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According to Ephesians 4:4 all Christians have one hope:
One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4:4
What is that hope? If it is to live forever ruling with Jesus in heaven, then all Christians share that hope. If it is to live forever on a paradise earth, then all Christians share that hope. The Bible does not provide support for teaching that Christians have more than one hope.
The Watchtower society recognizes the truth of this:
“It seems that in the first century, all true Christians were anointed. (The Watchtower January 2020 study edition page 30 paragraph 14 article entitle: “We Will Go With You”)
If that is so, then, in the absence of scriptural proof to the contrary, that would mean all true Christians today would be anointed. Jesus ministry was to gather those who would become children of God.
However, to all who did receive him, he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name. And they were born, not from blood or from a fleshly will or from man’s will, but from God. John 1:12 – 13
The disciples furthered this work.
The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16
“‘And I will become a father to you, and you will become sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah, the Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18
See what sort of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. That is why the world does not know us, because it has not come to know him. 1 John 3:1
Where does the Bible say that this gathering of children of God was to cease?
Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity. (Matthew 24:30 – 31)
For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. 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 4:14 – 17)
So it would appear that the calling of the children of God, here referred to as the chosen ones will cease when they are finally gathered together at Christ’s return.
But at one time the Watchtower society taught that this calling of the children of God had already come to an end:
This was explained in a 2007 Questions From Readers article:
When does the calling of Christians to a heavenly hope cease? The Bible does not reveal a precise answer to that question. We do know that the anointing of Jesus’ disciples with a view to their heavenly inheritance began in 33 C.E. [(Acts 2:1-4)] We also know that after the death of the apostles, genuine anointed Christian “wheat” came to “grow together” with counterfeit Christians, “weeds.” [(Matthew 13:24-30)] Then, starting in the late 1800’s, anointed Christians were again prominently active. In 1919 “the harvest of the earth,” including the gathering of the final ones of the anointed, began to be reaped.—[Revelation 14:15, 16]. (The Watchtower May 1, 2007 pages 30 – 31)
Wait a minute. Christians were again prominently active in the late 1800’s?Are we to understand that for the past 2,000 years anointed Christians were inactive? How does that harmonize with Jesus words?
In order to impress upon his disciples that the kingdom of God was not going to display itself instantly, Jesus told them the parable of the Minas in which a man of noble birth, before going away to secure kingly power for himself, summoned ten slaves of his and gave them ten minas and told them, “Do business until I come.” (Luke 19:11-27)
In the parable, all but one did business and increased the master’s holdings. This does not sound like his slaves went inactive and there needed to be a revival shortly before the master returned. Furthermore, who gets to decide who the anointed Christians are in the late 1800”s? If this were Mormon’s writing the story they could claim it was Joseph Smith. Adventists could claim it was William Miller or Ellen G. White. But note what Jesus has to say in his illustration of the wheat and the weeds:
Then after dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples came to him and said: “Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field.” In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; the field is the world. As for the fine seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom, but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. 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 13:36 – 41
Notice that in the parable Jesus says the reapers are not men but angels. In fact, earlier in the parable the master is asked by his slaves what they should do about the weeds:
He said to them, ‘An enemy, a man, did this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go out and collect them?’ He said, ‘No, for fear that while collecting the weeds, you uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest season, I will tell the reapers: First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up; then gather the wheat into my storehouse.’” Matthew 13:28 – 30
So, before the master’s arriving and sending out his angels, how could any human claim to know who the true wheat was? Presuming to do so would actually be disobeying the master’s orders. Second, where does the Bible say that the final gathering of anointed ones began in 1919?
The Question From Readers article goes on to explain:
In 1919 “the harvest of the earth,” including the gathering of the final ones of the anointed, began to be reaped.—Revelation 14:15 -16.
