PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- MAY 26, 2009

What did Jesus mean by "little flock"-- and what about the 144,000 in the book of Revelation?

Q. Help! I live in Alberta, Canada, and I've been with your ministry for a little over a month. I am a former JW What a blessing to be free! I have a two part question. (1)What is the "little flock" spoken of by Jesus? As a JW I was taught the that the little flock were the 144,000 faithful of Jehovah's visible organization. (2) Who are the 144,000 in the book of Revelation? I hope you can provide me a sound, biblically based answer.

A. We share your joy in your rescue from the bondage of religion, in your case, the Watchtower version. Thank God for his mercy and grace!

1) The JWs "use" (as do others) Luke 12:32, "Do not be afraid little flock..." as if Jesus was saying that his "true" followers would be small in numbers, compared to the world at large. The immediate audience to whom Jesus spoke these words were his own disciples (see Luke 12:22). The over all subject and theme of this passage (Luke 12:22-34) is about Jesus' protection of his sheep. He doesn't want them to be afraid or worry. He will take care of them (us). This passage is not, in any way, providing numerical details, specific numbers of percentages of those who would follow Jesus then or in the future.

Jesus used this metaphor of his followers, both then and throughout time, as being like sheep in the sense that they could be spiritually preyed upon. The term "flock" of course, reminds us of many passages in which Jesus is depicted as the Good Shepherd ( for example, see John 10:1-18) and that he would care for his own, protecting them from the thieves and robbers. When Jesus speaks of his "little" flock the emphasis is not so much the total number or percentage of his own sheep as it is how precious and special the flock, and each of its sheep, are to him. They are "little" -- in the sense that we use the word in its diminutive way - cherished and loved.

The idea of a "little flock" has been proof-texted by many small, cultic groups, in an attempt to explain why they are "outnumbered" by Christians. Thus, this verse is co-opted by cultic teaching to justify their own diminished numbers.

2) The identity of the 144,000 (Revelation 7)? The JW's teach (or they did once upon a time) that only 144,000 of the anointed will dwell with God in heaven. This is an example of how many people misread the Bible. They overly literalize the passage, so that it bears little, or no resemblance, to the teaching given therein. The JWs have long ago passed the 144,000 anointed class -- in terms of those who faithfully followed the teachings of the Watchtower. Then why continue to be a JW? I think they have an explanation somewhere, but, the fact remains that the bankruptcy of their overly literal explanation as to the identity of the 144,000 caused them to add a footnote to the original, flawed teaching.

If the 144,000 isn't the anointed class of the JWs, then who is it? We must not pick up the book of Revelation without understanding that it is written in an apocalyptic style, a style of literature that employs symbols via images, creatures, numbers and colors. This is not a book that one can read as a carpenter does a blueprint or a cook follows a recipe. The numbers, for example, do not necessarily imply a literal equivalent, but are symbolic of a larger and deeper truth. The number 144,000 was used as a huge number, with a multiple of 12 (which itself is a much-used symbolic number in the book of Revelation) to depict an imprecise but huge group of people who, by God's grace, inhabit the new, spiritual Jerusalem. They receive spiritual healing (as you are now receiving from the Lamb of God, after your experience with the Watchtower) are are sealed from further harm by his own blood.

I explain this passage in greater detail in my book Revelation Revolution.

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