Hello everyone,
after reading from "The Watchtower" February 15, 2003
page 20, paragraph 11 :
"By the 1930's , then, it was becoming clear that, in general,
the heavenly class had been chosen. For decades now, the
search has been for other sheep, whose hope is earthly.
If an anointed ones proves unfaithful, it is most likely
that a person who has long served God faithfully as one
of the other sheep would be called to fill the vacancy thus
caused in the 144,000".
It is not the first time the WTBS, hammers on this
specific subjetct. Please, let's consider the following:
*** uw 112 14 'I Make a Covenant With You for a Kingdom' ***
(published by the WTBS in 1983 )
7 Does this mean that none are now being called by God for heavenly life? Until the final sealing is done, it is possible that some few who have that hope may prove unfaithful, and others will have to be chosen
to take their place. But it seems reasonable that this would be a rare occurrence."
*** w91 3/15 22 Who Really Have a Heavenly Calling? ***
But what if an anointed Christian proved unfaithful and a replacement was needed? Then it would be reasonable to conclude that God would give the heavenly calling to someone who had been exemplary in rendering faithful service to our heavenly Father for very many years.
*** w92 6/15 23 Fishing for Men in Global Waters *** Progress in the Global Fishing Work
5 Most of the anointed Kingdom heirs were fished from the nations prior to 1935, so their full number has basically been completed. Therefore, especially since 1935, Jehovahs Witnesses have been seeking those humble persons who might be described as meek ones who will possess the earth. (Psalm 37:11, 29)
*** w96 8/15 30 Questions From Readers
"The reports for some years show that the number partaking of the Memorial emblems increased slightly. Does this suggest that many new ones are being anointed with holy spirit?
There is good reason to believe that the number of 144,000 anointed Christians was complete decades ago. "
*** w96 8/15 31 Questions From Readers ***
"We understand that this heavenly calling continued down through the centuries, though during the so-called Dark Ages, there may have been times when the number of anointed ones were very few. With the reestablishment of true Christianity near the end of the last century, more were called and chosen. But it seems that in the mid-1930s, the full number of the 144,000 was basically completed. "
*** dp 305 17 Identifying True Worshipers in the Time of the End ***
( published by the WTBS in 1999)
"Wonderful blessings await the great crowd, who join this dwindling anointed class in serving Jehovah. "
*** w99 2/1 19 Our Treasure in Earthen Vessels ***
[Box on page 19] No More Additions!
At a Gilead graduation in 1970, Frederick Franz, then vice-president of the Watch Tower Society, told the students of the possibility that they, who were all of the other sheep with earthly hopes, might baptize someone who might claim to be of the anointed remnant. Could this happen? Well, he explained that John the Baptist was of the other sheep, and he baptized Jesus and some of the apostles. Then he went on to ask whether there still was a call for gathering in more of the remnant. No, no more additions! he said. That call ended way back there in 1931-35! There are no more additions. Who, then, are the few newly associated ones who are partaking of the Memorial emblems? If they are of the remnant, they are replacements! They are, not additions to the ranks of the anointed, but replacements for those who may have fallen away.
***"The Watchtower " January 15 th ,2000, pages 13 18
"Sixth, the number of genuine anointed disciples of Christ is dwindling, though some will evidently still be on earth when the great tribulation begins. Most of the remnant are quite elderl, and over the years the number of those who are truly anointed has been getting smaller. Yet, referring to the great tribulation , Jesus stated:" Unless those days were
cut short , no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones
those days will be cut short."(Matthew 24:21,22) Evidently , then, some
of Christ's "chosen ones" will still be on earth when the great tribulation begins.*
*In the parable of the sheep and the goatsThis standard for judgement
wolud be meaningless if at the time of judgement, all of Christ's brothers had long since left the earthly scene.- Matthew 25:31-46
***"The Watchtower" January 15 th , 2000 page 16 11
"It seems that by the year 1935, the general ingathering of the anointed
was complete"*
*See The Watchtower, February 15, 1998, pages 17-22
*** w98 2/15 19-20 Glorious Freedom Soon for the Children of God *** .
7 God began to bring many sons to glory with the outpouring of holy spirit at Pentecost 33 C.E., and he apparently set a time for completing the spiritual Israel of God totaling 144,000. (Hebrews 2:10; Galatians 6:16; Revelation 7:1-8)
Beginning in 1879, a harvest work involving anointed Christians was often mentioned in this magazine. But the Bible Students (now called Jehovahs Witnesses) also knew that the Scriptures hold out the hope of eternal life on a paradise earth.
