Truth Magazine

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

By Mike Willis

This special issue of Guardian of Truth is devoted to a study of two false religions — the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Branch Davidian Cult in Waco, Texas. A special word of appreciation needs to be given to Randy Harshbarger who edited the section on the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Although some of our readers may not have the time to sit and read these articles from cover to cover, I am confident that they will put this issue in a place of safe-keeping for future reference.

This issue has special relevance for another reason. Some among us have recently been teaching that we need to preach Christ and not the church. They have written that lessons which contrast “us” and “them” do not convert men to Christ. There is no one among us teaching that the church dispenses grace; it is the recipient of grace, not the dispenser. One is saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ not because he has affiliation with a certain group of men, however good they may be.

Having said that, I still insist that the contrasting of revealed religion with unrevealed religion is the proper work of a gospel preacher. If one wants to call this preaching church vs. church sermons, so be it. There is a difference between revealed and unrevealed religion and it is the work of gospel preachers to call on men to forsake unrevealed religion and turn to revealed religion. This is the essence of what Elijah did on Mt. Carmel and what Paul did on Mars Hill. He who belittles this kind of preaching is belittling the preaching of Christ and him crucified, regardless of how palatable his rhetoric may sound.

False doctrine cannot thrive in the hearts of men who “search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11), who “try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 In. 4:1). When men belittle sermons which “try the spirits” and become too refined to preach such sermons, they prepare the seedbed for false doctrine to be planted and thrive.

Believing that this is true, I heartily commend this series of articles of our readers.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 8, p. 1
April 15, 1993

By Donnie V. Rader

One of the most notable cases of conversion in the book of Acts is that of the Ethiopian treasurer. The story is a simple one with many practical lessons to be gleaned from it.

The Prospect (vv. 26-34)

Let’s consider what we know about this man that was converted at the preaching of Philip.

He was a eunuch (v. 27). We are not told whether he was born a eunuch or was made one by men or became one by choice (Matt. 19:12). What little we do know seems to indicate that he did not allow his problems to get in the way of his interest in spiritual things. He did not take his frustration out on God by refusing to serve him. In spite of his lot in life, he was willing to listen to and obey God.

He was the treasurer of the Queen of Ethiopia (v. 27). He was a man of great power and authority. He was the Nicholas Brady or Lloyd Bentsen of the day. He was a man of prestige. Yet, he needed the gospel just like anyone else.

He was a dedicated religious man (v. 27). He had gone to Jerusalem (about 1,000 miles) to worship. This not only tells us that he was a religious man, but he was devoted to what he thought was right. He obviously was sincere. However, he was still in sin and needed to obey the gospel.

He desired to know the truth. As he was riding along in his chariot, he was reading the word of God (v. 30). When Philip came, he asked for help in understanding the words of the prophets (vv. 31,34). He willingly listened to the preaching of the truth (v. 35) as is evidence by his response (vv. 36-39).

We have already learned some basic lessons: (1) The gospel is for all — those with power, money and fame as well as those who have none of these. All still need the gospel. (2) One can be religious and yet be wrong. (3) If one desires to see the truth and searches for it, he can see and obey it.

The Sermon (v. 35)

Though we are not given the complete text of Philip’s sermon, we can draw some conclusions about its content from the context.

1. The sermon was taken from Isaiah 53. The eunuch was reading from this text when Philip “beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (v. 35). We learn a couple of things from this: (a) Our text (Acts 8) serves as a divine interpretation of Isaiah 53. We know, without a doubt, that the prophet was speaking of Jesus. (b) Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. He is the Messiah.

The sermon was about Christ. The text said he preached Jesus to him (v. 35). This would involve the same message that was preached in other cases of conversion. Taking Isaiah 53 as his text he must have preached about Christ being rejected of men, being crucified and being raised again. He must have preached something about the Deity of Christ for the eunuch came to believe that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 37).

The sermon included a message about what he must do in obedience to Christ. He must have preached on the necessity of baptism for the prospect asked to be baptized (vv. 36,38). There seems to have been some urgency to be baptized as soon as they came upon some water (vv. 36-39).

Through the preaching in this sermon God operated upon the sinner to convict and convert him. It was not done by an angel. Notice that the angel appeared to the preacher to send him to the sinner and did not appear to the sinner to convert him (vv. 26,29). There is no evidence of any direct operation of the Holy Spirit.

