For Jehovah's Witnesses who believe only 144,000 souls will make it into Heaven, and the rest will live . .

Question

. . in an earthly paradise- what's the motivation to try to convert people? What if the people you convert die before you and Heaven gets full?

Shemus: I did read the "damn Bible," as you called it, now read my ? again.

Weird: I did get my facts straight from Jehovah's Witnesses websites. Try answering my question.

Adam's: I really did think about it . . I simply don't understand how an earthly paradise would be preferable to Heaven (isn't that where God is?).

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,

Actually, Jehovah's Witnesses expect that many thousands of the 144,000 have never set foot in a Kingdom Hall or read 'The Watchtower'.

The fact is that 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

The men and women who make up the 144,000 are selected by God from among two thousand years of Christians. 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://watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

Answer 2

>> Surely that number's got to be symbolic? Isn't this a good example of why the Bible shouldn't be taken literally in places? << Yes, and yes! The number 144,000 (taken from Rev 7:4) was understood by its author and original audience, the early Church of mostly Jewish converts, as symbolic. The 12 (taken from the Twelve Tribes of Israel) was understood by the Jews to symbolize perfection. The number 1,000 symbolizes "a great number" throughout the Bible. And so, 144,000 is a perfect number, squared, and then multiplied by a great number. We Catholics and the vast number of other Christians interpret it properly to signify unlimited room for untold billions in Heaven. The Jehovah's Witnesses, due to the personal leanings of its founder, Charles Taze Russell, fall under the literalist school of scriptural interpretation, and thus glommed onto 144,000 as a literal figure, making it not only a key cornerstone of the church from the outset, but also employed it as a recruiting tool for new members. When the church numbered only in the low thousands, they taught that they alone would make it to Heaven. As their numbers mounted toward 144 thousand, the pitch was that there was room for only a few thousand more. Trouble started when practicing Witnesses surpassed 144 thousand in number, and so they changed their teaching to the one on their books today. The 144,000 to be allowed in Heaven were redefined as the elite, or the "elect", a status limited to the figures of the Bible and JW leaders and elders. They decline to give an exact tally of the "elect" anymore. The rest of the saved are the "sheep", who live in perfect paradise on Earth to serve the "elect". (The terms "sheep" and "elect" are JW terminology, not mine. Ask one next time they come around!) BTW, a standard JW conversation opener is "How would you like to live in a world without hunger, war, disease, poverty, or crime?" They'll hand you a magazine with a picture of happy people of all races farming together, petting lions, gathering baskets of grain. Those people are the sheep you too can join in Earthly paradise.

Answer 3

The bible in revelation says 144,000 will go to Heaven and Jehovah chooses those ones. When the number is sealed the rest will live on earth in paradise.

Answer 4

We're trying to preach the good news of God's Kingdom: that soon all the wicked will be destroyed and they meek will live forever on an earthly paradise. If someone dies, they will be resurected, and if they have never heard the message, they will hear it and will be able to decide whether to listen and serve Jehovah, or not to.

Answer 5

the mention of 144000 is in revelation and does not refer to the amount of people as a whole that are going to heaven. this is obviously not the only issue that the Jehovah's witnesses are confused about. besides Jesus said that the earth would pass away... so where would that leave everyone else who are supposed to be in paradise on earth.

Answer 6

Well the way I see it first and foremost, who God puts in heaven is His business, not mine. According to Genesis, Jehovah's original intent was for mankind to live forever as perfect humans and to multiply. It seems to me that the almighty wouldn't scrap things just because Adam and Eve messed things up a bit. If you want a more detailed answer I suggest you ask a Witness, in the flesh and blood, Bible in hand so we can answer your questions.

Answer 7

Those of us who have this earthly hope, have no intention to go to heaven at all. I don't WANT to go to heaven! The earth will become a beautiful place to live, just as Jehovah intended it to be when he created Adam and Eve. There will be peace, we will have plenty of food and clean water and air, we will have houses to live in and we will grow to perfection. There won't be any more death, mourning, outcry or pain. (Revelation 21:4)
The ones in heaven will have a job to do when they get to heaven, they will be ruling over the ones left on the earth. Revelation 5:10 - "and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”

P.S. Our message is not one of trying to convert you, but we are trying to give the warning that God is going to act soon and if you are not on his side, you are on Satan's side, there is no in-between. We want people to read the Bible, and we are motivated out of love for God, because we are commanded to preach and make disciples. And it's out of love for our neighbors, because we don't want to see people destroyed, just as Jehovah doesn't want any to be destroyed. Our motives are not because we are "buying" our way into heaven, since that's not where we want to be anyway.

