Prophecy No. 4: 144,000.
Prophecy: The first president and founder of the Watchtower Organization, Charles Taze Russell taught and believed that only 144,000 people called Spiritual Israel would go to heaven. Their doctrine is based upon Rev. 14:3-5, 7:4-17 and John 10:16.
Details & Documentation.
1. Jesus mediates only for them.
"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).
2. Other Benefits: Immortality in Heaven, they are virtually equal with Christ, only they can be born again and partake of the Lord’s Supper offered once a year.
3. Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, the 2nd President of Watchtower Organization, announced on May 31, 1935 (Jehovah's Witnesses Convention, Washington D.C.) that anyone coming into the organization from that day on would compose an earthly class of Christians. This earthly class would be called "The Great Crowd" and would spend eternity on a new righteous "Paradise Earth" with no hope of ever going to heaven.
Bible: Matt. 25:31-34 NASB - “31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”.
