The suggested answers provided to all questions below are based on and in harmony with the views of the original Watchtower Bible and Tract Society when under the guidance of Pastor Charles Taze Russell. Comments will often include a link to Pastor Russell’s own explanation. However, in any case, we leave your conclusions to your own personal study, prayer, conscience and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
- Who are the Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have created this website?
- Why have the Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses set up this site? What is your purpose?
- Should we really want to be on earth rather than heaven? Does the Bible give us that option?
- Are the Great Crowd the same as all the people in Paradise Earth?
- What is the role of the Great Crowd on Paradise Earth?
- Is the Great Crowd to be in heaven or on earth?
- Who are the “other sheep” of John 10:16?
- What happens to Anointed who do not make the 144,000
- As the Path Shines Brighter, does the Truth Change?
- Why does God Permit Evil and Human Suffering?
- What is the future mission of the Anointed for which they are now being prepared?
- Will Present Unbelievers Serve and Worship Jehovah on Paradise Earth?
- Will Everyone Be Resurrected from the Dead?
- Have People Received Final Judgment for the Past 6,000 or will they have an Opportunity for Judgment and Restitution on Paradise Earth?
- Will the wicked get an opportunity to repent in Paradise earth?
- Who will occupy the land of Israel in Paradise earth?
- Who does Jehovah make the New Covenant with?
- What prophecies regarding Israel’s regathering have already been or are being fulfilled?
To Humbleman;
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”–lmighty since Jehovah had given to him all power in heaven and in earth. And again he declares,”I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last;I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of hades (the grave) and of death.” In or through him as here declared, we see the whole plan of Jehovah consumated. Beginning with creation we have seen him as the alpha in the plan, and faith looks unto the great future and beholds him as its omega.”
R 422 some where after that numer, titled Consider Him.
Also Dupin, Jeff, Peter can comment on the Pastor’s comment of Rev. 1:11 The more imput the better.
Would Pastor Russell have changed his beliefs if he were still alive today? What would he have done with 7 million believers?
Ken – I’ll give you my opinion. I don’t think he would change his beliefs, especially not to agree with Rutherford whom he had dismissed from Bethel due to indiscretions.
Brother Russell frequently traveled to conventions around the country and even world wide. He would stay in brethrens homes at each location. Whether at a convention, on a train or in a home, he was constantly discussing scriptures with brethren, listening to knew die as and answering challenges. It is not likely we could challenge him today with something he had never considered.
I don’t think Russell’s message of the narrow way, a Ransom for ALL and Christian liberty would have appealed to most of the 7 million JW who would rather put their faith in an earthly organization rather than taking personal responsibility for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Hypothetically if Brother Russell were alive today with 7 million believers, he would insist they be followers of Christ, not of himself. He would continue to let each congregation elect their own elders, run their own affairs and encourage them to use Studies in the Scriptures to help them study, but to take responsibility for drawing their own scriptural conclusions in honesty and in good conscience. In other words he would do today what he did back then.
Ken – I’ll give you my opinion. I don’t think he would change his beliefs, especially not to agree with Rutherford whom he had dismissed from Bethel due to indiscretions.
Brother Russell frequently traveled to conventions around the country and even world wide. He would stay in brethrens homes at each location. Whether at a convention, on a train or in a home, he was constantly discussing scriptures with brethren, listening to knew ideas and answering challenges. It is not likely we could challenge him today with something he had never considered.
I do not think Russell’s message of the narrow way, a Ransom for ALL and Christian liberty would have appealed to most of the 7 million JWs who would rather put their faith in an earthly organization rather than taking personal responsibility for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Hypothetically if Brother Russell were alive today with 7 million believers, he would insist they be followers of Christ, not of himself. He would continue to let each congregation elect their own elders, run their own affairs and encourage them to use Studies in the Scriptures to help them study, but to take responsibility for drawing their own scriptural conclusions in honesty and in good conscience. In other words he would do today what he did back then.
I tend to agree Peter K,BTW, I watch the TS videos…..Great!
Ken – Yes the tabarnacles is really a wonderful study.
To Peter K;
Excellant on liter 144,000!!!
Hi Ken it would would be the same temple this group of people serve in Ezekiel 44 v 10-14 i believe this group represent the great crowd from verse 15 onwards it describes the sons of zadok (144000). the fact that the book of revelation does not use the Greek word Heron but only Naos suggest to me the temple is heavenly. please read Number 8 v 21 then read Ezekiel 44 v10-14 and then read revelation 7 v 14-15. if we prove scripture with scripture then its truth not doctrines of men Bro humbleman
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To Ken;
Last part of 15,”The One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.” Ps 15:1,”O Jehovah, who will be a guest in your tent? Who will reside in your holy mountain?” Was Noah? Could the people of Israel have bee? Lets check. Ge 6:9,”Noah was a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his comtemporiars.” Remember that word faultless.
