Jehovas Witnesses 144,000?

Question

If according to Jehovas Witnesses, only 144,000 people are going to heaven, then why do they waste their lives trying to convert people? I mean, the person they are converting could wind up taking their place in heaven! I suppose they could consider this and think that by being so selfless, they've earned themself a spot, but what if the people they are converting are more virtuous than them? Then, converting people can condemn yourself to hell. So why then, are there swarms of Jehovas Witnesses at my door every saturday? And, it's pretty prideful to assume that you are one of the 144,000 with a place.There are more than that many saints and Biblical people. After all the years of earth's existance, wouldn't that many people be there by now? If not, what kind of heaven is it where everyone else you know is in hell? Maybe I've misinterpreted something and someone can explain this religion to me better.The overview on wikipedia is just ridiculous.

Answer 1

The preaching work is performed because Jesus commanded it, not because it benefits Jehovah's Witnesses personally or as a religion. As a side point, the vast majority of Witnesses hope to enjoy life ON EARTH forever, rather than in heaven.

Jehovah's Witnesses understand heaven to refer to the dwelling place of spirit creatures such as Jesus and the angels. They 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).
(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.”

Hell is NOT someplace/something mankind needs to fear; there is no suffering in 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. Each person "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]

Learn more:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/10/1/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/10/1/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm

Answer 2

Only 144,00 individuals go to heaven. This "little flock" began with the twelve apostles, and the number was filled by the year 1935. A handful of elderly JW's are the only ones remaining on earth today who will go to heaven, with the rest of the Jehovah's
Witnesses hoping to live on earth forever. So any converts of Jehovah's Witnesses will be living forever on paradise earth not heaven.

Answer 3

The 144,000 thing is in the book of revelations. That is part of the bible so Christians believe it too. That whole book is very cryptic though and not very straightforward. It says that 144,000 people will be selected for heaven and then all the other good people will live on Earth for 1000 years and from them more will be selected to enter the kingdom of Heaven. It could have some sort of other meaning though because that book is very cryptic. Cant tell u much more about it though...i mean thats pretty much all it says. And im not jehovas so i wont get into that

Answer 4

This was one of the religions I explored, so I think I can give you an answer. The good people who don't go to Heaven will have a Heaven on earth like the garden of Eden. All of the bad folks will be gone, so everyone will live in harmony, including the animals. That's a real brief overview. There's more to it.

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses come to your door, under a devine commandment, which is located in the Bible at Matthew 24:14. If you really want the answers, then you need to let these people explain their position. let them explain to you what the purpose of the 144,00 really is. Also, let them show you from the Bible, that there is also a hope for all mankind, to Live forever on a paradise Earth, if you would let them show you things, that are in your own copy of the Bile, you would get a clearer understanding for all your questions

Answer 6

Don't be taken in by J.W.'s! They are nothing short of a cult. The 144,000 mentioned in the Bible are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel and they are all men, unmarried who will remain on earth during the tribulation to preach the Gospel of Christ. There will be billions in heaven and certainly not only 144,000.
Good Bible study quickly reveals the false teachers and religions. I always recommend that a person checks out these things for themselves in the Bible and not listed to the radicals who go door knocking. You will very quickly discern a false teacher from the real by good old fashioned bible study.

Answer 7

People--even those not JWs-- who know how to really read and understand the Bible will appreciate this.

Revelations 5:9,10 says that there are those who were bought from the earth, made priests, and kings to rule over the earth.

Think: If there are kings there must be subjects.

Further reading the Bible will tell you that there are really 144K who will go to heaven to rule w/ Christ. They will help him transform the earth into paradise for the meek to inherit it.

Jesus taught us: (a) that the meek shall inherit the earth, and (b) to pray to let God's kingdom come ( not go up), for His will to be done on earth as also in heaven.

How can these words of Jesus be fulfilled if all those who found favor in God's eye's go to heaven.

If the God's kingdom will come, and you will go to heaven, what will you do or enjoy there?

