And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: Revelation 7:4.
Then I saw, and look! the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. I heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the sound that I heard was like singers who accompany themselves by playing on their harps. And they are singing what seems to be a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to master that song except the 144,000, who have been bought from the earth. Revelation 14:1-3.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the 144,000 is a literal number of humans anointed to rule with Christ in heaven. It is explained that this must be so since this number is contrasted with a great crowd also seen in Revelation chapter 7 that no man was able to number. Yet consider:
Those ruling alongside Christ in heaven are also said to be described in chapter 5 of Revelation:
And they sing a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.” Revelation 5:9, 10.
Here, those ruling are said to be from every people and nation. That means the 144,000, the sum of 12 groups of Jews, 12,000 each, as recorded in Revelation 7:4-8 cannot be understood as literal Jews. Since all genealogical records were destroyed when Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 C.E, no one today can identify themselves as being of any one of the tribes of Israel. This means that neither can the 12 tribes be taken as literal. There are three specific references to the Christian congregation comprising a spiritual Israel. Romans 2:28,29; Galatians 6:16; James 1:1.
In fact, the society recognizes the tribes as being symbolic.[1]
So right at the start we must ask the question: how much of this vision can be taken literally?
According to the Watchtower, the 144,000 are said to be represented in Revelation by 24 elders. The Revelation Climax book explains that the 24 elders are not to be taken as a literal number:
“What is significant about the number 24, in that John sees 24 elders around the throne? In many respects, these were foreshadowed by the faithful priests of ancient Israel. The apostle Peter wrote to anointed Christians: “You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession.’” 1 Peter 2:9. Interestingly, that ancient Jewish priesthood came to be divided into 24 divisions. Each division was assigned its own weeks in the year to serve before Jehovah, so that sacred service was rendered without a break. 1 Chronicles 24:5-19. It is fitting, then, that there are 24 elders depicted in John’s vision of the heavenly priesthood because this priesthood serves Jehovah continually, without ceasing. When completed, there will be 24 divisions, each with 6,000 conquerors, for Revelation 14:1-4 tells us that 144,000 (24 times 6,000) are “bought from among mankind” to stand on the heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Since the number 12 signifies a divinely balanced organization, 24 doubles—or strengthens—such an arrangement.” Revelation It’s Grand Climax at Hand page 77 paragraph 11.
However, although they are described as wearing crowns, nothing is said in Revelation about the 24 elders being priests. Also the connection between the 24 elders and the 144,000 is speculative because nowhere in chapter 7 does it say there are 24 divisions of 6,000 each. In fact, the number is arrived at by taking 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes mentioned. Can we be certain that Revelation is drawing its imagery from the priestly divisions? Is there another possibility? Note this explanation in Insight on the Scriptures:
“During David’s 40-year reign various specialized offices were created in addition to the tribal arrangement. There was an inner circle of counselors surrounding the king himself, besides the older men of influence that served the centralized government. 1Chronicles 13:1; 27:32-34. Insight on the Scriptures volume1 pages 1230-1231.
“David retained many of the older organizational plans of the army, such as holding the position of commander in chief himself, appointing field commanders like Joab, Abner, and Amasa, and having under them the heads over thousands and over hundreds. 2 Samuel 18:1; 1Kings 2:32; 1Chronicles 13:1; 18:15. However, David instituted some novel plans of his own. A system of monthly rotation provided 12 groups of 24,000 (a total of 288,000), so that a soldier normally served only one month a year. 1Chronicles 27:1-15. This does not mean that all 24,000 for one month came from the same tribe, but, rather, each tribe furnished its share of the monthly quota throughout the year. Insight on the Scriptures volume 1 page 174.
1 Chronicles chapter 27 lists these leaders and commanders of the people. Each division had a commander with 24 leaders of 1000 men each under him. Hence, John could be drawing his imagery from this Old Testament feature.
