Truth Magazine

By Frank Jamerson

This is an outline study of divorce and remarriage, with special emphasis on four theories that circumvent the teaching of the Bible.

A. Who has the scriptural right to marry?

One who has never been married (Matt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:36).

One whose companion has died (Rom. 7:1-3).

One who has divorced his companion “for fornication” (Matt. 5:32; 19:9; Mk. 10:11,12; Lk. 16:18).

One who has divorced may remarry the one he/she has divorced (Matt. 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:10,11).

B. Unscriptural doctrines on the subject:

1. Some are re-defining “adultery” as the act of divorcing and remarrying. (They interpret “commits adultery against her,” Mk. 10:11,12, to mean just divorcing her and going through a wedding ceremony with someone else. They say it has nothing to do with a sexual act.)

The word “adultery” is defined by authorities as “unlawful sexual intercourse with the spouse of another” (see W.E. Vine and Thayer).

What was the woman “caught in adultery” doing? (Jn. 8:4) (Did they catch her in “the very act” of getting married to another woman’s husband?)

In Matthew 5:28, what was the man doing who “committed adultery” in his heart? (Was he fantasizing about a wedding ceremony with someone’s wife?)

Matthew 5:32 says the man who marries a “woman who is divorced, commits adultery.” (This does not say that he caused her divorce, nor that he had been married before. He would not have had to divorce a wife in order to have committed adultery with her; nor would he have had to marry her in order to commit adultery!) Furthermore, if a man commits adultery and his wife forgives him, the covenant is not broken (they are not divorced), but he still committed adultery.

Why was the man “committing adultery against” his wife in Mark 10:11,12?

Leviticus 18:20 — The man who “lies carnally” with his neighbor’s wife defiles himself; it is against himself.

Psalms 51:4 — David said that his sin was “against you, you only.” His major concern was that he had sinned against God.

I Corinthians 6:18 — One who commits fornication “sins against his own body.”

Mark 10:11,12 — The man who divorces his wife and marries another “commits adultery against” her — he sins against his wife. (Wuest’s Word Studies says “the expression may mean either ‘to the prejudice of her [the first wife], or with her [the second],”‘ Vol. 1, p. 198).

2. Some contend that Matthew 19:3-12 does not apply to non-believers. It is called a “covenant passage,” meaning that one must be in “covenant relationship”with God before it applies to them.

When Jesus was asked about divorce, he went back to the beginning of time — not the beginning of the Jewish law.

Paul specifically said that unbelievers had been guilty of adultery (1 Cor. 5:10,13; 6:9-11; Rom. 1:26-32).

The fact that God permitted polygamy, concubinage, and divorce and remarriage in the Old Testament period does not prove that it was not against his universal moral law.

A six-year-old who shoots another would not be punished as an adult. This does not mean that the law against murder is not in effect.

God obviously allowed some things before the complete revelation in Christ that he does not permit today.

God progressively revealed much of his law, but today it has been completely revealed in Christ and it applies to everyone (Matt. 28:18-20).

d. There are things in the law of Christ that do not apply to unbelievers, just as there are things that do not apply to all believers. God’s teaching on repentance and baptism only applies to believers; his teaching on the Lord’s supper only applies to those in the kingdom; his law on loving your wife only applies to those who are married; likewise his teaching on divorce and remarriage only applies to those who are married.

3. Some say that when the guilty party is put away, he/she is no longer married, and therefore may remarry, just as the innocent party.

This is based entirely upon human reasoning. No passage of Scripture gives the “put away fornicator” permission to remarry. In fact, Scripture specifically says that the one who marries the put away fornicator “commits adultery.” (Would it not be strange if the single man who married the divorced fornicator was sinning, but the divorced fornicator was not?)

Argument by analogy (“if two people are chained together and the chain is broken, both are free”) is not scriptural proof. (An analogy that fits the Scripture is a ball player who is under contract to a team. He may refuse to play for that team, but that does not free him to play for another — unless he is freed from the contract of the first team.)

