A Jehovah’s Witness recently asked on Social Media:
“If people are gonna be saved even though they are not witnesses, why do we preach?”
I think the “safe” answer is because Jesus told us to in Matthew 28:19.
But then we have to ask ourselves what the preaching work is all about. For years, it was our version of saving people from going to hell, only we were saving them from second death. Christendom says, “accept Jesus now or suffer eternal damnation”, we say, “join us now or perish at Armageddon.” It’s the same concept, only we were being more generous in that annihilation is a better option than being eternally tortured.
When we look at the scriptures, there was only one purpose for the witness work, and that was to build the body of Christ, the church, the elect, the 144,000 (take your pick). And when that number was filled, then the Kingdom would be fully established, that is, the Millennial Reign.
Our heavenly Father wasn’t concerned about the world in general; His focus was on those called out of the world to follow Jesus, to run for the prize of the “upward call” or “high calling” (Phil 3:14). Then, as we know, the door to heaven was closed in 1935, and the Society focused on an earthly class, but a few years ago, they realized God wasn’t calling anyone to live on earth. He was calling people to go to heaven, to be part of the spiritual seed of Abraham (Gal 3:29). Then they decided to drop 1935. But for some 75 years, they were calling an earthly class, then decided “oops”. Now what? Then they realize that God’s judgments against Sodom, Gomorrah, the flood victims, and other nations destroyed were not eternal punishments.
Interestingly, these were the fundamental teachings that were taught by C.T. Russell, and changed by J.F. Rutherford. That the Millennial Reign was for the purpose of teaching mankind what Jehovah did for them, through the life and death of Jesus, the ransom. When the Body of Christ is complete, he will then focus his attention on the world of mankind. And during the reign, they will be educated; those who conform will inherit the earth, those who don’t will become part of the earth (Gen 3:19)
The problem now is, what do they do with a “great crowd”? A group of people who, by their own admission, are not spirit-begotten, do not have a mediator, and are not part of the New Covenant. More changes will have to be made to reconcile these issues. As time goes on, there are more questions than answers, and sweeping them under the rug isn’t an option.