AboutDerrick Holland Expertise I was raised in the religion known as Jehovah`s Witnesses for 13 years. Since becoming a born-again Christian, I have researched extensively this religion, especially their doctrines and their history. I can answer questions about their doctrines from the perspective of Biblical Christianity.
Experience 23 years of Biblical research into the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, and how they differ from the teachings of the Watchtower.
Question Recently a young person in my family became a member of JHW movement.
I am 62 and I have learned not to question any more people's decisions related to faith because I have come to the conclusion that human beings do not have the brain power to "know" about God and the Universe so that they can only rely on "faith" for answers.
Still I remember that many years ago two preachers of JHW tried to convince me to hurry and convert to their movement because the numbers of places in Paradise when the End of Times would come, were limited to only 144.000 people.
I do not want to question this younger member of my family because it may look as if I am challenging her faith decision.
Still the limitation to 144.000 elected people for access to Paradise in next life struck me as very unfair. I told the preachers that may-be the number of 143.999 was already reached and if they both had done a similar effort to serve God during this life I would not see why only one could enter and the other would fall out. They never came back to discuss this with me as they promised.
Do you have an answer to this? What kind of Biblical text could they refer to?
Answer Hey Ferdinand. I am very sorry that it took me so long to reply to you. The last few days, I have barely had time to sit down and check e-mail. Very hectic work schedule, and then work around the house when I get home, etc.
Let me deal with your last question first, then I will comment on some of your other statements....
You ask...."Still the limitation to 144.000 elected people for access to Paradise in next life struck me as very unfair. I told the preachers that may-be the number of 143.999 was already reached and if they both had done a similar effort to serve God during this life I would not see why only one could enter and the other would fall out. They never came back to discuss this with me as they promised.
Do you have an answer to this? What kind of Biblical text could they refer to?"
Answer....The JW teaching regarding the 144,000 is NOT a Scriptural teaching by any means. In fact, there is not one single passage in the Bible that limits heaven to ANY number.
The Bible DOES mention the 144,000 in 2 places...Revelation chapter 7:1-8 and Revelation 14:1-5. In neither of these places is it stated that these are the only people in heaven. In fact, many Scriptures show that there are MANY more people in heaven. See Revelation 7:9-17 and Rev. 19:1, for example.
Briefly, I will explain WHY JWs believe this. Their reasoning goes something like this....In the beginning, God created the earth and put man on it. So obviously, God meant for man to live on the earth. When man sinned, and brought death into the world, God's purpose for the earth remained. But since the Bible mentions people going to heaven also, they had to come up with a way to explain this. In the beginning, JWs believed in a heavenly hope for Christians. Around the mid-1930's, the number of the Watchtower Society membership surpassed 144,000, and they had to figure out what to do with them. Therefore, a secondary or "earthly" class was invented, usually referred to as the "great crowd".
Today, according to JW teaching, there are only a small number of the "anointed" 144,000 "heavenly class" remaining alive. Most JWs you encounter today do not believe they are going to heaven, but instead, make up the earthly class.
The biggest problem in the mind of JWs, is that the Bible teaches the earth will be inhabited forever. And it does teach this. To them, this is a contradiction, if all Christians go to heaven when they die.
They do not understand the Bible's teaching regarding the "NEW" heavens and the "NEW earth". Yes, the Bible does teach the earth will be inhabited forever, but it is the NEW earth (Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22). In 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21, the new heavens and new earth are spoken of as being together. This is the part that they miss. The cannot understand how Christians can both go to heaven, AND live on the earth. But this is because they do not understand the nature of the new heaven and the new earth.
This teaching regarding the 144,000 is NOT based upon a single passage of Scripture. It was invented when a revelation of "light flashed up" in the 1930s.
If one reads what the Bible DOES say about the 144,000, it is very different from the JW teaching. First, they are literal Jews by nationality (Rev. 7:4-8), and NOT "spiritual Israel". Secondly, the 144,000 are all unmarried men (Rev. 14:4). Thirdly, the 144,000 are ON EARTH in Rev. 7, and we do not find them in heaven until chapter 14. According to JW teaching, MOST of them are already in heaven NOW. Their view does not fit what the Scriptures teach.
You said...."Still I remember that many years ago two preachers of JHW tried to convince me to hurry and convert to their movement because the numbers of places in Paradise when the End of Times would come, were limited to only 144.000 people."
Answer....This is surprising to me, because you said you are only 62. As I said before, the "door" to being one of the 144,000 was closed in the year 1935. The only exceptions to this rule are in the case of one of the 144,000 "falling away", and being replaced with someone younger. Apparently, these particular JWs you spoke with were unaware of their own teaching regarding this matter.
It is true that they have tried to get people to "hurry" and convert, because they believe you cannot be saved unless you belong to their Organization. They believe that Armageddon is just around the corner, and have actually predicted many dates for its occurence. But most JWs do NOT tell anyone that they can be part of the 144,000....Not anymore.
You said...."I am 62 and I have learned not to question any more people's decisions related to faith because I have come to the conclusion that human beings do not have the brain power to "know" about God and the Universe so that they can only rely on "faith" for answers."
Answer....Ferdinand, the good news is that paradise is NOT limited to 144,000. It is for "WHOSOEVER WILL" come to Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2 says....
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
A few verses later, in verse 8-9, we read....
"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
John 1:12-13 assures us...."But AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
You see, Ferdinand, we CAN know God personally. It is His will that ALL come to repentance and be saved (2 Pet. 3:9).
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your own Lord and Savior, please come to Him today, putting complete faith in His shed blood as the payment for your sins.
You are right that we do not have the "brain power" to know about God in ourselves. But we CAN know Him personally through faith in Christ, and be assured of eternal life.
I also want to give you my web page so that you can further research the unscriptural doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is www.jehovahswitnesses-thetruth.com, and I think you will find it helpful.
If I can answer any other questions, please ask. Thanks and have a great day.
