The 140,000 who will go to heaven

[Ignatias20]

Jw’s will tell you that only 140,000 will go to heaven. Here I am speaking about Jehovah’s Witnesses.

How does a Catholic Apologist explain that to Cathololics?

( I have heard that the 140,000 will be the Jews that are converted after the Coming of Jesus.)

 

[LilyM]

If memory serves, the 140,000 are all male, all Jewish and all virgins.

So on the JW understanding, women, Gentiles and those who in the normal course of married life have lost their virginity need not apply.

Which, of course, means St Peter didn’t make it - he was married and therefore presumably not a virgin. That, of course, would mean Our Lord lied when He promised Peter, along with the other Apostles, would be on a throne in heaven judging one of the 12 tribes of Israel. :whacky:

This twisted logic also means that if JWs perform marriage ceremonies or in any other way encourage marriage (with the resulting loss of virginity) they are then in fact wilfully encouraging people to condemn themselves to Hell and helping them on their way there!

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It doesn’t seem to say only 144,000.

. . .4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, 5 twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad, 6 twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manasseh, 7 twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Issachar, 8 twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin. 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!”…

Revelation 7:4-9 That sounds like a lot more behind them were also saved.

Note that the JW’s use their own translation. That may account for their belief.

 

[VetA]

If memory serves, the 140,000 are all male, all Jewish and all virgins.

So on the JW understanding, women, Gentiles and those who in the normal course of married life have lost their virginity need not apply.

Which, of course, means St Peter didn’t make it - he was married and therefore presumably not a virgin. That, of course, would mean Our Lord lied when He promised Peter, along with the other Apostles, would be on a throne in heaven judging one of the 12 tribes of Israel. :whacky:

This twisted logic also means that if JWs perform marriage ceremonies or in any other way encourage marriage (with the resulting loss of virginity) they are then in fact wilfully encouraging people to condemn themselves to Hell and helping them on their way there!

oh they dont believe in hell, you just cease to exist according to them

 

[PAboy57]

the JW’s say many things that don’t cut the mustard. If you are up on your studies you can have some interesting things to say to them when they visit you.

Take care

 

[1believer1]

the JW’s say many things that don’t cut the mustard. If you are up on your studies you can have some interesting things to say to them when they visit you.

Take care

If you wish to address JW’s or just wish to be better informed I would encourage you to get the book by Jason Evert about JW. Unfortuontaly I can not remember the title.
I think it is Answering Jehovah Witnesses. Please forgive my spelling errors!-]/-]

 

[BTTG]

Here are the names of the tribes listed for the 144,000, in the order in which Revelation 7 lists them, and their corresponding Hebrew meanings as found in Scripture:

1. Judah means I will praise the Lord
2. Ruben means He has looked on me
3. Gad means Given good fortune
4. Asher means Happy am I
5. Naphtali means My wrestling
6. Manasseh means Making me to forget
7. Simeon means God hears me
8. Levi means Joined to me
9. Issachar means Purchased Me

10. Zebulun means 	      :)          Dwelling

11. Joseph means 	       :)         Will add to me

12. Benjamin means 	:)        Son of His right hand

Now here is the amazing part. Notice what happens when you line up these meanings of the names according to the way they appear as listed in Revelation. It forms a very remarkable statement declaring how God saves the church as His bride!

I will praise the Lord for he has looked on me and granted good fortune. I am happy because my wrestling, God is making me to forget. God hears me and is joined to me. He has purchased me a dwelling and will add to me, the Son of His right hand. (As in Scripture, some words are supplied for flow of thought.)

These names presented in this order describe a brief story summarizing the churchs struggle, redemption, victory, and ultimate marriage to the Lamb. It seems evident that this is a special message of encouragement for those who are in the Church, believers in Christ, and not necessarily just Jews.

 

[mskejj]

David Currie’s book, “Rapture: The End Times Error That Leaves the Bible Behind” says the 144,000 number is symbolic for the number of Jewish Christians who were brought into the Church BEFORE the fall of the Temple in 70AD. His book does a great job of showing how most of Revelation has already occurred in the Fall of the Temple and the 31/2 years (42 months from the time Nero invaded Jerusalem to the complete destruction of the Temple…Great book

 

[LilyM]

oh they dont believe in hell, you just cease to exist according to them

Either way they miss out on heaven - again, strange considering Our Lord promised St Peter he’d be there.

 

[Willy_Jose]

According to the prophet Isaiah, only 10% of all people will be saved (Isaiah 6:13). The prophet Amos, when asked likewise, replied “a remnant” (Am 3:11-15). Jesus, when he spoke of the narrow door, said that “only a few” will find it (Mat 7:13). How much is “a few”? Certainly not 140,000 or Jesus would have said so. Some scholars say that eventually everyone will be saved and reconciled to God, as God “wills all people to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). In short, no one knows for sure…

We can not determine how many will be saved, but we do know HOW one must be saved. “Not everyone who says Lord! Lord! Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but who does the will of my Father". God will judge how many.

 

[Ignatias20]

A Big Thank You to all of you who have posted here.
What a great group of Catholics - and so knowledgable too!
Isn’t Catholic Answers the greatest way of disseminating
information for us who live in a remote area? Thanks!