Just because two people are divorced does not give them the right to marry someone else (1 Cor. 7:10,11).

God is the one who has “bound” us, and he did not free the guilty party to remarry!

4. Some say that baptism washes away sins, therefore those who were living in adultery before baptism may continue to live with that companion after baptism.

 

a. Some also say that the Christian can repent and pray and continue to live in a relationship that was formerly adulterous. (If God’s law of pardon for the alien would permit his remaining in adulterous relationships, then his law of pardon for the erring Christian would permit the same.)

b. When the Jews violated the law of God on marriage, what did they have to do? (See Ezra 10:3-5,18,19.)

c. But, some say “celibacy is too difficult a penalty.”

Is it too difficult for the innocent party who hasbeen put away but cannot marry another (1 Cor. 7:10,11)?

What did the man in Corinth have to do (I Cor.5:1)? (Questions: Was the woman a believer? If so, why was she not disciplined? Or, was she, but it is not mentioned? Would it have made any difference whether, or not, she was a Christian?)

d. “Committeth adultery” (Matt. 19:9) is in the pre-sent tense which indicates continuous action. Romans 7:1-3 tells how long it would be adultery.

e. Baptism washes away sins, but we must repent and turn away from them. Baptism does not change a relationship from sinful to righteous. What would a polygamous man have to do if he repented of polygamy? If people were involved in homosexual “marriages” and wanted to be baptized, what would repentance require?

f. I am sympathetic to Christians and non-Christians who have violated God’s marriage laws, but I can-not change what the Bible says.

Conclusion

The Pharisees understood that the teaching of Jesus on this subject was strict, and said, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry” (Matt. 19:10). Jesus said that not everyone could accept their saying, but some were eunuchs and others could “make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake” (v. 12). The worst thing in the world is not being celibate, but being lost (Matt. 18:8,9).

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 7, p. 22-23
April 1, 1993

By Mark White

Jehovah’s Witnesses doctrine is a complicated maze of misapplied and wrested Scriptures, amalgamated together for their own religious purposes. For the Watchtower, nothing is straightforward and simple. Their view of the world, the coming judgment, and the resultant “new order” is formulated by their determination to make passages of Scripture fit their preconceptions. They evade the “simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). Discontent with plain Bible teaching that Jesus Christ will return to raise the dead, execute judgment on the living and the dead, and usher in the complete destruction of the elements of the heavens and earth (Jn. 5:27-29; 2 Pet. 3:5-13), they offer false hope and deceive the hearts of thousands of souls. And, like building blocks fitted neatly together, their doctrines are co-dependent. If one block crumbles, the entire wall will come tumbling down.

Like many other sectarian religions of our time, the Witnesses are enamored with the Bible word Armageddon (Rev. 16:14,16). Unlike the dispensational premillennialist who sees Armageddon as the beginning of “World War III,” with nation warring against nation, Watchtower devotees believe that Armageddon represents a righteous war fought by God. Their doctrine of the news heavens and near earth hinges on their understanding (or should I say, misunderstanding) of this pivotal point in human history. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that:

This war of God will prepare the way for a righteous new order. Unlike wars of men, which kill both the good and the bad, Armageddon will destroy only the bad (Psa. 92:7). Jehovah God will be the Judge, and he will remove any who willfully refuse to obey his righteous laws. . . After Armageddon, no part of this wicked world will remain. Only persons who serve God will continue to live (1 Jn. 2:17) (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Brooklyn, NY, 1982, p. 155).

Just what do the Witnesses mean by this “new heaven and new earth” anyway? The “new heavens” are not new physical heavens, but:

The “new heavens” refer to a new rulership over the earth. The “heavens” now are made up of man-made governments. At Armageddon these will pass away (2 Pet. 3:7). The “new heavens” that will replace them will be God’s heavenly government. Its king will be Jesus Christ. But ruling with him as part of the “new heavens” will be 144,000 of his faithful followers (Rev. 5:9,10; 14:1,3) (Ibid., p. 160).

