Jehovah's Witnesses: there were 8524 memorial partakers in 2005.?

Question

My question is: When the number of memorial partakers in history reaches 144000, will the world end and God's kingdom come.

Answer 1

No, for at least two reasons.

1. The bible seems to indicate that a remnant of anointed will be on the earth as Armageddon begins. Since members of the 144,000 continue to die and get resurrected to heaven, that implies that the approach of Armageddon would be accompanied by a decreasing number of partakers.

2. Partaking at the Memorial does not in itself cause one to become anointed (that is, among the 144,000). That public act simply demonstrates that one believes oneself to be. The demonstration may or may not be proven correct, for several rather obvious reasons.
. a. The partaker may be intentionally misrepresenting his true hope
. b. The partaker may be subconsciously and/or conscientiously mistaken
. c. The person may become unfaithful later


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

No, the number is not going to go up, but down. The way was open first for the natural Jews and Jewish proselytes. Only a minority of that nation responded. Those first chosen were at Pentecost 33 C.E., when those in the upper room where anointed with holy spirit. After that any faithful Jews who died would be part of that class. Such as the Apostles. The way was then opened up for Gentiles to accept Jesus and many became believers such as the Ethiopian Eunuch and the Roman Cornelius. The number continued to be filled until the majority of the 144,000 was reached and sealed around 1935. So Jehovah's Witnesses do not feel that the 144,000 are only present day Jehovah's Witnesses, but faithful ones of old from Pentecost 33 C.E. and forward. Close to 99% of Jehovah's Witnesses have no desire to have a heavenly reward, but hope for the earthly reward that is brought out at Ps. 37: 10, 11 & 29 "And just a litttle while long, and thw wicked on will be no more, and you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. But the meek onces 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."

Answer 3

No, the number is not going to go up, but down.

The way was open first for the natural Jews and Jewish proselytes. Only a minority of that nation responded. Those first chosen were at Pentecost 33 C.E., when those in the upper room where anointed with holy spirit. After that any faithful Jews who died would be part of that class. Such as the Apostles. The way was then opened up for Gentiles to accept Jesus and many became believers such as the Ethiopian Eunuch and the Roman Cornelius. The number continued to be filled until the majority of the 144,000 was reached and sealed around 1935.

So Jehovah's Witnesses do not feel that the 144,000 are only present day Jehovah's Witnesses, but faithful ones of old from Pentecost 33 C.E. and forward.

Close to 99% of Jehovah's Witnesses have no desire to have a heavenly reward, but hope for the earthly reward that is brought out at Ps. 37: 10, 11 & 29 "And just a litttle while long, and thw wicked on will be no more, and you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. But the meek onces 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."

Answer 4

No.

The 11th chapter of Revelation envisions the holy city of God being trampled underfoot by the nations for a specified time period. After which, God's two anointed witnesses, along with the remnant of 7,000, are killed by the nations. Then comes Jehovah's wrath from heaven—bringing ruination upon those ruining the earth.

Following the global destruction of the entire system, the Ark of the Covenant is seen in the heavenly temple. This symbolizes the completion of God's purpose towards the Christian congregation, which will come about when the last member of the 144,000 has been killed and resurrected to heaven to serve as pillars in God's heavenly temple.

Upon the completion of that temple arrangement God will fully inhabit that organization, as if no longer dwelling under earthly tent cloths. After the dust settles from Armageddon, the city-like temple of God then symbolically descends to earth to initiate the blessings of the 1,000-year reign.

Answer 5

Actually, the number of partakers is declining slowly. Most of the people of that class have already died and gone to their reward. The number of partakers will probably never get to zero, because God said He will cut the end times short. So, if anybody is planning to wait until the last 100 partakers are left on earth, that would be a bad idea.

Answer 6

The best way to get your questions answered about Jehovah's Witnesses is to not listen to what is typed in this forum (could be anyone, including apostates), but actually go to a Kingdom Hall in your area and ask one of the brothers there. They'll be happy to help. Another good source of spiritual food is the official website: www.watchtower.org

Answer 7

I used to wonder this same question. I was under the impression that the rest of the less than 9,000 would have to die and then God’s Kingdom would come. However, there is evidence from the Bible (and from studying the Revelation book) that proves that all of the 144,000 do not have to die when Jehovah God brings about His Kingdom. However, consider the content below.

In 2005, there were 8,524 memorial partakers. In 2006, there were 8,758 memorial partakers. In that period, 234 members of the anointed have finished their earthly course. I can guarantee that when the 2008 Yearbook comes out, that number of partakers would increase, thus coming toward that 144,000 total.

The insight granted by the opening of the fifth seal agrees completely with other scriptures that have to do with the heavenly resurrection. For example, the apostle Paul wrote: “For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) The following section here is major stuff in regards to God’s Kingdom and the 144,000.

What a stirring story these verses tell! Those of Jesus’ anointed brothers who survive to Jesus’ presence, that is, who are still alive on earth during his presence, are preceded into heaven by those who have already died. Such ones, dead in union with Christ, rise first. Jesus descends, that is, turns his attention to them, and resurrects them to spirit life, giving them “a white robe.”

Afterward, those who are still alive as humans finish their earthly course, many of them dying violently at the hands of opposers. They do not, however, sleep in death as their predecessors did. Rather, when they die, they are instantly changed—“in the twinkling of an eye”—caught away to the heavens to be with Jesus and fellow members of the body of Christ.

1Corinthians 15:50-52: “However, this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Look! I tell YOU a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Yes, the anointed will be “born again.” In fact, this is the only group of people that will be considered “born again.” The 144,000 are the only ones that are to be born again because they are going to heaven to rule with Christ Jesus as Kings in heaven. Thus, the resurrection of anointed Christians starts soon after the four horsemen of Apocalypse begin their ride, which has already started.

Yes, God’s Kingdom coming is not contingent on all members of the anointed dying. However, if the survive to the day of Jehovah’s fury, they will have to die, so they can be “born again” and ascend to Heaven. The only way this can happen is for them to die. But it is not a regular death for such ones. As was said in 1 Corinthians 15, with the twinkling of an eye. Isn’t that amazing? Just blink and that is how quick the anointed will ascend to the heavens in a spirit body to rule with Jesus because flesh and bones cannot inherit the heavens.


Source(s):

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

Revelation – Its Grand Climax is At Hand
Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses
Chapter 17: ’Slaughtered Souls’ Rewarded
Pages 103, 104; Paragraphs 13, 14

Answer 8

That number (8524) is the ones who are surviving on earth yet out of the 144,000. Many, many of the 144,000 have already died. Jehovah will bring about his "day of fury" at his appointed time, no one can pinpoint that time. The Bible says that Jehovah is the ONLY one who knows when it will be.

Answer 9

Cute, the number of one's who actively partake is Shrinking, as for what it will mean when no one is partaking, honestly, I can't say exact timing, that's His business:D

Answer 10

the count is a countdown the differences are already dead we don´t know for sure how many of them are in heaven cause the recollection began after Jesus ´s death until they are sealed according to Revelation 7:1-3 after the last one is sealed then God will bring the Armageddon.