If the big change at the AGM meeting is dropping the literal 144,000...

by slimboyfat 88 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Listener

  From the Watchtower 66 3/15

  "And with him a hundred and forty-four thousand.”

  This is the number of the associates with Christ in his heavenly rulership, once stated as a number as unknown to man as the stars of heaven and the sands of the seashore, but here revealed. That it is a literal number is shown in Revelation chapter 7, where, after giving the definite number of 144,000, at verse 9 it speaks of another group, a “great crowd” whom no man was able to number. The number 144,000 could not be symbolic, for, if so, it would mean nothing. It might as well have no number at all, for there would be no contrast between it and the later-mentioned “great crowd,” which is numberless"
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  wolfman85

  IMHO the change could be that since the book of Revelation describes events of future times, the 144,000 could refer to the number of anointed from 1914 onwards only, and not to all the anointed from 33 AD.
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  Doubting Bro

  SBF - I agree with the premise of your OP. They only change things when they get enough pressure and they have no choice. I think they will drop the 144k literal teaching but not sure if they are going to do it now. That seems like one of those changes they would just slip through via a QFR or slip into the middle of a WT study.

  I don't think that would have much impact on the average witness.
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  XBEHERE

  Well, I hope it's something big, but I won't get my hopes up. I am sure the meeting will be all about how progressive the ORG is, and include lots of stories about foreign assignments. That's where the growth is after all. It will be love, love, the end is soon, ORG, ORG, GB/FDS loyalty, ect. I am sure they will toot their horns and ask for money too.

  I agree. Although part of me wonders if they will change more doctrine in time for perhaps a revised Revelation book this summer? Who knows
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  wallsofjericho

  Sounds like they're opening the door to first century Christians having the earthly hope, which would make sense if they're going to redefine the 144,000 completely.

  

  WHA WHA WHAT??? OMG I have never even entertained this concept... this could actually happen?? wow! This so doable for the GB right now

  I, I, I'm speechless!
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  donuthole

  Many of the recent changes have served to elevate/promote the Governing Body in order to consolidate/protect power. Example: FDS no longer "all anointed" but exclusively the Governing Body. It there is a change to the 144k, I believe it will follow this trend.
  
  My guess is that the 144,000 will also be linked exclusively with the Governing Body and those chosen by them via a symbolic "laying on of hands", i.e. headquarter appointment. They can pick and choose their anointed among real "company men" who are taking the lead. This will also widen the pool of candidates for future governing body appointment.
  
  There is an easy Bible basis for this. The Governing Body has already linked themselves to the apostles. In the Bible ones are anointed by the "laying on of hands" by the apostles. The "laying on of hands" also served to distinguish someone set apart for special service, such as when Paul was dispatched on a missionary assignment.
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  Iown Mylife

  What AnnOMaly said...that the partaking and being anointed creates a separation (paraphrasing), i think that is right on.

  Also, the decisions way back to eliminate Christmas, birthdays, etc. - seems to me frees up more money for contributing to the WT, was the main reason! The secondary reason was to create hatred of JW deliberately, isolating them more from normal society. (Which is one of the warning signs of an abuser, isolation.)
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  Londo111

  Now that they are essentially teaching the Rapture, I could see them saying that the 144000 will be the number (or symbolic number) of the Annointed at the time of the Great Tribulation. This moves them more in line with the Dispensationalists.
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  Laika

  If this happens I wonder if they'll stop counting partakers as the number will shoot up again.
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  wallsofjericho

  If this happens I wonder if they'll stop counting partakers as the number will shoot up again.

  I think the reason they would shift to an aliteral 144k is for exactly that purpose.... to give them a reason to stop counting