This quotation introduces the 144,000 — another integral building block in the Witnesses’ theory. Since they believe that only this exact number of God’s people will be in the heavenly kingdom with Christ, there must be some reward for the obedient who are not in this select group. This is the “new earth,” according to Witnesses doctrine. Again, we notice:

What, then, is the “new earth”? It is not a new planet. God made this planet Earth just right for humans to live on, and it is his will that it remain forever (Psa. 104:5). The “new earth” refers to a new group or society of people. . . The “earth” that will be destroyed are the people that make themselves part of this wicked system of things (2 Pet. 3:7). The “new earth” that replaces them will be made up of true servants of God who have separated themselves from this world of wicked people (Jn. 17:4; 1 Jn. 2:17) (Ibid., p. 160).

Jehovah’s witnesses are looking for a paradise on literal Earth. They contend that the planet Earth as we know it will physically continue to exist eternally, with all wickedness and wicked people removed from it. A veritable “Utopia” will exist for the faithful.

Most Jehovah’s Witnesses at your door will seek to pique your interest in studying with them by setting forth these false hopes of a paradise Earth. And it is an appeal which captures the attention of many people. After all, isn’t everyone interested in the complete eradication of sickness, death, crime, environmental pollution, war, and dishonest politicians?

Wouldn’t we all enjoy living in the perfect year-round climate, in a fine home, with plenty of good food to eat? This is the “new earth” promise of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But how does this Utopia” all come about?

Witnesses believe that the righteous who survive Armageddon will have the job of clearing away the old system and cleaning up the earth. Once this clean-up is accomplished, then:they will have the privilege, under the direction of the Kingdom rule, of cultivating the earth and making it a beautiful place in which to live. What a happy work that will he? God will bless everything that is done. He will provide the fight kind of climate to grow crops and raise livestock, and he will see to it that these are protected from disease and harm. We cannot even imagine how wonderful life will he in paradise on earth (Ibid., p, 159).

We see then, that the Watchtower makes its appeal on the basis of the “new earth.” Living eternally with God in heaven is not even a consideration to them. Rather than appeal to the souls of men on the basis of the eternal , they entice their followers with earthly promise

Notice:

Surely you want to live on. the paradise earth like the garden in which the first man Adam was created. (Gen. 2:8; Lk. 23:43).. Think of it — no more war, come or violence. You will be able to walk anywhere at any time of the day or night without fear of being harmed. The wicked simply will no longer be (Psa. 37:35-38) (Ibid., p.159).

Jehovah’s Witnesses are quite adept at pulling Scriptures completely out of context, and stretching them to it their definitions of the new paradise on earth. By this means, they develop these characteristics of the new society: (1) God’s kingdom will be the only government ruling on the earth. (2) People of all races and nationalities will live together as one family of brothers and sisters. (3) Peace will exist between people and animals. Now dangerous animals will then be completely at peace with mankind. (4) Beautiful homes and gardens will be enjoyed by every inhabitant of the new earth. 5) There will be no more sickness, aging, or death. Even he old will grow young again! (6) Persons now dead will enjoy the paradise earth, because they will be resurrected and reunited with their loved ones. How wonderful it would he if these things were only true! But these promises are based on wrong premises: The Bible simply does not teach this compendium of Utopian ideals for planet Earth.

Where the Witnesses Make Their Mistake

Assumptions often lead to false conclusions. Witnesses assume that the physical world is eternal. It is not the Creator’s intention that his creation exist forever in either its present physical or moral condition nor in some paradisiacal form. Even as clearly as Genesis 8:22, God stated, “While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. “The phrase “while the earth remaineth” inherently suggests that the earth will not always remain. 2 Peter 3 discusses the: devastation of the antediluvian world, contrasting its destruction by water with the means of the eventual ultimate destruction of the earth by tire. verses 6-7 states, “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the’ he same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and Perdition of ungodly men.’ !Of course, the Witnesses’ argument is based on their view of “earth” and “heavens.

