by mentallyfree31 20 Replies latest jw friends
What do you think will happen to the 144,000 belief as the years progress? Will the WTS convert that to a "figurative" number and leave it open-ended? Or will they come up with another date and insist that anybody after that date should not partake?
It's a real issue that they will HAVE to face eventually. Especially since the number of partakers is going up the last few years.
What do YOU think?
-mentallyfree31-
I don't even know what the teaching is now. How have they addressed the increasing number of partakers?
They've already changed the 144 000 issue once, concerning 'other sheep'. Its just new light. New light could easily be acknowledging that 144 000 is a figurative number.
Outlaw is right. They can put any spin they want on it and people will believe them.
Tammy
I am sure by then they will stop using the bible all together and use the watchtower bound volumes 1990-2005 will be the new bible.
Nothing will ever happen to the teaching of the 144,000 imo. Why change? As time passes, people will start to believe that the replacements are being replaced when someone in the year 2065 proclaims they are now of the annointed. I'm sure that more judgement and more scrutiny will be passed on to those who believe they are receiving the heavenly calling though and many will become afraid to partake for fear of this judgement.
At some point over the next decade or two, they will have to address the issue of the 144,000. I'm sure that they will have to admit that it is a figurative number, which is how it is presented in Revelations.
12 is one of the perfect numbers, like 7 and 10. 12 tribes, 12 months, 12 apostles, etc.
1000 is another multiple of a perfect number 10X10X10 = 1000
12 x 1000 = 12,000 a multiple of two perfect numbers
12 x 12,000 = 144,000 a multiple of 3 perfect numbers.
From the description of the 144,000, it would seem that the writer is trying to say that it was a huge gathering, but not unlimited, with representatives from all the tribes of Israel, God's chosen nation. The whole thing is figurative.
The issue of the value of 144K has long been questioned. Since several hundred thousands of early Christians were massacred by the Romans for 300 years, and then all of the free-thinkers and heretics of the times of the Catholic Inquisitions - easily were in the thousands. The new DVD tries to include men like Luther, Zvingli, Tyndale, Wycliffe, Newton, and Calvin in amongst the "true followers of Christianity" (questionable on many levels), then you have to include their followers and people like the Anabaptists and Hugenots.
There was absolutely no Biblical support for 1935 being the cutoff date for the chosing of the Anointed - and there really isn't any for the hard number of 144,000. Plus the 144,000 were all supposed to be male virgins and the children of Israel (Jewish).
I really think that we will see some sort of revivalist or reformation movement in the WT sometime in the future.
Thanks for the comments. I wonder if the GB has even thought of this yet.
-MF31-
If they revise the 144k to a figurative #, that will open a whole new can of worms. They do that and you will see the # of partakers skyrocket the following year. It would be a major change that will send shockwaves throughout. I think a lot of people would get awakened by a change such as that.
1914, 114k (literal), living on a paradise earth forever, blood xfusion doctrine etc, any radical change to those would be epic. It would necessitate a reformation of the organization.
I also think (imo) that any reformation or radical change would see another exodus of large proportions. Again, just my 2 cents.
The org will make the number 144,000 symbolic...but it won't make a difference. This will only be so they can appoint more to the GB when necessary..(made possible by dumping the 1935 date). They will still continue to stress 'other sheep'/earthly hope...and that is what most will feel they are.