However, it is also quite possible that the 24 elders are divine beings that have appeared in previous prophetic visions of Jehovah’s throne and those accompanying him. For example, notice the similarity between John’s description in chapter 4 and what Isaiah describes in chapter 6 of his prophecy:
After this I saw, and look! an opened door in heaven, and the first voice that I heard speaking with me was like a trumpet, saying: “Come up here, and I will show you the things that must take place.” After this I immediately came to be in the power of the spirit, and look! a throne was in its position in heaven, and someone was seated on the throne. And the One seated had the appearance of a jasper stone and a sardius stone, and all around the throne was a rainbow like an emerald in appearance. All around the throne were 24 thrones, and on these thrones I saw seated 24 elders dressed in white garments, and on their heads golden crowns. From the throne were coming lightning and voices and thunders; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, and these mean the seven spirits of God. Before the throne was something resembling a glassy sea, like crystal. In the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures that were full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a young bull, and the third living creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. As for the four living creatures, each one of them had six wings; they were full of eyes all around and underneath. And continuously, day and night, they say: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming.” Revelation 4:1-8
In the year that King Uz·ziʹah died, I saw Jehovah sitting on a lofty and elevated throne, and the skirts of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were standing above him; each had six wings. Each covered his face with two and covered his feet with two, and each of them would fly about with two. And one called to the other: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies. The whole earth is filled with his glory.” Isaiah 6:1-3
Other similar scenes are depicted in Daniel:
“I kept watching until thrones were set in place and the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head was like clean wool. His throne was flames of fire; its wheels were a burning fire. A stream of fire was flowing and going out from before him. A thousand thousands kept ministering to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The Court took its seat, and books were opened. Daniel 7:9, 10
Isaiah describes a time of judgement in chapter 23 of his prophecy:
In that day Jehovah will turn his attention to the army of the heights above And to the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they will be gathered together Like prisoners gathered into a pit, And they will be shut up in the dungeon; After many days they will be given attention. The full moon will be abashed, And the shining sun will be ashamed, For Jehovah of armies has become King in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, Glorious before the elders of his people. Isaiah 24:21-23
The words “of his people” does not occur in the Hebrew and has been added by the translators. Many other Bibles translate the last part of verse 23 simply as “before his elders”.[2]
Of course, none of these are said to be wearing crowns.
However, if we take the position of the Watchtower society that the 24 elders are indeed another picture of the 144,000 kings and priests, not only must that indicate that the number is not to be taken literally, but we encounter another problem. How is it that they are among the ones singing the new song in Revelation 5:9-10 about persons bought from every tribe, tongue and nation? True, they could be singing about themselves. But, if they are two descriptions of the same group, how can it be that the 144,000 are seen singing before the 24 elders in Revelation 14:3?
The Revelation book provides this answer:
“How can the 144,000 sing “before” the elders, since the 24 elders are the 144,000 in their glorious heavenly position? Early in the Lord’s day, those “dead in union with Christ” were resurrected as spirit creatures. Thus, faithful anointed Christians who have conquered are now in heaven, symbolically fulfilling functions comparable to those of 24 divisions of priestly elders. They are included in the vision of Jehovah’s heavenly organization. 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16; 1 Chronicles 24:1-18; Revelation 4:4; 6:11. The remnant of the 144,000 still on earth are therefore singing the new song before, or in the sight of, their resurrected brothers in heaven. Revelation Climax page 201 paragraph 10.
This, in a sense, it is saying that a portion of the 144,000 on earth are singing a song before another portion of the same group that have already been resurrected to heaven. But, since there is not a full 144,000 persons either on earth or in heaven does this not result in both numbers being symbolic? In Revelation chapter 7 John sees a picture of 144,000 sealed prior to the destructive winds that are to be let loose by the angels. Here too, this could not be the total number of 144,000 being sealed at this time, because the sealing began at Pentecost 33 C.E. So at this point in time there cannot be a literal number of 144,000 in heaven. Those John sees receiving the seal on their foreheads would be only the remaining ones of that group
The apostle Paul prophesied of such a group:
“For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
This appears to harmonize with what the apostle John describes in Revelation chapter 6:
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness they had given. They shouted with a loud voice, saying: “Until when, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had been. Revelation 6:9-11.
