The "Great Crowd" -- Another Looming Time Problem for Jehovah's Witnesses?

NOTE: For historical context, the below essay was originally written in 2004.

“After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb . . . And in response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one that knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation” – Revelation 7:9, 13, 14

In the November 1, 1995 issue of The Watchtower, two study articles were published which presented what, for Jehovah's Witnesses, was a huge change in teaching. For years--yes decades--prior to this, Jehovah's Witnesses taught that Jesus' prophetic words: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur" had application to the generation that included those who saw the beginning of the "time of the end", in 1914. Over the years, this led to all sorts of calculations, speculations, and estimates as to reasonable chronological constraints on the day by which the "end" must surely come.

In one stroke of the pen, this Watchtower changed all that. While not altering the basic teaching that the "last days" began in 1914, it effectively "de-linked" the "generation" of Jesus' prophecy from a chronological tie to 1914, thereby not limiting the date at which Jehovah could bring the "end" to some mathematically plausible date with the year 1914 as its anchor.

This change in doctrine did not go unnoticed by the rank and file. While individual Jehovah's Witnesses may express varying thoughts, ranging from "the end is still right around the corner" to "I'm not so sure," it has become evident over the ensuing years that a fair number are by their actions "hedging their bets." Meeting attendance in many lands has fallen. In some cases, this is because secular or educational requirements conflict with these, and Witnesses are sensing the need to balance providing for themselves and their families with adherence to all the directives emanating from Brooklyn.

I have not, though, heard much discussion among fellow Witnesses concerning what seems to me to be another looming time-based problem. It has to do with the understanding of the "great crowd" of Revelation 7. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that these individuals comprise a certain group that manifests itself during the "last days" who have the hope of living, not in heaven, but forever on the earth. However, there is a feature of how this group is described in Revelation that involves a time constraint. What is it? The Watchtower explains:

Technically speaking, is there a difference between the Biblical terms “other sheep” and “great crowd”?
. . . Now, what can be said about the identity of the “great crowd” mentioned at Revelation 7:9? Well, look at verse 13 and the question, “Who are they and where did they come from?” We find the answer at Revelation 7:14: “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation.” So the “great crowd” is composed of those who come out of, or survive, the great tribulation. As verse 17 says, they will be ‘guided to fountains of waters of life’ on earth.

. . . In summary, we might remember “other sheep” as the broader term, encompassing all of God’s servants having the hope of living forever on earth. It includes the more limited category of sheeplike ones today who are being gathered as a “great crowd” with the hope of living right through the impending great tribulation. -- Anonymous, Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1995 4/15: 31. (Bold added)

A further quote from the book Reasoning From the Scriptures states this even more clearly. After quoting the relevant verses from the Revised Standard Version, the book states:

To “come out” of something a person must go into it or be in it. So this great multitude must be persons who actually experience the great tribulation and come out of it as survivors. -- Anonymous, Reasoning From the Scriptures, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1989: 315 (Italics in original text)

Many more citations could be provided, but these should suffice to make the point that Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that a defining characteristic of the “great crowd” is that its members would entertain a realistic hope of never dying, but rather of passing alive through the “great tribulation.” Similar to the former teaching concerning a “generation” tied to the year 1914, the timing of the manifestation of this group would impose a time constraint as to when the “great tribulation” must occur if they are to “come out” of it. What is taught with respect to such timing?

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that this “great crowd” actually began to manifest itself early in the 1930’s. The book Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom states:

Meetings for Worship, Instruction, and Encouragement
Particularly beginning in the 1930’s, prospective members of the “great multitude,” or “great crowd” of other sheep, began to manifest themselves. (Rev. 7:9, 10, KJ; John 10:16) These were at that time referred to as Jonadabs. -- Anonymous, Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1993: 243

The Watchtower of May 15, 2001, comments on the defining moment when “a brilliant flash of understanding” occurred with respect to this group:

A Brilliant Flash of Understanding
The understanding of Revelation 7:9-17 was about to shine forth in sparkling brilliance. (Psalm 97:11) The Watchtower had expressed the hope that a convention scheduled for May 30 to June 3, 1935, in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., would be “a real comfort and benefit” to those pictured by Jehonadab. And that it proved to be!

