Why does even the New World translation of John 3 16 say everyone yet Jehovas Witnessess believe only 144000 go to heaven?

Answer 1

There are two parts to the answer:

A)

The New World translation does not use the word "everyone" in the way you suggest - the actual text is

• For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

"everyone exercising faith in him" which is a long way from "everyone".

B)

The reference to 144,000 comes from the Book of Revelations, chapter 7, verse 4

• Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

====

This is not the only instance where one verse in The Bible seems to counter what another says.

====

Thanks for your answers - what I meant in the question is that it says `everyone who exercises faith in him` - this seems to contradict the the idea of only 144000. What if (and surely there is) more than 144000 exercising faith in him now?