17, 18. What did God foreordain about sharers in world rule?

¹⁷ Jehovah God, the Universal Sovereign, predestinated or foreordained the number that would share with Christ in the Kingdom rule over all the earth. He also foreordained the requirements and personal qualifications for those worthy to share in the world rule. That is why there will be only 144,000 who share with Jesus Christ in the world government. They must be spiritual Israelites. Aside from his Son Jesus Christ, Jehovah did not predestine or foreordain individuals. Rather, he set out in advance the requirements and personal qualifications for Kingdom heirs. In the light of this we understand Romans 8:29, 30:

¹⁸ “Those whom he gave his first recognition he also foreordained to be patterned after the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

19. What sufferings are foreordained for sharers in world rule?

¹⁹ According to foreordained requirements, those who are “patterned after the image” of the Son of God must suffer with him now, just as the apostle John on the isle of Patmos indicated. They are required to endure even to the death.