Here John sees a vision of Christians that had died previously and those that were still alive at the present time that were about to be killed. Alternatively it could be asked, since both the great crowd and the 144,000 are described as coming from every tribe, tongue and nation, could not the 144,000 be a symbolic picture of the total number of kingdom conquerors, a remnant of which, a great crowd, awaiting their final sealing on earth? If being taken from every tribe tongue and nation means that the 144,000 are to be considered spiritual Jews, why would not the same description also hold true for the great crowd?
This would account for the fact that the great crowd are seen worshiping God in his temple:
That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. Revelation 7:15.
How could it be said that spiritual Israel would eventually outnumber the entire fleshly nation of Israel if the number of the chosen ones was limited to 144,000?
The 144,000 are said to be made up of Abraham’s offspring. The Watchtower explains:
“While the Abrahamic covenant had a literal fulfillment for the descendants of Abraham when they inherited the Promised Land, the Scriptures show that the terms of that covenant also have a spiritual fulfillment. Galatians 4:22-25. In this greater fulfillment, as the apostle Paul explained under inspiration, the primary part of the offspring of Abraham is Christ and the secondary part refers to the 144,000 spirit-anointed Christians. Galatians 3:16, 29; Revelation 5:9, 10; 14:1, 4. The Watchtower October 15, 2014 page 10 paragraph 11.
However, Paul makes no mention of a specific number. Furthermore, Abraham was promised that his offspring would become like the dust particles of the earth:
And your offspring will certainly become like the dust particles of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and by means of you and by means of your offspring all the families of the ground will certainly be blessed. Genesis 28:14.
The expression “the dust particles of the earth”, similar to “the sand of the sea” and “the stars for multitude” is understood to be a large uncountable number. This does not fit with a literal interpretation of a little flock of 144,000. Genesis 22:17; 32:12; 41:49; Romans 9:27.
In 1 Peter chapter 2 in the New World Translation we read:
But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies” of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. For you were once not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not been shown mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9, 10.
Verse 10 is cross referenced with Hosea 1:10 which says:
“And the number of the people of Israel will be like the grains of sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘The sons of the living God.’(Hosea 1:10.
Hardly a little flock! This description matches more with what is said of the great crowd than with a literal 144,000.
If the chosen ones are limited to a little flock of 144,000 does that not contradict Paul’s analogy in Galatians 4:27?
For it is written: “Be glad, you barren woman who does not give birth; break into joyful shouting, you woman who does not have birth pains; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of her who has the husband.” (Galatians 4:27)
How could it be said that spiritual Israel would eventually outnumber the entire fleshly nation of Israel if the number of the chosen ones was limited to 144,000?
The Watchtower society also says that the great crowd mentioned in Revelation 7:9-17 is another descriptive name for the other sheep in John 10:16. In fact, the phrase “great crowd of other sheep” is often found in their literature. But this is yet another example of going beyond the things that are written because the term is never found in the Bible! Additionally, according to the Watchtower, the sheep of Jesus parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-33 are also seen as the same group:
“Christians living at this time of the end focus their attention on one of two hopes. The remaining members of the “little flock” of anointed Christians have the hope of immortal life in heaven as kings and priests with Christ in his Kingdom. Luke 12:32; Revelation 5:9, 10. The far more numerous “great crowd” of “other sheep” share the hope of living forever on a paradise earth as subjects of the Messianic Kingdom. Revelation 7:9, 10; John 10:16. The other sheep should never forget that their salvation depends on their active support of Christ’s anointed “brothers” still on earth. Matthew 25:34-40.” The Watchtower March 15, 2012 page 20 paragraph 2.
Prior to 1995 it was understood that Christ sat down on his throne in 1914 and shortly thereafter, by means of the response to the preaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses, began separating the nations as sheep from goats.[3] Yet the timing of this judgment presented a problem and in 2013 underwent adjustment:
“In the mid-1990’s, The Watchtower reexamined Matthew 25:31, which states: “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne.” It was noted that Jesus became King of God’s Kingdom in 1914, but he did not “sit down on his glorious throne” as Judge of “all the nations.” Matthew 25:32; compare Daniel 7:13. However, the parable of the sheep and the goats describes Jesus primarily as Judge. Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46. Since Jesus was not yet active as Judge of all nations in 1914, his judgment of people as sheep or goats could not have started in that year. When, then, will Jesus’ judgment begin?
