I've never understood the goal here....?

Question

Why do Mormons and/or Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only so many thousands of them will go to Heaven? If there are only "reservations" for so many thousands to go, then don't you think they would figure out the the seats are probably already filled up? What's the incentive to keep trying?? I'm glad MY beliefs are that ALL true Christians get to go...no matter how many!

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that exactly 144,000 humans will join Christ Jesus as kings and priests to administer God's Kingdom (which will soon replace all earthly governments) after Armageddon.
(Daniel 2:44) God of heaven will set up a kingdom... It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite
(Revelation 14:1) Lamb [Jesus] standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
(Revelation 20:6) they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him

Over whom will they rule? Over the vast majority of mankind, most of whom will have been raised from the dead after Armageddon.
(John 11:23,24) Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Until that resurrection, there is no suffering in "hell", or the grave. Sometime after the resurrection, death and "hell" will themselves be destroyed.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all
(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]
(Revelation 20:14) And death and Hades ["hell"] were hurled into the lake of fire

Almighty Jehovah God selects those few who have the heavenly calling from among godfearing worshippers, including many who were never Jehovah's Witnesses. Today, each true worshipper "feels" his own hope and each person's hope remains unquestioned by his fellow Christians. Still the vast majority (literally more than 99.9%*) of Jehovah's Witnesses expect an EARTHLY hope, the same hope given to Adam and Eve.
(Genesis 1:28) God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill THE EARTH and subdue it [caps added]
(Genesis 2:17) You must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die [so never eating from that tree means never dying]

Interestingly, the Scriptures are full of references to this earthly hope.
(Psalms 37:11) 'the meek will possess the earth'
(Proverbs 2:21) 'upright will reside in the earth'
(Isaiah 45:18) 'God formed the earth to be inhabited'
(Matthew 5:5) 'the mild will inherit the earth'
(Revelation 21:3) The tent of God is with mankind


* The 99.9% of Jehovah's Witnesses professing an Earthly hope is a literal figure

Here is an interesting Yahoo Question and Answer which discuss how Jehovah's Witnesses know that the 144,000 figure is a literal one:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006022006647

Jehovah's Witnesses' official website:
http://watchtower.org
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/10/1/article_01.htm

Answer 2

I'm an atheist, but I have studied religions. And, I don't recall any Mormon claiming there was a limitation on residents in heaven.


As a matter of fact, Mormons have a very unique explanation for "heaven" and "hell" that defies any other explanation I ever heard before. And, is quite plausible if a person believes the underlying message that God created the universe.

And, Mormons don't restrict heaven to Christians only.

Answer 3

I'm a Jehovah's Witness. Everything we believe is because the Bible says so. Revelation 14:1,3 There is a limited number. Have you ever wondered what those who go to heaven do? Revelation 20:6. God made the Earth to be inhabited, not for everyone to die and go to heaven. What did God do originally? He made a Paradise Earth, and death was a PUNISHMENT, not a reward for Adam. God wants the Earth to be filled with happy healthy people. Psalms 37:9-11. Well I think you should listen to us when we come to your door or go to our website and not go by what non-Witnesses say.

Answer 4

Mormons,Jehovah W's,Church of Christ members and Muslims are copy cats. Their doctrine is started by a mere men. True Christians will be the only ones in Heaven!

Answer 5

First of all, Mormon's have no such belief. We believe that those that have faith in Christ, repent, are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by one with authority from God, and then endure to the end following the commandments of God, those will be saved. It is not a set number, all are welcome at the table.

Answer 6

its their belief. its not true. actually the belief sprouted to make people do more good deeds. they were made to fear that only a few can enter the heaven and so if they wanna enter heaven, they must be good and do good things. what was started witha good intention has now become a iron belief. its not true. if u are good and if u dont harm others intentionally, then u go to heaven.

Answer 7

i think the belief is only so many will go to heaven and the rest of the believers will live for eternity in paradise on earth. i could be wrong but that's the way i understand it.

Answer 8

right - no worries - stick with your beliefs - what you know. Only God knows the deeper answer to your question - and that is between everybody individually, and God.
there are elevated souls - of course - there has to be - not everybody is playing the game the same -- but the door is open to everyone.