Since the 144,000 are all of the elect, chosen from the first century, right up to “the time of the end”, it includes the apostles and all the first century Christians who received the “heavenly calling”. (Hebrews 3:1)
Were the apostles Jewish virgins? Were those of the elect only male virgins? The apostle Peter was married, so was he a virgin? He would not have been the only one since Jewish society expected marriage and children as these were seen a a blessing from God. So, it can’t be physical virginity.
Women are also part of the elect. Upon their resurrection, when they gain their spirit bodies, there is no longer any gender, (which is only for reproduction).....the virginity mentioned is spiritual....they are “virgins” in the spiritual sense, untainted by the false ideas proffered by satan’s ‘weedy’ imitation “Christianity” which took over “the church” after the last apostle, John passed away. Their restraining influence remained until the last contribution to the NT canon was written at the end of the first century.
Well that is what the Watchtower tells you , you must believe, but that is not what Gods Word says!
If you wish to believe in a reinterpretation of SCripture- that is your business. but when you call it the Word of God, then it becomes my business and I will resist the Watchtower lies fiercely- for they are lies.
I told you why the Watchtower is lying, you choose to believe it- that is fine. The one thing that time will show- is how they have decieved you to your own harm- no matter how nice and how religiously zealous they are!
But I await your proof from history, how when John died at teh end of the first century, th echurch went to hell in a handbasket. Until you show tha tproof, please do not add any other things to discuss, for I won't discuss them.
You made a claim, now please back it by proof and not opinion and conjecture!
I have seen from you and other JW's here hwo the 144,000 are culled form nearly 2000 years of history and the allegorizing of the number 144,000 and Jewish male virgins, but why hasn't the watchtower indoctrinated you into the meaning of this part of that passage:
Revelation 7
King James Version
7 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
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.
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
So to believe the Watchtower:
1. These angels have been hanging around nearly 2 millenia.
2. Israel doesn't mean Israel
3. the names of the tribes do not mean the names of teh tribes.
4. The 12,000 are what?????????????????????????????
5. the great crowd come out of the great tribulation.
Now for this passage:
Revelation 14
King James Version
14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
1. being defiled with women doe snot mean being defiled with women
2. Being men does not mean being men.
3. Being virgins does not mean being eunuchs for the kingdom.
I am so sorry your god had a bad day when He inspired this to be written. but THE God of the Universe knows how to write and does not need a man made organization founded by a habadasher to reinterpret His Word for HIm.
Since this is what I have always believed, I assume that you have fooled yourself here. It is the Bible that tells me that “spiritual death” is not the same as “physical death”. We will have a different view on what that means however.