Duet 18:13,”You should prove yourself faultless with Jehovah your God.” This was for people right? What should they be? Faultless.
Would they not qualify to be a guest in God’s tent? 15:2,”He who is walking faultlessly and practicing righteousness And speaking truth in his heart.” Not e last part of 3,”And no reproach has he taken up against his intimate acquaintance.”
Yes all those who were faultless back then were a guest in Jehovah’s tent. And note Is 2:2,”And it must occur in the final part of days that the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it all the nations must stream. Catah,”all the nations.” Rev 7:9,”out of all nations.” “rendering him sacred service.” Where? On earth! Why? “tent over them.” Just like Rev 21:3,4,”and they will be his peoples.” Who is that? “Look! The tent of God is with manking.” Spirits in heaven? No, mankind.
Obviously Max, there are different opinions on the Def. of the great crowd,however, no matter who we believe they are, Jehovah will have mercy on mankind and save as many that want to be saved right? Next time I study the Bible with someone and when we get to the part about the ID. of the “great crowd” and the “144,000” I’ll ask them ..”who do they think they are” and explain to them the different opinions on it instead insisting that it has to be one way.
Ken – Let me share some suggestions. I do believe that the Great Crowd is a secondary spiritual class. Just on logic alone, it is natural to suppose that there must be a secondary class. Otherwise, everyone baptized into Christ and anointed with the Holy Spirit would automatically be part of the Bride class without putting forth much effort and commitment, as long as they did not turn against Jesus. Do we really expect that half hearted Christians will be earth’s future judges priests and kings?
It is my thought that numbers in Revelation are literal, even if they have a symbolic meaning as well. There were literally seven churches, seals, trumpets and plagues in Revelation. The 42 months are the same as the 1260 days of Daniel and also the times, times and a half (3 1/2 times). Each time is 360 days, so 3 1/2 times 360 is the 1260 days. The 144,000 is the literal number of the bride of Christ, earths future priests, kings and judges. However, other Christians will be in heaven as well, they just will not be part of the bride of Christ.
The Anointed can be broken down into two classes after death: 1) the 144,000 and 2) those who fall short of the 144,000, but who are not going into second death. We believe this second class is the same as the Great Crowd of Rev 7. Notice the scriptural evidence for this second class.
The Race:
1 Cor 9:24 – “Do YOU not know that the runners in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that YOU may attain it.” NWT
Paul here tells us that not everyone in the race will win the prize. We believe that those who do not win the prize are part of this second class called the Great Crowd in Rev. 7.
A Full Reward:
“Look out for yourselves, that YOU do not lose the things we have worked to produce, but that YOU may obtain a full reward.” (2Jo 1:8 NWT)
John implies there is a lesser reward by urging the brethren to receive a full reward. We think that lesser reward is the Great Crowd.
Building on our Foundation:
“11 ¶ For no man can lay any other foundation than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood materials, hay, stubble, 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the day will show it up, because it will be revealed by means of fire; and the fire itself will prove what sort of work each one’s is. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward; 15 if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved; yet, if so, it will be as through fire.” (1Co 3:11-15 NWT_)
This passage describes two classes, both of whom build their foundation in Christ (vs 11). The Little Flock are the ones described as building with gold, silver and precious stones (vs 12). They will be rewarded (vs 14). The second group of the anointed build with wood, hay and stubble (vs 12). They will be saved through fire (trials, great tribulation)(vs 15)The gold, silver and precious stones are the Christ-like character qualities developed (i.e. the fruits of the spirit). The wood, hay and stubble are the deficient character qualities of this anointed group which disqualify them from the 144,000 office of priests and kings (Rev 20:6). However, these are not going into second death. As verse 15 says, they will be “saved.” This is the Great Crowd of Rev 7. They come out of great tribulation, which for some is that tribulation in coming out of Armageddon and for others the personal tribulation they experience in their life before dying, which Jehovah permits to help them wash the spots (sins) off of their robes (Rev 7:14)
Discreet and Foolish Virgins:
“1 ¶ ”Then the kingdom of the heavens will become like ten virgins that took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were discreet.” (Mt 25:1-2 NWT)
In the New Testament, the word “virgins” applies to Anointed Christians (11 Cor 11:2; Rev 14:3,4) The foolish did not have much oil in their lamps (vs 8 ) and none extra in their receptacles. Both oil and anointing with oil are associated with the holy spirit (Acts 10:38; 2 Cor 1:21, 22; 1 John 2:27). The lesson is that some of the Anointed are not filled with the Holy Spirit. They lack in zeal and the fruits of the spirit. The solution was to have been developing the fruits of the spirit in their lives, depicted by purchasing the oil (acquiring the Christ-like character by suffering for righteousness). The door was shut by the time the foolish virgins arrived (vs. 10), demonstrating that putting off serving the Lord and developing the fruits of the spirit will result in loss of the crown (Rev 3:11), however there is no statement to indicate that the foolish virgins go into second death, but simply that they lose the opportunity to enter the marriage feast.