Answer 8

if you read your bible, it says the meek shall inherit the earth. Jehovah God did not change his plan for people to live on the earth forever. because of Adam and Eve not obeying Jehovah we are born into sin. we are not trying to convert anyone. we do give free bible studies to anyone that is interested. if you want to become a Jehovah Witness that is between you and Jehovah in prayer. www.watchtower.org. the ones that will inherit the earth can not be numbered. Jehovah Witnesses did not change the bible. it is also in the king james bible, the same words that we have. many of the king james bible took out Jehovah's name. look at ps 83 verse 18. in the king james bible. the king james bible people don't talk like that. our bible talks the way that we all do.

Answer 9

It's ironic that people say we're confused about the Bible which itself confirms that only 144,000 will rule with Christ in the heaven. It's time for people to open their Bibles and see what the Bible really teaches on the matter.
First off Witnesses aren't trying to "convert" people. Our whole objective is to preach about Jehovah God and his son Jesus and what God's kingdom will bring. Anyone who shows interest, are ones we try to follow back on. Most people here are getting the impression we must be vying for a place in heaven because there is only 144,000 seats. We help them appreciate that like most Witnesses they can look forward to an earthly hope. Consider the following.

The Bible answers how many have this hope of heavenly life.
"Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom."_Luke 12:32. This "little flock" are the 144,000 who will co-rule with Christ in the heavens._Rev. 14:1-3.

Are the 144,000 only natural Jews? Most would come to that conclusion after reading Rev. 7:4-8 where it lists how many of each tribe is part of the 144,000. Then consider Romans 2:28,29 where it says: "He is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit, and not by a written code. Also in Galatians 3:26-29 it says: " You are all, in fact, sons of God through your faith in Christ Jesus... There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one person in union with Christ Jesus, you are really Abraham's seed, heirs with reference to a promise." I think the scriptures are pretty self-explanatory and so this is why Witnesses would come to this conclusion.
Would ALL Christians have this heavenly hope? Consider John 14:2,3. Note that the context, in verse 11 refers to Jesus "own people," the Jews. As many of them as did receive him when he came to them in the first century became God's children, with heavenly life in view. The verbs used are in past tense so the passage is not referring to all who have become Christians since then.
We can also conclude that the number itself is not merely symbolic. After the mention of the definite number 144,000, in Rev. 7:9 it refers to a "great crowd" which no man was able to number. If the number was not literal it would lack meaning as a contrast to the "great crowd" which has no definite number. In addition this would agree with Jesus statement that many are invited but few are chosen._ Matthew 22:14

The "little flock" started from the time of Jesus early disciples and was filled back in 1935. There are only a handful of anointed Witnesses still remaining. Most Witnesses including myself know they are part of the "great crowd" referred to at 7:9,10. The desription of them "standing before the throne and before the Lamb" denotes an improved condition. The very expression "before the throne" (Greek, e-no'pi-on tous thro'nou) literally means, "in sight of the throne." Their position is simply "in sight of God" (which doesn't require them to be in heaven) who tells us that from heaven he beholds the sons of men.
As I alluded to earlier, the Bible teaches "the great crowd" which is most of us will inhabit the earth. _Psalms 37:9-11. God hasn't changed his plan to one day turning the Earth into a paradise one day which Adam and Eve lost earlier. This is all part of the Kingdom that we preach about that will be led by Jesus and his corulers. No kingdom would be complete without righteous earthly subjects. This is not just what we say but this is what the Bible keeps referring back to as it talks about what this Kingdom will bring about. Matt 6:10: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." 2 Peter 3:13, Ps. 77:16, Rev 21:3,4 and etc. The righteous themselves will possess the earth and will reside forever on it._Ps.37:29. The wicked as mentioned in the Bible will be cut off. Note what's the real condition of the dead. Eccl 9:5 Also go this link for more info.
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/7/15/article_02.htm

Answer 10

JW's are extremely confused and misled about all manners of things with regard to the bible. The 144,000 mentioned in the book of Revelation are Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel who will, in the tribulation period, be evangelists on earth for Jesus Christ.

You aren't missing a thing....they are missing good bible teaching.