We often hear from the Society that we are currently in a "spiritual paradise," even though we are still awaiting the "physical paradise," yet you have written that this is only an illusion that the Watchtower is trying to portray, that it does not really exist because we continue to find child molesters, murderers, and many other wrongdoers still in our congregations. According to the May 1, 2004, Watchtower, the Society makes this claim:

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES dwell in a spiritual paradise. (Isaiah 11:6-9) In the midst of this very troubled world, they share a unique spiritual environment with fellow Christians, who are at peace with Jehovah God and with one another. (Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 54:13) And their spiritual paradise is growing. All who ‘do the will of God whole-souled’ contribute to extending it. (Ephesians 6:6) How? By living according to Bible principles and by teaching others to do the same, thus inviting them to share the rich blessings of that paradise.—Matthew 28:19, 20; John 15:8.

2 However, our living in a spiritual paradise does not mean that we do not have to endure trials. We are still imperfect and suffer the pangs of sickness, old age, and eventual death. Moreover, we are witnessing the fulfillment of the prophecies dealing with "the last days." (2 Timothy 3:1) Wars, crime, sickness, famine, and other severe hardships afflict all mankind, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are not exempt.—Mark 13:3-10; Luke 21:10, 11.

It appears that the Society is saying that we are in a spiritual paradise because we "share a unique spiritual environment" with fellow believers, "who are at peace with Jehovah God and with one another." Isn't this what the Bible means by "spiritual paradise," and is not the Society correct in declaring that we really are living in a "spiritual paradise," even though we are still looking forward to the "physical paradise"? In other words, are we to expect child molesters, murderers, and other wrongdoers to be absent in the "spiritual paradise" that we are enjoying now, or will they be absent only when the physical paradise arrives? (Rev. 22:15)

In order to answer your question as to whether Jehovah’s Witnesses have entered into a spiritual paradise, it is first necessary to determine exactly what spiritual paradise is. Only then can we say for certain whether such a condition currently exists. No doubt you will agree that the Bible’s definition is what is important. The question is: does the Watchtower’s definition of spiritual paradise match the Bible’s?

According to the Watchtower cited above, spiritual paradise is the result of a collective effort on the part of Jehovah’s Witnesses to get along with each other by applying Bible principles. Not only that, but to the extent that each individual contributes “whole-souled,” the blessings of spiritual paradise may be extended to others. So, according to the Watchtower’s definition, spiritual paradise is largely the result of human effort—granted with Jehovah’s blessing upon it—but a human work nonetheless.

The unasked question, though, is what happens if some individuals within the Watchtower’s spiritual paradise neglect to live by Bible principles? Let’s just let that question hang there, suspended, for the moment.

Now, let us consider what the Bible says about spiritual paradise.

Although the exact phrase does not appear in the Scriptures, the concept certainly does. The article quoted above referred the reader to Isaiah 11:6-9. So, let’s consider that verse, which reads: “And the wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.”

Reasoning on the prophecy, it is apparent that the unusual relationship between natural predator and prey is merely an illustration intended to portray idyllic relations among humans. That is apparent from the fact that the condition comes about as a result of all coming to know the mind of Jehovah. Obviously animals cannot be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah. But, the question is how does that condition come about? Is it merely a matter of applying Bible principles, as the Watchtower teaches?

No, it is not that simple.

Consider the context of the verses in question. The preceding verses reveal how Edenic conditions will come about. Isaiah 11:3-5 reads: “And he will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. And he must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death. And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”

Please notice that spiritual paradise comes about as a result of the Messiah judging mankind in righteousness. The effect of his judgment will be that he will put the wicked to death and save the righteous. Spiritual paradise follows Christ’s judgment. Of course, the Watchtower claims that Christ already judged them back in 1918-19 and declared them righteous. But as any thinking person with unclouded vision can see for themselves, Christ has not judged mankind yet, otherwise there would not be any wickedness.

The Bible’s definition of spiritual paradise, then, is a place completely devoid of all evil—just like Eden was originally. It will come about, not through any human efforts, but through the judging work of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible’s definition no such place exists on earth yet.

Obviously, there is a huge difference between what the Watchtower teaches about spiritual paradise and what the Bible says on that topic. In the Watchtower’s faux spiritual paradise, the wolf and lion lay down with the lambs, but the lambs don’t get up—they are devoured. And the mere little boy had better be under constant supervision by both parents, because if in his childhood innocence he comes in contact with one of thousands of slithering pedophiles lurking in spiritual paradise, he may well become their victim.

Essentially, the Watchtower has made a mockery of God's word. They attribute paradise conditons to God that do not even exist. In doing so our leaders fit the description of those whom Jehovah denounces in the 5th chapter of Isaiah, as “those who are saying that good is bad and bad is good, those who are putting darkness for light and light for darkness, those who are putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

The true spiritual paradise comes about when Christ Jesus sends forth his powerful angels who will remove all persons who are doing lawlessness from his kingdom.

Can you now provide the answer to the question we left hanging?