K
Kevin_Scott
Guest
I am especially curious about what “inherit the earth” means. Taken literally it seems to mean that meek people will actually take possession of the earth from those who are not meek when those people die.
- Status
T
Todd_Easton
Guest
The meek will inherit the earth probably means that those who are not made angry or bitter by contradictions, injuries, or abuse will go to heaven and, after the Resurrection of the Dead and Final Judgment, they will inherit the new earth.
B
BerhaneSelassie
Guest
yes, land/earth here most likely refers to Heaven or the New Earth, like the land of Psalm 37, or the “land of the living” mentioned many times in Psalms
D
Dan_Parker
Guest
NAB 2 Peter 3:13 But according to his promise we await** new heavens and a new earth** in which righteousness dwells.
If heaven is the new earth then what is new heavens?
G
Gottle_of_Geer
Guest
The word translated “earth” can also be a translation of aretz, “land”. IOW, the land of Israel:
- …Psa 37:9 For the wicked shall be cut off; but those who wait for the LORD shall possess the land.
- Psa 37:10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look well at his place, he will not be there.
- Psa 37:11 But the meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
- Psa 37:12 The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him…
And it is soaked in the OT.
M
Mailman
Guest
It means exactly what it says – that the meek will inherit the earth. However, it will not just be the meek who will take possession of the earth. All those whom Christ says are “blessed” for having the character traits of a true Christian are also going to inherit the earth.
Jesus’ “sermon” on the mount is about the Kingdom of Heaven – specifically what one needs to do and what character traits one needs to possess to enter the Kingdom. Notice Jesus begins by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” and concludes with: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It is clear what Christ meant.
Mat. 5:3: The “poor in spirit” shall possess the Kingdom.
Verse 4: Those who mourn “shall be comforted” in the Kingdom.
Verse 6: Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness “shall be filled” in the Kingdom.
Verse 7: Those who are merciful “shall obtain mercy” in the Kingdom.
Verse 8: Those who are pure in heart “shall see God” in the Kingdom.
Verse 9: Those who are peacemakers “shall be called the children of God” in the Kingdom.
Verse 10: Those who are persecuted for keeping the law [for being righteous] shall possess the Kingdom.
Now, what could Jesus mean by saying the meek “shall inherit the earth”? If Jesus promised “heaven” to the others possessing similar attributes of Christian character, then it is very clearly stated that the meek are going to stay on earth. But did Jesus promise “heaven” to the others? No! In fact, nowhere in the entire Bible is heaven ever promised as the reward of the saved.
The kingdom of heaven is NOT heaven. Notice it says the kingdom OF heaven. It is a kingdom ruled by God FROM heaven – a kingdom OF heaven, not a kingdom IN heaven. There is a big difference.
The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom which is to come down out of heaven – to this earth. Jesus clearly said: “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward IS WITH ME, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:12).
Christ will bring His reward with Him – the Kingdom of Heaven – to this earth. This is where He will reign together with all the resurrected saved. Notice what the prophet Jeremiah prophesied of the second coming of Christ: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice” – WHERE? – “IN THE EARTH” (Jer. 23:5).
If Christ will reign on this earth, so too will those of us who shall enter His glorious Kingdom: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and WE SHALL REIGN ON THIS EARTH” (Rev. 5:10).
Yes, we have the potential to possess all the earth – even its uttermost parts – for it is written: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH FOR THY POSSESSION” (Ps. 2:8).
God bless.
D
Dan_Parker
Guest
In looking at Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich Greek lexicon it gives the gloss of “2. acquire, obtain, come into possession of" and the specific "esp. of participation in Messianic salvation.” Danker’s new Concise Lexicon says for the sense where this verse applies:
be recipient of a share (in); with focus on experience of divine conferral of promised benefits, the dominant sense in the NT, acquire, obtain, inherit Mt 5:5 …
The definition could therefore be descriptive of more than one kind of inheritance. A king could inherit and end up its ruler while a subject could inherit the rights to a plot of land upon which he could work or live. It depends entirely on the context and the perspective.
D
Dan_Parker
Guest
Mailman:
But did Jesus promise “heaven” to the others? No! In fact, nowhere in the entire Bible is heaven ever promised as the reward of the saved.
Dan:
I can agree with much of what you posted, but not all. The phrase Kingdom of the heavens or Kingdom of God semantically and lexically has the sense in the GNT of those who share in the ruler-ship of the kingdom.
I would agree that the bible does not promise heaven to all that are saved. However in several places it does make mention of those in both places, including those who have been reconciled to God through Christ. This cannot be angels, it must be humans.
KJV Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
But did Jesus promise “heaven” to the others? No! In fact, nowhere in the entire Bible is heaven ever promised as the reward of the saved.
Dan:
I can agree with much of what you posted, but not all. The phrase Kingdom of the heavens or Kingdom of God semantically and lexically has the sense in the GNT of those who share in the ruler-ship of the kingdom.
I would agree that the bible does not promise heaven to all that are saved. However in several places it does make mention of those in both places, including those who have been reconciled to God through Christ. This cannot be angels, it must be humans.
KJV Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
F
fhansen
Guest
I think it’s a general statement revealing Gods disposition towards pride and arrogance vs humility.
You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. Sam 22:28
There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood… Proverbs 6:16-17
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
P
PJM
Guest
Pride is the ROOT of most, if not all sin.
