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Guest Author Mike Oppenheimer The number 144,000 is used in only one book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. It appears only three times, two of them for man and one for the measurement of the New Jerusalem that is going to come from heaven. Learning from the Bible about this selected group that is to preach the gospel through the tribulation period does not bring you to the same conclusion that is taught by the Watchtower to all Jehovah’s Witnesses. The 144,000 is the most crucial teaching to the Witnesses. The whole organization is built upon it. It divides their members into two classes, the heavenly and earthly class. This is the Watchtowers big lie that keeps them in error and in bondage to their organization. “Does the Bible show that some people will go to heaven? Yes, the Bible does teach that a limited number go to heaven for a special reason” (Watchtower 2/15/1984 p. 4). The odds are that the visitor at your door with the Watchtower or Awake magazine isn’t one of them. I haven’t met one yet in over 20 years. Paul states in Galatians 1:6-9 that anyone, even an angel, that preaches anything other than that which he preached, is anathema, or accursed? Paul scolds the Jews who opposed them, “Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved” (1 Thess. 2:16). Hmm, seems the Watchtower has repeated this same injustice to their own members. The 144,000 is viewed as a literal number, representing a limited group within their organization who are to become spirit sons of Jehovah. Being “born again” is exclusive for the 144,000 who alone have Christ as their mediator and are in the new covenant. “Who and how many are able to enter it. The Revelation limits to 144,000 the number that become a part of the Kingdom and stand on heavenly Mount Zion” (Let God Be True, p. 136). Called “the little flock” taken from Christ’s statement, “Fear not, little flock...” The other Jehovah Witnesses are known as “other sheep” I have which are not of this fold...” (John 10:16). The “little flock” are to be spirit sons that will be in heaven ruling with Christ, the “other sheep” (the majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses) are to be physical inhabitants of the restored earth. The fact is; no Jehovah’s Witness will go to heaven, not even the 144,000 because they do not have Jesus as their mediator in the accurate Biblical sense. Putting this aside, we need to examine their view and use it to exit their members out into a real relationship with God with Jesus Christ in its center. This teaching of a limited number going to heaven did not come from their founder Charles Taze Russell. Russell originally taught that all the members of the Watchtower were “anointed,’ they, as the 144,000 were Spiritual Israel and have the heavenly hope. The early Watchtower teaching was that all Jehovah’s Witnesses go to heaven. There 22 Moriel Quarterly • June 2010 The 144,000 teaching of the Jehovah’s Witnesses - Their Big Lie was no paradise earth teaching for a separate group, no two destinations for their members. Russell died in 1916 and Judge Joseph Rutherford became the new president. It was under his leadership that many things began to change, especially the teaching on the 144,000. Rutherford (1869-1942) following the pattern of their founder by proclaiming the end, predicted that in 1918 God would destroy churches and millions of their members. Rutherford started prophesying that Armageddon was right around the corner. Using the fast approaching Armageddon the Jehovah’s Witnesses worked harder than ever under Rutherford’s leadership. He taught that the only way to escape the impending judgment and destruction was to join the Watchtower organization. This program continued for years. This became the impetus to grow the organization even in modern times; making it a matter of survival by being one of the faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses when Armageddon does occur. Under Russell’s leadership the membership was way under 100,000 so they were safe. Their membership rose to 4,000 in 1919 and was continuing to increase under Rutherford, “In 1931 there were 50,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses” (in 50 lands) (Mankind’s Search for God p. 359 1990). By 1930’s they ran into a new problem, they were approaching the 144,000 number. The next several years they doubled, “In 1943 there were only 126,329 Witnesses in 54 countries” (Ibid. p. 360). The Watchtower had to deal with all these extra people. Because they had been previously taught there was only one calling, all were going to heaven. Rutherford had new light from God. In other words, speaking ex - cathedra like the Pope he changed their whole system. This would be the most significant change in the organizations doctrine that continues today. The doctrine introduced by Rutherford, second President of the Watchtower said from 1935 onward, “At the end of May of that year a five-day convention of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses was in session... the president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society discussed the subject of ‘the great multitude, ‘spoken of in Revelation 7.9-17, Authorized Version. He made it clear that the ‘multitude’ was no spiritual or spirit begotten class, would not attain the angelic nature in heaven so as to assist the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ. It was a distinctly an earthly class with hope of endless perfect human life in the earthly paradise under Christ’s kingdom” (Holy Spirit, 1976, p. 156) So he invented two classes, a heavenly class and earthly class. An earthly “Great Crowd” was created, by Judge Rutherford out of necessity. A second- class of people that were subject to and dependent upon the heavenly class who alone would be part of the new covenant and have Christ as their mediator. The one calling; that all Jehovah Witnesses were going to heaven was held UNTIL 1934 -5, when Rutherford changed this. “For some 19 centuries after this there was only one calling, the