Who are the 144,000?

“Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.” Revelation 7:4

Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that the 144,000 mentioned twice in the book of Revelation are a literal number of individuals who will be resurrected to heavenly life to rule with Christ. These are some excerpts from their publications that elaborate on this belief:

1. “Who Goes to Heaven?” -

“The Bible indicates that 144,000 people will be resurrected to heavenly life. (Revelation 7:4) In the vision recorded at Revelation 14:1-3, the apostle John saw ‘the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000.’ In this vision, ‘the Lamb’ represents the resurrected Jesus. (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19) ‘Mount Zion’ represents the exalted position of Jesus and the 144,000 who rule with him in the heavens.” ‘Who goes to heaven?’ JW.org

2. “Questions From Readers” -

“The phrase ‘those who were sealed’ refers to a group of individuals who are chosen from among mankind to rule with Christ in heaven over the coming Paradise earth. (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22; Revelation 5:9, 10; 20:6) Their number, 144,000, is understood literally for several reasons.” Watchtower On-line Library JW.org

3. Who Go to Heaven, and Why? –

“As we have seen, his Son, Jesus Christ, is the main ruler in this government, and 144,000 persons will be taken from among humankind to rule in heaven with him.” JW.org

4. The Reason Why a ‘Little Flock’ Goes to Heaven –

“So the 144,000 are persons who die on earth as humans and are resurrected to heavenly life as spirit creatures, as Jesus was.” JW.org

These excerpts illustrate the Watchtower Society’s teaching that the 144,000 is a literal number of individuals selected to reign with Christ in heaven, while other faithful believers, referred to as the “great crowd,” are expected to live forever on a paradise earth. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the 144,000 are a special class of Christians who will go to heaven and rule with Christ. They claim that the 144,000 are the only ones “born again” and have a heavenly hope. All other Jehovah’s Witnesses (the “great crowd”) have an earthly hope, they will live forever on a paradise earth but cannot go to heaven. The 144,000 were chosen, beginning at Pentecost (AD 33) and their number was filled by 1935. Only these 144,000 are in the New Covenant and have Jesus as their mediator. Only the 144,000 can take the Lord’s Supper so most Jehovah’s Witnesses are forbidden from partaking.

The Reasons why the Wattower are wrong

1. The 144,000 in Revelation are Israelites, Not a Special Class of Christians

Jehovah’s Witnesses ignore the clear biblical context of Revelation 7:4-8, which states that the 144,000 come from the 12 tribes of Israel, 12,000 from each of the named tribes:

“I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed . . .” Revelation 7:4

Each tribe is named specifically, showing this group is not symbolic of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but Jewish believers. They are not the only people in heaven. This passage continues:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9

Nowhere does the Bible say the 144,000 are the only ones who go to heaven. Instead, all believers in Christ are promised eternal life with Him:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

Paul writes to all in Philippi, and all elsewhere, who acknowledge that Jesus is Jehovah:

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21

John says of all who serve the Lord Jesus:

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:3-5

2. The “Great Crowd” Is in Heaven, Not Just on Earth

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the “great crowd” will only live on earth, but the Bible describes them standing before God’s throne, which is in heaven:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10

God and Jesus, the Lamb are worshipped equally. The great multitude (great crowd) includes all redeemed believers—not just an “earthly class.”

3. All Christians Are “Born Again” and Have Jesus as Their Mediator

Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that most of their members are “born again” and claim that Jesus is only the mediator for the 144,000.

“Likewise, the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members.” “The Desire for Peace and Security Worldwide,” 1986, p. 10

However, the Bible teaches that all true believers are born again and that Jesus is the mediator for all:

“There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” ( John 1:12

The bible teaches that Jesus is the mediator for all believers—not just a small group.

4. The Lord’s Supper Is for All Believers, Not Just a Select Few

Jehovah’s Witnesses forbid most of their members from partaking in the Lord’s Supper, saying it is only for the 144,000. However, Jesus commanded all His followers to take communion:

“Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19)

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

All Christians are called to partake in the Lord’s Supper to align themselves as servants of the Lord Jesus who died to take responsibility for their sin, this sign not just for a limited group.

Jehovah’s Witnesses distort Scripture to divide believers into two classes, denying most of them the full promises of salvation in Christ. This is totally against what Scripture teaches. Peter addresses his first letter in this way:

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:1-5

The elect are all those God has chosen to believe in and obey the Lord Jesus. All such people have received God’s grace and therefore can experience the security of knowing God’s peace whatever happens to us. We can be sure that we will receive our inheritance in heaven.

So the 144,000 in Revelation are Israelites, not Jehovah’s Witnesses. The great crowd is also in heaven, not just on earth. All believers are born again and have Jesus as their mediator and therefore all Christians are invited to take part in the Lord’s Supper.

The Watchtower’s false teaching keeps millions of people from the true gospel—which offers eternal life in heaven, a guarantee to all who trust in Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10