A familiar Watch Tower teaching is that there are two groups of people after judgement, one in heaven and one on earth (a third if you count the ones that don’t make it). A good question we should always be prepared to ask is, ’Where does the Bible say that?’ Of course, they usually have an answer. They say on their website:
‘Those “who are called and chosen” to rule with Christ in the Kingdom are referred to as a “little flock.” (Revelation 17:14; Luke 12:32) This shows that they would be relatively few in comparison with the complete number of Jesus’ sheep.—John 10:16.’
This is where you ask the second question. Who in the Bible makes those links? Who in the Bible talks like you? As far as they’re concerned it jumps off the page, but it really doesn’t. They believe they alone have the explanation, often thinking we are puzzled by such questions. None of this is true.
In Luke 12 Jesus, addressing his disciples, tells them they are to acknowledge him before men (8-12). They are going to stand out because they are not to be like the establishment (1). They are not to have the same priorities as the world around them (13-21). So Jesus counsels them ‘Have no fear’ (4); ‘Do not be anxious’ (22). Why?
Because the world is big, the task is great, and their little community is small, a little flock. The task would seem impossible. Jesus understood that, so he reassures them, ‘Fear not little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’ (32) It is not in their power to take the kingdom, it is God’s ‘good pleasure’ to give them the kingdom. The fact of being little has no bearing on God’s determined purpose.
This has nothing to do with the 144,000 in Revelation 7. Nobody in Scripture makes that connection, it isn’t a Bible teaching. Further, the only way they can make those that are with Christ in Revelation 17:14 the 144,000 is if they make a connection between Luke 12:32 and Revelation7, a connection none of the Bible writer’s make. It is an apologetic with no visible means of support. Nobody in Scripture talks like a Jehovah’s Witness.
Their appeal to John 10:16 is really unhelpful to them. Here Jesus speaks of ‘other sheep’ he must bring, but he doesn’t mean a different flock. He means the Gentiles, as prophesied in Isaiah 56:3,6,8, other sheep that will be brought in and included. Far from there being two flocks, a little and a greater, Jesus makes clear that, when all are gathered in, ’there will be one flock and one shepherd.’ Their teaching contradicts the clear words of Jesus, and they cannot show anyone in the New Testament talking like a Jehovah’s Witness.
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