Years ago, while growing up, I had a friend named Don. He was a quiet, shy chap, but always had people's best interests at heart. He always did his best to be spiritually minded, and I remember that given the choice of maybe violating his conscience on something or simply staying away from it, he chose to stay away.
Normally, such a person ends up getting married, raising a family, and perhaps becomming an Elder or Overseer of some sort. Some choose to become a Pioneer or Missionary and/or serve at Bethel. This guy was given a very special privilige by Jehovah: He was chosen to be of the anointed class. What does this mean to a JW and how is it a special privilige?
JW's believe that only 144,000 are going to go into heaven to become a ruling class over the Earth, as symbolized by the "little flock" (Luke 12:32-34). In addition, Revelation 20:4-6 also tells us what those in heaven will be doing there. Revelation 5:9,10 tell us that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom and these heavenly rulers are to be co-regents. Hebrews 2:17-18 demonstrate that such an arrangement is made in love by God for us because this ruling class will have experience dealing with the problems and pains that mankind has gone through throughout history. This class of people must be faithful untill death to receive this gift (Rev. 20:4).
How does one know that they are of this class? First, I have heard it told that one day, a person knows; the same way that one knows if they are a man or woman, they suddenly learn this. Read below.
The book, "The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," published in 1981 by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, USA, explains it very well, I think.
chap. 9 pp. 78-80 The Reason Why a "Little Flock" Goes to Heaven ***HOW
ONE KNOWS WHETHER HE IS OF THE "LITTLE FLOCK"8
Members of the "little flock" know that God has called them to heavenly life. How? By means of the operation of God’s spirit, which implants and cultivates in them the hope of heavenly life. The apostle Paul, as one of the "little flock," wrote: "The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:16, 17) The operation of God’s spirit changes the entire outlook of such a person, so that his thoughts and prayers are centered upon serving God with the heavenly hope in view. Being with Christ in heaven is more important to him than any earthly ties.9
No doubt you have thought about this matter, and perhaps you have wondered whether you are one who will receive heavenly life. Before one can properly analyze his situation, he needs an understanding of what the Bible teaches on this matter. Why? Because God’s holy spirit that bears witness that one has been called to heavenly glory is the same spirit that directed the writing of the Bible. With this in mind, let us examine the situation.10
In the past did you believe that all good persons go to heaven? If so, and if you endeavored to live a good life, you may well have expected to be included among them. You may also have hoped in this way to be reunited with your loved ones whom you had lost in death. But when you had that expectation, did you know that the Bible says that such faithful servants of God as King David and John the Baptist did not go to heaven? (Acts 2:29, 34; Matthew 11:11) At that time did you know that only 144,000 chosen from among mankind over the past nineteen centuries would gain heavenly life? And did you know then that the Bible holds out hope of eternal life under righteous conditions here on earth for all others who would become faithful servants of God?—Psalm 37:10, 11, 29 [36:10, 11, 29, Dy].11
When you were then thinking about heavenly life for yourself, did you believe in the immortality of the human soul? Then, understandably, you may have hoped that your soul would go to heaven. But if you had such a hope it was not because God’s spirit was bearing witness to you. To the contrary, as you now know, God’s inspired Word says that the human soul dies and goes out of existence. So those who die must depend on God to resurrect them to whatever place he wills for them.—Ezekiel 18:4; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38.12
In this matter, then, we must look to the Scriptures for guidance and not let emotions, or a background of unscriptural beliefs, confuse our thinking. Those who receive heavenly life are not persons who choose it for themselves; God is the one who does the choosing. (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14) They are called on to leave behind close family members and friends and all earthly things for the privilege of sharing as assistant kings and underpriests with Christ and as part of his "bride." (Revelation 21:2) That is what God has set before them, and they show deep appreciation for it. But it is not necessary to be of that heavenly group to gain relief from the troubles of this life. God loves his earthly "other sheep" too. He promises that he is going to make this earth a paradise, where pain and sorrow will be no more. The facts show that it is principally to such an earthly hope of life that God has been pointing persons in recent years.13
However, each year, on the anniversary of Christ’s death, the few remaining members of the "little flock" yet on earth keep the Memorial of Christ’s death. As Jesus directed, they partake of unleavened bread and red wine, which are symbols representing the flesh and blood that Jesus gave for mankind. Jesus said to those whom he instructed to partake of these emblems that he was making with them ‘a covenant for a kingdom’; so those who are not heirs of the heavenly kingdom do not partake of the emblems. (Luke 22:19, 20, 29) Nevertheless, those who look forward to earthly life are present each year in large numbers as observers at the Lord’s evening meal. As one who is keenly interested in life under the heavenly kingdom, you too should be in attendance.
So for someone who is a JW, this is a big deal. To partake of the emblems without Jehovah's approval is a serious matter that can be viewed by Jehovah as being disrespectful to this arrangement and Christ's shed blood. However, based on what I have heard, I don't think that is the case here. I am happy for him that this special privilige was granted to him.
This type of privilige not only entails responsibility in heaven, but also on Earth. It is not simply a rank as most people think of rank. Among JW's it is like a job description. Bob is a laborer, John is an electrician, and Paul is an estimator. None are considered higher in rank than the others, but each has a distinct set of responsibilities. I am oversimplifying, of course, but I hope you'll give me that lattitude.
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