I see them riding their bicycles through intersections around here with their ties and dress clothes on. They're uhh.. not exactly the most rational bunch.
They believe that only 144k of them are getting into heaven. There are like 8 million of them right now and they've been preaching the 144k number since the 1930's.
Their odds of getting into heaven are about as good as our chances of winning the playoffs.
What’s funny is that number was supposed to sealed off by 1935. Lol. The 2nd & most prominent leader came up w/ a two class system that’s nowhere in scripture, but a blatant misinterpretation of Jesus’ words found in the gospels. Basically what happened:
-The world was supposed to end in 1914, but when that didn’t happen, since WWI happened, the founder said, “see, we were right, but we just got the date wrong.” By means of the Pyramid of Giza (b/c that was supposed to be God’s stone), he then calculated the world to end in 1915, then 1918. (He died Oct 31, 1916)
-2nd leader comes & the new teaching happens: that everything was correct, but it happened invisibly. WWI proves that Jesus kicked Satan out of heaven like Revelation says & was predicted, so the yr correct, but event wrong. (Problem is, he said that was supposed to happen on Oct 1, 1914…WWI started in July, but let’s not let facts get in the way. This is something JWs still hold on to til this very day). So then supposedly Jesus had nothing to do for 5 yrs, so he reviewed EVERY religion on earth, but in 1919, he chose The JWs to be the only true religion. Again, this approval happened invisibly. Lol
-2nd founder then said he was the promised Faithful Slave (which wasn’t a promise, but an illustration of how followers should behave awaiting Christ, but let’s not let facts get in the way). He then said the Bible
clearly points to 1925 being the end, & that was his big campaign for 5 yrs. In fact, his publication, “Conclusive Proof That Millions Now Living Will Never Die” converted thousands, as many were fed up with the conditions during this time, looking for hope.
Well needless to say, that failed. But wait; he then said he needed a home located in an area that’s similar to what Moses, Abraham, Issac & other Patriarchs of old could be resurrected to b/c the end is coming soon! So he had a lavish mansion in SD, CA paid for by the members, b/c they knew the end was coming any moment. Lol
-So since the end didn’t come when predicted, & the numbers of the religion was growing past that 144k teaching, he rebranded the religion, & teaching, while re-creating two different hopes.
The leaders since then have been rebranding, re-creating teachings ever since, b/c each prediction have failed; but, instead of saying we were wrong, they’ll sugar coat it & say “it wasn’t God’s time for us to fully understand, BUT NOW, we understand due to “new light.”
Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat…and many members b/c of the love bombing, the guise of unity when it’s uniformity, along w/ the fear mongering have been suspended in thought.
It doesn’t matter what facts u show regarding many weird teachings. They are taught to ignore anything negative about them, EVEN if u remind them of teachings from their literature!
If u ask the avg. JW who their mediator is, the overwhelming majority will say Jesus; but, they don’t realize their leaders teach He’s not their mediator, he’s only the mediator for the 144k (which is an illustration & figurative parable). That’s of course not what ANY scripture say, so to get around this inconvenience, the leaders have said the Bible, particularly the New Testament, is really designed for the 144k, but
principles are to heeded by all. They don’t even know their religion teaches that it’s through the leaders is the only way u can have an approved relationship w/ God, even though the Bible says differently. To get around this inconvenience, again, they teach they are Christ’s brothers tasked with feeding them spiritually & directing them.
The reason no JW know or recognizes this is b/c they are not allowed to think for themselves; in fact, they r told not to become wise in their own eyes,
just listen, obey, & be blessed.
(Sorry for the rant, but I needed to give context)