The “Other Sheep”
By Pedward
According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society that train them, Jehovah’s Witnesses fall into one of two groups, the “little flock” and the “other sheep”. As we spoke about before, the Watchtower teaches that the little flock is made up of the 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses that were followers of Christ between the first century and 1935. They believe that the 144,000 will live in Heaven and the ONLY people who are going to heaven.
All the others that believe in the true God “ including pre-Christian patriarchs and most of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, are among the “other sheep”. The “other sheep”, as they are described, are to live on paradise earth. They are alive when God brings this wicked system of things to an end.
This interpretation of the little flock is way off. The “little flock”, are the Jews and the “other sheep” are the Gentiles. In John 10:16 (NIV) Jesus said. ” I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepard.” What Jesus is telling us is that this is not about salvation for the Jews, it was salvation to all!
So we see here that Christians are not divided into small heavenly classes and a “great crowd” with heavenly hopes. We see in Heb 11:13-16 that we are longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” –>
Having studied many religions in depth, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I would agree with part of your premise. However your facts are diluted by the personal interpretations of all of the actual facts. You misapply the scriptures you use as basis for your argument, but your premise is correct. The “faithful and discreet class” of 144,000 are seen by JW’s as all people before 1942, including all religions which qualify under the rules of acceptance. The essence is that anyone born on or before 1942 can qualify for this class of people and report to heaven. To this day every year on nissan 14th of the jewish calendar a special right is reserved for anyone to stand and claim this right by taking of the sacraments that are provided. Nobody else may take of these sacraments. If an individual claims this right they are then pulled aside after the ceremonies and questioned thouroughly by the presiding elder(s) to establish qualifications. To date approx. 40% of this 144,000 are JW’s and it would seem they recognize the other percentage as “other faiths” from times before. In a way this is some sort of the JW’s version of sainthood, but including all religions and not actually limited to JW’s.
Hi Frank, It’s great that you have studied “many†religions in depth. But your argument seems nothing more than a play on words to make the reader think that somehow your language is evidence that you absolutely know what you are talking about. Please show us the Biblical explanation to what you just said. I’m sorry but it’s the normal double talk shell game. Explain….
Hi,
I think your interpretation is sound. Some people use the fact that the word ‘naos’ is used to denote ‘inner temple’ in verse 15 to rule out any application to an unanointed, earthly group because ‘naos’ means the inner courtyard of the temple, where those with no priestly calling have no right to enter. The ‘great crowd’ offer their worship from the outer courtyard. There is a lot of information on the Internet from both sides of the argument.
The 144000 comes from Revelations 7:1-8 (KJV) AND IS STRICTLY translated JEWISH MEN not any kindof wierdness from JW’s (Jehovahs witness, Seventh day adventists and other cults.
Actually, Revelations 7:1-8 refers to “…the sons of Israel”-as there were non-Jews living in Israel, there is no way for you to claim that it is “STRICTLY” translated as JEWISH MEN. I must admit, as a JW for 6 years, I find it quite humorous how EVERY faith (including JW) are brainwashed into believing that their faith is the only correct one. There is little doubt your followers are as brainwashed as the rest!
Isn’t it amazing how there are literally hundreds of “the ONLY true religion” out there?