I'm an ex New Ager, and I can attest to that it was New Thought in the form of self help that brought me into it. It was reading one of Dr. Phil's books that got me down the path of New Age to begin with; his books *sounded* Christian, with all it's messages about the importance of forgiveness and if how pride destroys relationships, etc. It was very subtle. New Thought is subtle, because it acknowledges a spiritual reality, but it's vague enough to accommodate any spiritual path or religion. It also subtly ushers you into New Age, because it encourages you to be a spiritual seeker and explorer, and you inevitably end up going from meditation and visualization to yoga, to reiki, to crystals and tarot, and end up doing psychedelics, practicing "sex magic" and might even join a cult. There's a "self help to New Age" pipeline. Glory to Jesus Christ for saving me out of it!
Thank you Jesus for delivering you out of that. I’m sure you’ve seen so much and I have no doubt that God will use your journey to help others who were deceived and led astray. ❤
This was a great conversation. I want to push back about Joel Osteen and the Word of Faith movement. How is this not Christianity? It absolutely is. Christ is preached, and the Gospel is preached. Christ said, "And we will do greater works." I don't see this as us thinking we are God or greater than our Lord. We are literally following through on his words. People are being healed. There's a scripture: " By your faith, be it unto you." God is moved by our faith. I have visited two actual New Thought Churches. I live in Los Angeles. I've been to Michael Beckwith's church Agape ( which Oprah visits), and many years ago, I visited the late Della Reese's Church. What I have noticed about these two places is that they are blatantly New Thought. And, there is a LOT of New Age philosophy, and artifacts too. Michael Beckwith reads books from various religions and makes it a point to say all religions are welcomed. Della Reese had a crystal as a symbol at one of her gatherings, and she mixed in the bible. Joel Osteen does not do that. Neither does Joyce Meyers. I'm really bothered by all the attacks on their ministries. They are literally preaching the gospel all day long. I want to add declaring who you are created to be in Christ should not be confused with what the world does. We are not sitting in the lotus position, or chanting. We are literally saying what God says, "The plans I have for you are for good, not evil. Plans to prosper you and give you a future." King David encouraged himself in the Lord. How can this be called evil? I am a creative person, and I have a dream board. I have big dreams. Doesn't it say: "Write the vision, wait for it though it may tarry." I also have a lifetime of diaries where many of my dreams have come true. I give God all the glory in these things. I don't see this as manifesting. I see it as God giving me the desires of my heart as I put Him first. Can God's people not be abundant and have wealth? Job, Abraham, King David, King Solomon were all abundant. Does that make us like the world? Poverty is not necessarily holiness. Long dresses and no makeup are not necessarily holiness. The wealth of the wicked goes over to the righteous. God gives us the power to get wealth. These are biblical statements. Should I not work hard and enjoy the fruits of my labor? Can I see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? I wonder what you all are suggesting that Christianity is about poverty, depression and defeat? Is it New Thought if I believe that God wants to bless me? I love the giver more than the gift. But like, can I enjoy my life? I feel like this lady is preaching religion. God loves word of faith, people. We totally belong to Him. We are not deceived.
Osteen preaches the prosperity gospel which has it's roots in the New Thought movement (aka Theosophy). It's mimics the law of attraction and vibration teachings. He uses Christianity as the base premise to spread the prosperity teachings/theosophy teachings. He's up there with the creeps like Kenneth Copeland. James Jani's channel on TH-cam has a great video called the dark world of megachurches that explains this really well. Another great video is on the channel weird reads by Emily Louise where she lays out the history of Helena Blatvatsky.
I agree with you 100% and have absolutely no doubt that Joel Osteen’s ministry is of the Lord. The Lord spoke to me over and over again through this ministry to build me up and strengthen me as I walked through the valley of the shadow of de-th with my son who was having a breakdown during a difficult divorce. To the world it looked like a breakdown, to the Lord it was deliverance. He is now doing better than he ever has. To God be the glory! A precious fellowship at Lakewood - full of faith, hope and love. Love this church. Their witness to Christ is clear.
