qualities that are the fruitage of God’s spirit would still be manifest in the lives of true Christians.)

As long as a person is healed, is it really important how it is done?

2 Thess. 2:9, 10: “The lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work [“all kinds of miracles,” JB] and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved.”

Luke 9:24, 25: “Whoever wants to save his soul [“life,” RS, JB, TEV] will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake is the one that will save it. Really, what does a man benefit himself if he gains the whole world but loses his own self or suffers damage?”

What hope is there for real healing from all sickness?

Rev. 21:1-4: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away . . . ‘And he [God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’”

Isa. 25:8: “He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces.” (Also Revelation 22:1, 2)

Isa. 33:24: “No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’”

If Someone Says—

‘Do you believe in healing?’

You might reply: ‘Anyone who doesn’t believe that God has the power to heal doesn’t believe the Bible. But I can’t help but wonder whether people are going about it in the right way today.’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘Let me read you a scripture, and see if you notice a practice that is very different in our day. (Matt. 10:7, 8) . . . Do you also notice something here that Jesus said his disciples could do but that healers today have not been able to do? (They cannot raise the dead.)’ (2) ‘We are not the judges of other people, but it is noteworthy that Matthew 24:24 mentions something that we need to be on guard against.’

Or you could say: ‘I certainly do believe that what the Bible says about healing is true. But any healing done in this system of things brings only temporary benefits, doesn’t it? Eventually we all die. Will there ever be a time when everyone living will enjoy good health and never have to die? (Rev. 21:3, 4)’

Did we all exist in the spirit realm before our birth as humans?

John 8:23: “[Jesus Christ said:] ‘You are from the realms below; I am from the realms above. You are from this world; I am not from this world.’” (Jesus did come from the spirit realm. But, as Jesus said, other men did not.)

Rom. 9:10-12: “Rebekah conceived twins . . . When they had not yet been born nor had practiced anything good or vile, in order that the purpose of God respecting the choosing might continue dependent, not upon works, but upon the One who calls, it was said to her: ‘The older will be the slave of the younger.’” (Of course, if the twins Jacob and Esau had lived previously in a spirit realm they certainly would have built up a record based on their conduct there, would they