They do not regard this destruction of earth as the global sphere upon which we live, but of the unrighteous people therein. The word for earth in these passages is the Greek word ge and is translated by the English words “ground,” “land,” “earth,” or ‘country” in the King, James Version. Its basic meaning is “soil.” Strong defines ge as “soil, by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application): country, earth (-ly),-round, land, world.” Obviously then, the “earth” that’ -‘ is to be destroyed by fire is the physical globe itself. Jesus himself said that the earth would pass, or perish. “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:18); Furthermore, Peter continues his description of the dissolution of the heavens (sky or atmosphere) and earth in 2 Peter 3:10-11. Carefully observe what the apostle says will occur: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass .away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, whit manner of persons ought ye to he in all holy conversation and godliness.” Does this sound like a paradise being born? Is this passage just describing the annihilation of the wicked, or the destruction of the very elements from which this earth and its atmosphere is constructed? Simply stated, the heavens and the earth will he dissolved, meaning hat they will lose their form and be returned to the original state from which God created them! It is simply astounding that, the very passages from which they claim to find proof for their “new earth” theory, actually sets forth the very opposite view!

Indeed, the hope of every Christian is embodied in the promise God has given of ‘new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”(2Pet. 3:13). But this is not the present earth or heavens whose elements will be destroyed by fire. We fully anticipate dwelling with our Father eternally, in the celestial city called Heaven, where neither sin nor unrighteousness can exist (Rev. 21:14). This is not some false hope, based on false teaching, but a real and much longed for reward. .

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 8, p. 10-11
April 15, 1993

By Ron Halbrook

The Lord’s supper is observed by the Lord’s church on the Lord’s day.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses” are not the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. They do not observe the true supper of the Lord Jesus Christ. They do not observe it on the true Day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The church of Christ began on the first Pentecost after Jesus arose from the dead and ascended back to heaven. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter and the other apostles preached the death, burial, resurrection, and coronation of Christ at the Father’s right hand.  When the audience asked what they must do to be saved. Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” About 3,000 people obeyed the gospel “the same day.” As the gospel was preached day by day, “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:38, 41,47). God taught his people to wear their Savior’s name: Christian (Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16). The New Testament records the faith and practice of the Lord’s true church. Those who follow that same pattern of faith and practice constitute the Lord’s true church today.

“Jehovah’s Witnesses° are a modern cult started by Charles T. Russell about 1870. They took the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in Columbus, Ohio in 1931.  God called the Jews “my witnesses” in the Old Testament, meaning that the miracles God performed in their history confirmed the reality of his existence (Isa. 43:9 13).  In the New Testament, only those who saw the resurrected Lord were referred to as his witnesses, but the term was not used in reference to Christians generally (Acts 1:8, 21‑22). The Jehovah’s Witness Cult has its own “translation” (actually, a paraphrase) of the Bible primarily designed to deny the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are not the Lord’s church.

The true church of the Lord observes the Lord s supper.  After the last Passover meal with his Apostles, Jesus took some of the remaining “unleavened bread” and “fruit of the vine” and gave it a new meaning. He taught them to eat and drink it as a memorial of his death “for the remission of sins.” He taught them to keep this memorial it the future in “that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26:26‑28). The hearts of Christians who make up the church are the realm of the Father’s kingdom or rule through Jesus Christ, and that kingdom was fully established on Pentecost in Acts 2. The church is the kingdom, and in that kingdom of God Christ communed with his people by means of the Lord’s Supper from the very beginning of the church. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). This refers to worship, not social meals, and to the Lord’s Supper of the New Testament, not the Passover of the Old. All Christians in every church of the Lord ate and drank in this memorial (1 Cor. 11:17‑34; 4:15; 1:2).

The J. W. cult does not keep the true supper of the Lord. On rare occasions when they profess to prepare the Lord’s Supper, their doctrine bars 99.9999 percent of the members from eating and drinking of it.  In most places no one at all participates. They claim that God offers the hope of heaven to only 144,000 people, only those people may partake of the Supper all through history, and nearly all of them lived in the first century A.D. The great majority of their members are denied both communion with Christ in his supper and a home with him in heaven.