heavenly one” (United in Worship of the only True God p. 111). The 144,000, called the heavenly class would go to be with Jesus in heaven, the other group, known as the other sheep, the “great crowd,” have a great privilege, to live on earth in the Millennium in perfect conditions. This is why no Jehovah’s Witnesses wants to go to heaven today. To them it is better to be on paradise earth with their family having perfect harmony with the nature (this what their drawings depict), than to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Not to be able to live on the future restored paradise on earth is repulsive to the average witness, and they do not understand why anyone would want to be separate from friends and family and be banished to heaven. They had also taught those of the 144,000 that have died had been raised in 1918 to life in heaven with Christ Jesus when Jesus, according to Watchtower theology, moved into Jehovah’s temple. “Has this spiritual resurrection taken place? Yes, back in chapter 26 we learned that it took place when Christ came to Jehovah’s temple in 1918” (Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained p. 231). “It was God’s will for the awakening of the remnant on earth to follow the 1918 heavenly resurrection of anointed ones who died prior to that time” (Watchtower 7/15/60 p. 440). “In the capacity of priests and kings of God they reign a thousand years with Christ Jesus” (Let God Be True, p. 137). “It was an invisible resurrection” (From Paradise lost to Paradise Regained p. 192 1958) So how many were resurrected? How would anyone know if it was an invisible resurrection? Imagine being a lawyer to prove one’s innocence and you tell the judge here is the evidence but you can’t see it. That’s what they want their people to believe, and they are so trusting that they accept it. But this presents another problem, the Bible. The Watchtower takes the position that Paul called profane and Idle babblings. In 2 Tim. 2:17-18 Paul names Hymenaeus and Philetus who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.” The Bible teaches the Dead are raised and the living transformed at the same time, not years apart (1 Thess. 4:16- 17). The resurrection is not to just certain few that no one will see as is an invisible spirit resurrection (which is not possible, all were physical). “Who are those 144,000? …they are faithful followers of Jesus Christ specially chosen to rule in heaven with him. …Since the days of the apostles, God has been selecting faithful Christians in order to complete the number 144,000” (What Does the Bible Really Teach?
p. 78-79) The Watchtower taught that the “little flock,” began with the apostles, was nearly filled by the year 1935. “With the reestablishment of true Christianity near the end of the last century, more were called and chosen. But it seems that in the mid-1930’s, the full number of the 144,000 was basically completed.” (Watchtower Aug. 15, 1996 p. 31) So the church apostatized and restored by Russell, really? The Watchtower in its first report of partakers of the meal were 36,372 (Bulletin, March Extra, 1935, p. 2 )Lets’ say for the sake of math that the 144,000 were being chosen since the beginning of the church using the number 36,372. This leaves 107,628 (source: Outnumbered - exploding the myth of the 144,000 by Russell Warren) The Bible states in Acts 2:41 and Acts 4:4, there were 8,000 believers in Jesus in the first few weeks of the church. When we subtract from the number of: we have only 99,628. After we crunch the numbers we see how few were chosen to go to heaven throughout history according to their doctrine. This leaves approximately 50 chosen anointed ones each year. That’s a single person from one third of the nations throughout 1,900 years of the church up until this year. Hardly believable, even by their own doctrine and numbers. Of the 144,000 that are allowed to take the once a year memorial meal (communion) 0, 7 partook of it in the 1976 celebration of the Memorial of Jesus’ death. The Memorial meal in 1984, they had ,0 ; at the 1987 “Memorial” 8,808; in 1991 , 50; in 2,000 , ; in 2005 ,524; for approximately 20 years the number stayed within the same range. the numbers began to steadily increase since 2005. In 2008 there was almost a 10% increase in the number of partakers over 2007! 2009 there were 0, 57. The numbers have been going up. Seems that a number of Jehovah’s Witnesses have changed their mind and WANT TO GO TO heaven, they want Jesus to be their mediator. But they are being lied to, they can’t, because their doctrine on this; its not biblical, it is elitist and a travesty to those who desire eternal life. They keep them from having Jesus be their mediator by denying who Jesus is and what His crucifixion actually means. Yet they continue to say “over the years the number of those who are truly anointed has been getting smaller” (Watchtower Jan. 15, 2000 p. 13) They ignore their own numbers “ … the number of anointed ones on the earth has decreased over the decades…” (Watchtower Feb. 15, 2009 pp. 27- 28). Really? How does this work out with “…it seems that in the mid-1930’s, the full number of the 144,000 was basically completed” (Watchtower Aug. 15, 1996 p. 31). “As time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness born to them that they have the heavenly hope. Thus … we cannot set a specific date for when the heavenly hope ends” (Watchtower May 1, 2007 p. 31). Of course they can’t, especially when the numbers are increasing instead of decreasing. But 85 years ago they did. the bIg lIe “Consequently, those of the “great crowd” expect to remain on earth forever and to share in bringing it to a Paradise state” (Watchtower Mike Oppenheimer Aug. 15, 1980 p. 17). So what are they doing in heaven? Rev. 19:1 - “After these things I heard what was as a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven” Rev. 7:9 - “look! a great crowd ... standing before the throne” The Bibles qualifications for being part of the 144,000 (Revelation Chapter 7:3-8) They are all chaste men who are saved on earth, none of them are