This topic appeared as a subheading in a previous article entitled: “Christ Our Passover”. However, further thought and reflection has motivated me to expand a little more on it. Additionally, you will see at the conclusion, the study opened up more questions that needed to be explored. Hence this may turn out to be the first in a separate series of its own.
“and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom (Luke 22:29)
The Watchtower Society explains that the “covenant for a kingdom” is “a special covenant” between only Jesus and the 144,000 who will rule with him in his kingdom:
“On the night that Jesus instituted the Memorial of his death, he told his faithful apostles: “You are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.” -Luke 22:28-30. Jesus here referred to a special covenant that he made with his 144,000 spirit-begotten brothers, who would remain “faithful even to death” and prove themselves ‘conquerors.’—Revelation 2:10; 3:21.
Those of this limited group forgo all hopes of living forever on earth as humans of flesh and blood. They will reign with Christ in heaven, sitting on thrones to judge humankind. -Revelation 20:4, 6. Let us now examine other scriptures that apply only to these anointed ones and that show why the “other sheep” do not partake of the Memorial emblems.—John 10:16.” -The Watchtower February 15, 2006 page 22.
First of all, it should be noted that nowhere in Luke does the number 144,000 appear. The Watchtower society acknowledges that on the night of the final passover Jesus was speaking to only 11 of his disciples.[1] Secondly, why is John 10:16 cited here? Jesus says nothing about other sheep in this discussion. That discussion took place at the festival of dedication more than three months earlier.[2] When Jesus did speak about the other sheep in John chapter 10, he said nothing about their not partaking of the Memorial emblems. On the contrary, he said that they would all become one flock, under one shepherd. Also, nothing is said about how many would eventually “sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel”. The article then promises to examine other scriptures that apply only to these anointed ones. Yet Witnesses are taught that all Christians in the first century were anointed ones.[3]
Insight on the Scriptures states:
“In the Christian congregation all persons, regardless of their social status, enjoyed the same standing. All were anointed by the same spirit and thus shared in the same hope as members of one body. -1Corinthians 12:12, 13; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11. -Insight on the Scriptures volume 2 page 979.
Of course that would mean that any scripture chosen would have to apply to anointed Christians. However, it would also logically have to mean that there would be no scriptures that could possibly apply to a separate group. Hence anyone claiming that there is such a group would be unable to support that claim scripturally. They would be going beyond the things that are written. Paragraph 13 of the article then goes on to explain:
“Since sharing in the bread and wine passed during the Memorial involves all of this, it would obviously be inappropriate for those having an earthly hope to partake. Those with an earthly hope discern that they themselves are not anointed members of the body of Christ, nor are they in the new covenant that Jehovah made with those who will rule with Jesus Christ. Since “the cup” represents the new covenant, only those in the new covenant partake of the emblems. Those looking forward to everlasting life in human perfection on earth under the Kingdom are neither baptized into Jesus’ death nor called to rule with him in heaven. Were they to partake of the emblems, it would signify something that is not true with respect to them. Thus, they do not partake, though they do attend the Memorial as respectful observers. They are thankful for all that Jehovah has done for them by means of his Son, including the extending of forgiveness on the basis of Christ’s shed blood.” -The Watchtower February 15, 2006 page 24 paragraph 13.
As for the statements “it would obviously be inappropriate for those having an earthly hope to partake”, “they themselves are not anointed members of the body of Christ”, “nor are they in the new covenant”, “though they do attend the Memorial as respectful observers”, not one scripture is cited in support. Why? Because there are no scriptures that speak of non-anointed Christians with an earthly hope. The only way they could discern that they themselves are not anointed members of the body of Christ is because they are told this in the Watchtower. And every year around Memorial time there appears an article similar to this one that is meant to discourage Witnesses from partaking:
HAS JEHOVAH ANOINTED YOU?
Perhaps you are wondering if you have been anointed by holy spirit. If so, think about these important questions: Do you have a burning desire to do Jehovah’s will? Do you feel that you are especially zealous in the preaching work? Are you a keen student of God’s Word who loves to learn about “the deep things of God”? -1 Corinthians 2:10. Do you feel that Jehovah has given you wonderful results in the preaching work? Do you have a deep inner feeling of responsibility to help others spiritually? Have you seen proof that Jehovah has helped you in many specific ways in your life? If you answer these questions with a resounding yes, does this prove that you now have the heavenly calling? No, it does not. Why not? Because all of God’s servants can feel this way, whether they are anointed or not. And by means of his holy spirit, Jehovah can give the same power to any of his servants, no matter what their hope is. In fact, if you are wondering whether you have been anointed by holy spirit, such doubt in itself would mean that you have not been. Those called by Jehovah do not wonder whether they have been anointed or not! They know!
Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of men of faith who received holy spirit; yet, they did not have the hope of living in heaven. David was guided by holy spirit. -1 Samuel 16:13. Holy spirit helped him to understand the deep things about Jehovah and also directed him to write parts of the Bible. -Mark 12:36. Even so, the apostle Peter said that David “did not ascend to the heavens.” -Acts 2:34. John the Baptist was “filled with holy spirit.” -Luke 1:13-16. Jesus said that there was no man greater than John, but then he said that John would not be included in the heavenly Kingdom. -Matthew 11:10, 11. Jehovah used his holy spirit to give these men the power to do amazing things, but he did not use that spirit to choose them to live in heaven. Does this mean that they were less faithful than those chosen to rule in heaven? No. It simply means that Jehovah will bring them back to life in Paradise on earth.—John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15.
The vast majority of God’s servants on earth today do not have the hope of living in heaven. Like Abraham, Sarah, David, John the Baptist, and many other men and women in Bible times, they look forward to living on earth when God’s Kingdom will rule over them.—Hebrews 11:10. -The Watchtower January 2020 study edition pages 23-25 paragraphs 15-17.
There are many bold statements made in this paragraph that are either not exactly so stated in the Bible or not particularly relevant to the discussion. Let’s take them one at a time:
- David did not have the heavenly hope and did not go to heaven. This statement fails to take into consideration that, according to the society, prior to their so called heavenly calling neither do any of the anointed. No servant of God prior to the coming of Jesus entertained the hope of going to heaven. This was something totally new to the disciples and hard for them to understand. –John 14:5. The apostle Paul argues in Romans chapter 9 that rulership in the heavenly kingdom depends on God’s choice. We today could say the same thing about Paul and all the first century disciples that Peter said about David, they all died and were buried. But we expect them to be rulers in the kingdom because of the resurrection. So what scriptural proof is there that God will not resurrect David so as to have him as ruler in the kingdom with his Son?
- Jesus said that there was no man greater than John, but then he said that John would not be included in the heavenly Kingdom. Is that what Jesus said? Let’s review his words: “but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is.”-Matthew 11:11. The Watchtower assumes this is because John the Baptist did not live to experience the pouring out of holy spirit at Pentecost 33 C.E. But is that the only valid interpretation of Jesus words? But, by his words, did Jesus exclude John from the kingdom or compare him as to greatness with others in the kingdom? How then are we to understand “greater”? Consider, Jesus also said this about John: “You have sent men to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. However, I do not accept the witness from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. That man was a burning and shining lamp, and for a short time you were willing to rejoice greatly in his light. But I have the witness greater than that of John, for the very works that my Father assigned me to accomplish, these works that I am doing, bear witness that the Father sent me. John 5:33-36 How does Jesus have the witness greater than that of John?[4] The very miracles that Jesus was able to perform gave a greater testimony to the fact that he was indeed God’s Son. Just as John lived to see, and even have the privilege of baptizing, the very one the prophets bore witness to, thus proving greater than any former prophet, think of some of the things, even a lesser one of Jesus disciples received that even John did not live to see. –Matthew 11:3-6. They saw blind persons see again, lame ones walk, lepers cleansed, the deaf hearing, the dead raised. All of these things were testified to by eye witnesses that spread the news everywhere they went confirming that Jesus was indeed the Christ. Hence, it would not be unreasonable to conclude that a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom would be able to give a greater witness about Christ than John. But this would not necessitate the dispensationalist view that John would be eliminated from being in the kingdom simply because he was not fortunate enough to live at the right time. –Matthew 8:11-12.
- Abraham, Sarah, David, John the Baptist, and many other men and women in Bible times, looked forward to living on earth when God’s Kingdom will rule over them. The scripture they cite in support of this statement is Hebrews 11:10 “For he was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10”. Granted, these men and women did not entertain thoughts of going to heaven. However, it is adding to God’s word to say they expected to be part of an earthly class that would be rule over by a heavenly kingdom composed of exalted humans. Since Abraham was told to go out and view the land that his seed would inherit, it is entirely conceivable that he was awaiting an earthly city whose designer and builder was God.-Genesis 13:14-17.
Christians are said to be Abraham’s seed. Galatians 3:29 But where does Jesus, Paul or anyone say that there are two classes of Christians, one a ruling class, the other subjects? Where do either of them say that only a special group of Christians are in the Kingdom Covenant? Again, there is no such scripture because it was to be by means of the seed (Christians) all the nations (non-Christians) were to receive a blessing. Genesis 22:18 However, on the contrary note what Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians:
One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. -Ephesians 4:4-6.
The questions that now need to be addressed are does that mean all good persons go to heaven? What is meant by being a ruler in the kingdom of the heavens? If all Christians are to be rulers does that mean the earth is to be left uninhabited? If it is in harmony with God’s will, all of these questions will be addressed. For the first one, I invite you to read the article “Is the 144,000 a Literal Number?“
[1] See The Watchtower March 15, 2015 page 29 paragraph 15
[2] This Festival of Dedication takes place on Chislev 25, the Jewish month that corresponds to the last part of November and first part of December on our modern calendar. Thus, only a little over a hundred days remain until the momentous Passover of 33 C.E. Because it is the season of cold weather, the apostle John calls it “wintertime.” -The Greatest Man chapter 80
[3] See The Watchtower January 2020 study edition page 30 paragraph 14
[4] See The Watchtower January 15, 2005 page 11 paragraphs 6-7