From its beginning, the church of Christ worshipped every first day of the week. It began on Sunday in Acts 2. The regular and consistent practice of every church of Christ is pictured in Troas: “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread….” (Acts 20:7). “Upon the first day of the week” every member of every church was taught to make a financial contribution according to his ability for the work of the church (1 Cot. 16:1‑2; 4:15). Christians met for study and other spiritual activities on other days, but they met only on Sunday, and every Sunday, for the Lord’s Supper and the collection. God’s true people still do so today.

The Jehovah’s Witness cult claims that since Jesus first spoke of the supper at the Passover, “it is reasonable” to assume that he “meant” that the supper should be kept “only on Nisan 14,” the Passover date, “annually, not with greater frequency” (J.W. Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971,  p. 1076). This argument is based purely on human reason, supposition, and guesswork. On that basis, we could say that it is reasonable to assume that he meant we should keep the Passover in connection with the Lord’s Supper. If so, we should fatten the Passover lamb Nisan 10‑14, then kill and eat the lamb on the 14th. The Jewish Nisan is equivalent to our April. On April 15‑21, we should remove all leaven from our houses and eat only unleavened bread (Exod. 12:1‑28; Lev. 23:4‑8).

The mistake of the Jehovah’s Witnesses cult is in trying to bring part of the Old Testament into the New. Jesus told his disciples what to eat and what it would mean when he ordained the Supper, but he said not one word about taking it on the date of the old Passover. They were still living under the Old Testament at the time of this teaching, but Jesus said they would not keep this Supper of communion with him again until the day of the Father’s kingdom (Matt. 26:29). The Father’s kingdom came on Pentecost, a Sunday, in Acts 2. Pentecost always came 50 days after Passover, which means Pentecost was always on the first day of the week (Lev. 23:15‑16). When the kingdom came on Pentecost, the church did not wait a year until the next Passover date to observe the Lord’s Supper. Acts 2:41‑42 shows that the people converted on that very Sunday immediately began sharing the lord’s Supper.  Every church was taught to do the same thing (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 4:15). It requires a man‑made Aid to Bible (Mis‑)Understanding to declare the practice of the early church not “reasonable” for the church today.

The J.W. cult professes to provide the Supper by basing it on the day appointed for an Old Testament feast day. They are binding that much of the Old Law for today. Anyone who hinds part of the Old Law “is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law” (Gal. 5:3 4). Not only do they nullify Christ by denying his deity, but also they nullify Christ by justifying their date for the supper from the Old Law. Paul said of the Old Law,

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ (Col. 2:16‑17).

The days, appointments, and dates of even Old Testament feast –  including the Passover – only foreshadowed the greater blessings of the gospel of Christ. Not one of those old dates is binding on Christians today for any purpose.

Acts 20:7 gives the J.W. cult no little trouble. They cannot find a single passage where any New Testament church ever observed the Lord’s Supper on the date of the Passover, but here is a passage which plainly shows the Supper was observed each and every Sunday. “And upon the first day of the week, preached when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them.” In a frantic effort to nullify the force of this text, members of the J.W. religion have said that Acts 20:7 refers to a common meal rather than the Lord’s Supper. No, Paul ate something to refresh himself at the start of a journey in verse 11, but verse 7 clear1y refers to the regular assemblies of the whole church for worship.

The New Testament repeatedly distinguishes the Lord’s Supper conducted by the church from common meals provided by individuals:

The Lord’s Supper

1. The breaking of the bread is in the context of worship (Acts 2:42).

2. All disciples assembled to eat the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

3. When “ye come together in the church,” eat the Lord’s supper rather than a common meal (1 Cor. 11:17‑34).

A Common Meal

1. Eating food from house to house is separate from worship assembles (Acts 2:46b).

2. Paul alone ate food to prepare for a journey – no one else was said to eat (Acts 20:11).

3. “If any man hunger, let him eat at home, that ye come not together unto condemnation” (1 Cor. 11:34).

