Christians.........?

it speaks of the 144,000 of the tribes of Israel (not JW's) redeemed of the earth.

it does not say they are the only ones going to heaven.

The cult leaders will claim to have direct authority from God .

questioning the leaders will still be seen as a sign of rebellion .

Cults know that if they can control your relationships then they can control you.

Those who control the information control the person.

A cult needs to recruit and operate using deception.

if people knew their true practices and beliefs beforehand then they would not join. A cult needs to hide the truth from you until they think you are ready to accept it.

A normal religious organization would not have any trouble with you moving to another similar organization as long as you stayed in that same religion. Because it is the belief system that matters, not membership in an organization. For example if you were a Christian then you could move from one church to another and still be a Christian.

However cult leaders will tell you that you can only be “saved” in their organization alone. No other organization has the truth, all others miss the mark. So it is not the belief system that decides your future, but it the belief system AND your membership with that particular group.

The cult leaders need to make you believe that there is no where else you can go and still be saved, and if you ever leave the “one true church” then you are going to hell. This is a fear based control mechanism designed to keep you in the cult. It also gives the cult leaders tremendous power over you. If you really believe that leaving the group equals leaving God , then you will obey the cult leaders even when you disagree with them instead of risking being kicked out of the group. Exclusivism is used as a threat, it controls your behavior through fear.

If you read the first bit about the 144,000 in chapter 7 verses 3-8 you will notice that - at that point in the account - they are still on the earth. This proves that they are humans. It also proves that Israelites are in this small number and that they are 'sealed' as being servants of God.

Carry on reading from verse 9 to the end of chapter 7 and you discover a vast, innumerable crowd (humanly speaking) who are standing before God, in Heaven, worshipping Him and attributing their salvation to Him. They come from every nation, tribe, people and language. They are not males only, as with the 144,000 Israelites.

So that answers your question. Don't start with chapter 14 - start with chapter 7.

Revelation 14:3-5 shows that the number 144,000 is literal and refers to a limited number of individuals, a relatively small group when compared with the “great crowd,” also harmonizes with other Bible passages. For instance, later in the vision that the apostle John receives, the 144,000 are described as those who “were bought from among mankind as firstfruits.” (Revelation 14:1, 4) The expression “firstfruits” refers to a small representative selection. Also, while Jesus was on earth, he spoke about those who will rule with him in his heavenly Kingdom and called them a “little flock.” (Luke 12:32; 22:29) Indeed, those from among mankind who will rule in heaven are few in comparison with those of mankind who will inhabit the coming Paradise earth.

Hence, the context of Revelation 7:4 and related statements found elsewhere in the Bible bear out that the number 144,000 is to be taken literally. It refers to those who will rule in heaven with Christ over a paradise earth, which will be filled with a large and undetermined number of happy people who worship Jehovah God.—Psalm 37:29.

that is not what the 144,000 means. there will be more than 144,000 people in heaven. the 144,00 are people on the earth who become jewish evangelist witnessing on the earth. revelation chapter 7 verse 9 says there are a great number of people too many to count in heaven because of the 144,000 who witnessed on the earth.

The book of Revelation is highly symbolic. It doesn't mean only 144,000 are going to Heaven. That number represents the 12 tribes of Israel. It's 12 (tribes) squared and multiplied by 1,000. Undefiled by women means they had never had sex.

Popular Views. Various views have been advanced as to the significance and identification of this “great crowd.” Many commentators view the 144,000 sealed ones, first mentioned, as members of “spiritual Israel” and believe that they symbolize the Christian congregation while on earth. They feel that the “great crowd” represents that same Christian congregation in heaven, after the individuals have died in faith and have been resurrected. Others hold that the 144,000 are literally from “every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Re 7:4), that is, fleshly Jews who become Christians, and they consider the “great crowd” to represent all the Gentile Christians. A consideration of Revelation chapter 7 and other related texts, however, reveals serious inconsistencies in these views, at the same time pointing to a different conclusion.

To hold that the 144,000 sealed ones are the members of the Christian congregation while on earth whereas the “great crowd” are the resurrected Christians in heaven does not harmonize with the other mention of the 144,000, in Revelation chapter 14. There the 144,000 are stationed with the Lamb on “Mount Zion.” At Hebrews 12:18-24 the apostle Paul contrasts the experience of the Israelites at the earthly Mount Sinai with that of the Christians who have “approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens.” Obviously, then, although Revelation 14:3 says that the 144,000 have been “bought from the earth,” the context depicts them as being, not on earth, but in heaven with the heavenly Lamb, Christ Jesus. (Re 14:3, 4) This renders invalid the view that the 144,000 represent the Christian congregation while on earth in contrast with their being the “great crowd” in heaven.

