Jehovah’s Witnesses hold a unique belief regarding the resurrection, which is that those who have remained loyal to God will be included in a group referred to as the ‘other sheep.’ This group is expected to partake in what is called the “resurrection of the righteous,” a concept that is referenced in Acts 24:15.
“And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrectionof both the righteous and the unrighteous.“ – NWT
Now, among the ‘other sheep’ are individuals who are currently alive and will survive the impending event known as Armageddon without needing to be resurrected; these individuals are collectively referred to as the ‘great crowd.’ This idea is supported by a passage in John 10:16, where Jesus mentions gathering other sheep into one unified flock.
“And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those too I must bring in, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” – John 10:16 NWT
The Bible often describes the church as “the flock of God”, which can be seen in verses like Acts 20:29 and 1 Peter 5:2. It’s interesting to note that before the conversion of Cornelius, the message of the Gospel was not extended to Gentiles, but this changed around AD 36.
Acts 10:45 highlights this significant shift, showing that the Holy Spirit was also bestowed upon people from various nations, marking an important moment in the spread of the Gospel.
“And the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also on people of the nations.” – NWT
The invitation for Gentile Christians to join the faith came only after the 70 weeks mentioned in the book of Daniel, which is believed to have concluded around AD 36. During the last week of this prophetic timeline, which is interpreted as “a day equals a year,” Daniel 9:27 highlights that:
“And he will keep the covenant in force for the many for one week; and at the half of the week, he will cause sacrifice and gift offering to cease.” NWT
This covenant is essentially God’s promise to Israel that lasts throughout the entire 70 weeks.
Notably, the major outreach efforts directed towards the Jewish people occurred during the second half of the 70th week, roughly three and a half years following the crucifixion of Jesus. This period was crucial as it marked a significant moment in the early Christian movement, emphasizing the importance of the covenant and the role of the Jewish community in the unfolding of these events.
The phrase “other sheep” is often interpreted to refer to new gentile converts, and this interpretation seems to be the most straightforward understanding of the text. To argue otherwise would require substantial scriptural support, which is not readily available.
The Bible does not specifically state that these “other sheep” are limited to the “Great Crowd,” which is a term used to describe true Christians who are not part of the “Little Flock.”
Another valid interpretation could be that this phrase refers to the countless individuals who will be resurrected in a future paradise on Earth, where they will have the chance to follow Jehovah and live in obedience forever. Note the following from C.T. Russell:
“These other sheep of the Lord, we believe, will include all of mankind who, during the Millennial Kingdom, will be glad to avail themselves of the great provision the Lord has made for them in His Plan. They are other sheep in the sense that they will be of a different nature from the flock which the Lord is selecting during this Gospel Age. The flock now being called and gathered are being begotten to the Divine nature, a spirit nature, and they will attain to this spirit nature by a resurrection change; as it is written, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” – 1 Cor. 15:50.
“The other sheep will be the great flock of the Lord, the great family of Adam, purchased by Jesus. For a thousand years the work of calling and gathering mankind and separating between sheep and goats will progress, as outlined in Matthew 25:31-46. The whole world will be granted the opportunity of taking their choice as to whether they will be sheep or goats. And nothing in the Scriptures informs us whether the sheep or the goats will be the more numerous. We are merely informed that all will have the invitation to become the Lord’s sheep, to come under His shepherding care; and by so doing and proving their loyalty to Him and developing His spirit, His character-likeness, they will be granted everlasting life on the human plane, the earthly plane.
“There the Lord will bring the Restitution which St. Peter mentions (Acts 3:19-21), and which will be offered to Adam and all his race, who will not receive the call of this Gospel Age. Theirs will not be so high a call, but will evidently be a glorious one. The whole earth – a Paradise, an earthly heaven – will be their everlasting portion, but it will not be the Heavenly Home to which the Church has been invited. The world’s blessing of Restitution to human perfection, to the image and likeness of God in the flesh, will not be the equivalent of the spiritual nature granted to the Church of this Age, but it will be wonderfully grand.” – Watch Tower, May, 1915, p. page 157; R5694
So, as can be seen, there are two scriptural ways of looking at this verse,
- The other sheep referring to the Gentiles, who would come in after 36 AD
- The world of mankind in the during the Millennial Kingdom where the separating of the sheep and goats takes place. The sheep will inherit a restored earth, the goats will go into second death.
So, without strong evidence to support the idea that “other sheep” only pertains to the “Great Crowd,” it seems like an attempt to create a doctrine based on a misinterpretation of scripture.