Rumour 144,000 literal number teaching to be abandoned at Annual Meeting

by slimboyfat 135 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  TonusOH

  It's funny, I had jokingly wondered recently as to what they would do if the number of partakers grew larger than 144,000.

  The problem with end-times groups is that they tend to set doctrines, policies, and expectations based on the idea that the end will arrive soon. Over time, some of those teachings become untenable and must be modified or discarded, but the core idea of the end being near must not be abandoned. Many times, they go from a strict interpretation to "it's a conscience matter" or "we just don't know." The results are sometimes comical, and sometimes tragic (the stance on blood transfusions is an example of the latter).

  When the number of partakers began to stall --and even increase-- they had to do something about it. So they said "it's not for us to say." The number really ballooned after that, and must be a constant source of frustration for them. So it doesn't surprise me if they say "new light- it's a symbolic number." But now, watch for the number of partakers to increase quickly and substantially over the next few years. The next step would be for them to stop reporting the number of partakers, once they realize how bad it has gotten.
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  slimboyfat

  FFGhost good point, why would they state the number in the QFR if they were planning on dropping it? This is probably a false alarm.
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  hannes

  The doctrine in itself was always erroneous and counter Scripture.

  He, John, heard twelve tribes named and their number: Israel as counted by God.

  After that he sees: a huge crowd of people from all nations and tribes and languages and dialects that he (and no man) was able to count.

  They are the same. They are (in) the Holy of the Temple, ΕΝ ΤΟ ΝΑΟΣ, in the dwelling of God, regarded like Israel, by appearance from all the tribes (!) and all nations.

  Messiah is Ό ΕΡΧΟΜΕΝΟΣ, the Coming One. He will be with our humankind as the Son of Man.

  We who shall be with him will be like trees planted along streams of water giving leaves that wither not for healing to the nations, for freedom of creation to be children of God.

  The number is the ΠΛΕΡΟΜΑ pleroma a man named Paul (Shaŭl) was hinting at in one of his letters, and a Shimon (Petros) might have been estimating at when he addressed Jerusalem to return so that the Heavens would return her Messiah who they had cut off from the Land (that was his own) and then He would restore its wealth and its beauty and its life anew.
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  DesirousOfChange

  It would be such a shit storm if they officially were to state it as symbolic, or even just say "we just don't know". If that were to happen, each Cong would have to start buying Memorial wine by the case.

  Much easier to just not speak of it anymore. (Kinda like the 7000 year long creative days.)

  
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  BoogerMan

  @ SBF -

  The Watchtower—Study Edition | May 2024

  "A limited number, 144,000 in all, of Christ’s faithful followers will receive a resurrection to immortal life in heaven."

  By coincidence, this is the, "What we know/what we don't know" issue.
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  Beth Sarim

  TonusOH

  Yes. The partakers of memorial emblems could now soon balloon exponentially.

  And the problem with end times groups they move the goalposts.

  They will gaslight and say "we never said.....".

  Please do hang on to older WT literature. In earnest!!!
• 

  blondie

  Of course, if the number of partakers zooms to over 144,000...
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  Longlivetherenegades

  It will be one key doctrines Christendom will really get back at them considering the fact they always say the numbers going to heaven is limited to 144,000
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  Beth Sarim

  Blondie

  "" zooms"""

  Emphasis on the word ""zoom""" LoL.

  
  
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  Journeyman

  Interesting. I don't know anything about this rumour, but nothing would surprise me these days.
  
  The GB2.0 are piling on the changes, and if they're having a doctrinal "clear out", they might as well get on with it, take the membership hit, and then rebuild from there with just the core "faithful". It also gives them more substantial changes to show to the world that they are "reforming" (not that I believe it will do them any good and save them from the wrath of governments - in fact their teaching at the moment even expects that).

  Several on here have theorised before that they also want to get rid of the "dead wood" and "hangers-on" - the ones who are not 100% committed to obeying the current GB. Especially when it comes to giving money whenever asked and accepting any changes without question. The fact they even dumped one of their own might also be an indication that that's what's underway now.

  Having a bonfire of awkward doctrines now is a way to kill two birds with one stone, perhaps.