As JWs say the New Covenant is comprised of 144,001 members, does that mean Jesus is a beneficiary of it?

Question

He is the extra 1 (the 144,000 being humans from his death onwards, so Jehovah's Witnesses say). But I thought Jesus was the MEDIATOR of this New Covenant? The Mediator is not IN the Covenant, surely? He is the creator of it, the instigator of it, the one who determines its conditions, and the one who fulfills his own promises towards those who keep that Covenant. He is over and above the Covenant. He determines who shall and who shall not be brought into that Covenant, so how can he be a beneficiary of his own promises? (See Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-30, 1 Cor 11:23-26, Heb 9:15 & 12:22-28.)

There's no need for JWs to explain their interpretation of the 144,000 doctrine because that's been well aired on Yahoo already. I just want to know where this extra, one 'member' comes from and what the biblical rationale for that is.

Thank you, those JWs who corrected me. I see it's not the New Covenant to which the figure 144,001 attaches. As Grey Tower has also pointed out, it's the seed of Abraham that JWs say comprises primarily Christ, and secondarily the 144,000 (which makes 144,001).

I've also found this odd (as opposed to even) number in a Wt.Soc book (God's Kingdom of 1000 Years p48, 1973): "Since there will thus be 144,001 royal rulers over the earth..." followed 13 pages on with a sub-heading The Permanent Heir of the Kingdom Covenant. This is Christ: "...this Jesus was to be... the Anointed One who was to be the permanent inheritor of the throne and kingdom of David." The next chapter goes on to say 144,000 Associate Kings will be put in office alongside Christ for his millennium rule (=144,001 kings).

Further info is in "Then is Finished the Mystery of God" 1969 (pp298-322). God's 'wife' is said to be his heavenly, angelic organization, which gives birth to a new system of things for the angels

and Jesus (who is the archangel, Michael). This 'child born' in Rev. 12 is "Not Jesus Christ, but God's Messianic kingdom". Yet then the book says "So the birth of the symbolic 'son, a male,' took place when God's wifely organization brought forth or furnished the right member of the organization for the royal office... This occurred in 1914 C.E. Then and there, at this enthronement or clothing of the Messiah with full usable Kingdom authority, was finished the 'mystery of God'... He is the principal seed or offspring of God's 'woman' (wifely organization). But then the remnant today of the 144,000 are also said to be a part of this 'wife' of God, "coming forth as it were from her womb; and thus by persecuting this remnant of Christ's anointed followers yet on this earth, the dragon and his demons would be persecuting God's 'woman,' the mother of the Kingdom." Phew.

The difference between Jesus and the 144,000 seems to be merely degree and rank (as Christ is an angel). Yes? No?

Answer 1

In the Jehovah's Witness publication, 'Insight on the Scriptures' volume II, page 888 it says that Jesus is the primary seed of Abraham and the 144,000 make up a secondary aspect of that seed. So the promised (spiritual) seed of Abraham numbers 144,001. This is linked to Genesis 15 and Galatians 4 where the seed of Abraham by Sarah is said to be innumerable. Yet the Watchtower Society limits the spiritual seed to 144,001???????

This is all connected to the New Covenant idea of the Watchtower Society which incorporates 144,001 humans who "therefore die, giving up earthly bodies of corruptible flesh and are resurrected with glorious incorruptible bodies" (from page 890 of Insight book). This is why the Watchtower Society insists Jesus physical body could not have been resurrected. They must have the 144,000 as much on par with Christ as possible because they are all together part of "the seed of the woman, Abraham's seed."

Their theology would start to fall apart if Christ was not a created being but the Creator - not a member of the New Covenant but the provider of it. Sadly, the 8 million or so Jehovah's Witnesses who have been mislead into believing that only 144,000 humans will go to heaven and believe they will live forever on a paradise earth are not in the New Covenant. They have not been born again of the Holy Spirit and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus does not cover them.