Great interview! Thanks for what y'all do! It's amazing how pervasive new thought is within our culture. One of my pet peeves is when a coworker says they are sending me "good vibes" or "healing thoughts" when I share about some sickness and such.
so cool having Melissa here, I do already follow her and love what she does. I loved those definitions/differences between new age and new thought. That was excellent! Thanks guys, how I wish you could come this side of the world for these immersive experiences eish..!
I am so thankful that God lead Melissa to learn about New thought especially in the Church. For years ans years the people in church just never made sense but I just did not know how to answer them. Now we are getting the truth and see how we can answer and defend our faith and the Bible.
I can so relate to the hungry for answers to questions about the Bible. I still have a hard time getting answers in the church. I didn’t realize myself that I was in a New Thought and New Age church until they closed the churches in our area and watching more churches online. I was shocked to know I spent 12 years in this church with our son. Sadly our son noticed the church sounded like the world and left the church. We are heartbroken but praying he comes back to Jesus. The gospel was preached but there was so much things in the church we attended that were fun etc…to attract believers….that were questionable. It was like Melissa was saying they preached for man. I love expository preaching now. So thankful to the few churches that teach the whole Bible and for teachings like @Melissa Dougherty
The guest did a great job of new age vs new thought. As a sociologist who studies world religions, she did a great job. I do find apologists entertaining. You can't say you have critical thinking skills and logic when you use one book as the base premise for ALL your logic. If I took a science book from 1492 and used all my "logic" to say the world is this way because this science book from 1492 said so, people who think I'd lost my mind. The logic that one book (filled with things like how to treat your slaves and why women need to leave town when they are on their periods) has all the answers isn't logic when you know other books exist. DM Murdock's books are the best proof of true logic and critical thinking skills.
Yes! When my 12 & 13 yo granddaughters come to my house, it's the norm to read the Bible & pray even tho my son is into new thought. The girls even ask me questions! This wad great! Thank you guys!
Thank u for ministering in this way. Thànk u ,Melissa. Your testimony is so pertinent for our day. I believe the letters of Paul to the church. I read the scriptures. I meditate also, following a word or concept that Holy Spirit high lights for us. Yet New Thought has so much truth in it. Ephesians and Colossians are saying we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Just one verse out of many So this New Thought does agree to this. Yet it is truth. Jesus also says ; Ye are gods.... Please I would love to have you comment on this.
I'm new to your channel. Thank you for having Melissa on. Very helpful. I'm wondering as I listen, where does Christian mysticism fit into this? Lectio Divina - meditative prayer, etc. I'm coming up against this in my family with an adult daughter.
What brought be into New Thought was Christian Science, but CS has mostly died out. It's amazing how many people are not aware of this connection and how few have actually learned about the false teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, but her legacy lives on, in Unity, in A Course In Miracles, and in the law of attraction. 'The Secret' was new age to me because I thought it diverted too much from CS, which quotes the Bible more, but it's all the same nonsense.
Apologetics come from the greek word "apologia" which is the word for "defense". So apologetics is essentially the defense of the Christian faith. We get this from 1 Peter 3:15, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"
@maven are there really good resources besides @Melissa? I’m looking for a teaching on the history of New Thought but from solid Christian sources like Melissa..
@@bradfisher9648 Yes. LongforTruth1 has ▶ Toxic Positivity: The History and Theology of the New Thought Movement . I hope this reply won't get ¢ensored again.
Yes I am a new thought Minister Emerson Institute. Please go back in history and really take time to see that new thought is not new, it’s only become revealed in the last 100 years or so.
It doesn’t matter to me when it originated it led me down a hellhole of twisted mental gymnastics that never produced anything but sorrow--Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes to this deceptive scheme of Satans-it really appeals to people with massive amounts of pride. God Bless you all and I pray you will leave the heresy of “new thought”. It is a MISERABLE ROAD
I see the “we are divine” aspect as God lives within you. Isn’t that what the Holy Spirit is? Is God just someone out there, his power cannot live within me and empower me to become the best I can be?
New Thought (also Higher Thought) is not entirely free of New Age philosophy. Like the New Age it borrows a little from here and a little from there. Mixing things that are not totally compatible. Contains elements of Spiritualism, Theosophy, Scientology, Christian Science, Prosperity Gospel, Positive Thinking, etc. It's something I tell people to stay away from as it could destroy your soul. Only in America do you find religious relativism.
