Where did the jehovah's witnesses come up with 144000 getting into heaven?

Answer 1

Those who are not of the 144,000 remain in the grave until the resurrection. (Job 14:14)

Then they are brought back to life. (Acts 24:15)

For more complete information check out the information in the link in the related links area below, called "Real Hope for Your Loved Ones Who Have Died" from the publication What Does the Bible Really Teach? published by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses accept what The Bible teaches. Read Revelation 7:4 and Revelation 14:1-3 to see this definitive number of 144,000. Then compare those scriptures with Revelation 7:9 where the amount of the "great multitude" cannot be numbered. This great crowd are those that will be ruled by Jesus and the 144,000 "bought from the earth" to reign as kings and priests over the earthly group. (See Psalm 37:11,29; Psalm 72:7,8; Revelation 5:9,10. and Revelation 20:6)

Answer

Jehovah's Witnesses invariably take the Holy Bible at face value without looking into the text in an exegesical way to obtain the depth of the message therein nor the context of the writing. In Revelation, for example, almost the whole test is written in the apocalyptic style (as is parts of Ezekiel) where the text is riddled with allegory and symbolism. A prime example is the 'Number of the Beast' - 666 - which most undoubtedly have heard of, the number referring to the Devil. However, in analysis this number has thrown up various possibilities - the numerical derivation of the Emperor Nero, Babylon - even Judas Iscarot as well as satan. The problem is that the actual meaning is now lost in the thousands of years since the book was written, although books themselves have been written on its correct interpretation. The 144000, however, is easier to interpret and relies on Jewish culture at that time. To the Jew, the idea of a 'multitude' is given by the number 1000, the largest named number in Jewish culture. Hence the 'Feeding of the 5000'. It would be a silly person indeed that suggested that Christ fed exactly 5000, no more or no less - here the '1000' is used to denote a 'greet crowd' (of men incidentally - the women and children weren't counted!). Similarly, the 1000s used in the Old Testament to denote the Israelite armies, the numbers of Israelites leaving Egypyt and so on also denote a great crowd but of indeterminate size. Also the number 12 has a particuilar significance in Jewish culture. 12 is the smallest number divisible by many factors (1,2,3,4,6,12all divide into 12) and, as such, was regarded as special even holy. Hence the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 disciples of Christ, the 12 baskets of leftovers after feeding the 5000 and so on. 12 x 12 means utter perfection and the ultimate in holiness. As for 144400, this is 12 x 12 x 1000, which, in Revelation's symbiology means that there will be a perfection, an utterely holy perfection as a multitude in heaven. In other words, the multitude there will be complete, perfect and holy. To suggest that only 144000 (no more, no less) will enter heaven is childsh and naive interpretation of scripture - and, considering, that there are more that that number of Jehovah's Witnesses in the world, if their interpretation was correct there would even be some of them who would be disappointed!

Corrollary to the answer

Jehovah's Witnesses are very happy about the prospect of living forever on earth, just as Jehovah God originally purposed in the garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:28,2:15-17) If EVERYONE is to go to heaven and become kings and priests ruling alongside our enthroned King, Christ Jesus then who would they be ruling over? A true government (as is God's Kingdom) is made up of a few ruling over many. This is why Jesus spoke of a "little flock" that would go to heaven to be with him. (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) There will be a very large multitude of righteous ones left on the earth after the wicked ones are destroyed at Armageddon. (Psalm 37:11,29; Proverbs 2:21,22; Revelation 7:14,15) And who will be ruling over them? Why, Jesus Christ and the 144,000, of course!