Reasoning with Jehovah's Witnesses |
12. The Great Crowd |
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12. The Great CrowdJehovah's Witnesses believe that: a. The "other sheep" of John 10:16 are to be equated with the "great crowd" of Revelation 7:9.10 b. Members of the great crowd are not to be born again.11 c. The majority of true Christians alive today, or 99.7% of Jehovah's Witnesses, are members of the great crowd.12 d. Members of the great crowd will pass through the great tribulation and enter directly into everlasting life on earth.13 e. The "earthly hope" is the only valid hope for the majority of true Christians alive on earth today. 14
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Q1. Who are the "other sheep" of John 10:16? John 10:16-"And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock [with] one shepherd." John 11:51-52-...that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. Eph 2:13-14,16-But now in Christ Jesus you [Gentiles, vs. 11] who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both [groups into] one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall...reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross...
Q2. What does it mean to stand before the throne of God? Rev 7:9,15-a great multitude...standing before the throne...they are before the throne of God Rev 7:11-And all the angels were standing around the throne and [around] the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God Rev 14:1,3-one hundred and forty-four thousand...they sang a new song before the throne
Q3. In the book of Revelation, where is God's temple? Rev 7:9,15-a great multitude...and they serve Him day and night in His temple Rev 3:12-He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it any more Rev 11:19-the temple of God which is in heaven Rev 15:5-6-the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple Rev 15:8-And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Rev 16:1-And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels , "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth." Rev 11:1-2-And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Q4. Before Revelation chapter 21, where is God's tabernacle? Rev 7:9,15-a great multitude...and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them. Rev 13:6-And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, [that is], those who dwell in heaven. Rev 15:5-6-the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple Heb 8:1-2-Now the main point in what has been said [is this:] we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. Heb 9:11,24-But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, [He entered] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation...For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a [mere] copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us...
Q5. What is the eventuality of those who have washed their robes? Rev 7:9,14-a great multitude...they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb Rev 22:14-Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city [New Jerusalem, Rev 21:2]
Q6. Must members of the great crowd be born again? See BEING BORN AGAIN, Q2, Q4
Q7. What hope does the Bible hold out to Christians living in these last days? See THE RAPTURE, Q1
Q8. Does Revelation chapter 7 state that the great crowd will pass through the great tribulation directly into the new earth without ever having been in heaven? According to Revelation chapter 7, the great crowd: Rev 7:9 - no one could count 7:9 - is from every nation and tribes and peoples and tongues 7:9 - are standing before the throne and before the Lamb 7:9 - are clothed in white robes 7:9 - have palm branches in their hands 7:10 - cry out: "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb" 7:14 - these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation 7:14 - have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb 7:15 - serve God day and night in his temple 7:15 - shall have God's tabernacle spread over them 7:16 - shall no more hunger, thirst, nor have sun or heat beat down on them 7:17 - shall have the Lamb as their shepherd 7:17 - will be guided to springs of the water of life 7:17 - God shall wipe every tear from their eyes
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Summary: a. The "other sheep" of John 10:16 are not to be equated with the "great crowd" of Revelation 7:9. By all indications the "other sheep" of John 10:16 are gentile Christians. b. Members of the great crowd must be born again. c. Members of the great crowd may or may not pass through the great tribulation and enter directly into everlasting life on earth. There are indications that many of them will spend some time in heaven. d. The rapture is the only valid hope (other than dying in Christ and being resurrected) for all true Christians alive on earth today.
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Scriptures commonly used by Jehovah's Witnesses: Gen 1:28-And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." See THE KINGDOM, Q4 Ps. 37:29-The righteous will inherit the land, and dwell in it forever. See THE KINGDOM, Q4 Is 45:18-earth...He created if not in vain [Heb. tohu-without form; cp. Gen 1:2-the earth was without form], He formed it to be inhabited Matt 5:5-Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. See THE KINGDOM, Q4
Endnotes: 10. Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, p. 364 11. Watchtower, 12/1/68, pp. 733-735 12. Watchtower, 1/1/86, p. 23 13. Reasoning from the Scriptures, p. 356 14. Ibid., pp. 136-137 |