New thought is based in Christianity, ancient wisdom and CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS. It is beyond law of attraction, that’s first stage. As a new thought Minister I use the bible constantly, as an allegorical mystical and metaphysical book for intentional living. New thought has its roots in Christianity, Judaism and the Gnostics. I AM affirmations are ancient wisdom.
I find no i am affirmations in the Bible, no teachings about it by Paul of John or James. I find passages warning us against deception and false teachings that will lead us away from Jesus Christ (the only Christ). The only passages in the Bible saying that we could be gods, are satan speaking to mislead us. Please read your Bible from beginning to end, read and reread it untill you see and are convicted of the real truth that only God has.
It doesn't matter if it has its "roots in Christianity", it goes against basic Christian teachings. It is not Christianity and is heretical. It's deceptive because its trying to mask itself as Christianity.
I'm sorry, and I say this with love, but it's not based in Christianity at all. The "founders" of New Thought may have called themselves Christians, but one look at their doctrine and what they believed in, tells you that they were not, just like the Freemasons are not, either, and neither were the founders of the New Age movement or the feminist movement. Christian is one who loves, follows, and worships Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, the second person of the Holy Trinity. He says if you love Him, you follow His commandments. Jesus never taught secrets, in fact, He even says several times throughout scripture that nothing He teaches is hidden or secret. John 15:14-15 is one that comes to mind at the top of my head. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you." Faith is a mystery. Meaning, we can't break it down, put it in a box, or figure out "the secret formula" of how to "hack" life and God to bend to our will. It's the realization that we don't have control, and learning to have peace with that, and putting our trust in our creator, who promised us that He will feed us, quench our thirst, and give us rest. Only He can do those things, because our own efforts will be temporary and inevitably fail us. Sister, I appreciate your comment, and I say this with pain of heart, that you're headed down the wrong path, and I urge you to repent and turn back to Jesus.
Where's your due diligence? Christianity borrowed from paganism, borrowed from zoroastrianism, and several other teachings. If new thought gives credit and is all inclusive, how is it different from being upfront instead of clandestine?
@we_are_MAVEN it's basic teaching at catholic seminaries. You can also say you're not catholic all you want but the Vatican destroyed civilizations, copied the most popular beliefs, and inserted Jesus.
@we_are_MAVEN you're out of your mind. You're putting false information out here. In your video you said the ministers are choosing scripture to benefit but you're choosing religious facts to benefit your narrative. You're disgusting
I am not sure what the original commentator meant. However, as a true follower of the Messiah, I am sad to admit that Christians do borrow from paganism. For example, Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter, which have pagan roots, but they use excuses to marry Christianity with those pagan "holy-days".
Melissa what do you think humanity's purpose is??? What is God's ultimate plan for humans? We are all Gods but God the Father is more other than we are. When you consider God separate from yourself you are turning him into an IDOL. You are worshipping a kind of Guardian Angel -- and not our Creator. Do you not see this? Go back and read the Bible with this perspective and you see things you have not seen before. We 4 Gospels that give different perspectives while all telling the same story. WHY DO YOU THINK? Because you have to OPEN YOUR EYES and EARS and see and hear what you aren't when you read it literally.
I'm an ex New Ager, and I can attest to that it was New Thought in the form of self help that brought me into it. It was reading one of Dr. Phil's books that got me down the path of New Age to begin with; his books *sounded* Christian, with all it's messages about the importance of forgiveness and if how pride destroys relationships, etc. It was very subtle. New Thought is subtle, because it acknowledges a spiritual reality, but it's vague enough to accommodate any spiritual path or religion. It also subtly ushers you into New Age, because it encourages you to be a spiritual seeker and explorer, and you inevitably end up going from meditation and visualization to yoga, to reiki, to crystals and tarot, and end up doing psychedelics, practicing "sex magic" and might even join a cult. There's a "self help to New Age" pipeline. Glory to Jesus Christ for saving me out of it!