We should never confuse the duty of the church to provide the Lord’s Supper with the duty of individuals to provide social meals separate from the work of the church.

The true church of Christ still observes the Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day. One way we can know the J.W. organization is not the true church of Christ is that they repudiate the Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day as recorded in the Bible. They substitute a man‑made observance on the date of a feast in the Old Covenant. Jesus warned, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:23).

[Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 8 (April 15, 1993), p. 14‑15]

By Jim Lynn

My assignment for this article is the viewpoint of the Jehovah’s Witnesses concerning the “144,000” of Revelation 14:1-3 and then to see what the Scriptures have to say about it. I am thankful for this opportunity and it is my prayer to God that all who read will be benefited in a spiritual way.

The “144,000” has many different names according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, i.e., “the heavenly class, body of Christ, chosen ones, elect, holy nation, Israel, kingdom class, anointed, new creation, the little flock, and the congregation of God” (The Bible and the Watch Tower Society, Robert A. Bolton). One other name given to them by the WTBTS (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) in (“Look! I Am Making All Things New,” pp. 22,23) is “the perfect government of peace. ” From the same publication I quote, “The Bible shows that the perfect government will be in heaven. From this vantage point, the King Jesus Christ will effectively rule all the earth in righteousness. Moreover he will have associate rulers in that invisible, heavenly government. These are chosen from among faithful humans, followers of Jesus who stuck with him through trials and to whom he says.” “I will make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom” (Lk. 22:28-29). This list is added to in 2 Timothy 2:12 — “If we go on enduring, we shall also rule together as kings.” Here Paul and Timothy are added to the covenant of Luke 22:28-29. It is only a few humankind who are taken to heaven to rule with Christ Jesus. So God’s kingdom, or heavenly government, consists of Christ Jesus and “144,000” people taken from earth to heaven (Rev. 14:1-4; 5:9-10). “And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, and having his name, and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save thehundred and forty and four thousand, even they that have been purchased out of the earth. These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb.” According to the Jehovah’s Witness doctrine the “144,000” are to have the characteristics given in this passage: (1) purchased out of the earth, purchased from the earth, purchased by the blood of the Lamb, they are the redeemed (Rev. 5:9); (2) follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth; (3) purchased from among men, to be the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb; (4) they are not liars, they spoke the truth in everything. Thus, we see ac-cording to the JW’s doctrine that the “144,000” are a very special group indeed. This group is indeed so special that not one single individual who lived in all of the 4000 year period of history from Adam until Jesus Christ will go to heaven. I wonder what happened to Enoch who walked with God and I wonder what happened to Elijah who went by whirlwind into heaven. I wonder what God will do with the Old Testament roll call of worthies who are spoken on in Hebrews 11?

In The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life (pp. 114-116) the “144,00” are set forth as the “true church” that Christ built (Matt. 16:18). It is noted that no one can “join” this church simply by getting his name written on a membership role. The “true church” or “church of the firstborn who are written in the heavens” (Heb. 12:23, NWT) can only be entered when God selects you (1 Cor. 12:18). These are the ones who will be in heaven with Christ and that number will be limited (it will not include all who profess to be Christians) to “144,000” (Rev. 14:1-3; Lk. 12:32).

How Are They Selected?

“`Members of the little flock’ know that God has called them to heavenly life. How? By means of the operation of God’s spirit, which implants and cultivates in them the hope of heavenly life” (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, p. 78). Jehovah Witnesses believe that God works on a per-son miraculously to make over or change completely a per-son’s thoughts, his attitudes, everything about him is radically different. Thus he looks upon serving God as the primary thing in his life and, therefore is fitted with the “heavenly hope” in him. Before one can tell whether he is in this condition he first must arrive at an understanding of what the Bible teaches. Why? “Because God’s holy spirit that bears witness that one has been called to heavenly glory is the same spirit that directed the writing of the Bible.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 the apostle Paul states, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This passage is used to show that God does the choosing of the “144,000.” Those who are chosen must be willing to sacrifice relatives and friends and every earthly tie to be able to go to heaven and participate in Christ’s heavenly government as ”assistant kings and under priests and to be a part of the “bride of Christ.”

