What exactly is a "professed" Christian?

[HollyW]

5 hours ago, John Houston said:

Then you did not understand my answer. Jehovah did not chose the first come first serve on Christians, when it comes with those who are ones sealed as corulers with Christ. It seems to be everyone's thinking that all Christians who DIED from the death of Jesus were in line for this "gift" , whereas scripture clearly tells us that Jehovah makes the choice of the 144000, who would be with his Son in the heavenly kingdom. His choice, not their deaths, or martyrdom. So no matter how many from after Jesus' death until now Jehovah will only choose 144000. And he has not finished with that yet. That number will not be completed until Jesus gathers those who are alive to heaven. Any who are chosen could not be sealed, so things could change. Dealing with imperfect humans. Any of the 3000 who were baptized were not all faithful until death, correct?  That is why your reasoning is flawed.

I understand your answer perfectly, John, and it confirms what I posted, that according to the WTS there were less than 144,000 Christians in nearly 1900 years.  As the reader J.A. from the Dominican Republic pointed out when he wrote to the Society about it, being one of the 144,000 was the only position open to Christians during all that time.

[wt 1/15/1952 QFR] Questions From Readers

● According to the article “Hated for His Name” in the September 1, 1951, Watchtower, hundreds of thousands of Christians died in the “ten persecutions” starting in Nero’s time, 144,000 dying in Egypt alone during one of the persecutions. How can this be harmonized with the Scriptural limitation of 144,000 placed on the number being in Christ’s body, and which position was the only one open to Christians during those centuries?—J.A., Dominican Republic.
 

And the Society's reply shows that the vast majority of those they mentioned in their article who were martyred for their faith as Christians were not real Christians at all, but only "professed Christians".  It's kind of ironic that they would be thought to be examples for JWs today who face similar persecutions.

[moggy]

Thank you for that excellent piece of research, Holly W. The math does not really stack up, objectively at least, no matter how much the Watchtower writers gainsay their approach to this subject.

For instance, I presume their use of the expression "Professed Christians" is designed to militate against any imbalance in the numbers when aligned with modern day figures. But what exactly is a "professed" Christian? It is my understanding that the anonymous writers of Watchtower literature often refer to persons of authority within the Movement who professes to be of the anointed. So what then is a "professed anointed Christian" within the fellowship of the Watchtower?

Just thinking allowed.

[HollyW]

3 hours ago, moggy said:

Thank you for that excellent piece of research, Holly W. The math does not really stack up, objectively at least, no matter how much the Watchtower writers gainsay their approach to this subject.

For instance, I presume their use of the expression "Professed Christians" is designed to militate against any imbalance in the numbers when aligned with modern day figures. But what exactly is a "professed" Christian? It is my understanding that the anonymous writers of Watchtower literature often refer to persons of authority within the Movement who professes to be of the anointed. So what then is a "professed anointed Christian" within the fellowship of the Watchtower?

Just thinking allowed.

Hi Moggy!  I guess using "professed" means they weren't real Christians.  It's puzzling why they were being put forth as positive examples for modern day JWs, as the article from 9/1/1951 is doing.

The WTS really needs to rethink their whole 144,000 concept, not only because the numbers just don't add up, but because the Bible shows the 144,000 to be Jewish Evangelists on earth during the Great Tribulation, while the great crowd are Christian Martyrs in heaven, having been martyred during the Great Tribulation.