Thank you Jesus for delivering you out of that. I’m sure you’ve seen so much and I have no doubt that God will use your journey to help others who were deceived and led astray. ❤
This was a great conversation. I want to push back about Joel Osteen and the Word of Faith movement. How is this not Christianity? It absolutely is. Christ is preached, and the Gospel is preached. Christ said, "And we will do greater works." I don't see this as us thinking we are God or greater than our Lord. We are literally following through on his words. People are being healed. There's a scripture: " By your faith, be it unto you." God is moved by our faith. I have visited two actual New Thought Churches. I live in Los Angeles. I've been to Michael Beckwith's church Agape ( which Oprah visits), and many years ago, I visited the late Della Reese's Church. What I have noticed about these two places is that they are blatantly New Thought. And, there is a LOT of New Age philosophy, and artifacts too. Michael Beckwith reads books from various religions and makes it a point to say all religions are welcomed. Della Reese had a crystal as a symbol at one of her gatherings, and she mixed in the bible. Joel Osteen does not do that. Neither does Joyce Meyers. I'm really bothered by all the attacks on their ministries. They are literally preaching the gospel all day long. I want to add declaring who you are created to be in Christ should not be confused with what the world does. We are not sitting in the lotus position, or chanting. We are literally saying what God says, "The plans I have for you are for good, not evil. Plans to prosper you and give you a future." King David encouraged himself in the Lord. How can this be called evil? I am a creative person, and I have a dream board. I have big dreams. Doesn't it say: "Write the vision, wait for it though it may tarry." I also have a lifetime of diaries where many of my dreams have come true. I give God all the glory in these things. I don't see this as manifesting. I see it as God giving me the desires of my heart as I put Him first. Can God's people not be abundant and have wealth? Job, Abraham, King David, King Solomon were all abundant. Does that make us like the world? Poverty is not necessarily holiness. Long dresses and no makeup are not necessarily holiness. The wealth of the wicked goes over to the righteous. God gives us the power to get wealth. These are biblical statements. Should I not work hard and enjoy the fruits of my labor? Can I see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? I wonder what you all are suggesting that Christianity is about poverty, depression and defeat? Is it New Thought if I believe that God wants to bless me? I love the giver more than the gift. But like, can I enjoy my life? I feel like this lady is preaching religion. God loves word of faith, people. We totally belong to Him. We are not deceived.
Osteen preaches the prosperity gospel which has it's roots in the New Thought movement (aka Theosophy). It's mimics the law of attraction and vibration teachings. He uses Christianity as the base premise to spread the prosperity teachings/theosophy teachings. He's up there with the creeps like Kenneth Copeland. James Jani's channel on TH-cam has a great video called the dark world of megachurches that explains this really well. Another great video is on the channel weird reads by Emily Louise where she lays out the history of Helena Blatvatsky.
I agree with you 100% and have absolutely no doubt that Joel Osteen’s ministry is of the Lord. The Lord spoke to me over and over again through this ministry to build me up and strengthen me as I walked through the valley of the shadow of de-th with my son who was having a breakdown during a difficult divorce. To the world it looked like a breakdown, to the Lord it was deliverance. He is now doing better than he ever has. To God be the glory! A precious fellowship at Lakewood - full of faith, hope and love. Love this church. Their witness to Christ is clear.
Great interview! Thanks for what y'all do!
It's amazing how pervasive new thought is within our culture. One of my pet peeves is when a coworker says they are sending me "good vibes" or "healing thoughts" when I share about some sickness and such.
Thank you for listening!
Absolutely, those phrases are definitely new thought influenced.
so cool having Melissa here, I do already follow her and love what she does. I loved those definitions/differences between new age and new thought. That was excellent! Thanks guys, how I wish you could come this side of the world for these immersive experiences eish..!
Ooooohhh…now I see what some of the distinctions between new thought and new age. Thank you for this episode and the clarification.
You're very welcome!
I am so thankful that God lead Melissa to learn about New thought especially in the Church. For years ans years the people in church just never made sense but I just did not know how to answer them. Now we are getting the truth and see how we can answer and defend our faith and the Bible.
I can so relate to the hungry for answers to questions about the Bible. I still have a hard time getting answers in the church.
I didn’t realize myself that I was in a New Thought and New Age church until they closed the churches in our area and watching more churches online.