In a stirring talk on “The Great Multitude,” delivered to about 20,000 conventioners, J. F. Rutherford presented Scriptural proof that the modern-day “other sheep” are identical with that “great crowd” of Revelation 7:9. (John 10:16) At the climax of this talk, the speaker asked: “Will all those who have the hope of living forever on the earth please stand?” As a large part of the audience stood up, Rutherford declared: “Behold! The great multitude!” There was a hush, followed by loud cheering. On the following day, 840 new Witnesses of Jehovah were baptized, most of these professing to be of the great crowd. -- Anonymous, Behold! The Great Crowd!, The Watchtower, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 2001 5/15: 14-15

Thus, 840 individuals are identified as being baptized on that dramatic day in 1935, with most professing to be of the “great crowd.”

Three years later, in 1938, the numbers of those identifying themselves as part of the “great crowd” had grown substantially:

Meetings for Worship, Instruction, and Encouragement
For the first time, in its issue of February 15, 1938, The Watchtower specifically invited them to be present at the Memorial, saying: “After six p.m. on April 15 let each company of the anointed assemble and celebrate the Memorial, their companions the Jonadabs also being present.” They did attend, not as partakers, but as observers. Their presence began to swell the number of those on hand at the time of the Memorial of Christ’s death. In 1938 the total attendance was 73,420, while those who partook of the emblematic bread and wine numbered 39,225. -- Anonymous, Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1993: 243

So, by 1938, 34,195 individuals are identified as being part of the “great crowd” by virtue of declining to partake of the bread and wine at the annual Memorial observance.

Finally, there is a famous quote attributed to Joseph F. Rutherford some time before his death in January, 1942:

The Great Crowd to Live in Heaven?
During the next five years, as the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses grew, those who partook of the emblems at the annual Memorial of Christ’s death gradually declined in number. Still, the influx of the great crowd was not as rapid as what Brother Rutherford had expected. At one point he even said to Fred Franz, who became the Society’s fourth president: “It looks as if the ‘great multitude’ is not going to be so great after all.” -- Anonymous, Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1993: 171

In summary, Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the “great crowd” has been continuously gathered since the 1930’s. Since an individual baptized as one Jehovah’s Witnesses today is taught to be of this group, it is true that much time could elapse before this new disciple, especially if young, would be in any danger of dying, and thus not “coming out” of the great tribulation. It might, then, be argued that representatives from the “great crowd” do indeed “come out of the great tribulation.” Further, it is undeniably true that some individuals from this group have died as a result of “time and unforeseen circumstance” and I don’t argue that this would detract in any way from the identification of the overall group as one that survives the “great tribulation.”

However, to have any real meaning as a teaching of dramatic note, would not the “great crowd” need to include at the very least a representative sample of those earliest members, from that day in 1935? If none of the group of 840 baptized that day who professed to be members of the “great multitude” actually “come out of the great tribulation,” then how can J. F. Rutherford’s dramatic statement be construed to be correct? Further, Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that a new disciple can have one of only two hopes. If an individual is not of the “great crowd,” by definition that individual must be of the anointed, or the 144,000. We do not teach a third option. How would this affect the concept that the gathering of the “anointed” had all but ceased by that date?

References to the “aging anointed and their loyal great crowd companions” are made quite frequently in the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Almost subconsciously, this leaves a general impression of the “anointed” as being aged, and the “great crowd” as young and vibrant. What tends to get obscured unless one really stops to think about it is that the early individuals identified as part of the “great crowd” are themselves now very, very old. In this year 2004, sixty-nine years removed from that spring day in 1935, how much more time is left for these ones? It must be remembered that this announcement was an answer to the concerns of Jehovah’s Witnesses of the day who had concluded that they weren’t entirely comfortable with the hope of going to heaven. If it is reasonable to conclude that these would have been mature adults, individuals who were at least in their 20’s, such ones would be approximately 90 years old today. Even if that group included a few 10-year-olds, baptized as children, these would be close to 80 years of age.

This, then, can be looked at two ways. It could be added to the lines of evidence already presented by Jehovah’s Witnesses that the “great tribulation” must be extremely close.

On the other hand, if the understanding of this scriptural passage is incorrect, then--similar to the 1914 dilemma--if a certain date passes where this ceases to be a realistic scenario, some revised explanation of this topic will need to be published. I will be extremely interested to see what such an explanation might be, and how it will be accepted.