Answer 8

If their description of this is true then God and Jesus won't be in heaven neither.
The "multitude which no man could number" Rev. 7:9 are said to be standing before the Lamb/Christ.Verse 14 says that these are those "which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Now have a look at where they are to be, verse 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). Its God alone that sits on the throne and He is dwelling among them.
Now verse 17 "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes". Here we have Jesus the Lamb in the midst of the throne (were God is). He is leading them in the white robes to fountains of living water.And God wiping away their tears.

Now ask yourselves is God and Jesus going to be in heaven or here on earth ? Or is this just some doctrine of man?

Answer 9

I think that JWs are full of it, but get your facts straight. They believe that most faithful JWs will live on earth and not in Heaven. They are looking for an earthly paradise, not a Heavenly one.
.

Answer 10

Harpazo = Rapture

END-TIME BIBLE PROPHECY

The Messiah Lord Jesus said BIRTH PANGS would signal the time of the end (Matthew 24:8). There are NINE birth pangs, they are all PRE-TRIBULATIONAL and the 1st three already occurred.

The first birth pang was worldwide conflict coupled with famines and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7-8). Worldwide conflict was fulfilled in 1914-1918, major famines happened in 1918-1921 and most of the world’s major earthquakes began to occur since 1900.

The second birth pang was the restoration of a Jewish State (Ezekiel 20:33-38; Ezekiel 22:17-22; Ezekiel 36:22-24; Zephaniah 2:1-2). This was fulfilled in 1948.

The third birth pang was Jewish control of the Old City of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:1-2). For the third Jewish Temple (Tribulation Temple) to be rebuilt, Jerusalem needs to be under Jewish control and this was accomplished in the Six Day War in 1967.

The fourth birth pang will be the Ezekiel 38 war. Russia, allied states of Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia will invade Israel. God will miraculously destroy the invading army by earthquake, civil war among the invading soldiers, pestilence, blood, flood, hailstones, fire and brimstone. This will bring a revival in Israel where many Jews will turn to the Lord, and Israel will spend 7 years and 7 months burying the bodies and burning for fuel the military equipment left behind (Ezekiel 39:9-16).

The 5th birth pang will be the development of a one world government (Daniel 7:23-24).

The 6th birth pang will be the splitting of the one world government into 10 kingdoms and this Ten Kingdom Stage will continue until mid-Tribulation (Daniel 7:24).

The 7th birth pang will be the revelation of the Antichrist (II Thessalonians 2:1-3; Daniel 7:24).

The 8th birth pang will be a period of peace and false security that will be shattered by the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).

The 9th and final birth pang before the Tribulation is the signing of the 7-year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist. THIS EVENT IS WHAT BEGINS THE (7-year) TRIBULATION - NOT THE RAPTURE!

The Rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) is also a pre-tribulational event (Luke 21:34-37; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 19:6-8). The fact that the Church is not mentioned in any of the Tribulation Scriptures proves the Rapture is pre-tribulational. All raptured Christians will receive glorified bodies (Romans 8:22-23; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54)) and it can happen at any second.


THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION (SUPPORTING VERSES IN REVELATION 6-9 AND 17)

The Ministry of 144,000 sealed Jewish believers will bring many throughout the world to accept Christ.

There will be a powerful Ministry of Two Witnesses who will also be anointed Jewish believers.

A one world religious system (Babylon the Harlot) will rule. Under this one world religious system, many who are saved during the Tribulation will suffer persecution and death.

The Political system of the 10 kings of the one world government will continue.

During the first half of the Tribulation there will also be war, worldwide famine, death (1/4 of the world’s population will die), a huge earthquake, a blackout and a meteor shower. 1/3 of earth’s dry surface will be destroyed, 1/3 sea life and salt water will be destroyed, a fallen angel called Wormwood will make 1/3 of earth’s fresh water bitter, 1/3 of earth’s natural light sources will be destroyed, there will be another blackout and demons in the form of “locust-scorpions” will come up out of the abyss led by Abaddon their king and they will inflict harm and pain for five months upon those who are not sealed by God (unbelievers). Another demonic invasion will occur and the demons involved will be led by four fallen angels who will be released from the Euphrates River and this army will kill 1/3 of the earth’s population.


MID-TRIBULATION (SUPPORTING VERSES IN REVELATION 10-14 AND 17)

The Antichrist will war against the 10 kings, and during the war the Antichrist will be killed.

Satan will be cast out of the atmospheric heavens onto earth and will resurrect the Antichrist.

