Actually until the 1940's, the WTS taught that the 144,000 and Jesus (144,001) were The Christ (body and head). That Jesus could not be the Christ without the 144,000.
"THE CHRIST
"We come now to a consideration of those terms or titles that apply or are used to refer to Jesus Christ apart from his body members. Among those that might be mentioned as found in the Christian Greek Scriptures are "the Amen," "Faithful and True," "the Faithful Witness," "King of kings and Lord of lords," "the Lamb of God," "Leader," "the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah," "Lord," "Potentate," "Savior," and "the Word." Clearly, the designations here referred to apply, not to Jesus’ body members, but to Jesus himself, even as do his more commonly used names, "Jesus," "Jesus Christ" and "Christ Jesus."—Rev. 3:14; 19:11; 1:5; 19:16; John 1:29; Matt. 23:10; Rev. 5:5; 1 Pet. 3:15;1 Tim. 6:15; Luke 2:11; John 1:1; Matt. 1:21; Rom. 7:25; 8:1.
But what about the expressions "the Christ" and "Christ"? Does the use of the article with "Christ" designate something different from when no article is used? Might it be that, whereas the term "Christ" refers to Jesus Christ alone, the term "the Christ" could also include the 144,000 members of his body? Do the Scriptures support this thought or distinction?
No, they do not. Certainly Christ’s body members are not included in the words of Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Then again, the 144,000 are said to rule "as kings with the Christ for a thousand years." How could they be said to be reigning with the Christ if they were a part of the Christ? Yes, there are many scriptures that distinguish between "the Christ" and the members of his body.—Matt. 16:16; Rev. 20:4.
In fact, the expression "the Christ" of itself at no time includes the members of Christ’s body.So the title "Christ," with or without the definite article, refers to Jesus Christ, the article serving to draw attention to or to emphasize his office as the Messiah. Christ is the Head and Bridegroom of the 144,000, his body or bride. That is why these ones are said to be "in union with Christ," to "belong to Christ," and to be "Christ’s body."—Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 3:23; 12:27.
The fact that Christians are said to be "in union with Christ" does not mean that they can be spoken of as "the Christ," anymore than the term "Lord" can be applied to them because children are told, "Be obedient to your parents in union with the Lord."—Eph. 6:1.
How, then, are we to understand 1 Corinthians 12:12? This reads: "Just as the body is one but has many members, and all the members of that body, although being many, are one body, so also is the Christ." Does not the term "the Christ" in this instance include the body members? No, apparently not, for what Paul is here discussing is the body of Christ separate and distinct from its Head. That is why he sums up his argument in verse 27, saying: "Now you are Christ’s body, and members individually." At verse 12 Paul is evidently using an elliptical way of speaking in connection with the Christ, a form of speech not uncommon in the Scriptures. So we could paraphrase Paul’s words at 1 Corinthians 12:12 this way: ‘Just as the body, though being a single entity, has many members, so it is with the body of Christ, that is, those associated with or belonging to Jesus Christ.'
In other words, the writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures do not make a distinction between "the Christ" and Jesus Christ. Illustrating this point is Ephesians 2:13, which says: "But now in union with Christ Jesus you who were once far off have come to be near by the blood of the Christ." Compare also Ephesians 1:10, 12, 20.