Jehovah's Witnesses and Education - The Credibility Dilemma

"It is only the ignorant who despise education" - Publilius Syrus, Moral Sayings, first century B.C.E.As quoted in Awake! of March 8, 1998

The special September 2006 issue of Awake!, entitled "Is There a CREATOR", exposes, perhaps unwittingly, one of the dilemmas with respect to the current tightening position with respect to education. (For more on the history of this issue, please see my post "Jehovah's Witnesses and Education - A Brief History" here: http://nicodemusjw.blogspot.com/2007/03/jehovahs-witnesses-and-education-brief.html)

On pages 21-23 of this Awake!, there can be found an article entitled "Why We Believe in a CREATOR." In this article, 5 different Jehovah's Witnesses are interviewed as to why they personally believe in the existence of a Creator.

The first point that may jump out at the thinking reader is that it happened to be five highly-educated Witnesses who were selected to be interviewed. While their specific educational credentials are not listed, it seems safe to assume that individuals actively working in the fields of genetic mutation in plants, laser physics, planetary geology, molecular biology and microbiology, and theoretical physics--and for the employers listed--are the possesors of college degrees, possibly even advanced degrees. At the very least, it could be considered a badge of honor within the Witness community to be directly quoted in an issue of Awake!, particularly a special issue such as this one. At least in this instance, a quality education led to this privilege.

But it seems to me that there is another underlying issue that should be mentioned. Some time back, speaking to a group of assembled elders, a senior Bethel representative went to great pains to explain that the Society was not anti-education. He clarified that individuals could take trade courses, technical courses, all manner of things to pick up skills. However, the Society seemed to take the position that it was the process of obtaining "a four-year degree," with all of the associated general education and other requirements, that should be considered undesirable. (See paragraph 6 of the article Parents—What Future Do You Want for Your Children? in the 10/01/05 issue of The Watchtower)

The "credibility dilemma," however, is that in many fields it is precisely the acquisition of such a degree that makes one employable, that opens the door to opportunities in the field.

In this Awake! issue, there isn't one carpenter, janitor, truck driver, landscape maintenance technician, or similar included in the article referenced above. Why? Because they lack the credibility needed to make the point the article wished to make. And it's not necessarily a matter of intelligence, or understanding. It's a matter of credibility. For example, it is entirely possibly that there is a brillant truck driver among Jehovah's Witnesses. This man (or woman) may have a keen mind, a fascination with the question at hand, may have done extensive personal reading, and be quite able to converse eloquently on the topic.

But, for the goal the article was trying to accomplish, and the target audience it was attempting to reach, such a person would simply not have had the necessary credibility.

If the writers of Awake! felt they needed a level of credibility to reach their target audience, why ask a young person to invest the time taking courses to develop a skill, but not follow it through to the extent of obtaining the very thing necessary to be credible to their target audience?

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Education – A Brief History

“It is only the ignorant who despise education.” —Publilius Syrus, Moral Sayings, first century B.C.E. – As quoted in Awake! of March 8, 1998

Once again, parents among Jehovah’s Witnesses have some tough decisions to make with respect to the education of their children. In its October 1, 2005 issue of The Watchtower, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (hereafter WTS) has published an article entitled Parents-What Future Do You Want for Your Children? With this article, the WTS has evidently decided to attempt to reverse, at least to some extent, a landmark change that was presented in the November 1, 1992 issue of that same magazine.

The goal of this essay is to acquaint the reader with approximately 40 years’ worth of history on this topic. It is written from the perspective of the United States of America or other similarly educated country, for two reasons. First; that this is the environment with which the author is familiar and, Second; that this is clearly the environment the article was written to address (see paragraph 6 of the referenced article and associated question). The hope is to put the question of education, or more accurately “higher education”, into the context of overall Jehovah’s Witness culture and belief.

1966
In the publication Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God, the year 1975 is held forth as the end of 6,000 years of human history. For Jehovah’s Witnesses accustomed to believing that the Thousand-Year reign of Christ (the “Millennium”) would follow shortly after the conclusion of this 6,000-year period, this date engenders a sense of extreme excitement and urgency. It also leads to a “date-oriented” view towards many other matters of life, including housing, planning ahead for the later years of life and, yes, education.

