# Who Are the 144,000? > Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that 144,000 people are resurrected to heaven to rule with Christ, and that the great crowd lives forever on earth. Revelation 7 numbers 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, then a multitude before the throne. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/who-are-the-144000 - Religions: Jehovah's Witnesses - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: jehovahs-witnesses, revelation, heaven - Updated: 2026-10-12 Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that God resurrects 144,000 people to life in heaven, to rule with Jesus as kings and priests, and that most obedient people receive everlasting life on earth. Their page “Who Go to Heaven?” says the number is literal because Revelation sets it beside a great crowd which no man was able to number. Revelation 7 in the King James Version numbers 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, then a great multitude standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Jesus is God. The two readings of where that crowd stands are the argument. ## Key Points - [Who Go to Heaven?](https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/go-to-heaven/) [(1)](#ref-1) says, “The Bible indicates that 144,000 people will be resurrected to heavenly life,” citing Revelation 7:4. - The same page says the 144,000 serve with Jesus as kings and priests for 1,000 years, and that they are the “little flock,” relatively few beside the rest of Jesus’ sheep. - It says the number is literal. If 144,000 were a symbol for a group without number, the contrast with “a great crowd, which no man was able to number” would be lost. It calls the 144,000 firstfruits who rule in heaven over subjects on earth, citing Revelation 5:10. - The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Revelation 7:4](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/7/#v66007004) [(2)](#ref-2) says 144,000 were sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel. [Revelation 7:4](/bible/revelation/7/4) [(4)](#ref-4) in the King James says an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. - The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Revelation 7:9](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/7/#v66007009) [(2)](#ref-2) says a great crowd no man was able to number stands before the throne and before the Lamb. [Revelation 7:9](/bible/revelation/7/9) [(5)](#ref-5) says a great multitude stands before the throne and before the Lamb. - The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Revelation 5:10](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/5/#v66005010) [(3)](#ref-3) says they “rule as kings over the earth.” [Revelation 5:10](/bible/revelation/5/10) [(6)](#ref-6) in the King James says, “we shall reign on the earth.” ## Where the Bible Says 144,000 [Revelation 7:4](/bible/revelation/7/4) [(4)](#ref-4) is the count. John hears the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Verses 5 through 8 list twelve tribes, 12,000 from each. The list names Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasses, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zabulon, Joseph, and Benjamin. Dan is not in the list. The chapter then turns, at verse 9, to a multitude from all nations. Revelation 14:1, which their heaven page also cites, sees the Lamb on mount Sion and with him 144,000. Their page says the Lamb is the resurrected Jesus, and that Mount Zion is the exalted position of Jesus and the 144,000 who rule with him. The King James prints the same number in both chapters. The dispute is not whether the number is in the book. It is who the number names, and whether heaven is limited to them. ## Why Jehovah’s Witnesses Say Only 144,000 Go to Heaven [Who Go to Heaven?](https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/go-to-heaven/) [(1)](#ref-1) answers the question in their words. God selects a limited number of faithful Christians who, after death, are resurrected to heaven. They must keep a Christian standard or be disqualified. In heaven they serve with Jesus as kings and priests for 1,000 years and form the “new heavens,” a government over the “new earth.” The page rejects the idea that every good person goes to heaven. It says God promises everlasting life on earth for most good people. It says Jesus’ words, “No man has ascended into heaven,” show that Abraham, Moses, Job, and David did not go to heaven. It says God, not the person, chooses who receives the heavenly hope. On the number itself, the page says some figures in Revelation are symbolic and some are literal, and it takes 144,000 as literal because it is a definite number set against the indefinite crowd of verse 9. It says “firstfruits” means a small representative selection who rule in heaven over an undetermined number of subjects on earth. Their Bible’s Revelation 5:10 is the line they use for that rule: > and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth. [Revelation 5:10](/bible/revelation/5/10) [(6)](#ref-6) in the King James says, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” “Over the earth” and “on the earth” are not the same phrase. “They” is not “we.” Their reading puts the rulers in heaven and the subjects on the earth. The King James sentence puts the reign on the earth. [What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe?](/jehovahs-witnesses/what-do-jehovahs-witnesses-believe) is the wider summary, including 1914. [What Is Armageddon?](/jehovahs-witnesses/what-is-armageddon) is the war they say clears the earth for that kingdom. [Who Is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?](/jehovahs-witnesses/who-is-the-faithful-and-discreet-slave) is the small group of anointed brothers they identify with the Governing Body, who they say will share that heavenly authority with the rest of the 144,000. ## What Revelation 7:4–10 Says The King James count is tribal, and the multitude is in front of the throne. Verse 4 seals 144,000 of the tribes of Israel. Verse 9, after the tribal list, says John saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. Verse 10 says they cried with a loud voice, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/7/#v66007009) [(2)](#ref-2) says “a great crowd, which no man was able to number,” standing before the throne and before the Lamb, and “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.” The crowd is before the throne in both wordings. Their teaching assigns that crowd to earthly life and the 144,000 to heaven. The verse places the crowd before the throne. That placement is the point their earthly assignment has to explain. Jesus is God. [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) [(7)](#ref-7) says