Watch Tower, you got some Splainin' to do!

First, a Reader's Digest review of the WT doctrine on those with a "Heavenly Hope" and those with an "Earthly Hope." I have blogged about this subject in depth here, here, here,  and here.

According to WT doctrine, only 144,000 have a "Heavenly Hope," (Revelation 7:4) all the rest of those saved have an "Earthly Hope." They will live on a restored Paradise Earth (Revelation 7:9). This is plainly stated in Let God Be True, 2nd Edition (you can download a copy here), page 298 (see below), “All who by reason of faith in Jehovah God and Christ Jesus dedicate themselves to do God’s will and then faithfully carry out their dedication will be rewarded with everlasting life. However, that life will not be the same for all. The Bible plainly shows that some of these, that is, 144,000, will share in heavenly glory with Christ Jesus, while the others will enjoy the blessings of life down here on earth.”

The WT plainly states that the "144,000" are bound for Glory (Heaven). The WT equally, plainly states that the "Great Multitude" will reside "down here on earth." But what does the Bible say about the "Great Multitude"--where will they reside. The WT engaged in some verbal gymnastics and Voilà the "Great Multitude" inhabit the earth. However, the Bible best explains the Bible. So we will play Inspector Clouseau and ferret out the REAL answer from the Bible.

Revelation 7:9-11 reads (ALL CAPS my Emphasis), "After these things I looked, and behold, a GREAT MULTITUDE (which the WT teaches is on Earth) which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE and before the Lamb, CLOTHED IN WHITE ROBES, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice saying, "Salvation to our GOD WHO SITS ON THE THRONE and to the Lamb and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,"

v. 13--". . . These who are clothed in the WHITE ROBES, who are they . . ."

v. 14--". . . These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation . . ."

v. 15--". . . They are BEFORE THE THRONE of God; and they SERVE HIM day and night IN HIS TEMPLE . . ."

From Rev. 7:9-15 we know that the Great Multitude (Earthly Hope):

(1) Stand before the Throne.

(2) They are clothed in White Robes.

(3) God sits on the Throne and is worshiped.

(4) The ones in White Robes are Before the Throne of God and 

(5) Serve him IN HIS TEMPLE.

If only we could discover where HIS TEMPLE is located, then we could pinpoint the Great Multitude. God must have anticipated our curiosity about the location of HIS TEMPLE, so God gave us the answer. Revelation 11:19, "And the temple of God WHICH IS IN HEAVEN was opened."

So let's review.

(1) Where are the 144,000 according to the WT book, Let God be True? 2nd Ed.

Answer: In heaven.

(2) Where is the Great Multitude, clothed in White Robes and serving God, according to Revelation 7:9-15

Answer: They are serving God in His Temple.

(3) Where is God's Temple located according to Revelation 11:19?

Answer: In heaven.

So how did the Great Multitude, according to WT doctrine, end up on the Earth? When the WT was first organized in 1884 they were a tiny group. So they taught that all JW's were part of the 144,000, thus all were heaven bound. However, as their number grew they needed some place to put the newer members and so the doctrine of "eternal life on a restored, paradise earth" was formulated. The WT had to do some "Hocus Pocus" with the Bible to support their "Heaven Bound and Earthly Bound" teaching. However,  the Bible does not teach a two tiered system (the "144,000" and the "Great Multitude"). With a little bit of research one can determine that the WT teaching on this subject is kookie-madookie (crazy without Biblical support.)