What Is Their Purpose?

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that God did not change his purpose for the earth or for mankind because of Adam’s sin. If God had done so he would have admitted inability to carry out his original intent. His purpose has always been to have an earthly paradise populated with perfect people. The thing that God changed was the governing structure that was to carry out his purpose. As we have already seen, his Son Jesus Christ will be the head ruler and “144,000” per-sons taken from among humankind to rule in heaven with him. These rulers in heaven will make up the “new heavens” of God’s new arrangement.

In The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life (p. 115) we read, “They (144,000) are, indeed, a group of persons called out from spiritual darkness for a special purpose. While here on earth they boldly ‘declare abroad the excellencies’ of the Most High God, who called them out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Pet. 2:9). And, after their resurrection, they will have the grand privilege of ruling with Christ in his heavenly kingdom (Lk. 22:28-30). ‘Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me’ (KJV).”

This special, elect group has been chosen extremely carefully by God, and they come from people of every nation (Rev. 5:9-10), and from all walks of life; they are male and female. Their lives take into perspective every problem mankind could have dealt with, thus their qualifications for governing those left upon the earth. In Ephesians 4:22-24 — “And that ye put off concerning the former conservation the old man. Which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. “And in 1 Corinthians 10:13

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (KJV). Thus, with the “144,000” having done these things they become fit for the heavenly kingdom and eminently qualified to rule with “King Christ Jesus” the “other sheep” that have attained unto salvation upon a perfected earth or Paradise.

The “other sheep” will make up the new earth, the people over whom the “144,000” will rule (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1-4). Included in them will be Job, David and John the Baptist, all the faithful ones who lived before Christ, in addition to everyone who makes it through the end of this “wicked system of things.”

What Does the Scripture Say?

It has truly been a rewarding experience for me to study for the writing of this article. There are many, many things not included because of space limitations. There are things which I probably should have included and left out and things which probably have been included, but which should have been left out. I pray that neither will be detrimental to our understanding. This part of the Jehovah’s Witnesses doctrine as well as all of it is filled with subtle error, outright denial of God’s eternal purpose, the inspiration of the Scriptures, and the deity of Jesus Christ. Mixed with a little truth it becomes a powerful force for Satan which has led many to spiritual condemnation and is responsible for many more walking that road at present.

What Is The “144,000”?

The number “144,000” (Rev. 7:4; 14:1-3) is a figurative number standing for all of God’s redeemed people upon the earth. One of the most glaring errors of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the misuse of literal and figurative language, and also the failure to use all that the Bible teaches on a subject. In all of my reference sources on this subject there was no mention or use of the “144,000” spoken of in Revelation 7:4-8 — “And I heard the number of them which were sealed.: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand” (KJV). From Homer Hailey’s comments (An Introduction and Commentary on Revelation) I quote, “The sum, a hundred forty and four thousand, does not designate a literal numerical quantity, but is a symbolic figure. The most reasonable view is that twelve, the religious number (see Introduction, “Numbers”) multiplied by itself and then by one thousand, indicating fullness of completeness, represents the total number of saints on earth at any given time.” If the number “144,000” is literal then the tribes are literal and that makes the “144,000” all Jews, but we have already noted that Jehovah Witness doctrine states that the “144,000” comes from out of every tribe, and nation, and peoples. The charter members of the “144,000” were the Jews on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and the Gentiles in Acts 10 (i.e. Cornelius and his household). When we go to Revelation 14 we see that all Jewish make-up of a literal “144,000” is further qualified by the requirements of verse 4 which states that they must be male and also must be virgins. These are two qualifications that the Jehovah Witnesses either fail to mention or they are ignorant of them. So we see that the Bible defeats them at the very beginning of their doctrine. There is no select group of human beings taken from among men to be associate rulers with “King Christ Jesus.” In fact, from True Peace and Security (p. 69), “Among them are people from all walks of life, men and women. ” Jehovah’s Witness doctrine contradicts the Scriptures for they say that Peter will be in heaven, but the Scriptures say that the “144,000” are male virgins, and Peter was a married man (The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, p. 118). “Peter is just one of the “144,000 living stones” making up the true church. ” As the “144,000” of Revelation 7, 14 is symbolic, so is the character of “not being defiled with women; for they are virgins” (Rev. 14:4). This truly speaks of the character of the Christian; it speaks of purity and holiness.

