Work to Enhance the Spiritual Paradise

IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO SERVE AT GOD'S TEMPLE

Less than a century after the Christian congregation was established, a foretold apostasy began to develop.  (Acts 20:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4) Thereafter, it became increasingly difficult to identity who was truly serving God at his spiritual temple. Only centuries later did the time arrive for Jehovah to clarify matters by means of his newly enthroned King, Jesus Christ. 

By 1919, those approved by Jehovah and serving at his spiritual temple were clearly identified. They had been spiritually refined in order to make their service to God even more acceptable to him.  (Isaiah 4:2, 3;  Malachi 3:1-4)  What they apostle Paul had foreseen centuries before in a vision began to be fulfilled in a limited way. 

We find Paul's vision described at 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.  (Read) What Paul saw in a supernatural vision was referred to as a revelation. It involved a future event, not something that existed in his day.  When Paul "was caught away to the third heaven,"  what "paradise" did he see? The paradise that Paul spoke about would have a physical, a spiritual, and a heavenly fulfillment, all of which will coexist in the future. It can refer to the physical, earthly Paradise yet to come.  (Luke 23:43) It can also refer to the spiritual paradise that will be experienced to the full in the new world. Additionally, it can refer to the blessed conditions in heaven in "the paradise of God." -Revelation 2:7. 

Next time: Work to Enhance the Spiritual Paradise - Conclusion of IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO SERVE AT GOD'S SPIRITUAL TEMPLE

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015