Why are the number of anointed witnesses increasing?
“Speaking of the time in which we are living, Jehovah foretold: “In those days ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will take firm hold of the robe of a Jew, saying: ‘We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you people.’” (Zech. 8:23) Like the figurative ten men, those who have an earthly hope have taken “firm hold of the robe of a Jew.” They are proud to associate with the spirit-anointed “Israel of God,” knowing that Jehovah is blessing his anointed ones.—Gal. 6:16. (The Watchtower January 2016 pg. 22 par. 1)
This article makes the claim that Zechariah prophesies about two groups of people in the 20th century, anointed Christians with a heavenly hope and non-anointed Christians with an earthly hope. However, the first thing that needs to be done is to see if either group is specifically mentioned in the context.
“This is what Jehovah of armies says, ‘It will yet come to pass that peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will come; 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to those of another and say: “Let us earnestly go to beg for the favor of Jehovah and to seek Jehovah of armies. I am also going.” 22 And many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek Jehovah of armies in Jerusalem and to beg for the favor of Jehovah.’ 23 “This is what Jehovah of armies says, ‘In those days ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will take firm hold of the robe of a Jew, saying: “We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you people.”’” (Zechariah 8:20-23 NWT)
Since Zechariah specifically mentions literal Jews and Gentiles, what justification is there for making a spiritual application? Does Jesus, Paul or anyone of the gospel writers quote this scripture and make such an application?
Note that Galatians 6:16 is cited:
As for all those who walk orderly by this rule of conduct, peace and mercy be upon them, yes, upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)
No mention of Zechariah’s prophecy there! Who is the Israel of God? The marginal reference in the NWT directs you to Romans 9:6:
However, it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who descend from Israel are really “Israel.” (Romans 9:6)
The marginal reference on that scripture directs you to Romans 2:28:
For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision something on the outside, on the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit and not by a written code. That person’s praise comes from God, not from people. (Romans 2:28, 29)
Although the apostle Paul speaks of Christians as being spiritual Jews we still haven’t seen a connection being made with Zechariah’s prophecy. However, this may not be necessary since there are many other similar Old Testament prophecies about the Jews being joined by the Gentile nations that were made use of by the Christian writers. (Acts 15:14-18; 1 Peter 2:9,10)
These prophecies were used to show that both Jews and Gentiles would join together becoming God’s people and make up the one nation, the Israel of God.
The NET Bible comments on Zechariah 8:23
This scene of universal and overwhelming attraction of the nations to Israel’s God finds initial fulfillment in the establishment of the church (Act_2:5-11) but ultimate completion in the messianic age (Isa_45:14, Isa_45:24; Isa_60:14; Zec_14:16-21).
However, where do the Christian writers apply theses prophecies to two groups of Christians? All we have seen so far is that the Israel of God is made up of both Jews and Gentiles.
Paragraph 2 of the article continues:
2 As did the prophet Zechariah, Jesus highlighted the refreshing unity that is experienced by God’s people. He spoke of his followers as two groups, a “little flock” and “other sheep,” but he said that they would be “one flock” with “one shepherd.” (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) However, the relationship between these two groups raises some questions: (1) Do those of the other sheep need to know the names of all those who are anointed today? (2) How should anointed ones view themselves? (3) How should you react if someone in your congregation starts to partake of the emblems at the Memorial? (4) Do you need to be concerned about any increase in the number of those partaking? Let us consider the answers to each of these questions.
Without providing a single scriptural reference that Zechariah spoke about two groups of Christians, some that are considered the Israel of God and others that are not, the magazine next makes the claim that Jesus spoke of such when he mentioned a “little flock” and “other sheep”. But before we examine Jesus words we need to stop and think of what is implied by saying that one group are not to be considered the Israel of God. According to Paul, upon becoming Christian a person sheds his racial distinction and becomes a spiritual Jew. Hence, if one is not a spiritual Jew that one is not a Christian. Peter makes an even stronger point when he says that Gentiles, prior to becoming Christian were not considered to be God’s people:
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. 10 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)
From this we see that being a spiritual Jew and a Christian is one and the same. In fact, if one is not a spiritual Jew one is not a Christian, not one of God’s people.
Did Jesus teach that there are two classes of Christians? For an answer to this question please consider the article “Who Are the Other Sheep?”
For decades the Watchtower society taught that Jesus was enthroned as king of God’s Kingdom in 1914. Shortly afterward he supposedly began gathering his chosen ones. Jehovah’s Witnesses were taught to believe that all anointed Christians received their heavenly reward at their death. Since the organization firmly believes that the number of the members of spiritual Israel is limited to 144,000, based on a literal interpretation of Revelation chapters 7 and 14, a close watch was kept on the amount of memorial partakers worldwide. The decreasing number of those remaining was thought to give indication of the nearness of the end of the system of things at Armageddon. In 1995 there were a total of 8,645 memorial partakers worldwide.
1996 – 8,757
1997 – 8,795
1998 – 8,756
1999 – 8,755
2000 – 8,661
2001 – 8,730
2002 – 8,760
2003 – 8,565
2004 – 8,570
2005 – 8,524
2006 – 8,758
As can be seen not much had changed in 11 years which really doesn’t give any indication that Armageddon was any closer. However, an interesting phenomenon occurred in the next ten years:
2007 – 9,105
2008 – 9,986
2009 – 10,857
2010 – 11,202
2011 – 11,824
2012 – 12,604
2013 – 13,204
2014 – 14,121
2015 – 15,177
2016 – 18,013
As you can see, instead of the numbers decreasing, they were actually increasing. How was this to be explained? Paragraphs 12 through 14 of this January 2016 Watchtower article addresses this situation:
WHAT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THOSE PARTAKING AT THE MEMORIAL?
12 In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of those partaking at the Memorial of Christ’s death. That trend contrasts with the decrease in the number of partakers that we saw for many decades. Should this increase trouble us? No. Let us consider some key factors to keep in mind.
13 “Jehovah knows those who belong to him.” (2 Tim. 2:19) Those taking the count at the Memorial cannot judge who truly have the heavenly hope. The number of partakers includes those who mistakenly think that they are anointed. Some who at one point started to partake of the emblems later stopped. Others may have mental or emotional problems that lead them to believe that they will rule with Christ in heaven. Therefore, the number of partakers does not accurately indicate the number of anointed ones left on earth.
14 Anointed ones will be present in many parts of the earth when Jesus comes to gather them to heaven. Speaking of that time, the Bible says regarding Jesus: “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.” (Matt. 24:31) The Scriptures do indicate that only a remnant of the anointed ones will be left on earth during the last days. (Rev. 12:17) However, the Bible does not state how many will be left at the time that the great tribulation begins. (The Watchtower January 2016 pars. 12-14)
At the close of 2020 there were a reported 21,182 memorial partakers worldwide.
Rather than choosing to investigate whether their interpretation of Zechariah 8:23 or their understanding of Jesus words about the “little flock” and the “other sheep” or that their interpretation of a literal 144,000 was correct, instead the Watchtower society chose to cast doubt on the claim of many that they were indeed members of the Israel of God. Yet this is something that the Bible gives every person that accepts and exercises faith in Christ the right to claim. Just imagine, if you will, being accused of having mental or emotional problems simply because you believe and accept Jesus invitation to become one of the children of God. (John 1:12)