I am sure I read a Watchtower recently that left open the question whether Jehovah would take some of the "ancient worthies" (as they used to call them) to live in heaven with Jesus and 144 000 after they are resurrected to the earth. Did anyone else come across anything like that in a recent magazine? I know this is not a new idea, since a magazine in the 70s talked about this possibility when discussing Hebrews 11 and 12, but it would seem quite a departure if they were being more open on this subject now.
Abraham and Noah Go to Geaven According to the Watchtower?
by slimboyfat 2 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
AlmostAtheist
"Quite a departure" indeed! I haven't seen anything like this ever. Is the older reference you mentioned available somewhere, Quotes site maybe?
Dave
-
Atlantis
slimboyfat:
I don't know if this is what your looking for or not, but if not--then I'll keep looking!
Proclaimers book page 161 They also thought that perhaps—just perhaps—the “ancient worthies” who would serve as princes on the earth during the millennial era would, at the end of that time, somehow be granted heavenly life. (Ps. 45:16) They reasoned that a similar prospect might await any who “consecrated” themselves after the 144,000 Kingdom heirs had all been finally chosen but before the time of restitution on earth began. In a limited way, this was a carryover from Christendom’s view that all those who are good enough go to heaven. But there was a belief that the Bible Students cherished from the Scriptures that set them apart from all of Christendom. What was that? Watchtower-1964-December-1st-page-724 For many years Christian Bible students understood the “resurrection of life” to include (1) the church or congregation of the 144,000 joint heirs of Christ, and (2) an unnumbered “great company” of spiritual Christians not included in the 144,000 but serving under them in heaven, and (3) the so-called “ancient worthies,” the ones spoken of in Hebrews 11:1 to 12:1. For example, see the book The New Creation, published in 1904, page 709, paragraph 2; page 707, paragraph 1, and its footnote.