If Jehova's Witnesses believe only 144,000 people will go to Heaven,why are they recruiting?

Question

Seems like you would want to keep that a secret,so as not to accidentally recruit the guy who might take your spot in Heaven.

Answer 1

Yeah it doesn't make sense.
http://www.watchman.org/jw/1404-1.htm

Answer 2

They are cutting off their own legs when they preach that.

The WTS teaches that only the anointed 144,000 seen in Revelation 7 will enter heaven (the "anointed class"), while the remainder that are not annihilated (the "other sheep") will live forever on earth in paradise. However, the Bible poses some irreconcilable difficulties with this idea.

If Revelation 7 is to be taken literally, there would only be 144,000 Jewish male virgins taken from a square shaped earth that are now in heaven worshipping a sheep. This would mean that Peter (not a virgin), the Blessed Mother (not a male), and Charles Taze Russell (not a Jew) could not be in heaven. Reading one number literally while taking the rest of a book symbolically is not sound exegesis. Beyond this, we see in Revelation 14 that the 144,000 stand before the 24 elders from Revelation 4:4. This at least brings the grand total to 144,024 people. But, the Scriptures indicate that there are still more to come. Revelation 7:9 speaks of a countless multitude before the throne, which is in heaven (Rev. 14:2-3). Still in the book of Revelation, we read that all those with their name in the book of life are in heaven (Rev. 21:27), while all whose names are not in the book of life are thrown into the pool of fire (Rev. 20:15). There is no third "earthly" class. Jesus reiterates this, and never speaks of two flocks. He has one bride, whose "reward is great in heaven" (Luke 6:23). Paul even exhorts the Christian community, calling them to remember, "As for us, our citizenship exists in the heavens" (Phil. 3:20).

Answer 3

Lol... a person can't lose their hope to another person. They'd lose it by becoming unrepentant and drawing away from Jehovah God.

The majority of all Witnesses today look forward to living on a Paradise earth once wickedness is permanently removed. These ones will never go to Heaven which is okay because they don't want to. If they die before the Paradise Earth comes about, and they are in God's memory, they'll be resurrected to life on that perfect planet (THIS planet).
We go out in Service to share this great news with people. "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in heaven also upon the earth"-- Matthew 6:9 People pray for this all the time.
Jehovah God created Adam and Eve to live in Paradise not in Heaven. His will has not changed.

Answer 4

Before you make a statement like this, why don't you learn about the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses first? All Jehovah's Witnesses know where they are going, and most Jehovah's Witnesses know they won't goto Heaven. Those who aren't going to Heaven will be on the Paradise Earth, which the Bible clearly states.

Answer 5

That's a good question. The 144,000 actually refers to the Jewish Remnant which will come out of the Tribulation, and will be marked with the name of God on their foreheads. These aren't the only people going to heaven, though. They will be the last ones, though. Others will be anyone who accepted Jesus as their Savior, and were raptured.

Answer 6

I asked some Jehovah witnesses that I know the same question and did not get an affirmative answer. It seemed that they realy rely on blind faith. There are an number of discrepancies like the age of the earth according to them is only 2646 years old. And how do they swear off participation in government but except Employment benefits, Social security and such. Ikknow people how are JW's and are on wellfare. it makes no sense to me.

Answer 7

Because to my understanding, the 144,000 that are to go to Heaven are those who are to be with GOD and Jesus, in Heaven...

The other sheep, which is my hope for my family and myself, and all other people is to live on earth in a place we only to this point hope to see... "It is called Paradise..."

The 144,000 are those to be GODS chosen ones to be with Jesus... So as now we have a corrupted Government full of flaws, Jesus's Government will NOT FAIL...

Answer 8

LOL good question, but they believe everyone else will stay here on the earth. O, wait that there will be a new earth and that is where everyone that does not make it to heaven will go. They also do not believe in hell, they think hell is your grave.

Answer 9

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 10

strangely enough there are millions yet only 144k go?
hmmmmmmmm.
i do enjoy arguing with relatives that are JW's though. ha ha ha.what fun!

it's like the 72 virgins for the muslims. the same broads for millions of dudes? they're gonna be worn out by the time the last homicide bomber murders a bunch of iraqi children. sloppy 10 millionths?

Answer 11

They like the competition--whoever is the most annoying JW gets into heaven.