Jesus’ prophecy about the last days reveals that he will for the very first time act as Judge of all nations after the destruction of false religion. As mentioned in paragraph 8, some of the events that will occur during that time are recorded at Matthew 24:30, 31. When you examine those verses, you will note that Jesus there foretells events that are similar to the ones he mentions in the parable of the sheep and the goats. For example, the Son of man comes with glory and with angels; all tribes and nations are gathered; those judged as sheep “lift [their] heads up” because “everlasting life” awaits them. Those judged as goats “beat themselves in lamentation,” realizing that “everlasting cutting-off” awaits them. Matthew 25:31-33, 46.
So, then, what can we conclude? Jesus will judge people of all nations as sheep or goats when he comes during the great tribulation.” The Watchtower July 15, 2013 page 6 paragraphs 11-13.
So, it would be presumptuous for anyone of Jehovah’s Witnesses to claim to be of the sheep class, or of the great crowd for that matter, before Jesus renders his judgment! The best that can be said is that each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses has the potential of being either a sheep or a goat. What is interesting is when it comes to the anointed and the Faithful and Discreet Slave, the same reasoning is not applied. They are regarded as faithful BEFORE Jesus renders his judgment.[4] According to the society, immediately after the tribulation, Jesus first gathers his chosen ones. Then he turns his attention to the nations and separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep are understood to be non-anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses, pictured in Revelation as those of the great crowd that come out of the tribulation having an earthly hope. But on what basis can we assume that these sheep are non-anointed Christians? According to the Bible all Christians are anointed ones. (Eph. 4:4-6)
In his parable of the wheat the the weeds Jesus again describes this separating at the time of his coming:
The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, (Matthew 13:41)
This appears to indicate that, rather than turning his attention to the nations, the sheep and goats, like the wheat and the weeds, are in reality Christians in his kingdom.
The teaching of the other sheep doctrine differs considerably from the good news that was preached during the first century. Jesus came to make way for the gathering of the chosen ones. These were called by God to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the founding of the world. Matthew 25:34. His message had nothing to do with how to survive Armageddon. Instead, he was setting up an administration by which the rest of the world could be saved under Kingdom rule.
“It is according to his good pleasure that he himself purposed for an administration at the full limit of the appointed times, to gather all things together in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth.” Ephesians 1:9, 10.
The message that the apostles preached was an invitation to become a child of God. John 1:12 says that ‘all who put faith in the name of Jesus receive the authority to become children of God.’ Romans 8:19-21 says that the creation (a reference to all humanity cast out of the family of God as a result of Adam’s sin) “is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God and will one day be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
In his great prophecy about the conclusion of the system of things Jesus prophesied:
And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14.
This good news would logically be the good news Jesus and his disciples preached in the first century. There is no indication in the scriptures that it would be altered. So, the Good News we should be preaching is: “Come join us to become one of the adopted children of God, to rule with Christ in the Kingdom of the heavens.”
Instead, Jehovah’s Witnesses are preaching: “The hope you have now is to become not a co-ruler but a subject of the kingdom. So do not consider yourself to be chosen by God; do not consider yourselves to be in the new covenant; do not follow the master’s instructions to keep doing this, that is to partake of the wine and the bread until he arrives; do not consider yourself a child of God, for at present the best you can attain is only to be God’s friend; do not think Jesus mediates for you. It is not for you to be born again. Those privileges are reserved only for the 144,000.
Not only is the doctrine of the Other Sheep a false doctrine, but it has caused Jehovah’s Witnesses to preach a good news that goes beyond that laid down by Christ. How would God view such a thing?
“However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond the good news we declared to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, I now say again, Whoever is declaring to you as good news something beyond what you accepted, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8, 9.
