isn't heaven full already? If Jehovah Witness believe only 144000 are...?

Question

Going to heaven, why don't they think their chances are slim? If heaven is reserved for 14400, will it consist of mostly blonds or brunettes? If it's only 144000 people, what religion will be the majority in heaven? What country is mostly on that list? If there are 72 virgins in heaven for every radical Muslim terrorist already, isn't heaven getting too crowded? I wonder who's on the 144000 list and who's not on it. Oooh, I know who's on the list.

I want an exchange of ideas (not bashing). If you're offended by this question, then you obviously don't know that God has a sense of humor.

Answer 1

Well, the JWs also need to keep in mind that if they are going to take the 144k literally, then heaven is for only male virgins from the original tribes of Israel. They don't teach that part though.

But you see, prior to the false prophecy of 1914 not coming true, it was taught that all JWs were going to heaven. When their enrollment exceeeded 144k, they had to change the belief....um, they got new light about the meek inheriting the earh....that didn't become JW doctrine until 1935....


Down to the spring of 1935 the dedicated, baptized witnesses of Jehovah had entertained in true faith the "one hope" that was set before them in Ephesians 4:4-6, as follows: "One body there is, and one spirit, even as you were called in the one hope to which you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all persons." But in that memorable year of 1935…
— The Watchtower, December 15, 1982, page 19


So, since 1935, they have directed people away from the one hope, one body, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism outlined for Christians in the New Testament.

"…the sheep would inherit the earthly realm…Beginning in 1935, 'the faithful slave' has concentrated on locating such sheeplike ones and bringing them into Jehovah's organization."
— The Watchtower February 15, 1995, page 8



These flashes of prophetic light prepared the ground for the historic discourse on "The Great Multitude," given May 31, 1935, by the president of the Watch Tower Society, J. F. Rutherford, at the Washington, D.C., convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. What a revelation of divine truth that was!"
— The Watchtower, March 1, 1985, page 14



…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.
— The Watchtower, February 1, 1982, page 28

Answer 2

For TRUTH SEEKER - We have no way of knowing who is to survive Armageddon or not. The only prerequisite the Bible set on that is that they have to have a good heart and be willing to be taught and accept what the Bible teaches. If Jehovah God, through his Son, Jesus sees that in an an individual who is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, then they will survive. If Jehovah God sees that in many individuals who are not Jehovah's Witnesses, they will survive. Jehovah's Witnesses have never said they have the final say so as to who survives and who doesn't. We are not the judge. Jesus Christ is. And he will do a fine job. And any who will survive will be welcomed as worthy of life. All survivors will learn how their deliverance came, through God's Son, Jesus, and will be so grateful to abide by what the Bible teaches. It means their everlasting life. And they will be forever grateful. Questioner - It is not a matter of heaven being full. If Adam and Eve had never sinned, there would never be ANY human who would have stepped foot into heaven. Due to the disobedience of man, God has made an allowance for a small number of select humans to take part in a new government of God's making, called God's kingdom, which will help bring the earth back to the paradise and perfection which it so rightly deserves. Jesus , and this small group of selected humans, will be the ones used by God to see his purpose fulfilled toward the earth and its inhabitants. Adam, while on earth, before his sin, had communication with God. What a privilege he had. And he gave that up when he chose disobedience. So for those who will be selected to live on earth forever, they have this opportunity to become God's children again, right here on earth. And have a wonderful relationship with their heavenly Father, that even surpasses what they can have today as sinful humans. This is what is brought out in Romans 8:21 which states they will be set free from the "enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God." That does not sound like a life with "no hope".

Answer 3

How could heaven possibly ever be full?Look up and see the vastness of the expanse!Scientists even admit the universe appears to go on and on.
Regardless though,this is not the point.Jehovah chose the number of those to share in the heavenly rule to be 144,000.(Rev.14:1-4)These ones began being chosen at Pentecost 33CE.Where in that upper room 120 faithful disciples of Christ were anointed with holy spirit.This ingathering has continued through the centuries.The Bible is silent as to when this figure is reached.
As flesh and blood cannot enter Heaven,these with the heavenly calling dwell as spirit creatures once in the heavens.There is no 'blonde or brunette'.The Bible does not teach anything about 72 virgins in heaven.
Although Jehovah has a sense of humor as you point out.He is not one to be mocked.-Gal.6:7

Answer 4

Acts 2:34: “David [whom the Bible refers to as being ‘a man agreeable to Jehovah’s heart’] did not ascend to the heavens.”

Matt. 11:11: “Truly I say to you people, Among those born of women there has not been raised up a greater than John the Baptist; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is.” (So John did not go to heaven when he died.)

Ps. 37:9, 11, 29: “Evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth . . . The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”

To how many does the Bible hold out hope of heavenly life?

Luke 12:32: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.”

Rev. 14:1-3: “I saw, and, look! the Lamb [Jesus Christ] standing upon the Mount Zion [in heaven; see Hebrews 12:22-24], and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. . . . And they are singing as if a new song . . . and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth.”

Are the 144,000 only natural Jews?

Rev. 7:4-8: “I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: . . . Judah . . . Reuben . . . Gad . . . Asher . . . Naphtali . . . Manasseh . . . Simeon . . . Levi . . . Issachar . . . Zebulun . . . Joseph . . . Benjamin.” (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 description of them as “standing before the throne and before the Lamb” indicates, not necessarily a location, but an approved condition. (Compare Revelation 6:17; Luke 21:36.) The expression “before the throne” (Greek, e·no´pi·on tou thro´nou; literally, “in sight of the throne”) does not require that they be in heaven. Their position is simply “in sight” of God, who tells us that from heaven he beholds the sons of men.—Ps. 11:4; compare Matthew 25:31-33; Luke 1:74, 75; Acts 10:33.

