using various bible verses and events from history, russell decided that god would soon call a group of "saints" to heaven to be kings there. other faithful christians who had since died would also make up a total of 144,000 kings in heaven. churches at the time taught that humans were still waiting for jesus to return to earth in his second coming, but russell believed that clues in the bible showed jesus returned in 1874. russell believed part of god's plan was to start armageddon, which he thought would be a complete breakdown of law and order on earth, when governments and people would fight among themselves. he believed that god would then end sickness and death and allow obedient christians to live forever in perfect health.