The Antichrist will kill 3 kings (the kings of Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia) and the 7 other kings will submit to him.

The Antichrist will kill the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem and the wicked people will celebrate this event. Three and a half days afterwards, God will resurrect the Two Witnesses and take them up to Heaven and the people who celebrated will become terrified. The city of Jerusalem where the murder of the Two Witnesses occurred will then suffer an earthquake which will kill 7,000 people.

The False Prophet will receive from Satan the power to perform great miracles and will deceive many. The False Prophet will command all people to worship the Antichrist and have persons create an image to the Antichrist. The False Prophet will use his satanic powers to give it life and the ability to speak. The False Prophet will cause those who refuse to worship the Antichrist and the image to be killed.

The False Prophet will issue his own counterfeit seal known as the Mark of the Beast and it will be placed on all those who surrender to the Antichrist’s authority and accept him as god. Those who refuse to take this mark will not be able to buy or sell. Those who take this mark will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

The Antichrist will break the seven-year covenant he made with Israel, cause the sacrifices to stop, sit in the Jewish Temple, declare to the world that he is really God and set up an idol called the Abomination of Desolation in the Temple (Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15-16; 11Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:11-15).

Through the Antichrist and the False Prophet, Satan will attempt to destroy the Jews once and for all but he will fail because 1/3 of the Jews will succeed in fleeing into the wilderness. These Jews who escape will accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour during the Tribulation (Zechariah 13:7-9) and while they are in hiding, God will miraculously provide for them (Zechariah 13:8-9; Isaiah 41:17-20). Divine intervention will also destroy the pursuing army.


THE SECOND HALF OF THE TRIBULATION (SUPPORTING VERSES FOUND IN REVELATION 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)

In the second half of the Tribulation, those with the Mark of the Beast will suffer skin sores, the remainder of sea water and fresh water will be destroyed, the sun will cause terrible burns and the wicked will blaspheme God. There will be yet another blackout and persons will suffer gnawing pains.

Babylon will be the center of world economy and political system but Babylon will be swiftly destroyed by fire and become uninhabitable for man.

The Antichrist will locate the Jews who sought refuge in the wilderness and surround them with his armies to wipe them out. The Lord Jesus will then descend from Heaven with His angels and Saints. He will come with great glory riding upon a horse and will destroy the Antichrist, the False Prophet and all of their armies. After this, a loud voice will cry out “It is done!” followed by the greatest earthquake in the earth’s history and hail weighing 120 pounds will fall.

At the end of the Tribulation, there will be another blackout, the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Matthew 24:29), the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be thrown into the eternal Lake of Fire and Satan will be cast into the Abyss and bound for 1,000 years.


THE MILLENNIUM

The Lord Jesus will reign over the entire earth during the Millennium. The Jewish and Gentile believers who survive the Tribulation will go on to populate the Millennium. Believers who died before and during the Tribulation and believers who were raptured will be present on earth during the Millennium and because they will have glorified bodies they will not reproduce. All believers will be given special tasks by the Lord Jesus (Revelation 20:4-6). There will be no wars (Isaiah 2:2-4), animals will return to the Edenic state and become vegetarians (Isaiah 11:6-9), people will not labour in vain but eat what they plant and inhabit what they build, there will be renovations in the heavens and earth and there will be righteous and unrighteous children born during the Millennium (Isaiah 65:17-25).

At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed from the Abyss and will deceive and gather the unrighteous for a war against the righteous. This will be his final attempt to destroy the righteous and when the unrighteous of the Millennium surround the good people, God will send fire down from Heaven which will suddenly and massively annihilate all of the wicked people. Satan will then be cast into the Lake of Fire where he will remain in torment for eternity (Revelation 20:7-10).


THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

The Great White Throne Judgment will be the next main event. The old heavens and earth will be done away with and all will stand before God’s throne to be judged (Revelation 20:11-12). Those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire which will be their final and eternal abode (Revelation 20:14-15).


THE ETERNAL ORDER (REVELATION 21 AND 22)

Those whose names are found in the Book of Life will enjoy paradise with God forever. The heavens and earth will be made new and the New Jerusalem will come down upon the earth making the earth like Heaven. All curses from the fall will be removed and the earth will be inhabited by the Triune God (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit), all angels and all of the righteous. The seas, moon, night and sun will be done away with and the glory of God will illuminate the earth. The River of Life will flow from God’s throne, the Tree of Life will bear health-giving fruits and leaves and the name of Jesus will be on the foreheads of all of the righteous.


God’s Plan of Salvation for Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZkDk1GZ7do