Answer 2

As JWs say the New Covenant is comprised of 144,001 members, does that mean Jesus is a beneficiary of it?

Incorrect.

Jesus is not among the 144,000, as you already pointed out he is the Mediator.

The difference between Jesus and the 144,000 seems to be merely degree and rank (as Christ is an angel). Yes? No?

No. Jesus will no longer be an Angel but a King.

Jesus is fully capable of ruling the kingdom all by him self. Especially in view of the fact that after the thousand year reign, Christ is going to turn his kingdom back over to Jehovah anyway

But 144,000 are chosen to finish the universal importance that the Devil had raised in Eden.

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses do not teach as this so-called "question" suggests. In fact, every obedient human is a beneficiary of the "New Covenant" which is mediated by Christ Jesus.

While Christ Jesus is certainly allied with the 144,000 in several bible passages, Jehovah's Witnesses are careful to accord the Christ his special honor and obeisance as the Messianic King of God's Kingdom.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20020401/diagram_01.htm

Answer 4

The 144,000 are bought from the earth to rule with Jesus as kings and preists. So this Kingdom arrangement consists of the 144,000 annointed plus Jesus at the helm. Fairly obvious.

Answer 5

This was a wonderful revelation for Jehovah witnesses back when the church was much smaller than today. But since the church is much larger now this truth for them is more of a stumbling block to say the real Jews are not the 144,000 of each tribe but they are? If you want the plain truth, which most people cannot handle too well you must look back to the Garden of Eden to understand the 144,000 and what did God orginally intend for the loving couple Adam and Eve and what was the sepents roll suppose to be instead of making Eve fall. The Serpent was know for wisdom and intelgence therefore his name that Adam named him; Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Now lets why he is called Serpent; Gen3:1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
So of all the creatures God made this one was the smartest; Now for arguments sake let us assume this was a man, and not a reptile crawing on its belly and then you can understand why Adam felt lonely seeing the Serpent with a wife and himself has no companion, keeping in mind this has to do with the 144,000; Gen.2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Now before I go on if you understand God's purpose can never be stopped and only held back for a season you will see how Adam is Jesus Christ, the 144,000 are playing the roll of the Serpent in the Garden of Eden and the Bride of Jesus Christ is Eve because the Jews became the servants to Jesus Christ as King and they rule the world with a rod of Iron durning the Millenium or 1000 years. Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
But just as with the disciples there was an order, and here it is So in the 1000 years of Jesus Christ ruling there is an order also which we will call inner circles; the most outter circle is the world, nations, gentiles and jews. Inside of that is as it was in the Dark Ages knights or chosen people that served the King, this was originally the roll of the Serpent in the Garden and what latter became the Jews as a Nation.
But inside of that was Eve or the Bride of Jesus Christ a very large group of people that lived from the time Jesus died until our day, 2000 year period that none of the Old testament Prophets understood or knew about, this was the period where Adam was put to sleep and a bride made from his rib which is called the Bride of Christ. Now after this Bride has made herself ready a group called the 144,000 will come on the scene; Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
But there is not a added one to this group of 144,000

Answer 6

Jehovas Witnesses are a Cult who change the bible to suit what they want to convey to others, The 144,000 if you will read your bible in the book of Revelations states that this number are Jews and not Gentiles. They are leading men astray and will suffer the wrath of God by what is written in the last paragraphs of the bible where by adding or taking away any portion of Gods word--they will suffer the plagues mentioned in Gods word. Read the bible and learn Truth--not lies promoted by Satan

Answer 7

Turn off your computer, eat a good meal, go to the gym, spend time with your friends and don't worry so much about it.

Answer 8

As long as you keep in mind that when you get an answer from a JW, it will be from what they are taught. They are taught to read what the Watchtower organization tells them to read.

The NWT (their bible) has changed the scriptures to reflect their theology.

Peace and grace to you!

Answer 9

Jesus was already ascended to Heaven before they started their stuff...He doesnt need their permission

Answer 10

Apples and oranges, delusion and nonsense.