144,000 = 20 million? Thoughts on a Watchtower Invite
It's that time of year again - I received an invite to the local Jehovah's Witness Memorial Service. I usually just throw these out, as I am not a JW, nor do I have any desire to attend their service. This year, however, I decided to read it first and was perplexed at what I read.
The pamphlet is entitled "Millions Will Attend: Will You?" and inside it gives a brief description of what the service is and invites the reader to participate. Here is the invite in it's entirety:
"Attend What?
On the night before he died, Jesus met with his apostles. At that time, he introduced a simple ceremony, and he told them: "Keep doing this in remembrance of me." They were to do so in remembrance of the sacrifice he was about to make in behalf of mankind.--Luke 22:19, 20.
Last year, in obedience to Jesus' command, almost 20 million people worldwide observed this annual event. What about this year? The Memorial of Christ's death will be held on Friday, April 3, 2015, after sundown. Jehovah's Witnesses warmly invite you to be present with them on this important occasion. You will learn how Jesus' life and death can benefit you personally." (emphasis added)
Okay, so that's great. I'm invited to go to the ceremony that Jesus introduced and commanded that his apostles should do in remembrance of him. That sounds innocent enough on the outside, but this whole thing disintegrates when you actually look at what they are saying.
Fact: Luke 22:19, 20 reads in the New Word Translation:
"Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: 'This means my body which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.' Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: 'This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf"
What was Jesus introducing in this passage? He wasn't introducing a service where people can come and "learn how Jesus' life and death can benefit you personally". While that is a good thing - nothing wrong with a gospel message - this is not what Jesus was introducing. He was introducing the bread and the wine, aka the "Eucharist", or as most of us protestants refer to it as "Communion". This is ceremony by which Christians consume a piece of bread and glass of wine in order to remember Christ's death and/or wash away sins, depending on your tradition.
So, what's the problem? At this point there is no problem. Except for the fact that the number of Christians last year who observed the Eucharist can be counted in the billions, not "almost 20 million". But we can ignore their claim that they are the only ones truly observing what Jesus introduced - that is not the issue here.
The issue is their own literature on the subject. In their book "Reasoning from the Scriptures", on page 267 under the subheading "Who is to partake of the bread and the wine?" we read the following:
"Who partook when Jesus instituted the Lord's Evening Meal shortly before he died? Eleven faithful followers to whom Jesus said: 'I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom.' (Luke 22:29) they were all persons who were being invited to share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom. (John 14:2, 3) All who partake of the bread and wine today should also be persons whom Christ brings into that 'covenant for a kingdom.'
How many are there that partake? Jesus said that only a "little flock" would receive the heavenly Kingdom as their reward. (Luke 12:32) the full number would be 144,000 (Rev. 14:1-3) That group began to be selected in 33 C.E. Reasonably, there would be only a small number partaking now."
Don't be surprised if you've never heard this before. It is a little known fact about JW doctrine. Erroneous interpretive methods aside, they teach that:
This is a deception that makes people feel like they're being obedient to our Lord's command by attending a service. Nowhere does Jesus institute a service to attend where the participants do nothing but listen. The "service" Jesus instituted was a meal event where all those in attendance ate bread and drank wine.
Couple this with the fact that all Watchtower literature, while not necessarily inspired, is supposedly the closest thing to divine truth here on earth today, and well... I wonder what goes on in these people's minds. This wouldn't be so bad if it were just a single congregation or denomination that was making this erroneous claim, but to declare yourselves as the only group on earth adhering to the commands of God and then try to pull something like this?
I think they're making this up as they go along.
The pamphlet is entitled "Millions Will Attend: Will You?" and inside it gives a brief description of what the service is and invites the reader to participate. Here is the invite in it's entirety:
"Attend What?
On the night before he died, Jesus met with his apostles. At that time, he introduced a simple ceremony, and he told them: "Keep doing this in remembrance of me." They were to do so in remembrance of the sacrifice he was about to make in behalf of mankind.--Luke 22:19, 20.
Last year, in obedience to Jesus' command, almost 20 million people worldwide observed this annual event. What about this year? The Memorial of Christ's death will be held on Friday, April 3, 2015, after sundown. Jehovah's Witnesses warmly invite you to be present with them on this important occasion. You will learn how Jesus' life and death can benefit you personally." (emphasis added)
Okay, so that's great. I'm invited to go to the ceremony that Jesus introduced and commanded that his apostles should do in remembrance of him. That sounds innocent enough on the outside, but this whole thing disintegrates when you actually look at what they are saying.
Fact: Luke 22:19, 20 reads in the New Word Translation:
"Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: 'This means my body which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.' Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: 'This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf"
What was Jesus introducing in this passage? He wasn't introducing a service where people can come and "learn how Jesus' life and death can benefit you personally". While that is a good thing - nothing wrong with a gospel message - this is not what Jesus was introducing. He was introducing the bread and the wine, aka the "Eucharist", or as most of us protestants refer to it as "Communion". This is ceremony by which Christians consume a piece of bread and glass of wine in order to remember Christ's death and/or wash away sins, depending on your tradition.
So, what's the problem? At this point there is no problem. Except for the fact that the number of Christians last year who observed the Eucharist can be counted in the billions, not "almost 20 million". But we can ignore their claim that they are the only ones truly observing what Jesus introduced - that is not the issue here.
The issue is their own literature on the subject. In their book "Reasoning from the Scriptures", on page 267 under the subheading "Who is to partake of the bread and the wine?" we read the following:
"Who partook when Jesus instituted the Lord's Evening Meal shortly before he died? Eleven faithful followers to whom Jesus said: 'I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom.' (Luke 22:29) they were all persons who were being invited to share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom. (John 14:2, 3) All who partake of the bread and wine today should also be persons whom Christ brings into that 'covenant for a kingdom.'
How many are there that partake? Jesus said that only a "little flock" would receive the heavenly Kingdom as their reward. (Luke 12:32) the full number would be 144,000 (Rev. 14:1-3) That group began to be selected in 33 C.E. Reasonably, there would be only a small number partaking now."
Don't be surprised if you've never heard this before. It is a little known fact about JW doctrine. Erroneous interpretive methods aside, they teach that:
- Only 144,000 people in all of history are going to be in heaven
- Only those part of the 144,000 partake in the bread and the wine
- Since the 144,000 will come from all history since the year 33 C.E., today there will be significantly less than 144,000 who will partake
This is a deception that makes people feel like they're being obedient to our Lord's command by attending a service. Nowhere does Jesus institute a service to attend where the participants do nothing but listen. The "service" Jesus instituted was a meal event where all those in attendance ate bread and drank wine.
Couple this with the fact that all Watchtower literature, while not necessarily inspired, is supposedly the closest thing to divine truth here on earth today, and well... I wonder what goes on in these people's minds. This wouldn't be so bad if it were just a single congregation or denomination that was making this erroneous claim, but to declare yourselves as the only group on earth adhering to the commands of God and then try to pull something like this?
I think they're making this up as they go along.