144,000 - how many are there now??

[D-void]

I was just wondering...

Surely there must be WAY more than 144,000 people claiming to be the 144,000.......especially considering the length of time that has gone by. I imagine that there are at least a million people through history who have partaken at the passover and believe themselves to be in the 144,000.

So what about those that are wrong??

[GodlessHeathen]

Actually last years memorial statistics pegged the number at just under 11,000, which continues a 5-year trend of consistent increases in the numbers of those calling themselves anointed. So it's not close enough to really shake the faith of a JW, but the increase should be alarming nonetheless, especially since the Society has cited the previous decrease in the anointed as proof of the end coming.

[the chosen one]

Actually I've heard that the number they claim to be anointed are made up. Thats just hear say though.

[Palimpsest]

...who have partaken at the passover...

Come again?

[D-void]

D-void wrote:...who have partaken at the passover...



Come again?

You know, the people who eat and drink at the passover?

[Palimpsest]

D-void wrote:...who have partaken at the passover...



Come again?

You know, the people who eat and drink at the passover?

Passover is a Jewish tradition that's totally separate from what Witnesses do. That's where I'm lost. :) Did you call it "Passover" in your Hall? That would seem so strange to me.

[cocooned]

Quote from Isaiah Book, WT CD, chpt 16:

15 Those who were gathered to the first-century Christian congregation were anointed with God’s holy spirit, and they had the prospect of becoming joint rulers with Jesus in his heavenly Kingdom. (Revelation 14:1) However, Isaiah’s prophecy looks beyond the days of early Christianity. Evidence shows that Jesus Christ did not begin ruling as King of God’s Kingdom until 1914. Shortly thereafter, a situation developed among anointed Christians on earth that had many parallels with that of the exiled Jews in the sixth century B.C.E. In fact, what happened to those Christians constitutes a greater fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

In a quick internet search I saw an estimate of 1 million Christians living in 100 CE. Even if half that number were 'true Christians' - it blows the 144000 number clear out of the water. The above quote says all these people had the 'heavenly hope'. You don't even have to worry about anyone who has claimed a heavenly calling in the past century because there is no room up there for them...if you take 144000 to be literal that is...

[BlacknBlue]

This is one of the points I brought up to my dad last night. The last time an actual number was mentioned in the scriptures was about 5000 people right? I can't remember the exact scripture. The JWs are trying to say that most of the 144,000 are made up of people born in either the 19th or 20th century. So nobody was serving God faithfully for 1900 years. My dad just smiled and said that's right because you know what was going on around that time. I knew what he meant by that because apparently everybody was in spiritual darkness before C.T. Russel and his pyramids showed up. I didn't say that but I so wanted to!

[Racquet118]

I knew what he meant by that because apparently everybody was in spiritual darkness before C.T. Russel and his pyramids showed up. I didn't say that but I so wanted to!

yeah, right? The foretold spiritual darkness before true worship would be reinstated by Mr. Russell, the chosen one. However, forget not that there is supposedly a lineage of people who, in small minute numbers, maintained spiritual enlightenment throughout the spiritual darkness period. I believe they are also part of the 144,000. Who? Who the hell knows? They exist because the WT says they do. You know, all the buzz words: apparently, obviously, evidently, doubtless, etc.

[watersedge2009]

[They exist because the WT says they do. You know, all the buzz words: apparently, obviously, evidently, doubtless, etc.

Ain't that the truth?

This is such a great illustration of the cult factor--specifically, the mind-control. In our daily lives we would not trust people who were "apparently competent" with our finances, for example, or someone who is "evidently not a child molester" would not be left with our kids. And yet, the Dubs think nothing of rolling the dice on their spirituality repeatedly with these half-baked "assurances" ... which change often and the sheep just follow suit ...

"And the bleat goes on ..."