Quote:
Originally Posted by mordant
That used to be their party line but their membership long since outgrew the 144,000 number so now what they say in effect is that the 144,000 are the elites who will govern from heaven but the rest will have it pretty cushy too, here on earth. Otherwise there wouldn't be much motivation to put up with all the door-to-door stuff, the forbidding of transfusions, the prohibition of holidays, etc.
The thing that is weird to me is that for all their regimentation and odd prohibitions, they are annihilationists, meaning they do not believe in eternal perdition but rather that the unbelieving simply will go to oblivion and not get invited to the party. This is oddly respectful amidst all their controlling behaviors and ideation.
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Yes, I find there is a difference between the 144,000 and the 'great crowd' of Revelation 7:9,14.
Those called to Heaven have that first or earlier resurrection mentioned at Revelation 20:6; 5:9-10; 2:10.
They are like the people of Luke 22:28-30; Daniel 7:18.
The earthly resurrection is for both the righteous and unrighteous according to Acts 24:15
As regards the wicked they are ' destroyed forever ' - see Psalm 37:38; Psalm 92:7; Psalm 104:35; Proverbs 2:21-22
Yes, I suppose one could say 'pretty cushy here on Earth' because David will be one of the 'princes' on Earth -
Please see Psalm 45:16; Isaiah 32:1-2; 17-18 besides Ezekiel 34:24.
Besides the resurrected righteous and unrighteous being 'invited to the party' so are the figurative 'sheep' at Jesus' coming Glory Time at Matthew 25:31-34,37.
A 'party' because we are all invited to pray the invitation to God for Jesus to come ! - Rev. 22:20
Jesus to come because Jesus will bring ' healing ' to earth's nations - Rev. 22:2
Healing to the point that no one will say, "I am sick....." - Isaiah 33:24
Earth and its people will be happy-and-healthy as described in the 35th chapter of Isaiah.
Even ' enemy death ' will be No more on Earth according to 1st Corinthians 15:24-26; Isaiah 25:8
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