I was shocked to know I spent 12 years in this church with our son. Sadly our son noticed the church sounded like the world and left the church. We are heartbroken but praying he comes back to Jesus. The gospel was preached but there was so much things in the church we attended that were fun etc…to attract believers….that were questionable. It was like Melissa was saying they preached for man.
I love expository preaching now. So thankful to the few churches that teach the whole Bible and for teachings like @Melissa Dougherty
The guest did a great job of new age vs new thought. As a sociologist who studies world religions, she did a great job. I do find apologists entertaining. You can't say you have critical thinking skills and logic when you use one book as the base premise for ALL your logic. If I took a science book from 1492 and used all my "logic" to say the world is this way because this science book from 1492 said so, people who think I'd lost my mind. The logic that one book (filled with things like how to treat your slaves and why women need to leave town when they are on their periods) has all the answers isn't logic when you know other books exist. DM Murdock's books are the best proof of true logic and critical thinking skills.
Yes! When my 12 & 13 yo granddaughters come to my house, it's the norm to read the Bible & pray even tho my son is into new thought. The girls even ask me questions! This wad great! Thank you guys!
Thats great to hear!
Thank u for ministering in this way.
Thànk u ,Melissa.
Your testimony is so pertinent for our day.
I believe the letters of Paul to the church.
I read the scriptures. I meditate also, following a word or concept that Holy Spirit high lights for us.
Yet New Thought has so much truth in it.
Ephesians and Colossians are saying we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.
Just one verse out of many
So this New Thought does agree to this. Yet it is truth.
Jesus also says ; Ye are gods....
Please I would love to have you comment on this.
Please check out Melissa's explanation in her vid The Hidden Irony in this Bible Verse.
Parents should throw down Bible challenges if they don't want to read. Pay to read and discuss it if you have to. It will be worth it.
Thank you for clarifying the difference between new thought and new age… I too have been on a similar path only it’s taken me so much longer…
Have you looked at the Cardiognosis movement?
Melissa, I've pre-ordered your book,😊
I'm new to your channel. Thank you for having Melissa on. Very helpful. I'm wondering as I listen, where does Christian mysticism fit into this? Lectio Divina - meditative prayer, etc. I'm coming up against this in my family with an adult daughter.
What brought be into New Thought was Christian Science, but CS has mostly died out. It's amazing how many people are not aware of this connection and how few have actually learned about the false teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, but her legacy lives on, in Unity, in A Course In Miracles, and in the law of attraction. 'The Secret' was new age to me because I thought it diverted too much from CS, which quotes the Bible more, but it's all the same nonsense.
What exactly is "apologetics". ?? I've never heard that term. Thanks in advance for any answers / responses.
Apologetics come from the greek word "apologia" which is the word for "defense". So apologetics is essentially the defense of the Christian faith. We get this from 1 Peter 3:15, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"
Let's frame this with critical analysis:
This is an evangelical apologist exposing thinking different from her own.
@maven are there really good resources besides @Melissa? I’m looking for a teaching on the history of New Thought but from solid Christian sources like Melissa..
We haven't heard of any. But I'm sure Melissa would have reccomendations if you DM'd her!
@@we_are_MAVEN how do I dm her?
@@bradfisher9648 Yes. LongforTruth1 has ▶ Toxic Positivity: The History and Theology of the New Thought Movement . I hope this reply won't get ¢ensored again.
Marcia Montenegro 🖊 The New Thought Movement: Making the Straight Ways Crooked (Part 1 & Part 2)
LongforTruth1 ▶ Toxic Positivity: The History and Theology of the New Thought Movement
Have you heard of theosis it's a really important Christian concept
Yes I am a new thought Minister Emerson Institute. Please go back in history and really take time to see that new thought is not new, it’s only become revealed in the last 100 years or so.
It doesn’t matter to me when it originated it led me down a hellhole of twisted mental gymnastics that never produced anything but sorrow--Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes to this deceptive scheme of Satans-it really appeals to people with massive amounts of pride. God Bless you all and I pray you will leave the heresy of “new thought”. It is a MISERABLE ROAD
James 3:1 Matthew 7:15 Matthew 7:22-24.