the Word was God. Their heaven page calls Jesus the Lamb and the King the 144,000 rule with, and it denies that the hope of most of the righteous is heaven with him. The Nicene confession is that the Son is God, and that the saved stand before him. [The Trinity](/christianity/the-trinity) [Is Jesus God?](/christianity/is-jesus-god) ## What Revelation 7:16–17 Says The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Revelation 7:16–17](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/7/#v66007016) [(2)](#ref-2) continues the elder’s word about the crowd in white robes: > They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down on them nor any scorching heat, because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes. [Revelation 7:16–17](/bible/revelation/7) [(4)](#ref-4) in the King James says they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat, and the Lamb in the midst of the throne shall feed them and lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. The sentences describe the crowd of verse 9, the group no one could number. Their page uses the contrast with that crowd to keep 144,000 literal, and then assigns the crowd’s hope to the earth. The verses themselves keep the crowd with the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What Is the Significance of 144,000? In the text, it is the number sealed from the twelve tribes, 12,000 from each tribe named in the list. Jehovah’s Witnesses add that the number is the literal limit of those resurrected to heaven. The chapter’s next scene is the innumerable crowd before the throne. ### Why Does Jesus Say Not to Marry a Divorced Woman? That question is not this chapter. Their beliefs page says marriage is the union of one man and one woman, with sexual immorality the only basis they name for divorce, citing Matthew 19. [What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe?](/jehovahs-witnesses/what-do-jehovahs-witnesses-believe) [Matthew 19:4–9](/bible/matthew/19) ### Are the 144,000 the Only People Who Are Saved? Their page says no. It says the great crowd also receives salvation from God, and that the earthly hope is not an inferior one. The disagreement is where that salvation is lived. They say heaven for 144,000 and the earth for the crowd. Revelation 7:9 places the crowd before the throne. ## Passages Quoted on This Page ### Revelation 7:4 New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible). [Open on jw.org](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/7/#v66007004) > And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: ### Revelation 7:4 King James Version. > And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. ### Revelation 7:9 New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible). [Open on jw.org](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/7/#v66007009) > After this 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, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. ### Revelation 7:9 King James Version. > After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; ### John 1:1 King James Version. > In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ### Revelation 7:16–17 King James Version. > [7:16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. [7:17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. ### Matthew 19:4–9 King James Version. > [19:4] And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, [19:5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? [19:6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. [19:7] They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? [19:8] He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. [19:9] And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Who Go to Heaven?](https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/go-to-heaven/) (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. 144,000 resurrected to heavenly life. The number is literal because it is set beside a great crowd no man could number.) 2. [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible), Revelation 7:4](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/7/#v66007004) (2013 edition. Verses 7:9, 7:16, and 7:17 are on this chapter page.) 3. [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible), Revelation 5:10](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/revelation/5/#v66005010) (2013 edition. “Rule as kings over the earth.”) 4. [Book of Revelation, 7:4](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/revelation/7/4). King James Version 5. [Book of Revelation, 7:9](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/revelation/7/9). King James Version 6. [Book of Revelation, 5:10](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/revelation/5/10). King James Version 7. [Gospel of John, 1:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/1). King James Version ## See Also - [Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Christians?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/are-jehovahs-witnesses-christians) — Jehovah’s Witnesses say yes: they follow Jesus, baptize in his name, and pray in his name. They also say he is not Almighty God and not part of a Trinity. The Nicene confession is that Jesus is God. - [Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Birthdays and Christmas?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/do-jehovahs-witnesses-celebrate-birthdays-and-christmas) — No. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays or Christmas. They say birthday parties have pagan roots and that the only birthday feasts in the Bible end in death, and they keep the Memorial of Jesus’ death instead. - [Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Drink Alcohol?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/do-jehovahs-witnesses-drink-alcohol) — Jehovah’s Witnesses say it is not a sin to drink alcohol in moderation. Their Bible-questions page calls wine a gift, says Jesus drank wine, and condemns drunkenness. It names times when a Christian should not drink at all. - [Does “Jehovah” Belong in the New Testament?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) — The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) uses the name Jehovah 237 times in the New Testament. The Study Edition’s note on Acts 7:60 says the Greek manuscripts read “Lord.” - [Has the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) Been Changed to Fit Doctrine?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/has-the-new-world-translation-been-changed) — John 1:1, John 8:58, Colossians 1, Luke 23:43, Hebrews 1:6, and Philippians 2:9 in the Greek, the King James Version, and the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible).