Has the WT org. published any figures on how many faithful "annointed" they think there've been since Russell got things started back in the 1800s? Would be interested in subtracting that number from 144,000 to see how many faithful Christians the JWs say there were in the previous 1800 years or so.
How many "annointed" JWs have there been since Russell started?
by True North 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Navigator
I've not seen the figures, but I would guess that more than 144,000 have claimed the status of being annointed. I'm married to one of them.
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Mulan
I'm married to one of them.
is she still a JW?
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Your Daddy
Let's do it like this, I'll state:
"According to my best estimate, there have been more than 144,000 who have claimed to be of the annointed since Russell started".
Then you can do like the WTS and half quote me like this.
According to one expert "...there have been more than 144,000 who have claimed to be of the annointed since Russell started."
Now you have your answer.
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plmkrzy
When Russell started everyone was anointed AND they still celebrated xmas
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blondie
Of course, you can't just add up the number of partakers per the WTS records. There was a dropoff around 1906 (?) and then after 1925, approximately 3/4. I wonder if there was a big surge then of partakers.
Blondie
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nicolaou
The 'Proclaimers' book claims in chapter 33 'Continuing to Keep on the Watch', page 717, states that in 1935 there were 52,465 partakers at the Memorial. Bear in mind that about 55 years had elapsed from the start of the Watchtower/Russell era up to that point and so quite a few thousand of the 'anointed' were already dead. Let's be very conservative and only round the total figure up to 60,000. This means that the combined ministries of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the 11 faithful apostles and Paul only managed to start a work that would bring in less than 85,000 individuals over the next 1902 years!
Nonsense!
By the Watchtower's reasoning, Russell was a more effective evangeliser than the Son of God himself!
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gumby
By the Watchtower's reasoning, Russell was a more effective evangeliser than the Son of God himself!
Nic,
Actually he probably was.........short term. In Jesus's 3 and a half years of preaching.......he probably had less followers than Russell did in the same amount of time. Jesus beat him in the long haul however.......kinda like the "turtle and the hare" story.
Gumby
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nicolaou
Hmmm...
Not so sure about that Gumby. Again, the Proclaimers book states [p720] that in 1919 - 3 years after Russells death - there were just 5,793 active Bible Students. Re-read the gospel accounts and see how many were baptised by John and his followers and also by Jesus disciples. I think there is a valid argument for claiming that there were many thousands of converts to The Way at the point of Jesus death.
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boa
of course, if what R Franz says about the society not really keeping track of the 'anointed' individually in the world is true, then it would be oh so convenient for the wts to never face the music of the 144000 not being a literal number
boa
if I could understand the mystery of the 'anointed' and their 'special' absolute knowledge they are going to a heavenly calling, now that would be something new....