1969
With respect to the question of how youths among Jehovah’s Witnesses just finishing high school should plan the next years of their lives, The Watchtower states the following:

w69 3/15 p. 171 What Influences Decisions in Your Life?
The influence and spirit of this world is to get ahead, to make a name for oneself. Many schools now have student counselors who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them “brainwash” you with the Devil’s propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. This world has very little time left! Any “future” this world offers is no future! Wisely, then, let God’s Word influence you in selecting a course that will result in your protection and blessing. Make pioneer service, the full-time ministry, with the possibility of Bethel or missionary service your goal. This is a life that offers an everlasting future!

1970 – 1975
The 1975 expectations build to a “fever pitch.” The phrase “stay alive till seventy-five” is coined.

Some Witnesses adopt extreme viewpoints and engage in unwise behavior, such as taking on debt they never intended to repay or foregoing helpful, even necessary, medical treatment.

While the WTS did not necessarily advocate these extreme views or actions, they certainly do nothing to dampen the urgency of 1975 in other areas, including decisions with long-term consequences related to housing, finances, employment, and education. Long-time Witnesses may remember this comment from Our Kingdom Ministry:

km 5/74 p. 3 How Are You Using Your Life?
Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end. (Bold mine)

The view of education in the midst of that environment continues to be about what one might expect:

w71 9/15 p. 563 Set Apart from the World
All worldly careers are soon to come to an end. So, why should today’s youth get interested in ‘higher education’ for a future that will never eventuate? The colleges are falling into chaos, anyway. The essentials of education for a useful life can be obtained by studying well at high school, and beyond that there is also the ‘highest education’ that Jehovah provides through his organization, preparing for a satisfying career of full-time service that goes on forever.

1976 – 1992
The year 1975 comes and goes, and it becomes clear that the hoped-for events with respect to “the end” had not come to pass.

Despite this, the negative view of education continues, even toughens. The few that do send their children to college are viewed askance by most of their brother and sisters. The WTS keeps the pressure on parents to conform, as illustrated by the following quote from 1987:

w87 12/1 pp. 13-14 Fear of God—Can It Benefit You?
Parents must also strive to impress on the minds and hearts of their children that they themselves, as parents, are “fearers of Jehovah.” (Psalm 22:23) One way in which they can do this is by applying theocratic counsel when training and disciplining their children. This is the third factor to be considered. Ask yourself: . . . ‘Have I accepted what has been said by Jehovah’s organization about higher education?’ ‘Am I instructing my children accordingly?’ ‘Are the goals that I have set for my children ones that will help them to have “godly fear”?’ (Bold mine)

Does this view of education within the organization yield good fruitage? Not in all cases. While accounts can always be related concerning “exceptional” young ones, the reality for a larger percentage of Witness youth is not as stellar. Early marriages become more and more common, where two young Witnesses, often fresh out of high school, decide to marry at 18 or 19 years of age. Poorly prepared to deal with the workplace or the “real world” in general, many suffer. The situation worsens if children follow shortly behind. Witnesses that enter middle-age begin to find their education a real limitation with respect to the options available to them. Those that were able to work at some form of physical labor while in their 20’s discover that they can’t keep up the pace as their bodies age and begin to break down. Others, due to their limited education and the correspondingly limited wages they are able to command, find themselves having to work two jobs, or overtime, just to keep up. Finally, many face their later years without anything approaching sufficient preparation for retirement. These find themselves working well into their 70’s, even 80’s, in some cases at physical labor, since this is all they have known.

1992
Is the above description of the prevailing environment simply the opinion of this author? Keeping in mind that admissions of difficulties within the organization are always couched in the gentlest of terms, consider these comments from a watershed article that appeared in the November 1, 1992 issue of The Watchtower.

w92 11/1 pp. 15-21 Education With a Purpose
How much education does a young Christian need in order to respect these Bible principles and meet his Christian obligations? This varies from country to country. By and large, however, it seems that the general trend in many lands is that the level of schooling required to earn decent wages is now higher than it was a few years ago. Reports received from branches of the Watch Tower Society in different parts of the world indicate that in many places it is difficult to find jobs with decent wages after completing simply the minimum schooling required by law or in some countries even after finishing secondary or high school. (Bold mine)

Space does not allow quoting extensively from that article. But suffice it to say that the article faced head-on, and dealt with, the real-world situations existing among Jehovah’s Witnesses. It dealt with the typical questions that had been directed at parents who wished to send their children to college, such as: Is higher education really necessary? Won’t this be expensive? Won’t certain college courses tear down their faith? What about the moral environment in the colleges?

