how do you get there though? do you work harder here on Earth or is it God's choosing? how do you know you are chosen to be there.
I hope it's not by works. i wouldn't know if i ever made it.
2007-10-17 11:36:50 · 23 answers · asked by Gruntled Employee 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no i am interested to know because it seems there are two classes of Christians, those on earth and those on heaven. I get the sense from the Bible that there is no distinction between those in Christ, no longer any divisions between those who are God's people - that was the whole point of what Jesus did when he died and rose again. it just seems a little confusing that yes Christ died for everyone, especially those who put their trust in Him, they share in the same sacrifice, the same Spirit, the same Lord, but their are different classes of Christians within that? I don't understand the JW view.
2007-10-17 11:48:04 · update #1
achtung - what exactly are the 144,000 sacrificing in order to serve in heaven? are they giving up something better (i.e. paradise earth) to do it?
2007-10-18 02:23:07 · update #2
in the John reference he's saying there is one flock and one shepherd. no two classes there.
2007-10-18 02:27:26 · update #3
All of Jehovah's Witnesses are satisfied with their position in Jehovah's organization. Personally, when I think of the new world, I imagine myself surrounded by the animals I like and all the foods and fruits I like, a nice house by a little stream, sitting on the lawn enjoying the sunshine...... Things I can't have if I were in Heaven. So no, I'm not jealous.
2007-10-18 05:53:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
Why would anyone be jealous?
Jehovah God created mankind to inhabit the earth- not to go to heaven.
The 144,000 are for the benefit of mankind on earth. They serve as priests and kings with Christ Jesus for 1,000 years from heaven... the 144,000 can identify with the problems people face. Angels can't. During the 1,000 years, mankind is brought to perfect and Jesus hands the Kingdom back to God.
The 144,000 are chosen by God, not people and not through works.
**edit
The 144,000 give up life on a perfected Earth. They give up the things they love. They will no longer be able to enjoy the food or activities they love. They will no longer have physical contact with family and friends.
But it doesn't matter. Their thoughts are consumed by other things. They're happy with their lot and honored to be so blessed. But truth be told, the 144,000 are as if an "after thought". Their creation truly is for the benefit of earths inhabitants.
Those who look forward to the Paradise Earth also feel honored to be so blessed. Their thoughts are on Earths restoration, the resurrection, being free from illness and pain- and all to God's glory.
2007-10-17 11:58:45 · answer #2 · answered by Xyleisha 5 · 12⤊ 0⤋
NOt at all!! Jehovah is a just God (Genesis 32:4) well since he is just and fair well he gave us all hope. Those who do the will of Jehovah have a hope of everlasting life right here on earth. i have a job here on earth in paradise and thats where i belong. those he bought from earth the 144K have a job in heaven to rule with Jesus Christ. to be continued....
2007-10-19 03:29:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im a JW and personnally i'd rather be on earth, enjoying everything thats impossible to enjoy now (peace, places, animals, living forever never getting sick).
I can understand why you'd think we'de be jealous. lol
Those who go to heaven (they are chosen by God, they don't know until they are baptised and if any pretend they are it doesn't really matter as anointed people are not seen as 'better' than those who hope to live on earth.
People of the 144,000 who will go to heaven have the 'heavenly hope', those who have the 'earthly hope' want to stay on earth. the anointed have the job of co-ruling in heaven with Jesus but everyone is equally important to God.
Hope this helped!
2007-10-17 12:07:15 · answer #4 · answered by jaspercat91 3 · 13⤊ 0⤋
Not at all. I do not wish to rule anyone and that is the job they have. I like earth just fine as it is. I will be overjoyed when it becomes a paradise and I am in perfect health with unlimited life span. I have a lot of curiosity to last 1,000s of years. By then there will be other things to develop a curiosity about.
Fortunately, it is God doing the choosing and not any of us. No popularity contest. That is how elections are done. Have you seen the politicians?
We get there by doing what He requires of His people worshiping Him. Those who make their lives over into His way of thinking. He does not expect perfection but a sincere attempt is necessary. That is why Jesus told us forgiveness of sins is possible and why he gave his perfect human life as a ransom to buy back humanity from under Adam's sin.
So no jealousy on my part.
2007-10-17 11:56:00 · answer #5 · answered by grnlow 7 · 12⤊ 0⤋
John 3:13
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man"
Acts 2:34
"For David did not ascend to heaven"
This scripture shows you that no man has went to Heaven prior to Jesus Christ. So that means faithful men such as Job, Abraham, Moses, David ect. did not goto Heaven but are waiting for their resurrection on a the Paradise Earth.
If everyone went to Heaven, then the resurrection on the final day (Armageddon) of the righteous would be pointless.
John 5:28-29
28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Most Jehovah's Witnesses aren't expecting to go to Heaven, because they know thats not their place. Heaven is only for the ones that will judge the ones on the Paradise earth and reign with Christ forever.
1 Corinthians 6:2
2 Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you unqualified for the lowest law courts?
Revelation 20:4
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:5
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with
Him for a thousand years.
The Bible is who goes to heaven, and its not for everyone but but only for the 144,000.
About the Paradise Earth:
Isaiah 45:18
18 For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the [true] God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.
Psalm 37:9-11
9 For evildoers themselves will be cut off,
But those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.
10 And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more;
And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be.
11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.
Difference Between Heavenly Class and Earthly Class.
Luke 12:32
“Have no fear, little flock, because YOUR Father has approved of giving YOU the kingdom.
John 10:16
"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and THEY WILL BECOME ONE FLOCK with one shepherd.
Romans 8:17
If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together.
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.”
2007-10-17 11:53:24 · answer #6 · answered by VMO 4 · 9⤊ 1⤋
I do not want to go to heaven. I like living on the earth enjoying all the good things Jehovah has created for us to enjoy but it will be even better as there will be no sickness, no pain, no outcry no death.
I have no desire to be one of the 144,000 and Jehovah has not given me that desire either but will give me and millions of others happiness even now of the hope of living on a paradise earth.
2007-10-18 03:31:49 · answer #7 · answered by jehovahboffin 1 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Wooden_Mammoth -
It's one flock serving God (one flock with two "folds"). It's a gathering of two sheeplike classes of people into “one flock". The bible clearly says that there's going to be a "little flock" AND a "great crowd" serving God, wouldn't that be a contradiction if the bible was describing just ONE type of people?
A servant of God apprerciates anything they are given, whether it be life in heaven, or on earth.
A position in heaven isn't earned, it's not up to oneself, it's up to God who chooses. I guess a lot depends on ones personality/nature and suitability. One things for sure, God will not pick people who are proud, but rather people who put others first.
2007-10-18 05:03:35 · answer #8 · answered by Paul S 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
1) Nope! not in the least.
2) God choses.
(there's more to it,
I'm just keeping the answers simple & to the point)
3) working harder, has nothing what~so~ever
to do w/ the outworking of God's purposes*.
either you are chosen to rule w/ Christ
as kings and priests or not.
3) If you are Anointed w/ Jehovah's holy spirit,
You Will Know It.
No worries about it, its not by works.
* If God wanted to He could raise up stones, to do His will.
2007-10-18 04:19:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
No.
Jehovah's Witnesses with an earthly hope really and truly do not covet the heavenly hope of their anointed brothers and sisters. If anything, they are humbled at all that the anointed must sacrifice, and grateful for the promise of eternal perfect life in a paradise earth.
When anti-Witnesses pretend that there are not two groups of Christians, one cannot help but recall Jesus' own words...
(Luke 12:32) Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom [to administer].
(John 10:16) And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
2007-10-17 14:01:18 · answer #10 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 10⤊ 1⤋