Additionally, the way in which the apostle John introduces his vision of the “great crowd” indicates a clear distinction of identity between them and the 144,000 sealed ones. He states: “After these things [the account of the 144,000 sealed ones] I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number.” (Re 7:9) He thus presents the “great crowd” as a separate entity and makes a definite contrast between the specific number of the 144,000 and the unnumbered “great crowd.” They are also distinguished by their being, not “of the sons of Israel,” but out of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. They are not seen standing ‘with the Lamb’ as are the 144,000, at Revelation 14:1, but are “before the Lamb.” These several factors all argue that the “great crowd” is separate and distinct from the 144,000 sealed ones.

On the other hand, the view that here Christians of Jewish stock are being distinguished from Gentile Christians runs counter to the apostle Paul’s inspired statement that fleshly distinctions are of no consideration in the Christian congregation, its members being all one in union with Christ Jesus. (Ro 10:12; Ga 3:28) Jehovah, having ‘fully reconciled both peoples [Jews and non-Jews] to himself in one body’ through Christ, could hardly be expected to make a division between the two groups now by separating fleshly Jews from Gentiles in the vision given to John. (Eph 2:11-21; Ac 15:7-9) This is particularly evident when the divine principle stated by Paul is taken into account. The apostle wrote: “He is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit.” (Ro 2:28, 29) Why, too, would there be no mention of any ‘sealing’ of the Gentile Christians in this divine vision? And why would not the Gentile Christians be able to master the new song sung by the 144,000? (Re 14:3) It thus seems clear that the 144,000 sealed ones are of spiritual Israel, not fleshly Israel—hence include both Jewish and Gentile Christians.—Ga 6:16.

Please read more here: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g20071...

Armageddon is when 144 000 Russian army fights the antichrist's army. According to Russian Orthodoxy, Jesus will come back to end the flying antichrist's rule when this antichrist conceives a thought in his evil mind that he 666-isotope-ray-lasered everyone. Antichrist's minions came up with Dec. 21 in order to desensitize people to the real events predicted in the Bible. Antichrist is 0% God and 100% man. He's possessed by Satan since he's 12 years old. He flies. He wears gloves to hide long nails. He's pale with red eyes. He's surrounded by demons who appear as angels of light. 666ed people go to permanent hell. 666 is given by lasers (isotope rays) on wrist or forehead when people stretch hands to receive small plastic grey card (world passport). Reject 666. Don't go into a UFO to be healed by demons. Those who reject 666 will go to heaven. Also, their direct ancestors will be saved from hell. Dinosaurs live under our level. They will get out through sinkholes and lakes. To kill them, go for their nerves. Again, 666 is given by isotope rays on wrist or forehead when people stretch hands to receive small plastic grey card (world passport). Police will chip and isotope ray people on highways. Food stores will isotope ray people too. Antichrist will also release prisoners to mark people. Reject 666 at all cost. If you're about to be marked, scream: "Lord, have mercy!" three times. Go hide with Orthodox Christians to escape 666.

You are correct to take the number literally - yes only 144, 000 people are going to heaven.

However the other details are symbolic, so they are pure spiritually and that for both men and women.

SYMBOLISM Unless you figure Jesus is actually a baby sheep you are going to HAVE to factor in some symbolism in this scripture. If you say "No! No details are symbolic, it's all literal" , you have a little problem - you get to keep your male only heaven but it comes attached to a king of heaven that is a farm animal (lamb)".

Your call.

NOTE The bible specifically states King David did not go to heaven.

Usually the woman and children, are now counted. Dosnt mean they are not there though. Example when Jesus feeds three large group of people with bead and fish , the men were only counted, dosnt mean there was only men there, there were womanand children. I personally think because the woman is counted as one with her husband.

Indeed

The bible seems to be AMAZINGLY concerned with a woman's panties

We have passages ranting on how unmarried women are "whores" and sex is for the "devoted"

The "holy" bible cares not if the husband turned out to be an @sshole OR unmarried women have "b@stards". If tho they may have been raped and decided to have the child anyway...BECAUSE Christians say abortion is a "Sin".

It would seem the Bible enjoys sending women to Hell!

*edit spell*