From the late 1800’s until 1931, the main thrust of the preaching work was the gathering of the remaining members of the body of Christ. In 1931 the Bible Students took the Bible-based name Jehovah’s Witnesses, and in the November 15, 1933, issue of The Watchtower, the thought was expressed that this unique name was the “denarius” referred to in Jesus’ parable recorded at Matthew 20:1 – 16.
That parable reads:
“For the Kingdom of the heavens is like the master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. After he had agreed with the workers for a de·narʹi·us a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out also about the third hour, he saw others standing unemployed in the marketplace; and to those he said, ‘You too go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is fair.’ So off they went. Again he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did likewise. Finally, about the 11th hour, he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day unemployed?’ They replied, ‘Because nobody has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into the vineyard.’ “When evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his man in charge, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last and ending with the first.’ When the 11th-hour men came, they each received a de·narʹi·us. So when the first came, they assumed that they would receive more, but they too were paid at the rate of a de·narʹi·us. On receiving it, they began to complain against the master of the house and said, ‘These last men put in one hour’s work; still you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!’ But he said in reply to one of them, ‘Fellow, I do you no wrong. You agreed with me for a de·narʹi·us, did you not? Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last one the same as to you. Do I not have the right to do what I want with my own things? Or is your eye envious because I am good?’ In this way, the last ones will be first, and the first ones last.” (Matthew 20:1 – 16)
The article explains:
The 12 hours mentioned in the parable were thought to correspond to the 12 years from 1919 to 1931. For many years after that, it was believed that the call to the heavenly Kingdom had ended in 1931 and that those called to be joint heirs with Christ in 1930 and 1931 were “the last” called. [(Matthew 20:6-8)] However, in 1966 an adjusted understanding of that parable was presented, and it became clear that it had nothing to do with the end of the calling of the anointed.
In 1935 the “great crowd” of Revelation 7:9-15 was understood to be made up of “other sheep,” Christians with an earthly hope, who would appear on the world scene in “the last days” and who as a group would survive Armageddon. [(John 10:16; 2 Timothy 3:1; Revelation 21:3, 4)] After that year, the thrust of the disciple-making work turned to the gathering in of the great crowd. Hence, especially after 1966 it was believed that the heavenly call ceased in 1935. This seemed to be confirmed when almost all who were baptized after 1935 felt that they had the earthly hope. Thereafter, any called to the heavenly hope were believed to be replacements for anointed Christians who had proved unfaithful.
Without a doubt, if one of the anointed unrepentantly falls away, Jehovah does call another individual to take his place. [(Romans 11:17-22)] However, the number of genuine anointed ones who have become unfaithful is likely not large. On the other hand, as time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness borne to them that they have the heavenly hope. [(Romans 8:16, 17)] Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends. (The Watchtower May 1, 2007 pages. 30 – 31)
Yet an important reason why it was believed that the calling and anointing of Christians had to cease is not mentioned. Based on an interpretation of Revelation chapter 7 and chapter 14 verses 1-4, it was believed that those called to heaven would be limited to 144,000. With the failure of World War I to end in Armageddon, J. F. Rutherford increasingly put emphasis on 1925:
The April 1, 1923 Watchtower states:
“Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees. Just exactly what will happen at that time no one can tell to a certainty; but we expect such a climax in the affairs of the world that the people will begin to realize the presence of the Lord and his kingdom power… As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge.” – (The Watchtower, April 1, 1923, Page 106)
“Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old.” – (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, Page 87-90)
“The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year.” – (Watchtower, January 1, 1925, Page 3)
As a result of the fervor created by this campaign for the New Order, baptized Christians reached a high point:
“We are pleased that the number participating in the Memorial is so great, because it manifests much interest in the truth everywhere, and this is as it should be. The grand total reported to date is 90,434, which is 25,329 more than were reported a year ago.” (The Watchtower September 1, 1925 page 263)
All of these had an expectation of passing through the great tribulation and being taken to their heavenly reward. This was a growth rate that would soon exceed 144,000.
