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There is ONE Hope
When the Jehovah's Witnesses come knocking at your door, they will almost certainly discuss their peculiar doctrine of the 144,000. They claim that this number — exactly this number, not one more or one less – will be taken to Heaven to live with the Lord. According to them, the rest of the righteous will spend eternity here on the earth. Rather than destroying the earth (and the entire physical universe), the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that God will restore the planet to its perfect 'Garden of Eden' condition, and this will provide a wonderful existence for those who are not among the 144,000 that will go to Heaven.Where did they get this strange doctrine of the 144,000? The only reference to such a number is in the Book of Revelation (7:4-10 & 14:3-4). In these passages, the Jehovah's Witness insist on an absolutely literal interpretation. When studying with them, it is interesting to ask them if all of the 144,000 will be Jewish (chapter 7 says so) and male virgins (chapter 14 says so). Their answer will be an emphatic NO. The devastating follow up question is this: If the number is literal, why isn't the description of that number also literal? They have no answer!
The Jehovah's Witnesses are also at a loss to explain how planet Earth will serve as the eternal abode of the majority of righteous souls, when the Scripture plainly teaches that the entire universe will be destroyed. Peter wrote: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).
Finally, this doctrine of the 144,000 fails because it contradicts the statement of Paul in Ephesians 4:4 when he said there is "one hope of your calling." Do you see it? They argue for two hopes (one for the 144,000 and another for the rest of the righteous) — but Paul says this is one common hope. Who do you think is right: Paul, or the Jehovah's Witnesses?
