OceanSide church of Christ

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The 144,000 (3)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            We have been discussing the Jehovah’s Witnesses view of final things in our last two articles.  They do not believe that all men will go to heaven.  They teach that only 144,000 people will live therein.  The remainder of the redeemed with live on a renovated earth according to their doctrine.  In our last article, we looked at the figurative nature of the 144,000.  Let’s look at some of the other points made by the Jehovah’s Witnesses about this teaching in this article.

            The Jehovah’s Witnesses refer to the saved who will live on a renovated earth as “the great crowd.”  This comes from John’s description of the redeemed in Revelation 7:9.  “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number…”  The problem the Jehovah’s Witnesses have, however, is that this great multitude is not on earth in this verse.  John tells us that they “stood before the throne” of God.  Where is this throne located?  John tells us in Revelation 4:1-2.  “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:  and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.  And immediately I was in the Spirit:  and, behold, a throne was set in heaven and one sat on the throne.”  The throne in heaven.  The great multitude stood before the throne.  Thus, the great multitude is in heaven.  They are not on the earth.  In Revelation 7:15, we read more about the great crowd.  “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple…”  This helps us to know the location of the great crowd as well because the temple is also located in heaven.  “And the temple of God was opened in heaven…” (Rev. 11:19). 

            The Jehovah’s Witnesses also make an argument based on the passages that speak of “a new heavens and a new earth.”  They believe that when the Lord comes again, He will completely renovate this earth.  He will make it new.  He will rid it of all the wickedness and evil that presently exists.  It will restore it to its pristine nature like it was at the beginning of the creation.  They believe this is what Peter is declaring in II Peter 3:12-13.  He writes:  “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”  They also tell us that John refers to this new earth in Revelation 21:1.  “And I saw a new heaven and new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

            There are several answers that need to be applied to the Jehovah’s Witness teaching about the new heavens and new earth concept.  First, Peter is very clear in stating that this earth will be completely destroyed.  “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” (II Peter 3:10).  In the next verse, he states that “all these things shall be dissolved.”  Second, Christians are not people of this earth.  Paul reminds us that we are citizens of heaven in Philippians 3:20.  “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Our hope is in heaven (Col. 1:5).  Our treasures are laid up in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20).  Each one of us are like unto the patriarchs of old.  We “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly…” (Heb. 11:16).  Third, the phrase, “a new heaven and new earth,” is a figurative expression that denotes a dwelling place, that place being heaven.  Two men could be speaking to one another, one who owns a small cabin in the woods and another who owns a mansion in the city.  The wealthy man might say to the man who owns the cabin:  “You need to come visit my cabin that is located on 1st Street.”  It is not really a cabin.  He uses the word figuratively to describe his massive house.  The words “new heaven and new earth” are used to describe a place where the righteous will dwell.  These are words that we understand and appreciate.  However, they are not referring to the place where we currently live. 

            One argument that the Jehovah’s Witnesses will use to counter these points involves the Biblical teaching that the meek shall inherit the earth.  Jesus Himself made this statement in Matthew 5:5.  “Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.”  They claim that if we live in heaven in the hereafter, then we will not inherit the earth.  First, we cannot live on the earth.  “Heaven and earth will pass away” according to Jesus (Matt. 24:35).  So, how do the meek inherit the earth?  We often forget that “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof” (I Cor. 10:26).  Too, Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on the earth (Matt. 28:18).  When a meek individual submits to the Christ, he inherits the earth.  He becomes the child of the one who truly owns the earth.  The Christian can now use the earth for the purpose for which is was designed, to honor and serve God and carry out the will of God (Matt 6:10).