Two Class Salvation System
- Should Christians Discuss Doctrine with Jehovah’s Witnesses? - I try to be very pragmatic. I recommend trying a number of different approaches—some doctrinal, some organizational, some historical—recognizing that no single approach works with everyone.
- Should Christians Discuss Doctrine with Jehovah’s Witnesses? - I try to be very pragmatic. I recommend trying a number of different approaches—some doctrinal, some organizational, some historical—recognizing that no single approach works with everyone.
- The Watchtower’s Two Class Salvation System - In a previous article, I cited the Watchtower’s unique beliefs about the 144,000 and the “great crowd.” Today I’m embarking on a series of articles explaining these beliefs, discussing their significance, and suggesting ways to discuss these matters with Jehovah’s Witnesses in our efforts to get through to them with the real gospel.
- Differences Between the Watchtower’s Two Classes - In previous articles, I described the Watchtower’s two-class salvation system. Today I want to set out a number of differences between the two classes (according to Watchtower teaching).
- Challenging the Watchtower’s Two-Class Salvation System: Are There Really FOUR Classes? - Most Jehovah’s Witnesses are unaware that the Watchtower used to teach as truth a 4-class salvation system – two classes on earth and two classes in heaven. Under this system, the Watchtower taught that both the 144,000 and the “great crowd” would be in heaven.
- God Has Only One Flock, Not Two - One way to challenge the Watchtower's two-class salvation system is to ask the Witnesses about Scripture passages which show that Jesus’ invitation and promises are for everyone who will receive him, not just a select group of 144,000.
- All Christians Are in the New Covenant - Because of the Watchtower teaching that only the anointed 144,000 are in the new covenant, at their annual Memorial service (their version of communion) only those who profess to be in this special class are allowed to partake of the bread and wine. Others are encouraged to attend, but they are required to pass the bread and wine by. This includes all Jehovah’s Witnesses who are in the great crowd, because the Watchtower says that the new covenant in Christ’s blood is not for them.
- Establishing Their Own Righteousness in This Life - In Romans 10, Paul says the Israelites went wrong because they tried to establish their own righteousness. But isn’t that a good thing, trying to be righteous, trying to prove to God that you will maintain your integrity and follow his laws? Isn’t that what Jehovah’s Witnesses think is necessary in order to obtain everlasting life?
- Establishing Their Own Righteousness During the Millennium - According to the Watchtower, members of the great crowd must try to prove worthy of everlasting life by attaining perfection during the millennial kingdom.
- The Great Crowd Will Never Be Secure - How will imperfect, sinful humans ever manage to progress to and attain perfection? The Watchtower claims, “Throughout this time, as the result of the dripping and trickling down of righteousness from the ‘new heavens,’ the human soil of the ‘new earth’ will respond and become fruitful in a corresponding way." What does that mean? I don’t know, and I’m sure if you ask them, Jehovah’s Witnesses won’t be able to explain it.
- A Less Confrontational Approach - If you prefer a less confrontational approach that doesn’t require a lot of documentation, you might begin simply by asking this question: “Exactly what do I need to do to become acceptable to God?”
- Challenging Watchtower Teachings About the Resurrection - I have previously posted a series of blog articles regarding the resurrection which you may find helpful in challenging the Watchtower’s two class teachings. I’ll give you links to those articles below along with a brief synopsis of what each covers.
- Refuting Watchtower Arguments: “Only Jesus Went to Heaven” - The Watchtower has a number of arguments to convince you that in Bible times, only Jesus went to heaven.
- Refuting Miscellaneous Watchtower Arguments About Heaven - Because the Watchtower teaches that the great crowd will live on a paradise earth and that only 144,000 anointed ones will go to heaven, Jehovah’s Witnesses like to stump Christians with questions we haven’t thought of regarding our final destination. Their purpose is to get us to doubt what we believe and make the Watchtower teachings more credible. Let’s look at some of these questions and consider how to respond.
- What God Really Offers - As we saw earlier in this series, the Watchtower teaches that in order to obtain God’s approval, Jehovah’s Witnesses need to maintain righteous behavior in this life and eventually progress to moral perfection by the end of Christ’s millennial kingdom. What they fail to realize is that there is no way human beings can ever by self-effort become righteous enough to meet God’s standards. If we try to establish our own righteousness—that is, if we try to generate sufficient righteousness by self-effort and dedication—we are thwarted at every turn by the dead spirits we inherited from Adam.
- Showing Jehovah’s Witnesses the Real Meaning of the New Birth - The Watchtower says that the new birth is a designation by Jehovah’s spirit of a person to the heavenly class. Using this definition, it claims that Jesus was born again as are each of the 144,000 who will one day go to heaven. In contrast, those in the great crowd do not need to be born again since they do not have a heavenly calling. The best way I know to show Jehovah’s Witnesses what the new birth really is about is to focus on John 3 and ask them what Jesus expected Nicodemus to understand by when he told him about his need to be born again.