I had opportunity to study with a person in Arkansas who kept quoting John 5:39-40 to me, and though she used it in a right sense, she never applied it to herself. The Jehovah’s Witnesses need to apply it to themselves, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

Dear ones, there is no select group of “144,000” that we must be a member of to go to heaven, but there is a select group that we must be a member of and that is the church that Christ built (Matt. 16:18); the church that people were added to in Acts 2:47 — “Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as were being saved. ” To the kingdom of Colossians 1:13 — “. . . and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. “To the church which is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:23) — “Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” From the point of Acts 2:47 all who were “obedient to the faith among all nations, for his name” (Rom. 1:5) were added by God to that same church.

How Are They Selected?

Paul states in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 — “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (KJV). God chose all people to salvation that are willing to do his will. Jesus said in John 17:17 — “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. ” Is there a contradiction here? In one place Paul says sanctification of the Spirit, in the other Jesus says that sanctification is through the word. There is no contradiction for our sanctification takes place through the Holy Spirit whose means of doing so is the word of Christ, the truth, the gospel. The Holy Spirit does not act in some mysterious way apart from the word that we know- nothing about. The sanctification of verse 13 is a “setting apart or consecrating for use. ” Please read the cases of conversion in the book of Acts. Each one agrees, all who come to God do so in the same way, by the Holy Spirit through his instrument, the word of God.

God’s Purpose For All Who Obey Him!

In Genesis 2 and 3 we learn of man’s relationship with God, the fellowship that existed, the perfect state that Adam and Eve lived in. We also learn of Satan, temptation, sin and its consequences. The end of that perfect relationship, the separation that it caused between God and man. Thus, there is a need for man to have a way back to God, the need for reconciliation. The need for a redeemer, thus the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose in Jesus Christ. In 1 Timothy 2:4 — Paul states, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to unto the knowledge of the truth” (KJV). The Jehovah’s Witnesses would have us believe there is one will for “144,000” of humankind and another will for all the rest, but Peter records these words in Acts 10:34-35 — “Of a truth I perceived that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with him” (KJV). This means that there is one way to be chosen, one way to be saved, one way to work for God, one way to honor him, one reward to receive from him. In 1 Peter 1:4, Peter stirs our hope for “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” It is God’s desire that all be saved; in this passage we see that God’s promise for us is reserved in heaven. In 2 Peter 3:13, Peter added “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (KJV).

God’s purpose for all who are obedient to him is the “inheritance . . . reserved in heaven for you. ” In 2 Peter 3:13 he says the very same thing, that there is a new place for the redeemed, the saved, a new order of things which is what heaven will be to us.

God has given man “one hope”; it is a “living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The “hope” given by the doctrine of the “144,000” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is a false hope of ruling with “King Jesus Christ. ” The Scriptures nowhere hold out for any man this kind of hope. Jesus Christ is the “Son of God with power” (Rom. 1:4). He is the “brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3). John states “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). In John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, Verily I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus is God with the same attributes, and characteristics as God the Father; he is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Jesus needs no human assistant rulers, or associate rulers to help him do his work. The “144,000” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses do not exist. It is a false doctrine and is clearly exposed by the Scriptures. It makes the Jehovah’s Witnesses false teachers.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 8, p. 7-9
April 15, 1993