They may very well change the number to symbolic, while stressing the 'earthly hope'. The members follow what they are spoon-fed, so even this change would be glossed over as a minor change.
WT Mar 15th 2012 - 144,000 no longer a literal number?
by dozy 81 Replies latest watchtower bible
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wha happened?
ok that sounds more like a clean transition for them. Number ambiguous, but the majority still earth bound. We see it as tap dancing the numbers, dubs see it as refinement and new light
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minimus
I think that JWs could be told, it's a matter of conscience if you believe you are going to heaven and that we should not judge our fellow brother or sister if they believed they had the heavenly hope......Oh, wait a minute! They are already saying this.
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james_woods
I can honestly tell you that in a congregation overseers school in 1970, I was told directly (in class) by former GB member Albert Schroeder that when "new light" was about to be revealed, the writing department would get letters from the annointed all over the world with the rudiments of the idea.
I thought it was probably BS at the time, but that used to really be the teaching.
Now, nobody of the annointed matters except for the all-important council of cardinals.
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isaacaustin
They would continue teaching as is- live forever on earth...and call the number 144,000 symbolic but not give it much attention at all. If they gave it too much attention and a great number would believe they are of the 'heavenly hope' they would then need to address the question of whom the annointed would rule over- since the WT teaches the annointed rule from heaven over those of the earthly hope.
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wha happened?
good point. Both of these groups need to be in place for their doctrine. It's nice to see man made doctrine ram rodded into the bible. Jehovah appreciattes that
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Quendi
bookmark
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donuthole
My uninspired prediction is that they'll keep the literal number but stop reporting the current partakers. The idea will be to make being "anointed" not a big deal, in keeping the trend we have seen the past couple of years where the GB is drawing a line between themselves and other "anointed" ones. I think Jesus prophecy about the FDS will be reinterpreted as follows:
FDS = Governing Body
Domestics = Anointed
Belongings = Great Crowd -
seenitall
Here is the answer in the QFR 1952:
Questions From Readers
? According to the article "Hated for His Name" in the September 1, 1951, Watchtower, hundreds of thousands of Christians died in the "ten persecutions" starting in Nero's time, 144,000 dying in Egypt alone during one of the persecutions. How can this be harmonized with the Scriptural limitation of 144,000 placed on the number being in Christ's body, and which position was the only one open to Christians during those centuries?-J.A., Dominican Republic.
The article did not class with any finality the individuals that died during these persecutions, but spoke of the results in a general way. Note that a key qualification was made in the case referred to in the question: "In the province of Egypt alone, 144,000 such professed Christians died by violence in the course of this persecution, in addition to another 700,000 who died as a result of fatigues encountered in banishment or under enforced public works." The victims are identified as "professed Christians", not Christians in fact. Many of those persons might have been caught in the wave of persecution, but may never have actually preached the truth or followed in Jesus' footsteps, being only professed Christians. They knew the world they lived in was rotten and they were listening to the message of the Christians and willing to die for it even though not in line for the high calling in Christ Jesus. Many professed Christians today might be willing to die for their faith, but still not be Jesus' footstep followers and meeting the Scriptural requirements for such.Professed Christians?????
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seenitall
Found another QFR that uses a few catch phrases:
? Why do Jehovah's witnesses take the number 144,000 at Revelation 7 literally and not symbolically as they do other numbers in the book of Revelation?-G. S., U.S.A.
Not all the numbers in the book of Revelation are to be understood symbolically. The seven seals and seven bowls were literally seven, as shown by Light, Books I and II. (Rev. 5:1; 16:1) The forty-two months and the 1,260 days had literal fulfillments, even as will the thousand years of Christ's reign. (Rev. 11:2; 12:6; 20:2, 3, 6, 7) As for the number 144,000 it is reasonable to take this number literally because of its being contrasted with the "great crowd" that no man was able to number. (Rev. 7:9) Further, at Revelation 14:1, 3, we read of Jesus Christ as standing upon the mount Zion together with 144,000 others. The 144,000 would logically be as literal as the 1, making a total of 144,001 standing upon the mount. Besides, why give such a large and specific number if it does not impart information?
Apparently those who have difficulty in accepting this number as being literal are those who believe that heaven is the destiny of all gaining salvation. However, when we realize that only the spiritual seed of Abraham, Christ and those who "belong to Christ," will receive the heavenly reward, whereas the vast majority of humankind will enjoy everlasting life on earth as members of all the nations that will bless themselves in Abraham's seed, then the number 144,000 presents no problem. (Gen. 22:17, 18; Gal. 3:16, 29) Further, did not Jesus state that the number of those gaining the heavenly reward would be small? "Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom." Compared to the billions of mankind that will eventually fill the earth, the 144,000 are relatively few.-Luke 12:32.Note the words - "reasonable", "logically", "apparently"
Other words often used are - "appears", "seems likely"