The Jehovah’s Witnesses calm that the 144,000 are those that will spend eternity with Christ in heaven, while most believers will spend eternity on paradise earth. To get an idea of what the position of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses), one can look to the Watchtower magazine, January 1, 1999, page 20, which states:

20 In the first century, many from all nations—starting with fleshly Israel—exercised faith in this Seed of Abraham and became anointed sons of God, members of a new, spiritual "Israel of God." (Galatians 3:26-29; 6:16; Acts 3:25, 26) They had an assured expectation of immortal spirit life in the heavens as co rulers in God’s Kingdom. Only 144,000 would be blessed in this way, and few of them remain. (Revelation 5:9, 10; 7:4) Last year, 8,756 testified to their belief that they were of this number by partaking of the emblems during the Memorial celebration.

21 Almost all of Jehovah’s Witnesses today are of the "great crowd" prophesied at Revelation 7:9-17. Because they bless themselves through Jesus, they have the hope of eternal life on a paradise earth. (Revelation 21:3-5) The 5,888,650 who shared in the preaching work in 1998 are evidence that this crowd is truly "great." It was especially thrilling to see both Russia and Ukraine report more than 100,000 publishers for the first time. Outstanding, too, was the report from the United States—1,040,283 publishers in August! These were just three of the 19 countries that reported more than 100,000 publishers last year.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven to be with the Lord when they die. They are those with a "heavenly hope". The remaining faithful have an "earthly hope" of living on paradise on earth after they die. This separates believers into two classes, those with a "heavenly hope" and those with an "earthly hope". The question becomes "What hope should the believer have?"

John 12:26 states:

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

If any man serves and follows Christ, he will be with Christ. This heavenly hope is given to "any man" that serves and follows him. This passage only states one type of believer, and they are to be with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-29 states:

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

There is only one class of believer. The promise that is mentioned is singular and not plural.

Ephesians 2:17-22 states:

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Christ came and preached to all. Notice it said "to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh". This is a broad audience. It went on to say that through Christ we become "fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God". This household of God is not an earthly hope; it is a heavenly hope. This passage is given to a general audience stating that through Christ we can have a heavenly hope.

Ephesians 4:4-6 states:

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There is one body, not two. There is one hope, not two. If there are those with an earthly hope and those with a heavenly hope, then there are two bodies with two hopes.

Phillipians 3:17-20 states:

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Notice that two groups of people are mentioned. One is the "brethren" and the other being every one else. Each had their end. One is destruction and one is in heaven. Neither had anything that could be thought of as an "earthly hope".

Colossians 3:1 states:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

If we are to be risen with Christ, our hope is heavenly. There are not two classes of those that are risen with Christ.

Hebrews 12:22-24 states:

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

This passage is referring to the "general assembly and church of the firstborn. They are written in heaven. The location mentioned is a "heavenly Jerusalem". Again, the passage is not referring to a select few in the church, but a "general assembly". They are not on the earth; they are in heaven.

James 2:5 states:

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

The audience in this passage is general. They are heirs to a singular kingdom. There are not two kingdoms, heavenly and earthly; there is one.

1 Peter 1:1-4 states:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Peter is writing to a general audience. He includes this general audience when referring to an inheritance "reserved in heaven". He did not separate the audience into those reserved on earth and those reserved in heaven. There is one group and they all have a heavenly hope.

The hope a believer should have according to the bible is eternal life with Christ. In other words, all believers should have a "heavenly hope".

The question then becomes, "Were do these 144,000 come from?" According to the Watchtower these 144,000 came from Israel as well as other nations. Watchtower magazine, February 1, 1999, page 15 states:

7 The resurrected Jesus later made known that these "vessels of mercy" would number 144,000. (Revelation 7:4; 14:1) Since natural Israel had not supplied that complete number, Jehovah extended his mercy to people of the nations. (Romans 11:25, 26) The fledgling Christian congregation expanded rapidly. Within 30 years the good news was being "preached in all creation that is under heaven." (Colossians 1:23) This called for bringing numerous scattered local congregations under proper oversight.

The number 144,000 only occurs three times in the Bible, in Revelation 7:4, 14:1, and 14:3. To find out who is referred to in Chapters 7 and 14, below are chapters 7 and 14 of Revelations.

