The two-tiered Christian system. WHY?!

by DATA-DOG 28 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  DATA-DOG

  The WTBTS asserts that the Great Crowd of [ other sheep ] teaching arose as an answer to the confusion of the rank-and-file, correct? What confusion? Does anyone know any specifics? Was there a clear demarcation between the Bible Students all professing the " high calling " to the teaching of " paradise earth?"

  I have been thinking about this lately. Was there really confusion over this by non-leaders? Or was it simply a matter of the WTBTS leadership failing to sound a distinct call? If the " confusion " was imagined.......

  Any thoughts?
• 

  BU2B

  DD, I believe this was because Russel originally did teach that only 144,000 was going to heaven. Once the Bible Students kept growing,and the end didnt come, and they werent raptured, they realized that all the new converts still joining could not be all going to heaven as there were too many of them to fit the number. Instead of admitting that the 144,000 is figurative, and not the number of all going to heaven, they(Rutherford) instead chose to change the doctrine to that the majority will live on the earth so therefore the two class system was born. They took unrelated scriptures, linking 144,000 with the little flock, and other sheep with great crowd, with no scriptural basis. They used an eisigieical approach, to make scriptures fit their Ideas. Buisness as usual.

  Russel did teach of the earth being populated, but this was because he didnt believe that everyone but his group would be destroyed, and didnt believe in narrow salvation. Rutherford introduced this concept. He also believed people who have died would all be resurected on earth and have a probation period to get their act together. The 144,000 would rule from heaven.

  That is my understanding of the development of this absurd concept.
• 

  DATA-DOG

  Hmm. I have to admit, the more I research things, the less I know. So where did CTR get his 144,000/literal number idea from in the first place? I will have to look that up.
• 

  suavojr

  It was just another way to keep the WT afloat and create momentum
• 

  suavojr

  This might help DD

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/128270/1/144000-Where-did-Russell-get-his-idea-and-what-do-other-religions-believe

  It looks like another Adventist beleif.
• 

  Phizzy

  Rutherford panicked when his membership was climbing beyond the magic 144,000. What to do ? deny it was a literal number ?

  Nah, the old soak decided that "divide and rule" was best, lets firmly make the "Jonadabs" a very different "class", gives the "Society" much more control.

  Fast forward to today, and Rutherford would be proud of the GB, they have just done another "divide and rule", now they have control firmly in their 16 (blood-soaked) hands.
• 

  DATA-DOG

  Thanks for the link! This site that I just found gave me some food for thought about the 144,000..

  http://mmoutreachinc.com/jehovahs_witnesses/jws_144000.html
• 

  prologos

  the wt has willing slaves because they make them believe that as a slave you are special, chosen, above the world.

  Originally, for the he little band of russel/rutherford followers was created the same fantacy with the exclusive "PARTAKING of the REMNANT" doctrine.

  Once the REMNANT became bigger than the total, the new R&F were told NOT to PARTAKE. in a hidden way.

  That is how the NON PARTAKING Class emerged, later called OTHER SHEEP, a title stolen frm the GENTILES that Jesus was really talking about. A new kind of special slaves, that have no right to live for 1000plus years and have to slave to earn their free salvation.

  a little bit like 1975, where the R&F willingly followed a tiny lead, one paragraph in a book, and the WT recognized a good thing when they saw it and rode the wave that they had created by the swell of all those that wanted so badly to be in the paradise.
• 

  DATA-DOG

  Prologos,

  Excellent point! The JW great crowd of [ other sheep ] can only gain salvation by being part of an Organization. Only by sticking close to the FDS class/ Governing Body can they have salvation. Even though God's word says that salvation only comes through Christ Jesus. Therefore they love a life of slavery to the Org/GB under the guise of showing appreciation to Jehovah.
• 

  heathen

  they then and still today refuse to acknowledge the truth about the LF . They still have dogma that is very similar to the rapture dogma of MS religion . The LF do have to die as martyrs as did jesus and the apostles , there's no dying of natural causes here . The whole last supper is entering into a martyr pact . The GC are promised the reward of never knowing death at all and surviving the chaotic end of the world .