Matt.18:3 "and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Humility, true humility is likely the most important of of all the virtues to be sought.
The meaning is that those really walking with our Blessed Lord, those who have [at least] to a large degree [or totally] given God back the supreme gift of our “freewill” are those who actually hear the message of Christ, His Pope, and His Church and OBEY it. These are the “meek of heart” the humblely obedient, and well on there way to heaven.
That is why friend any understanding og the Bible that does not fully conform to the Teaching of Christ Catholic Church, is simply wrong, in error, and very often an issue driven by pride.
Love and prayers,
Pat
F
Foreigner
Guest
It is intended to contrast with those who will not inherit the earth… those who presently weild power and might and do so ultimately for their own sake.
C
Cashue
Guest
yes, todd is right, the scripture is clear, it means that those that love the Lord will inherit the land “land” here meaning heaven. So the scripture is clearly saying that the reward for being faithful will be life eternal in heaven.
D
Dan_Parker
Guest
I had asked if the new earth is heaven then what are the new heavens? Also consider this:
NJB Psalm 115:16 **Heaven **belongs to Yahweh, but earth he has given to the children of Adam.
There is a contrast here that militates against your view. What do you make of this?
F
Foreigner
Guest
See Revelation 21-22.
Essentially, heaven and earth are two that shall become one like a man and woma, “the two shall become one.”
D
Dan_Parker
Guest
Would you mind narrowing that down a bit and demonstrating
Verses from Rev 21-22 with the word heaven in the NJB
- NJB Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride dressed for her husband.
- NJB Revelation 21:10 In the spirit, he carried me to the top of a very high mountain, and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God
- NJB Revelation 21:24 The nations will come to its light and the kings of the earth will bring it their treasures.
P
PJM
Guest
This means that while God [Yahweh] remains in charge of both heaven and earth.
But by virture of the specific manner in which man is Created in the “image of God” [Gen. 1;26-27] with a mind, intellect and freewill, in order for man to make free-independent RIGHT USE of these these gifts, man must be unencumbered, and freely -TESTED, in order to prove ones “worthiness” [we can never be worthy, never merit on our own, never deserve heaven], but nevertheless that evidence, that proof of love being returned freely for LOVE, is Gods Perfect and Divine plan.
God has on one hand given Satan free reign of this world we occupy, and at the same time provides “sufficient grace” for everyone to enable them to return love for Love, which is the RIGHT USE of these Divine like gifts.
So while Satan seems to be winning, Saints still walk amongst us, proving Salvation is possible even in the “rule” of Satan, who NEVER has more power than God.
Love and prayers,
Pat
D
Dan_Parker
Guest
Dan:
There is a contrast being made, a contrast that your comment does not reflect. What does it mean that “earth he has given to the children of Adam”? If “belongs” here refers to authority then it should mean that for men on earth. If “belongs” means to reside then it also applies to both.
God formed earth to be lived in:
NJB Isaiah 45:18 For thus says Yahweh, the Creator of the heavens – he is God, who shaped the earth and made it, who set it firm; he did not create it to be chaos, he formed it to be lived in: I am Yahweh, and there is no other.
C
Cashue
Guest
Yes, this is well put, just as when a man and a woman marry they become one person, so when Jesus comes the earth becomes heaven and heaven becomes earth so when Jesus said ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’ he meant "the meek shall inherit the earth [which is heaven].
God will be in heaven but he will also be on earth. There will be no earth because it will be heaven and there will be no heaven because it will be heaven. The angels will live in both.
D
Dan_Parker
Guest
I am a bit confused about the notion that “God will be in heaven but he will also be on earth” from someone who considers God to be Omnipresent already. Care to comment?
M
Mailman
Guest
Doctrines should never be established by vague or difficult-to-be-understood scriptures.
Colossians 1:20 says nothing about whether any human being has gone to heaven or whether heaven is the reward of the saved. It merely mentions about “things” being reconciled to God through Christ. It can even be argued that if these “things” refer to human beings exclusively, why then did Paul chose to use that word [things] instead of the word “men”? It would have been more correct to say, “…to reconcile all MEN unto himself… whether they be MEN in earth, or MEN in heaven.”
The scripture which deals directly on the subject of whether or not any human being has gone to heaven is John 3:13. This scripture is plain and clear in what it says: No man has ascended up to heaven, except Christ.
That scripture is supported by yet another statement from Jesus: “I go [to heaven]” and “I will come back again [back to this earth]” And when He comes – when He is again here – He will, as He said, “receive you unto myself; that where I am [here on earth], there ye may be also [here on earth, not in heaven]” (John 14:2-3).
Jesus went again to heaven, from where He had come. And He said, “Whither [where] I go, ye CANNOT COME.” That’s in John 8:22 and John 13:33. These scriptures support Jesus’ statement in John 3:13 that, except for Him, no man has ever been to heaven.
When studying any one particular biblical subject or doctrine, prudence demands that we begin with the plainer scriptures and understand the vague and obscure ones in light of the plainer scriptures. So, on this subject of human beings going to heaven, we have to start with John 3:13, which is plain and clear.
Another one is found in Acts 2:34: “For David is not ascended into the heavens….” Since God calls David “a man after mine own heart,” David should have been one of the first to enter heaven. But according to this scripture, he has not gone there.
- Status