Called, Chosen and Faithful
“These will battle with the Lamb, but, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also, those called and chosen and faithful with him will do so.”” (Re 17:14 NWT)
The called, chosen and faithful represent three progressive conditions. Those that are called are invited to the marriage (Matt 22:3,14). Those that are chosen have accepted the invitation and were chosen to be anointed (1 Peter 1:1,2) with the holy spirit. Those that are faithful unto death will receive the crown of life (Rev 2:10), the divine nature. This final group is the 144,000.Just as not all who are called are chosen, so also, not all who are chosen to be Anointed, receive the crown of life (the Divine Nature). This group that is not totally faithful unto death are the same as previously mentioned in 1 Cor 3:10-15 who do not receive the reward, but are saved by fire. They are the Great Crowd of Rev 7 who serve before the throne and were pictured by the Levites who served in the tabernacle. They are mentioned in Psa 45:14 as the virgins, the brides companions in the Kings palace. These same bride’s companions are the Great Crowd of Rev 19:6 who in verse 7 are at the marriage supper (in heaven) rejoicing.
You can find more information on the Great Crowd and Rev 7 here: https://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/category/great-crowd/
Wow Peter K, I know I’ve heard all these things before but for some reason, the way you put it together, it all makes sense now! Thank you!!
BTW, I’m reading the TS book, so when I’m done It’ll all come together even more!
Ken – I don’t know if you have ever seen this before. It is a video and summary booklet on the. tabernacle. https://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/2012/11/22/may-12-conference-call-israels-tabernacle-its-symbols-and-meaning-you-are-invited/
Thanks Peter K, I’ll check it out…
To Ken;
footnote on 15,”Or, divine habitation(dwelling) in his palace (temle)”
Ps 11:4,”Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah- in the heavens is his throne. His own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes examine the sons of men.” Jonah 2:2 shows he can hear people from his temple in heaven. How about Isaiah’s vision,”Jehovah, sitting on a throne lofty and lifted up, and his skirts were filling the temple.”
Hab 2:20,But Jehovah is in his holy temple. Keep silence before him, all the earth.” Why would he be in his temple, and tell the earth to be silient, if he could not receive sound in his heavenly temple? If a person reasons he must be able then the prayers and joys shared by the great crowd reach him in his temple. They don’t have to be there in person.
Read Micah 1:2 talking about people on earth.
Max, most of us know that Jehovah can hear anything he wants to from his temple in heaven,however,Rev. 7:15 speaks of the great as being “IN” his temple(Na’os)
Here’s the WTBTS explaination of the “great crowd in heaven” that I’ve never seen before…..http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002327?q=great+crowd&p=par……comments please….
Ken this is their latest explanation. I felt if they had to do all of that extra explaining that it probably was another made up story. I think the bible should have other scriptures to help understand. This fits onlyf if you put the courtyard and thus part of THE TEMPLE on the earth. I remember this watchtower and the average witness never heard of the great crowd being in heaven so they would never question this.
Jacqueline, I can imagine how that would look….part of the temple is in heaven, the other part connected to earth by very long and steep stairs!
Does anyone know which temple is being referred to in Rev. 7: 15….Solomon’s,Herod’s,etc?
Jeff and Peter K., what are your thoughts on this lattest attempt by the WTBTS to explain the “great crowd” as being on earth?
To Jeff M.;;
Yea, thats the one I meant was very long read but interesting. I might print it off, great reading.
Thanks again.
To Ken;
I have not ordered one. Will let you teach us!
To Jeff M. and Peter K.;
On my search of A.O. Hudson fron England, the first was a long read and remember in 1903 one of the first BS,s died and that same year the Pastor visited England. The first book I think was 1881 getting there. His last name may have been Edgar. But as for A.O. Hudson he was born 1899 and died in 2000. He would have been a young man of about 15,16 or seventeen if he shared the Photo Drama of Creation. He was in charge of material for many many years as a BS, not CMF. If anyone wants a history lesson it is a awesome read.
Max, I ordered the free Bible study course offered by CMF, have you ordered and completed one?
Max,
There is a history Hudson wrote about his experiences and those of the brethren in England for the last 100 years.
You can find it at this link —
http://heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/british%20history.htm