I see the “we are divine” aspect as God lives within you. Isn’t that what the Holy Spirit is? Is God just someone out there, his power cannot live within me and empower me to become the best I can be?
Similar language but completely and contradictory concepts.
Heartsync new age or new thought?
New Thought (also Higher Thought) is not entirely free of New Age philosophy. Like the New Age it borrows a little from here and a little from there. Mixing things that are not totally compatible. Contains elements of Spiritualism, Theosophy, Scientology, Christian Science, Prosperity Gospel, Positive Thinking, etc. It's something I tell people to stay away from as it could destroy your soul. Only in America do you find religious relativism.
Ask speak knock
New thought is based in Christianity, ancient wisdom and CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS. It is beyond law of attraction, that’s first stage. As a new thought Minister I use the bible constantly, as an allegorical mystical and metaphysical book for intentional living. New thought has its roots in Christianity, Judaism and the Gnostics. I AM affirmations are ancient wisdom.
I find no i am affirmations in the Bible, no teachings about it by Paul of John or James. I find passages warning us against deception and false teachings that will lead us away from Jesus Christ (the only Christ).
The only passages in the Bible saying that we could be gods, are satan speaking to mislead us.
Please read your Bible from beginning to end, read and reread it untill you see and are convicted of the real truth that only God has.
It doesn't matter if it has its "roots in Christianity", it goes against basic Christian teachings. It is not Christianity and is heretical. It's deceptive because its trying to mask itself as Christianity.
Gnosticism is ancient and wrong.
I'm sorry, and I say this with love, but it's not based in Christianity at all. The "founders" of New Thought may have called themselves Christians, but one look at their doctrine and what they believed in, tells you that they were not, just like the Freemasons are not, either, and neither were the founders of the New Age movement or the feminist movement. Christian is one who loves, follows, and worships Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, the second person of the Holy Trinity. He says if you love Him, you follow His commandments. Jesus never taught secrets, in fact, He even says several times throughout scripture that nothing He teaches is hidden or secret. John 15:14-15 is one that comes to mind at the top of my head. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you."
Faith is a mystery. Meaning, we can't break it down, put it in a box, or figure out "the secret formula" of how to "hack" life and God to bend to our will. It's the realization that we don't have control, and learning to have peace with that, and putting our trust in our creator, who promised us that He will feed us, quench our thirst, and give us rest. Only He can do those things, because our own efforts will be temporary and inevitably fail us.
Sister, I appreciate your comment, and I say this with pain of heart, that you're headed down the wrong path, and I urge you to repent and turn back to Jesus.
Heresy
그여자는 기독교 신자가 아니다
Where's your due diligence? Christianity borrowed from paganism, borrowed from zoroastrianism, and several other teachings. If new thought gives credit and is all inclusive, how is it different from being upfront instead of clandestine?
No, Christianity did not borrow from Paganism or Zoroastrianism. Those are baseless assertions.
@we_are_MAVEN it's basic teaching at catholic seminaries. You can also say you're not catholic all you want but the Vatican destroyed civilizations, copied the most popular beliefs, and inserted Jesus.
@we_are_MAVEN you're out of your mind. You're putting false information out here. In your video you said the ministers are choosing scripture to benefit but you're choosing religious facts to benefit your narrative. You're disgusting
I am not sure what the original commentator meant. However, as a true follower of the Messiah, I am sad to admit that Christians do borrow from paganism.
For example, Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter, which have pagan roots, but they use excuses to marry Christianity with those pagan "holy-days".
@@we_are_MAVEN I forgot that you walked with the Lord
Melissa what do you think humanity's purpose is??? What is God's ultimate plan for humans? We are all Gods but God the Father is more other than we are. When you consider God separate from yourself you are turning him into an IDOL. You are worshipping a kind of Guardian Angel -- and not our Creator. Do you not see this? Go back and read the Bible with this perspective and you see things you have not seen before. We 4 Gospels that give different perspectives while all telling the same story. WHY DO YOU THINK? Because you have to OPEN YOUR EYES and EARS and see and hear what you aren't when you read it literally.
What is this question? Not one human knows God’s ultimate plan for humans, other than to glorify God. Anyone who says they know is a liar.