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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1961 | November 15
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and who are therefore joint heirs with Jesus Christ for the heavenly kingdom. For these also death dissolves the marriage tie. Hence in the resurrection of the dead to life in heaven the former married couple will not be reunited in heaven as man and wife or even as the most intimate companions. To such spiritual new creatures it is written: “From now on we know no man according to the flesh. Even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, certainly we now know him so no more.” (2 Cor. 5:16) Certainly, then, if such a “new creature” Christian has died and experienced a spiritual resurrection to life in heaven without the fleshly body that lies moldering there in the grave, the surviving spirit-begotten marriage mate cannot know the departed one any longer according to the flesh. There is no more flesh about the resurrected joint heir of Christ. Marriage as of man and wife for the producing of children is a thing that belongs to the flesh, not to the spirit. Consequently, a surviving spirit-begotten Christian with heavenly hopes should not feel that he should stay single and not remarry under the idea of staying free to rejoin his former marriage partner in the heavenly kingdom. He should not entertain the hope that his staying single and remaining exclusively attached in his affections to but one earthly marriage partner will be recognized and be rewarded by Jesus Christ, and that Christ will therefore reunite the former marriage couple in the resurrection and in the affairs, arrangements and activities of the heavenly kingdom.
So for dead ones with spiritual, heavenly hopes and for dead ones with earthly Paradisaic hopes the rule enunciated by Jesus Christ stands unaltered: “In the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.” (Matt. 22:30) At the flood of Noah’s day angels were punished for entering into marriage, which in that instance was with the daughters of men because they were so lovely-looking. (Gen. 6:1-4) In the resurrection of the “other sheep” on earth, no former married person will have occasion to envy another former married person, as would be the case if this latter one got back his former marriage mate who had remained single, whereas the envious marriage mate does not get back his former partner because this partner remarried and survived Armageddon with his new marriage mate. What the resurrection promises men is, not remarriage, but reliving, and this under God’s kingdom by Christ. Is that not something satisfying? Has anyone a right to demand more through Christ’s sacrifice? Christ died for you, not to marry, but to live! Let us not be swayed or overcome by sentimentalism or emotionalism.
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AnnouncementsThe Watchtower—1961 | November 15
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Announcements
FIELD MINISTRY
Recognizing the vital importance of Bible knowledge and understanding, Jehovah’s witnesses are very active in distributing Bible literature at every opportunity. During November they will offer to all persons the newly released Bible-study aid “Let Your Name Be Sanctified,” with a booklet, for 50c.
1962 YEARBOOK AND CALENDAR
Available after December 1, the 1962 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses presents the stirring report of another productive year of Christian preaching. It will thrill all of those who shared during 1961 in making it a part of the permanent record and will encourage others to share in the sanctifying of God’s name through this life-giving work of the Christian ministry. Available also at the same time will be the 1962 calendar. Obtain the Yearbook for 50c. The calendar is 25c. If you are associated with a congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses, order through the congregation servant.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS
December 24: United Publishers of the “Word of Life.” Page 681.
December 31: Publishing the “Word of Life” in a Dying World. Page 688.
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