Revelations 7: (1) And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. (2) And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, (3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (4) And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (5) Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. (6) Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. (7) Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. (8) Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. (9) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (10) And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (11) And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, (12) Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

(13) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? (14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (15) Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (16) They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. (17) For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

Revelations 14: (1) And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (2) And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: (3) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. (4) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (5) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (6) And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (7) Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (8) And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (13) And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (14) And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (15) And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (16) And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (17) And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. (18) And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (19) And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (20) And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

In chapter 7 it is clear that the people being talked about are 144,000 Israelites, 12,000 from each tribe. The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim this is figurative. In Reasoning from the Scriptures, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1989, page 166, it states:

These cannot be the tribes of natural Israel because there never was a tribe of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are not included in the list here, and the Levites were set aside for service in connection with the temple but were not reckoned as one of the 12 tribes. See Numbers 1:4-16.

The tribe of Dan may have been excluded because of their being involved in idolatry (see Judges 18:1-30 and 1Kings 12:28-30). As for the tribe of Ephraim; Ephraim as well as Manasseh are sons of Joseph, and Joseph is mentioned. See Genesis 49, Joseph is mentioned as a tribe and both Ephraim and Manasseh were omited, and in Ezekial 48, Ephraim and Manasseh were mentioned and Joseph was omitted. With regards to the tribe of Levi; the Levites were set aside because of their priestly duties. Their priestly duties stopped with the coming of Jesus Christ, who is our ultimate high priest. Without the need of the Levitical priests (Hebrew 7-10), there is no reason to keep them separated, and is probably the reason why they are included.

In chapter 14 verse 4 it is clear that the 144,000 are virgin men. The Jehovah’s Witnesses do not exclude women from their teaching of the 144,000. Regardless of their views on Revelation 7:4, they are not following scripture in Revelation 14:4 by including women in that list.

It should also be noted that besides the 144,000 in heaven in Revelations 7, there is a "a great multitude, which no man could number" standing before the throne. The throne of God is in heaven. Verse 15 of chapter 7 states that they "shall serve him day and night in his temple." It goes on to say "he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." In both cases, the "he" is referring to God. Again, these point to the great crowd being in heaven. However, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses this great crowd is those with an earthly hope. The Watchtower magazine, February 28, 1982, page 28 states:

How Can a Person Be Certain?

16 Those sharing in preaching this good news of the Kingdom in modern times are confident that Jehovah God is leading his dedicated servants by means of his visible spirit-begotten organization, the "faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45-47) Under its direction the heavenly hope was held out, highlighted and stressed until about the year 1935. Then as ‘light flashed up to reveal clearly the identity of the "great crowd of Revelation 7:9, the emphasis began to be placed on the earthly hope. (Psalm 97:11) It is reasonable to conclude, therefore, that by that time the full number of 144,000 would have been nearly completed. Of course, any individuals proving unfaithful would need to be replaced. But, understandably, these would be comparatively few. And by whom would these be replaced? It seems reasonable also to conclude that most likely this heavenly hope would be extended to some who had endured in integrity, who had stuck to their dedication over the years, rather than its being held out to unproved newly dedicated ones. (Compare Luke 22:28-30.) However, from reports at hand it appears that even some newly dedicated Christians have considered themselves to be "born again."

In both cases, chapters 7 and 14, the interpretation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is not consistent. They say that the number 144,000 is an exact number, but the people the bible is referring, Israel, is figurative. Ron Rhodes in his book Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 264, puts it best by stating: "Within the confines of a single verse, then, they use a literal and a figurative means of interpreting Scripture."

Jehovah’s Witnesses no longer emphasize  a heavenly hope, which is clearly described in scripture. They emphasize an earthly hope. The Watchtower magazine, March 15, 1991, page 19 states:

Since 1931 the Kingdom message has focused more attention on the "other sheep," and from 1935 onward God has been drawing "a great crowd" of such sheeplike ones to himself through Christ.

As has been shown, the position of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is not one that is supported in scripture. All believers are to have a heavenly hope. Colossians 1:23 states:

…if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which was proclaimed in all the creation under Heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister,.

By the teaching of an earthly class of believers without a heavenly hope, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are moving people "away from the hope of the gospel". It divides the body into two groups, depending on your "hope". Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us that we are one body, with one hope.

Who are the 144,000? They are virgin male Israelites that follow Christ, sealed, during the great tribulation. Who is the "great crowd"? Revelations 7:9 answers this. They are "of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues". Revelations 7:15 goes on to explain, "these are they which came out of great tribulation". Another term to describe both the great crowd and the 144,000 is the "tribulation saints". Since we are not currently in the great tribulation, nor has it past, both the great crowd and the 144,000 does not refer to any believers today or from days past.

All scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the bible. All Watchtower publication quotes are taken from the Watchtower Library 1999 CD-ROM. For more information on positions of the Jehovah’s Witnesses that are counter to scripture, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses by Ron Rhodes is an excellent resource.

posted 6-30-02