heistrue wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:42 pm
JehovahsWitness wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:54 am
JESUS &144,000 RULERS = GOD'S KINGDOM GOVERNMENT
Revelations won wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 9:17 am
You claim this kingdom was started in 1914 and how many of these 144,000 have been selected during this period of well over 100 years?
I do not know, that is well outside of my jurisdiction. Indeed Jesus indicated such matters laid firmly in the hands of JEHOVAH, the Father. Of course we can speculate (for example using the number of individuals that partake of the emblems during the annual memorial of Christ's death, but that is an imperfect barometer at best). At the end of the day I am content that if God hasn't provided us with such specific information it is not something we need to know for salvation.
MATTHEW 20:23
He [Jesus] said to them: “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit down at my right hand and at my left is not mine to give, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
That said for many decades now, the majority of true Christians on earth claim not to be of that number and given how close we are to the time when all Christ's brothers will need to be at his side to fight the final battle of Armageddon, it is not unreasonable to assume that most of them are already in heaven. No one on earth can say more than that.
JW
FURTHER READING:
Who goes to heaven?
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/q ... to-heaven/
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oops sorry wrong stats here are the relevant stats on JWs;
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8.69 million adherents involved in evangelism and an annual Memorial attendance of over 17 million
,, lol so why be a JW today or even in the future, look at the stats ; As of 2018, the world's "core" Jewish population, those identifying as Jews above all else, was 14.6 million. The "connected" Jewish population, including those who say they are partly Jewish or that have Jewish background from at least a single Jewish parent, in addition to the core Jewish population, was 17.8 million.
so if the so called 144,000 are already there why bother to join them now..the kingdom is full 10 times over.....
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ONEWITHHIM RESPONDS:
Fair question. But once you see why being a Jehovah's Witness is a very pleasant thing to be, you might change your mind about giving up on them. First of all, Jesus said that
FEW would find the right path to be on, the path that would be acceptable to Jesus and Jehovah (his Father).
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
FEW there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13,14, KJV)
Secondly, going to heaven is not the only destination for Christians or believing Jews (who would be Christians). There are THREE destinations for all of mankind: (1)Heaven, (2) Gehenna (total obliteration), or (3) Paradise on Earth.
Most of mankind--including all those resurrected from the past--will live on the earth forever, in paradise conditions. Most religions ignore the many Bible verses that describe a paradise on Earth. Here are three of the passages:
(1) "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD,
they shall inherit the earth....(2) The righteous shall inherit the land,
and dwell therein forever." (Psalm 37:9,29, KJV)
(3) "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them....They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain:
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:6,9, KJV)
So you see, the earth, in perfect conditions, is one of the destinations of mankind. In fact, most of mankind. What are your thoughts?