Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the 144,000 form the "New Heavens", they are the "New Jerusalem", and the only ones who are "born again" and "kings and priests", the only ones who will be in the Kingdom of Heaven.
John 1:12 says: "As many as received Him to them he gave the right to become the children of God, even those who believe on His name".
1 John 5:1 reads: "Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God".
Revelation 22:17 states: "And whoever desires let him take the water of life freely".
Romans 8:14-16 tells us that "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God..." Even the New World Translation agrees with this passage when it says that "all" who are led by the Spirit of God receive adoption and are reborn as God's children. (Rom 8:14 NWT).
Does this mean that those not of the 144,000 have not received the Spirit of God? Romans 8:9 tells us "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" or as the NWT puts it: "if anyone does not have Christ's Spirit, this one does not belong to him." He is in the flesh rather than in the Spirit and therefore cannot please God, no matter how hard he tries.
Since the "great crowd" are not in the new covenant, (Watchtower, Feb 15, 1986, pp 14,15) they are not part of those for whom Christ shed His blood. They are condemned to a life of works (law) in order to please God and are doomed to failure. The new covenant tells us that all who have "ceased from their works" (Hebrews 4:10, "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.") and who have come to Christ by faith, (Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.") are covered by the blood of Christ, are born again of the Spirit and are led by the Spirit of God. For those who remain in the old covenant, there is no salvation, for the Bible clearly tells us that the old covenant of works, for righteousness before God, is done away with by the shed blood of Christ.
In contrast to the Bible which exhorts us to put our faith in Christ, the great crowd are exhorted to stay close to those of the 144,000 as a means to salvation, and indeed to "put faith in a victorious organisation" (WT March 1, 1979). The Watchtower of Nov 15, 1981 also states: "come to Jehovah's organisation for salvation". Does the Bible say to come to an organisation? NO, the Bible tells us simply to come to CHRIST. No one requires an organisation or those of the 144,000 to be a mediator between them and God, for all men already have a mediator, Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"). To place anyone or anything else in between man and God is idolatry.
The Watchtower goes on to say: "To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organisation and serve God as part of it." (WT Feb 15, 1983, p 12). Where in the Bible are we told to become part of an organisation in order to receive salvation? John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him" (not an organisation) "might be saved." John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 16:30-31, "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Interestingly, the Watchtower contradicts itself because in an earlier edition we are told: "If one renders obedient service to someone or some organisation, whether willingly or under compulsion, looking up to such as possessing a position of superior rulership and great authority, then that one can Scripturally be said to be a worshiper." (WT Sept 1, 1961, p525) Either this comment is saying that we *are* to worship the Organisation behind Jehovah's Witnesses (which is blasphemy) or it is saying that we *should not* put our faith in an Organisation in place of Christ alone.
What about the "little flock"? (Luke 12:32) And the fact that the Bible says that "narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it"? (Matt 7:13,14)
Only two groups are mentioned in the passage in Matthew, the few and the many. The few being those who find the way to life, the many being those who are on the broad road to destruction. The few of every generation will become a great crowd: "And after these things, I looked and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb......" (Rev 7:9)
What does it mean in this passage to be before the throne? Verse 15 goes on to say that "they are before the throne of God and serve Him night and day in His temple". The Greek word for temple is that which is used for the inner sanctuary, the "naos". In Jewish temples, the "naos" or inner sanctuary was the Most Holy place, directly in the presence of God.
The passages in Revelation 7 and 14 which speak of the 144,000 are part of a very symbolic book. Jehovah's Witnesses are happy to interpret the number 144,000 literally, but understand the "twelve tribes of Israel" mentioned in the very same verses to be symbolic. And yet, the passages speak of 144,000 out of the twelve tribes of Israel. Either both are literal, or both are symbolic. In which case, the number 144,000 relates to literal Jews.
So then, Is the Kingdom of Heaven limited to the first 144,000 believers? No.