While providing encouragement that a youth not allow this to turn them aside from serving Jehovah -- even stating at one point that extra education would be “with the specific goal of full-time service” -- the article was fair, balanced and realistic. Careful readers noticed that the concepts in the article had relevance even for those not in full-time service. For example, in an apparent acknowledgment regarding the circumstances that affected older, married brothers with families, the article stated:

w92 11/1 pp. 15-21 Education With a Purpose
If married, a man should be able to provide properly for his wife and any children that may be born, with a little extra to give to those in need and to support the local and worldwide preaching work.

1995 – approximately 2001
In The Watchtower of November 1, 1995, the WTS alters their long-held understanding of “this generation.” The idea that the “generation” Jesus spoke of is tied to 1914 is removed, although the year 1914 is still stressed as important.

During the subsequent months, the concept that “we don’t serve for a date” takes on greater emphasis. Many observe that evidence of a “kinder, gentler” organization begins to appear in the publications. Love is emphasized to a greater degree; at least some allowance for freedom of conscience seems to be promoted, leading to hope of a “softening” in certain rigid positions.

In this environment, the general attitude toward education stays positive. While comments are occasionally heard which reveal a less than complete understanding of the changes, these tend to be minimal. Positive comments, even entire articles, with respect to education continue to appear in the publications in the years that follow. As just one example, here is a brief excerpt from an article that appeared in the March 8, 1998 issue of Awake!:

g98 3/8 The Bible’s Viewpoint: Does the Bible Discourage Education?
A Matter of Personal Choice
Just as was true in the first century, a wide variety of educational backgrounds exist among Christians today. Under the guidance of their parents, young people who complete their obligatory schooling may choose to pursue additional secular education. Likewise, adults interested in improving their means of providing for their families may view such additional schooling as a viable means to that end. Some aspects of traditional academic education lay emphasis on developing general intellectual capacity rather than professional or vocational skills. Thus, a person may find that even after investing much time in acquiring such an education, he lacks marketable skills. For this reason, some choose to pursue studies in vocational programs or technical schools, with a view to more readily filling actual demands in the job market.

At any rate, such decisions are of a personal nature. Christians ought not to criticize or judge one another on this matter. James wrote: “Who are you to be judging your neighbor?” (James 4:12) If a Christian is considering pursuing additional schooling, he would do well to examine his own motives to make sure that selfish, materialistic interests are not the driving force.

It is apparent that the Bible encourages a balanced view of education. Christian parents recognize the surpassing value of a spiritual education based on God’s inspired Word and give balanced counsel to their children regarding supplementary education. (2 Timothy 3:16) Being realistic about life, they acknowledge the value of secular education in gaining the skills necessary for their grown children to provide for themselves and their future families. Therefore, in determining whether supplementary education is to be pursued, and to what extent, each Christian can make sound personal decisions based on devotion to Jehovah God, which “is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.”—1 Timothy 4:8.

Approximately 2001 - 2004
Some start to notice evidence of a ‘negative’ view of higher education reappearing in certain program parts on Special Assembly Days, Circuit Assemblies, and District Conventions. Comments seeming to disparage higher education appear with greater regularity. Whereas, in the 1990’s, youths who were pursuing higher education, while still exemplary in serving Jehovah, were featured on such assembly and convention programs, this seems to decrease. The idea of moving very quickly into “full-time service” right out of high school, or shortly thereafter, seems to make a comeback.

Still, nothing overtly negative appears in the pages of The Watchtower, the official doctrinal journal of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Alert publishers in the ‘field’ start to wonder whether a ‘tug of war’ of sorts is going on at Bethel with respect to this issue.

2005
At the ‘Godly Obedience’ District Conventions, a drama about the life of Timothy is presented. Some take the contrast presented in this drama between Timothy and a fictional contemporary who pursues higher education in the Roman system as further evidence that the organization’s view of “higher” education is once again turning negative. Still, without further commentary in The Watchtower, the matter seems left to some level of interpretation.

That changes with the arrival at Kingdom Halls of the October 1, 2005 issue of The Watchtower, and the article Parents-What Future Do You Want for Your Children?

Meanwhile . . .
The eighteen-year-old who graduated high school in the year 1969 turns fifty-four. He has children that are older than he was that spring day in 1969, when he was told “this world has very little time left.”