In the Revelation bookstudy this week, there was a subtle suggestion of another fundamental difference between members of the 144,000 and the Great Crowd:
*** re chap. 9 p. 46 pars. 19-21 Holding Fast to Jesus’ Name ***
Jesus said that his anointed followers who conquer would eat "the hidden manna." Like Christ before them, they get to enter, "not into a holy place made with hands, which is a copy of the reality, but into heaven itself." (Hebrews 9:12, 24) At their resurrection, they put on incorruption and immortality—a marvelous provision of Jehovah, symbolized by their being given the imperishable "hidden manna." How privileged that small group of overcomers is!—1 Corinthians 15:53-57.
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These also receive "a white pebble." In Roman courts, pebbles were used in passing judgment. A white pebble meant acquittal, whereas a black pebble meant condemnation, often to death. Jesus’ giving "a white pebble" to the Christians in Pergamum would indicate that he adjudges them innocent, pure, and clean. But Jesus’ words may have a further meaning. In Roman times, pebbles were also used like tickets to gain entry to important events. So the white pebble may indicate something very special for the conquering anointed Christian—his being admitted to an honored place in heaven at the marriage of the Lamb. Only 144,000 such pebbles are provided.—Revelation 14:1; 19:7-9.21
Does this mean that you are left unconsidered if you are one of the great crowd of companion worshipers? Not at all! While not receiving the white pebble of admittance into heaven, you may, if you endure, come out of the great tribulation to have a part in the joyful work of restoring Paradise on earth. Sharing with you in this will be resurrected faithful ones from pre-Christian times and those of the other sheep who may have died more recently. Eventually, all the other redeemed dead will be favored with a resurrection to life on a paradise earth.—Psalm 45:16; John 10:16; Revelation 7:9, 14.
In essence, what I get from this is that the Anointed are already judged to be righteous (as per the words of Paul), while the Great Crowd is not.
Originally, Russell's teaching on all consecrated Christians was that they were already imputed with righteousness and perfection, legally speaking, through the merit of Christ's ransom. Meanwhile, mankind outside of the "church" would have to wait until the Millennium to receive the merit of the Ransom throughout the course of the 1000 years.
So in today's context, doesn't this mean that the Anointed have already received the merit of the Ransom, while the Great Crowd has not? The anointed are declared righteous, and the Great Crowd has not? That, to me, is a HUGE difference between the two classes, in contrast to claims by the WTS to the contrary.
M.J.