If Armageddon did not come in 1925 as expected and the numbers of those getting baptized kept increasing, it is not hard to see the dilemma the society would be faced with in a relatively short period of time. So the scriptures had to be investigated in order to find a solution to the problem. As late as 1930, it was believed all true Christians went to heaven:
“after the 144,000 are sealed the Lord turns his attention to the “great crowd” that has not prior thereto taken a positive stand on the side of Jehovah. “‘Therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity.” (Ezekiel 44: 12) They were never brought into the covenant for the kingdom and anointed for the kingdom;
…Those who make up this great crowd fail to respond to the invitation to become the zealous witnesses for the Lord.” (Light volume 1 pages 92,93)
They were described as a self-righteous group that had a knowledge of the truth but did little about preaching it. They were to get to heaven as a secondary class that would not share in reigning with Christ.
“The great multitude, not being of the twelve tribes that are sealed, and being counted as Gentiles, could not serve as priests. As the Levites were given to the priesthood to serve, so the great multitude will be the servants in the temple and before the throne. [(Vss. 15-17; Num. 3: 9, 7)] (Light volume 1 page 96)
In an article in The August 15, 1934 Watchtower entitled “His Kindness”, a prophetic parallel was seen between the ancient cities of refuge and a place of protection for persons during the coming battle of Har Magedon:
“The name “Jehovah’s witnesses” applies specifically to God’s anointed ones who have been taken out of the world and made witnesses for Jehovah, and these alone bear the new name. The Jonadab class are of those who ‘hear’ the message of truth and who must say to those in their hearing: “come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22: 17) Those of the Jonadab class must go along with those who are of the antitypical Jehu company, that is, the anointed, and announce the message of the kingdom, even though they are not the anointed witnesses of Jehovah.” (The Watchtower August 15, 1934 page 249)
By mid-1934, the doctrine was laid down that this class could present themselves for water baptism as friends of God, but they did not receive a spirit of inheritance as sons of God. They would stand apart from a closed class of 144,000 anointed.
“Should a Jonadab consecrate himself to the Lord and be baptized?
Answer: Most assuredly it is proper for a Jonadab to consecrate himself to do the will of God. No one will ever get life without doing that. Water immersion is merely a symbol of having made a consecration to do God’s will, and that would not be out of order. Let those who are brought to a knowledge of the truth rejoice in whatsoever place the Lord puts them. No one is to selfishly seek a place. If the Lord assigns him to a duty he should be glad to serve there, and all should dwell together in peace and harmony.” (The Watchtower August 15, 1934 page 250)
They were not required to attend the memorial until after 1934. By that time the possibility of being chosen as a co-ruler with Christ was closed off. A new doctrine had been set in place that would lead to out-right rejection of Jesus invitation to become God’s children. (John 1:12) Even though the word Christian means anointed one, the Jonadabs were set aside as observers, not participants in the new covenant.
The book Revelation Its Grand Climax at Hand comments:
“The Watchtower magazine had repeatedly expressed the hope that a convention scheduled for May 30 to June 3, 1935, in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., would be “a real comfort and benefit” to those pictured by Jehonadab. That it proved to be! In a stirring talk on “The Great Multitude,” delivered to about 20,000 conventioners, J. F. Rutherford, who at that time took the lead in the worldwide preaching work, gave Scriptural proof that the modern-day other sheep are identical with that great crowd of Revelation 7:9. At the climax of this talk, the speaker asked: “Will all those who have the hope of living forever on the earth please stand?” As a large part of the audience stood up, the speaker declared: “Behold! The great multitude!” There was a hush, followed by thunderous cheering. How elated was the John class—and also the Jehonadab group! On the following day, 840 new Witnesses were baptized, most of these professing to be of that great crowd. (Revelation Its Grand Climax at Hand! pages 120 – 122 paragraph 5)
This created the false dilemma we are now faced with, namely how does one distinguish between two non-biblical terms, an anointed Christian and a non-anointed Christian. In the next article I will examine the society’s most recent attempt at an explanation: