How many Jehovah's Witnesses are going to heaven?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses' way to Heaven

Jesus said in John 8:23 that he came from the spirit realm, but that other men do not.

The belief that SOME good people go to heaven is clearly visible in The Bible, as well. Acts 2:34 tells us that "David [whom the Bible refers to as being 'a man agreeable to Jehovah's heart'] did not ascend to the heavens."

Psalms 37:9 says "those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth," and that "the meek ones themselves will possess the earth" and "they will indeed fin their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." This proves that not only do all good people not go to heaven, but that there will be people living on earth in peace for all eternity.

In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there are a specific, literal number of people who will go to heaven. In Revelation 14:1-3 we are told that "a hundred and forty-four thousand" are bought from the earth are in heaven. That's only 144,000 people.

There in heaven, as we are told in Revelation 20:6, "they will be priests of God and of the Christ and will rule as kings with him" and they are chosen by God through his holy spirit.

*All scriptures come from the NWT

Answer 2

Witnesses believe that the Bible says that a literal total of 144,000 Christians, since the time of Jesus' death, will be ruling in heaven with Jesus Christ. (John Revelation 7:4-9; 14:1-5; 5:9,10) Of this total, they believe that only a remnant or small part of that number are still living today. (Luke 12:32; John 10:16)

This present day remnant is recorded as the number of partakers of the bread and wine at the annual memorial celebration of the Lord's Evening Meal.

According to the 2010 Annual Service Report there were 11,202 partakers at last year's memorial observance.

Additional Answer (from one who is not a witness of Jehovah)

Some Bible scholars and theologians disagree with the Watchtower's interpretation of the clearly symbolic number of 144,000 mentioned in the scriptures listed above. For one, they point out that the Bible clearly states that the number represents 12,000 followers of the Lamb from each of the 12 tribes of Israel - going so far as to actually name each tribe. (Note, however, these are not the original 12 tribes.) When Jehovah's Witnesses quote Revelation chapter 14, they usually stop at verse 3. And yet, verse 5 ends the paragraph, and yet Jehovah's Witnesses will rarely read the next two verses that say, "These are the ones that did not defile themselves with women, in fact, they are virgins..." (See James 4:4.)

So a literal reading of Revelation 14:1-4 would indicate that either the number of 144,000 is symbolic - or - all of them would have to be Jewish male virgins. This is not typically the case with most of those Jehovah's Witnesses claiming to be of the "anointed remnant." Most are elderly, most are married, only a small minority are Jewish, many have had children, and a fair number of them are women.

In recent years the Watchtower Society has faced the problem of the "remnant of the anointed ones" actually increasing from year to year. Within the past decade, the number of partakers has increased from around 8,000 per year to over 11,000 and for the 2011 (April 17th) Memorial, it is possible that over 12,000 will partake. This is in direct conflict with Jehovah's Witnesses' understanding that the remnant would continue to dwindle over the years - and as they did, the end would come.

So how many Jehovah's Witnesses are going to heaven? Not 144,000. You'd have to include the apostles, disciples, the early Christians, the Christian martyrs both during the rule of Rome and then after. For years, Jehovah's Witnesses taught that there was always "an unbroken line of true followers of Jesus Christ" since Pentecost in 33 C.E. Jehovah's Witnesses were not formed in any fashion until the late 1800s. It is estimated, based on membership roles, that all of the 144,000 would have been filled with a fair percentage of reserves around 1965.

Christendom observers of the Watchtower organization expect that sometime before 2025, the Watchtower will be forced to change their teachings to indicate that the number 144,000 is, like the 12,000 from each tribe of Israel, SYMBOLIC and NOT LITERAL. It seems that some active Jehovah's Witnesses privately agree that this will more than likely be the case as "new light" is revealed to the Governing Body over then next few years.

The number of Jehovah's Witnesses that will actually go to heaven is known only to Jehovah God and his Son, Jesus Christ the King.

Answer 3

According to the bible study aid manual "What does the Bible REALLY teach?" Chapter 8, para. 9:

...the apostle John was given a vision in which he saw "the Lamb [Jesus Christ] standing upon the Mount Zion [his royal position in heaven], and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads." Who are those 144,000? John himself tells us: "These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." (Revelation 14:1, 4) Yes, they are faithful followers of Jesus Christ specially chosen to rule in heaven with him. After being raised out of death to heavenly life, "they are to rule as kings over the earth" along with Jesus. (Revelation 5:10) Since the days of the apostles, God has been selecting faithful Christians in order to complete the number 144,000.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe this to be a literal rather than a figurative number which applies to faithful servants both male and female.

Answer 4

ok so they believe 144,000 but what jesus was trying to show was heaps and heaps, so really how many people go to heaven is as many as who believe in jesus so don't worry.