The two class teaching of the society also clashes with other prophetic statements in the Bible. For example The Watchtower states:
“the book of Hosea foretold that some non-Israelites would become Jehovah’s people. Hosea 2:23. Hosea’s prophecy was fulfilled when Jehovah included non-Jews in his selection of prospective co-rulers with Christ. Acts 10:45; Romans 9:23-26. This “holy nation” is Jehovah’s “special possession” in an outstanding way, its members having been anointed with holy spirit and chosen for life in heaven. 1 Peter 2:9, 1. What about the majority of faithful Christians today who have an earthly hope? Jehovah also calls them his “people” and his “chosen ones.” Isaiah 65:22.
Today, the “little flock,” with a heavenly hope, and the “other sheep,” with an earthly hope, compose the “one flock” that Jehovah highly regards as his people. Luke 12:32; John 10:16. The Watchtower July 2018 study edition pages 22-23 paragraphs 2-3.
In Romans 9:23-26 Paul clearly shows that Hosea 2:23 was fulfilled when the Gentiles were added to the Jews to form one flock under Christ:
And if this was done to make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, namely, us, whom he called not only from among Jews but also from among nations, what of it? It is as he says also in Ho·seʹa: “Those not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not loved, ‘beloved’; and in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” Romans 9:23-26
Indeed, how could it be otherwise? Paul knew nothing about Christians with an earthly hope. Notice that God says they will be called “sons of the living God.” The Watchtower acknowledges that they have been chosen to be part of a royal priesthood according to Peter’s application of the same prophecy:
But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies” of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. For you were once not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not been shown mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9, 10.
Both Paul and Peter apply Hosea’s prophecy as having fulfillment in two groups of Christians, Jewish and Gentile becoming one holy nation having the same hope. Where then does the society get the justification for saying the other sheep referred to by Jesus in John 10:16 are not Gentile Christians, sons of God with a heavenly hope, but other Christians with an earthly hope?
The paragraph cites Isaiah chapter 65:
They will not build for someone else to inhabit, Nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, And the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full. Isaiah 65:22.
Since this verse mentions building and planting the assumption is made that this must apply to a future group of chosen ones that will live on the earth. But originally, Isaiah’s prophecy foretold the conditions the Jews would experience after returning from their captivity in Babylon. Nowhere does either the verse itself or the context indicate it has a fulfillment in the future beyond that. Nor does any Christian writer speak of this as applying to a future group of chosen ones that will live upon the earth. One would have to consider this a type of some future antitype in order for it to be applied in that way. Yet nowhere in the Bible do we see it applied in that way. And remember, if the Bible is silent then we must be. This leads to the conclusion that all Christians are chosen for life in the heavens as co-rulers with Christ. They would comprise the ‘new heavens” Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13. The new earth would be comprised of non-Christian survivors of Armageddon. Matthew 25:31-40; Romans 8:19-21.
To my knowledge, this conclusion does not conflict with any statement in the Bible. If such a biblical statement were to be found that would reveal an error in my reasoning, I would deeply appreciate your bringing it to my attention as my sole desire is to understand accurately what the Bible is conveying so as to follow Christ’s instructions, be a faithful steward and proclaim his message of good news to as many as I possibly can.
But is it really true that all Christians must go to heaven in order to rule remotely from there as kings and priests? Or is it possible that references to heaven are only figurative? Or perhaps, similar to Moses case at Sinai, will heaven somehow be accessible to those priests living on earth, allowing them to go back and forth and minister to the people? The answers to these questions will be explored in a future article.
[1] Revelation It’s Grand Climax at Hand chap. 19 p. 117 par. 11 states:
Could this not be a reference to literal, fleshly Israel? No, for Revelation 7:4-8 diverges from the usual tribal listing. (Numbers 1:17, 47) Obviously, the listing here is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel. This is balanced. There are to be exactly 144,000 members of this new nation—12,000 from each of 12 tribes. No tribe in this Israel of God is exclusively royal or priestly. The whole nation is to rule as kings, and the whole nation is to serve as priests.—Galatians 6:16; Revelation 20:4, 6. (See also Commentary on the Letter of James pg. 13)
[2] See ESV, ASV, NASB, NKJV, CSB, LXX, Berean Study Bible
[3] See The Watchtower May 1, 1993 pg. 19 par. 14-19
[4] See The Watchtower July 15, 2013 box on pg. 24