Drew,
You make a good point that as time goes on a large number of the “great crowd” will have passed away. Of course, their argument will be that these are really “other sheep” and are only of the “great crowd” when they actually become survivors of the Great Tribulation.
This two class system isn’t anything new, because from the beginning this group was separated as a secondary heavenly class, the door being shut in 1914 (if I recall correctly, and some other dates too), until it was bumped to circa 1935.
The main problem here is that they believe that the 144,000 is a literal number, that the number started to be fulfilled from the 1st century onward, and because of this position, they needed to account for the growing number of members. What I find very strange is that in their publications Ephesians 4 is referenced to support their argument that there is only one truth faith (Eph 4:5) but fail to recognize that vs 4 states there is only one hope! And one means one, no?
Cyber,
Just a side note:
The notion that the 144,000 began to be selected in the 1st century onward does not fit the context of Rev. 7 in that the number heard was in response to a the question asked at the end of chapter 6 as to “who will stand?” Therefore, it would seem that the selection would occur just before the plagues and hence would be associated with the end-time. Furthermore, the 144,000 (in chapt 7) are located on earth; they would not need protection if they were already resurrected to heaven. Also, John only hears the number, because John (in the vision) is in heaven, before the throne of God. He could not see the 144,000 on earth. He was stationed in heaven, before God’s throne after being asked to go through an “open door” (see chapt 4) which transported him from earth to heaven. Finally, the “Great Crowd” (or Large Crowd) can be seen by John, because they are in heaven where he was. The expression “the Great Tribulation” may refer to the general “tribulation” that Christians are subject to. As we know, some have faced an untimely death due to persecution (check other translations that leave the article out). It’s my understanding that in Greek, the definite article is included when something is referenced in the past (I’m sure there are others here on this board that can explain this more fully). Therefore, there is no need to conclude that it is a specific event (the big “A”) that the “Great Crowd” goes through.