The Response (vv. 36-39)

He was eager to obey (v. 36). He saw the urgency of obedience. He wanted to be baptized immediately. Those who are thinking of obeying the gospel today must recognize that they could die at anytime (Heb. 9:27) and Christ could come (2 Pet. 3:10).

He asked, “What hinders me from being baptized?” That is a logical question once one learns what God would have him to do. He apparently couldn’t think of one thing keeping him from obeying the gospel. Neither could Philip. So, he was baptized.

He believed what was preached (v. 37). He accepted the teaching about Jesus and his need to respond in obedience.

He repented. Repentance is not specifically mention-ed. However, he was eager to obey the gospel which indicates repentance. He wanted to make a change in his life which is what repentance involves.

He confessed his faith (v. 37). When this prospect was asked if he believed, he confessed (acknowledged), “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” This was not a confession of sin, but one of faith. He was doing what Romans 10:9-10 states is required.

He was baptized (v. 38). He, like every other convert in the book of Acts, was baptized. He did what Jesus commanded for salvation (Mk. 16:16). His baptism was a burial in water for both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water (v. 38).

He rejoiced (v. 39). Having obeying the Lord he now has the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and the hope of eternal life (Heb. 5:9). No wonder he goes on his way rejoicing. Obedience to the Lord produces true happiness.

This is a simple story of a sinner, a teacher, the Scriptures and obedience.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 7, p. 21-22
April 1, 1993

By Walton Weaver

Two times in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is connected with fire. The first time is Matthew 3:11 where John the Baptist tells the Jews,

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (NKJV, emphasis added).

Then in Acts 2:2-4 we read that as the apostles were waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4).

. . . suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one set upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (NKJV, emphasis added).

Let’s take a closer look at these two cases.

What Is the “Fire” in Matthew 3:11?

The reference to baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire (Matt. 3:11) has been an often discussed subject, but much disagreement has developed over the meaning of and fire, and exactly to whom the promise applies. The statement has been explained in the following ways.

Some have seen here a direct reference to the “fire” mentioned in Acts 2:3. One writer, for example, says, “this was literally fulfilled on the day of Pentecost,” and another, in almost the same words, wrote, “this prophecy was literally fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in tongues of fire, Acts 2:3.”

Others have said that “fire” in this passage is an image of the Spirit’s purifying work upon the individual; that this is a figurative description of the Spirit’s consuming a person’s faults. To state it in a positive way, the terms “in fire” describe “the kindling, sanctifying fire of the Holy Ghost.”

Another view is that the “fire” here is “an experience that accompanies the Holy Ghost when he comes into the life of a person”; or, it is “an experience that flashes through the human body and causes one to feel happy and full of joy,” the “feeling that accompanies the Holy Ghost as he quickens the body he enters.”

Finally, the most common view (and what seems to me to be the correct one), is that “fire” in Matthew 3:11 is the fire of the last judgment into which the wicked will be cast.

We will now make a few observations on these different views:

(I) Little needs to be said about the view that the promise of “baptism in fire” of Matthew 3:11 was literally fulfilled in the reference to “fire” in Acts 2:3. The careful reader must have observed that there is no reference to literal fire in Acts 2:3; so how could John the Baptist’s statement about fire have been literally. fulfilled on the day of Pentecost? The passage in Acts 2 says “cloven tongues like as fire” (KJV), or “divided tongues as fire” (NKJV).

McGarvey cites another reason why this interpretation is not possible. He says, “even if these tongues had been actual fire, their sitting on the heads of the apostles could not have been constituted a baptism of the apostles in fire.” It might also be remembered that Jesus did not add “with fire” to his promise of Holy Spirit baptism when he made it to his disciples (see Acts 1:4-5); nor do we have any mention of “tongues like fire” sitting on Cornelius and his household, yet Peter recognized this event as also being a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise (Acts 11:16).

(2) The second view makes the statement in Matthew 3:11 speak of only one baptism, a baptism in the Spirit. “In fire” is only added to give a description of the nature of the Spirit’s work. Those who hold this view see only one class of people receiving this promise — i.e., they say the “you” who were to be baptized in Spirit and fire identifies only one class and one destiny. The fallacy of this position is that “you” in v. 11 takes into account both believing and unbelieving Jews. A mixed audience was being addressed when the promise was made. So “baptism in the Spirit” could refer to one class, the believing Jews, and “in fire” could refer to another class, the unbelieving and impenitent Jews.

This approach takes into account the warning tone of the passage while the former view totally disregards it.