The “great crowd in heaven” referred to at Revelation 19:1, 6 is not the same as the “great crowd” of Revelation 7:9. The ones in heaven are not described as being “out of all nations” or as ascribing their salvation to the Lamb; they are angels. The expression “great crowd” is used in a variety of contexts in the Bible.—Mark 5:24; 6:34; 12:37.

Those who make up this select group (144,000) are known to God and everyone should be good with that. These people who are to be kings AND judges with Christ will be a cross-section of people, who's experiences in life will reflect that of those they will be judging. How loving a provision is it to have someone who will have experienced the same emotions you have, the same feelings, who truly understands be the one to judge your actions.

Answer 5

Anna,

In many languages Men can mean both men and women.

In spanish if you are refering to a group of people that consist of men and women you use

Ellos, which literally means 'those men'

Padres mean 'Fathers' or 'Parents' (including the mother)

Greek is the same.

I hope you didn't mean to mislead people.

No matter how much we may want to go to heaven, Jehovah thru his Son makes the choice.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. 29 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. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from God.

Anointed, born again Christians are the 'true Jew' today and not the fleshly jew.

By becoming anointed with holy spirit a Christian becomes the chosen race, the holy nation, The Israel of God.

As to Jehovah having a sense of humor, just watch creation for a while.

Answer 6

The 144,000 are men and women taken from "every tribe and people and tongue" to serve as "kings and priests" alongside the enthroned Jesus Christ.

The rest of faithful mankind will "inherit the Earth", as Psalms brings out, and live forever as perfect humans in the paradise conditions that Adam and Eve lost out on.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the immortality of the soul OR that all "saved" people go to heaven, as most of Christendom's churches teach.

We also do not claim to know who comprise the 144,000, although it is safe to assume that the first century followers of Christ, including the apostles, are part of that group.

Edit: 144,000 does not pertain to nation of Israel because A) the tribal listings are different from the original ones (if it was literal then why would they be different?) and B) the Jews lost out on their position as God's chosen people- as a whole- when they rejected the "cornerstone," or Jesus. If a Jewish person comes to accurate knowledge of God and His son and they are anointed then GREAT! :0) But the number is not limited to physical Jews, nor is it to be taken symbolically.

Answer 7

My feeling is that religion hinders life to a point on earth. People are wrapped up in ideas that are theories in every sense of the word. Religion is nothing more than a guideline to man on how best to live there lives. Think about a religion-less society, there have been many before and the were able to sustain without it (depending on you belief, some might say that is why they are no longer here). I always say to people who taught there heavenly beliefs, why would you every worry about dying? If heaven is the place to be I know I have live a life that is one of service to the betterment of people and therefore should look forward to my reward. Right? heaven is not crowded. My heaven is when my soul gets to rest and not be restless.

Answer 8

Not quite. I have personally met a few of the ones that are still on the earth who have not died. They are up in age and will pass away soon enough.

It is not about blonds or brunettes. Who told you that nonsense? That is not how Jehovah chooses the 144,000 from the earth.

The thing about the Muslims is based on false doctrine. There are no virgins in heaven, no wives in heaven for heaven is only made up of the spiritual creatures. When these ones die, the 144,000 taken from the earth, they will be made spiritual in heaven and be there to plead our cases for us here in the earth. I have an earthly hope of everlasting life...on a paradise earth. I am not of that heavenly class. I do look forward to Armageddon.

Go to http://www.watchtower.org and type in 144,000 in the search box. Coming here to this forum will get you a great deal of bashing, taunting, blasphemy, liars, and other sorts of dirty answers. God knows the hearts of everyone and if you're really wanting to know the truth or if you are wicked simply looking for attention and to taunt those that truly love him.

If you're guilty of taunting, you will remain blinded. I wish you well. Get to that site above and type in your search terms in that search box.

Answer 9

what about the meek that shall inherit the earth on a paradise earth. Jehovah did not change his mind. the earth will be like a paradise that Adam and Eve lost. the wicked will be distroyed for ever. ps 37 verse 11. if you want to learn about the 144,000 please seen the website at www.watchtower.org. many of the 144,000 are still alive here on earth and I also have two of the anointed at my kingdom hall. it is something that people don't read the bible right and believe anything and twist the verses to there liking.

Answer 10

The Book of Revelation is a prophetic book and a book that was reveiled to John by signs. Revelation 1-1" the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him to show His slaves the things that must quickly take place, and HE MADE IT KNOW TO HIM IN SIGNS, sending it by His angel to His slave John"

If we decide to interpret all the numbers and pictures given in this book in a literal way then we will definately be missing the real meaning of this book.


The 144,000 in Revelation 7 is referring To the Israelites who will keep the laws of God druing the great Tribulation.

There is another reference to another 144,000 in Revelation 14 which speak of the " firstfruit" who will be taken by the Lord before the great tribulation

Even after the rapture of the 144,000 FIRSTFRUIT (those who allowed the Lord to fully transform and ripen them to be qualified to be raptured and saved from " the hour of trial" these are those who lost their soul life to gain the extra oil as the wise virgins in their vessels) BEFORE the great tribulation these will come back with the Lord to fight with Him against antichrist.
They will not remain in the heavens but will come back to earth..our eternal home is NOT in heaven.. but on the New Earth.
Please read through Revelation 14 for more details.