Jews it meant the end of captivity both literally and spiritually therefore they did not expect a paradise like the Garden of Eden upon hearing the words of Ezekiel 36:35 they understood that Jehovah was guaranteeing them that I will restore their land and it would be transformed into a fertile and beautiful place.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
For them it was a great hope since although they did not expect a literal fulfillment of the Garden of Eden, if this land that was desolate, destroyed and corrupted would be fixed in a land that was beautiful and fertile where they could live in peace and nothing was lacking.
These exiled Jews began to see the first signs that God would be returning to restore pure worship that was so destroyed and there was only moral corruption. Starting with a land where they could return and live without want of anything. The spiritual captivity to which they were subjected would end and this generated great enthusiasm in them.
b) What does this prophecy mean for God's people today? (See also the box "The Times of Restoration of All Things.")
We understand that Ezekiel's words have a spiritual fulfillment since we live in a restored earth in a spiritual sense and we are righteous people, our lives focus on sacred service.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Like the exiled Jews we do not expect a literal fulfillment but there is a spiritual fulfillment in our day. In fact, we enjoy better conditions than those exiled Jews, we live in a spiritually restored land and that we live more and more protected in a spiritual paradise with our brothers and congregations.
This spiritual paradise alien to the rest of the system, alien to what we live in day to day is due to the fact that each of us, Christian brothers and sisters, put into practice every day of our lives the truth that we learn and study in the Bible . Living uprightly by God's righteous standards and moral values allows this spiritual paradise today.
The whole lives of all of Jehovah's faithful servants revolve around his sacred service. That is why we feel safe with our brothers in the congregations because we know that they are different from the world and we can feel protected and confident in company with the congregation.
We enjoy an increasingly paradisiacal spiritual paradise because each time we are closer to Jehovah's will with the Earth as we see in the box. Already in 1914 Jesus was crowned King, we are living in the last days and within will come Armageddon with his thousand-year reign until it gives rise to the eternal paradise that we so long awaited.
In 1919 the spiritual restoration of the people of God already began and it will be during his reign of the thousand years after Armageddon when Jesus will finish restoring all things and physical benefits on Earth to everyone to give honor to the name of God, where he will be healed the sick and the elderly will be rejuvenated, the second promised resurrection of the Bible will take place, we will become more and more physically perfect, and the earth will end up becoming a paradise.
36, 37. What promises will be fulfilled in the future Paradise?
After Armageddon Jesus will continue with his restoration work which will include the earth in a literal sense during his reign of 1000 years the earth will be transformed into a paradise like the Garden of Eden that is how Jehovah wanted it from the beginning and Jesus promised them to the evildoer in Luke 23:43 so the first thing you will see is paradise.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
One more promise that Jehovah will fulfill is Ezekiel 34:25: "I will make a covenant of peace with my sheep and with the wild beasts and my sheep will be safe and sleep in the woods." Then without fear they will walk alone in the woods admiring its beauty, they will even sleep and wake up rested and safe without any danger.
One of the first is that the Earth at this point will literally become an eternal paradise, a true Garden of Eden, just as Jehovah intended at the beginning. There will be harmony, peace and security for all. As Ezekiel 34:25 says, there will be no more wild beasts and people will live in peace.
A great tranquility that we will have in this paradise and also a great privilege is that we will be able to walk with all kinds of animals that today can be dangerous, we can sleep anywhere. We can be certain that we will not be able to live because of any danger and this generates great tranquility, how beautiful it will be.
38. How does it feel to think about the fulfillment of the promise of Ezekiel 28:26?
Jehovah gives us assurance in the words of Ezekiel 28:26. "They will live in safety, they will plant vineyards, they will build, since evil and contempt will be things of the past, there will be peace throughout the world.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The feelings of many will be deep gratitude and responsibility to take care of the planet and to cover the basic needs and those of our family without enemies around us.
Being carefree and waking up without them is amazing. Waking up in the morning, every day and knowing that the only thing we will do is enjoy life, do a rewarding job and be with our family and loved ones will be an incredible feeling, we will enjoy authentic peace and security.
Today for many families it is a puzzle to meet the physical and personal needs of each of the members of the family unit. this will no longer exist nor will we have any more worries, we will live with everything covered and enjoying the fruit of our work, a life that will truly be life.
39. What guarantee do you have that the prophecies about Paradise will be fulfilled?
The authority that Jehovah gave Jesus and has thereby restored pure worship in our day firmly assures us that Jehovah will fulfill his promises made in Ezekiel for the future.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
A firm guarantee is the restoration of pure worship in the darkest time in history, this gives proof that Jesus has authority from Jehovah to fulfill the prophecies of the future earthly paradise.
In ancient times, as in this time of the exiled Jews, the situation was even worse. Despite all the intense attacks of Satan, Jesus received authority from Jehovah and pure worship has been restored in our day, we have no doubt that all the prophecies about Paradise will be fulfilled.
Pure worship and you
What was life like for the Jews during the Babylonian exile? And why did Jehovah finally release them?
The life of the exiled Jews was very hard. The Babylonians mocked them and even asked them for songs showing the defeat of God's people. There came a time when Jehovah's fury ended and he released them. On the one hand, because there were faithful Jews, other unfaithful Jews reconsidered and resumed the path of fidelity. And on the other hand, it was about time that Jehovah will once again sanctify his great name.
How did the Christian congregation become contaminated? And what situation similar to the exile of the Jews in Babylon lived the servants of God?
The Christian congregation had been warned on multiple occasions but they continued on their path of rebellion and continued to rebel time after time. They were a rebellious people, lover of idolatry and infidelity. These situations were repeated with other servants of God and they became deaf to the warnings that were given about dangerous men and how they could contaminate pure worship.
What promises of restoration did Jehovah make through Ezekiel? And how have they been fulfilled in true Christians in the last days?
There were five promises, the end of idolatry and disgusting practices in general, a return home, offerings to Jehovah, the end of evil shepherds, and a new unity of his people. We see this in our day with the restoration of pure worship, a land that gives us the spiritual food we need, public offerings like our preaching, Christians leading the congregation and caring for us, and the unity we see in our meetings. and assemblies, for example.
What restoration prophecies do you long to see fulfilled in Paradise?
(Personal question) We can help each other with box 9E. Such as seeing the Earth turned into a paradise, the progressive physical perfection, the resurrection of our loved ones, the rejuvenation of the elderly, the end of diseases, etc.
How can we show that we value all that Jehovah has done to restore pure worship in our day?
There are many ways in which we can show that we value all that Jehovah does for us. We can sum it up as our worship being pure in every way, always faithful and loyal, first and foremost. Perfection does not exist, but we can always improve our sacred service to Jehovah and give more and better of ourselves in all facets of our Christian life in today's society, with our family, brothers and people.
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