The context also favors the view that two classes are under consideration in v. 11. In v. 10 John has already divided the audience into two parties by his illustration of the fruitful and unfruitful trees. The one represents good men, the other evil men. In v. 12 the wheat and chaff are used for the same purpose. The pronoun “you” takes in both classes of men. John had already used the word “you” in an indefinite way when he said “I baptize you,” when in fact he had not baptized those in his audience.

Also the term “fire” is used in both vv. 10 and 12 to describe the fate of the wicked. In v. 12 it is called the “unquenchable fire.” We should not overlook the parallelism in the three sentences appearing in these three verses. “Fire” has the same meaning in verses 10, 11 and 12. For this reason, two baptisms are under consideration here, and two classes are to receive the baptisms. In other words, Spirit baptism and fire baptism are presented as opposites in this passage. They cannot be opposites and “fire” merely describe the manner of the Spirit’s work. “Fire” does not describe the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, but the condemnation of the wicked. As McGarvey says, “It is clearly the wicked who are to be baptized in fire, and the fulfillment of the prediction will be realized when they are cast in-to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15).”

(3) This third view hardly needs refutation. How would one go about trying to establish from Scripture that “fire” in Matthew 3:11 is the kind of “experience” and “feeling” the author quoted claims for it? No such attempt is made by him. All we have is his word on the matter; such a conclusion cannot be established from the word of God. This writer is simply reading his own “experience” back into this passage and into Acts 2:3 (he takes “fire” in both passages to refer to this kind of experience and feeling).

This same writer goes on to tell us that this experience “might be compared with a current of electricity that flashes through the body when a person contacts a wire that is charged lightly.” “The person so effected,” he says, “feels a tingling sensation. At times the body is jerked about quickly but with no painful feeling. It is rather a pleasant feeling that makes one happy or full of joy. At times only one member of the body is moved or jerked. Sometimes the hand, sometimes the foot or both feet in the holy dance.” How about that! Look what we have been missing by not understanding that “fire” in these passages promises this kind of “experience” for all who will truly believe!

But if this were true, why does not the Bible speak of such “experience” when it describes what happened when certain people were baptized in the Holy Spirit (i.e., in Acts 2 and 10)? Not one word is said about such an experience for either the apostles in Acts 2 or Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. They were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, but absolutely nothing is said about a baptism in “fire” or of such effects coming from Holy Spirit baptism as are described by this writer. Besides, we have shown in the above section that the tone of Matthew 3:11, as well as the context, shows that baptism in “fire” is the opposite of baptism in Spirit, and that baptism in fire is an act of condemnation and not something “felt by every one” baptized in Spirit.

(4) From what has already been said in our discussion of the first three views, it should be clear that this fourth view is the correct understanding of the baptism of fire mentioned in Matthew 3:11. The “fire” in this passage is the fire of the last judgment into which the wicked will be cast.

What Is the “Fire” in Acts 2:3?

We have already found it necessary to set aside the view that the “fire” in this passage is the same as the “fire” of Matthew 3:11. In the latter passage a literal fire is obviously meant, but here the language will not allow a literal fire. Luke unequivocally says, “cloven tongues like as of fire” (KJV). The word translated “cloven tongues” means tongues “distributing themselves,” or “parting asunder” (ASV; i.e., among the apostles); not a tongue-like, forked appearance in each case, as the term “cloven tongues” would no doubt be understood. The change from the plural (tongues) to the singular (it sat) supports this conclusion. At first the fire-like appearance was “in a single body, and then suddenly parted in this direction and that; so that a portion of it rested on each of those present” (Hackett). McGarvey concludes that the change from the plural to the singular was used “to indicate that not all, but only one of the tongues sat upon each apostle, the term distributed having suggested the contemplation of them singly.”

One can easily see the symbolism involved in the fire-like tongue appearance over the heads of each of the apostles. They spoke in tongues, or languages (Act 2:8,11), they had never learned. The miraculous knowledge of the language each was speaking was being revealed to each of them by the Holy Spirit. The tongue shaped (though not “cloven”), fire-like flames symbolized the presence of the Spirit making known to them the language each was speaking. They were in fact immersed in the Spirit as Matthew 3:11 promised, and the “tongues like as of fire” that “sat upon each of them” was symbolical of what was happening to them as they were now speaking languages they had not before known. Nor could they have known them even now without this special revelation of the Spirit. or

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 7, p. 10-11
April 1, 1993