How do you explain that 144000 will go to heaven according to Revelation?

Answer 1

A:The explanation depends very much on whether you believe the Book of Revelation is correct in that claim. If so, you should also explain why a loving God would cause the overwhelming bulk of Christians to receive a lesser reward. If you do not believe Revelation to be correct, you could choose to explain that the book is, after all, only the work of a man, known from his signature as John of Patmos but otherwise unknown.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 Witnesses will enter heaven. For them, the majority of Witnesses and many righteous people who do not share their faith will be granted eternal life on earth.

Another Answer:

Scripturally, it never says they go to heaven as another Scripture in John 3:13 fully explains only Jesus who came from heaven returns. Heaven will come to Earth and God will tabernacle with men (Revelation 21).

So who are these 144,000. In Revelation 7, verse 1-9, these are drawn from the tribes of Israel (a close read will show that Dan is missing - another question). These are 'sealed' (cannot receive the mark of the Beast) before the Day of the Lord - a 1 year long period after the Tribulation administering the final 7 vials of God's wrath. They will die martyrs, saving their eternal lives.

Yet, John is also describing a 2nd group (verse 14) of indefinite number coming out of every nation and people coming out of the Tribulation (Satan's wrath of 2 1/2 years). He is allowed to see even farther into the future where this great multitude is celebrating a victory before the throne of God - on Earth and not in Heaven (Revelation 21). These peoples died as martyrs during this hellish time, representing the completion of the martyrdom foretold in Revelation 6:11. They are actually victors as they found their salvation and will be resurrected to glory.

All this occurs during the 7th Seal as Isaiah prophecized in 34:8; 61:2 leading up to Christ's 2nd coming. This vision goes into the Millennial Rule, the Great White Throne Judgement and the introduction of new heavens and earth as in 2 Peter 3:10-13. This is the great harvest of God where the billions are brought into the God Family - equally. But the 144,000 represent a 'firstfruits' of those redeemed to their Creator. This number is 12x12x1000 which is the number of organized beginnings squared and multiplied by a thousandfold. It represents the starting point of the Creator's harvest of the nations after He has begun His direct intervention in judgment.

An understanding of God's Holy Days will shed much light upon all prophecy.