8 Particularly since 1931 have those with the earthly hope been associating with the Christian congregation. In that year, Jehovah enlightened the remnant of spirit-begotten Christians to see that Ezekiel chapter 9 refers to this earthly class, who are being marked for survival into Gods new world.
In 1932 it was concluded that such present-day sheeplike ones were prefigured by Jehus associate Jonadab (Jehonadab). (2 Kings 10:15-17) In 1934 it was made clear that Jonadabs should consecrate, or dedicate, themselves to God.
In 1935 the great multitude , or great crowdformerly thought to be a secondary spiritual class that would be companions of the bride of Christ in heavenwas identified as other sheep having an earthly hope. (Revelation 7:4-15; 21:2, 9; Psalm 45:14, 15) And especially since 1935 have anointed ones been spearheading a search for upright people yearning to live forever on a paradise earth.
10 Suppose an anointed one became unfaithful. Would there be a replacement? Paul indicated as much in his discussion of the symbolic olive tree. (Romans 11:11-32) If a spirit-begotten one needs to be replaced, likely God would give the heavenly calling to someone whose faith had been exemplary in rendering sacred service to him for many years.Compare Luke 22:28, 29; 1 Peter 1:6, 7.
.
Now after all these quote, let's finally see the WTBS ' own
printed figures:
All the figures quoted are from the " Yearbooks " and are all - additions - to the number of the " anointed christians "
1946.5,263
1964. 661
1970 158
1973..173..
1974.. 200
1981.. 37
1985.. 20
1989 . 49
1990 .135
199310
1995.28
1996112
1997 38
2001.69
2002.30
In conclusion 6,983 "new anointed " as replacement from 1946
is to be considered as " a rare occurrence " ???
Now if we see the actual figures , by decade we have the following:
***year 1935..anointed remnant .52,465
" 1945. " " 22,324
" 1955 " " 16,815
" 1965 .. " " . 11,550
" 1975 . " " . 10,550
" 1985 . " " .. 9,051
" 1995 . " " . 8,645
" 2000. " " ... ..8,661
and figures for the last two years:
"2001" " 8,730
"2002" ".8,760
Yet with these figures , the WTBS
continues to claim: " this dwindling anointed class"!!!
What kind of "dwindling anointed class" can it be , if
from the year 1988 to the year 2002 the number of
anointed remnant has gone UP from :
8,685 ( year 1988) to 8,760 (year 2002) !!!
So, clearly stated 75 "anointed remnant " more
in the last ..14 years!!!
To add another "dimension" here below is the
age of the "anointed ones " serving at the moment
as members of the "Governing Body ":
Carey Barber b 1905
Lyman Swingle..b 1910
Albert Schroeder.. b 1911
John Barr b 1913
Daniel Sydlik.b 1919
Milton Henschel b 1920
Theodore Jaraczb 1924
Guy Pierce b 1934
(borne 1 year before end of heavenly calling ")
*Samuel Herd .b 1935 (b. same year " " " )
*Gerritt Losch ..b 1941 (b. 6 years after " " ")
*David Splane . b 1944 (b. 9 " " " " ")
*Stephen Lett.b 1949 (b. 14 " " " " ")
These informations calls for more observations:
First , notice that these four new members :
**all 4 are borne from 1934/1935 onward;
**all 4 have been pioneers;
**all 4 have served as "Circuit overseer "
**all 4 were serving at the "Bethel " (N.Y. )
at the time of their official appointment
as "new members of the Governing Body ".
The " surprise announcement " was made
to the 10,594 in attendance or connected
by tie line at the annual meeting of the
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
of Pennsylvania on October 2 nd 1999.-
( Information published on " The Watchtower"
January 1 st , 2000 page 29).
Second, when Samuel Herd , the first one
among these 4 , started the "pioneer service"
in 1958, there were 15,037 members of
"the anointed remnant" .
When the last one , of these 4 - Guy Pierce-
started the "pioneer service" in 1982, there were
9,529 members of "the anointed remnant" still
living on this planet.
Personally I do find very, very strange - just
to use correct words - that among the thousands
faithful "anointed " Christians still living on earth ,
specifically to these four , " God would give the
heavenly calling " and even more the same four
are selectedagain " by Jehovah" to be part
of." the Governing Body"!
In conclusion, will this . " anointed remnant "
saga ever reach its end???
Thanks for your patience and many greetings,
J.C.MacHislopp
"Veritas odium parit " (Terenzio, Andria, a.. I)