married, they cannot be women Rev. 14:4. Rev. 14:5: “And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” No deceit meaning no lies, not falsehoods and without fault means they are blameless. This alone excludes them from this Organization. They are all Jews by birthright, they do not become “spiritual Israel.” Rev. 7:4: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.” The term children of Israel is consistently used of the people of Israel distinguished from Gentiles, so the 144,000 cannot be Gentiles, not one of them. Gen. 32 onward this term is consistently used of those with Jewish descent, Exodus 1:1-5. The 144,000 are all identified by tribe, divided by the exact number of 12,000 from each- Rev. 7:5-8 v. 5 “of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; James 1:1 uses this same application to Israel (12 tribes: Rev. 21:10-12). No one on earth today that meets these qualifications for the 144,000 found in Revelation 7 and 14, for the simple reason God has not begun to seal them. The Bible teaches they are “sealed” on earth during the “great tribulation,” at the 7th seal when God’s wrath is to come. Have the 6 seals have already been opened? Can a Jehovah’s Witness prove the seals were opened for almost 2,000 years; that we have been and are now in the tribulation? the doctrIne oF sealIng 144,000 sInce the begInnIng oF the church Is pure Fantasy. There is also another blatant error by the Watchtowers interpretation, Rev. 7:7-9: “after these things” are those who come out of the tribulation from the result of their evangelizing. The great multitude are mostly gentiles from all the nations, while the 144,000 are strictly Jews. The great crowd comes OUT of the great tribulation because of their preaching. How is any of this possible then or today if the Bible says they are all sealed in the tribulation (Rev. 7)? Where’s the great multitude being SAVED by the anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses TODAY. The Bible says it is a number one no one could number (there are less than 7 million JW’s). In Greek the highest number was 10,000 (myriads) times 10,000 is used by Jude. This great crowd is only seen after the 144,000 are sealed, which is still in the future! This great crowd comes out of the tribulation from the 144,000 and others preaching the gospel, in other words they are dead and are now in heaven around the throne, they were killed by the campaign of the False Messiah (Rev. 13:7; Rev 12:11; Rev. 17:6). The location of the great crowd - “before the throne,” “BEFORE THE LAMB” (Rev. 7:11), and We know the Lamb is in heaven Not on earth (his throne is in heaven Rev. 1:4;4:5,6). But here is the kicker, the switcheroo that the Watchtow- Guest Author er has pulled on their own hard working members. Rev. 7:14-15 the great crowd -”These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (even the NWT has this). They “made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” which makes them partakers of the New Covenant. They are the ones that serve in heaven; it is the great crowd, NOT the 144,000. Another point that should not be overlooked, the great crowd are waving palm branches which has to do with salvation. It is at the Feast of Tabernacles that this is done (Neh. 8:15). It was done when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on donkey (Zech. 9:9) when they thought He was to be with them to set up the kingdom. The Watchtower teaches, “the 144,000 members of the Israel of God have properly partaken of the emblems during the Memorial of Jesus’ death, and only with them did Jesus make his covenant for a Kingdom” (The Watchtower p. 31, Feb. 1, 1998). Numerous statements like this are consistently taught through their magazines. “This great crowd” of “other sheep” that is forming today is not in the new covenant” (Watchtower, 4/1/79, p. 31) Who is mediator for the millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses that are not part of the 144,000? NO ONE, they have none. The Scripture teaches that sin is paid by Jesus’ death. Heb. 9:15: “Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant by means of death.” Without him being your direct mediator your sins cannot be forgiven, you, removal of guilt and a restored relationship to God. I Tim. 2:5 says there is only one mediator, all believers have Jesus as their mediator. The way is through Jesus Christ crucified. Without Jesus being your mediator you are not in covenant with God (Heb. 9:14). Rev. 13 tells us if you are not found in the lambs book you have no eternal life, not in heaven nor on earth. The Watchtower teaches Jesus died, went out of existence and was raised a spirit creature. I Tim. 2:5 Jesus is a man, a human, not a spirit creature (he is still God in the flesh). The Bible teaches all priests were taken from men. There is only one eternal high priest. Their 144,000 teaching has more holes than Swiss cheese, it is probably the most insidious doctrine found in any of the cults. It is keeping people from a relationship with God. The Watchtower fulfills exactly what Jesus scolded the Pharisees on in Matthew 23:13: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Lets do all we can to get them the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. Mike is the director of Let us Reason ministries, www.letusreason.org. They are an apologetic and evangelistic ministry to the cults and religions in the melting pot of Hawaii. Witnessing to the Jehovah’s witnesses I find this to be one of the most engaging and effective topics we can discuss with them. This is a condensed version, the complete article is in 5 parts and is filled with quotes posted in the Jehovah’s Witness section. In Christ’s service, Mike O June 2010 • Moriel Quarterly 2
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Page 3 and 4: IntroductIon In 1 Corinthians there
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Page 11 and 12: Ha i f a Dear Friends, Greetings in
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Page 24 and 25: Judaic Study Jacob Prasch What Mdoe
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