So you can see from these verses that the "Holy Ones" were among those to whom Paul wrote...still living in their imperfect flesh.
Here are a few more.....
Acts 9:13; 26:10; Rom 1:7; 12:13; 2Cor 1:1; 13:13.
Even in pre-Christian times, humans on earth who have been set apart for the service of God have also been called “holy ones.” (Psalm 34:9)
Israel, who were brought into covenant relationship with God, became his special property and was, as a nation, holy to him.
Paul wrote concerning those with the heavenly calling...."Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels—not to mention ordinary matters?" (1 Cor 6:2, 3)
What is "the world" that is judged by the "saints"?
John says that 144,000 are "bought from among mankind as firstfruits"...what does he mean? (Rev 14:1-5) Why does John see two groups....one numbering 144,000 with Jesus and another owing their salvation to God and the Lamb, who could not be counted but who are said to "come out of the great tribulation"? (Rev 7:2-4, 9, 10, 13, 14)
As with any governmental arrangement, there are the rulers and the ones over whom they rule. That is what a kingdom is...A "king" and a "dom"ain of subjects.
Surely that is not rocket science.
Not all who are "called" remain faithful. (2 Pet 2:10-22) And if it is a "calling"...what of those NOT called? (Heb 3:1) Why single out "Holy Ones" in his letters if all the ones he wrote to were holy ones? Think about it.
I have known quite a few anointed brothers in my years as a Witness, and their calling is not some whimsical wishful thinking.....it is a powerful desire to leave this earth and go to heaven to be with their Lord. They know that they will leave everything, and everyone behind to rule with Christ in heaven, but this does not phase them.
In the congregation, they are just one of the brothers and sisters. The only way to tell if they are anointed is to see them take the emblems on Memorial night. They never mention it. Even the brothers on the GB attend meetings like everyone else. There is no special treatment for anointed ones and there is no envy on the part of their spiritual brothers over whom they will rule. They are chosen by God personally, so they will be the very best rulers we could ever hope for.
And if you put 144,000 all in one place, how many do you think you would fit in a football stadium? Today, there are less anointed ones on earth than there were in the first century. Because they are a finite number, there has to come a time when the ranks are filled.
And because of the foretold apostasy, there was a lull in the numbers (of those who would have qualified spiritually for the job) when the church left off serving the interests of the Master to serve themselves for centuries. Only in the "time of the end" did God cleanse for himself a people from whom he would again draw his anointed ones and finish what he started in the first century. Their cleansing and refinement have continued to this day. You can choose to be among them, or you can choose to reject them. That is why we all have free will, and that is why God "draws" only those he selects as potential citizens of his kingdom, based on their response to the kingdom message. (Matt 24:14; John 6:44)
Last edited:
