To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens.—Matt. 13:11.

During one of his preaching tours of Galilee, Jesus indicated that the sacred secret was closely related to his Messianic Kingdom government. One aspect of that secret involved Jehovah’s selecting a “little flock” of 144,000 humans to be associated with his Son as part of the seed, to reign with him in heaven. (Luke 12:32; Rev. 14:1, 4) Since humans were created to live on earth, “a new creation” by Jehovah was required in order for some humans to go to heaven. (2 Cor. 5:17) Speaking as one of those with the heavenly hope, the apostle Peter wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you.”—1 Pet. 1:3, 4. w 2/15/06 12, 13