[215] Author James Penton's major study of the Witnesses, Apocalypse Delayed, noted that of those Witnesses who do progress to university level, few are likely to take studies in such areas as the humanities and the social sciences, "disciplines that are most threatening to the Witness world-view". Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe Jesus is God, which means that they do not place faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.. "Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs." Below are 10 facts about this group which branched off from orthodox Christianity in the late 1800's. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/luchschen, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God. New members are baptized by immersion and are expected to live by a strict code of personal conduct. They also don't celebrate other national holidays or birthdays in an attempt to remain separate from the world. Brooklyn, NY: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, 1993. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Christianity died soon after Christ, but was resurrected under Russell. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". In the 1870s Russell organized the Watchtower Society, which directs, administers, and disseminates all doctrine. Before this translation was released specifically by and for Jehovah's Witnesses, most relied on the King James Version. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/kevinschreiber, Similar to their view of Jesus, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father. [174][175] They believe that their preaching is also part of that sign, citing Matthew 24:14. According to The Watchtower, "the Governing Body does not keep a list of all partakers, for it does not maintain a global network of anointed ones. 1. [208] Witnesses are told they must loathe and hate in the "biblical sense of the word" those who are defined as apostates and show no curiosity about their ideas,[209] and that apostates' "whole purpose is to tear down God's people and to distort the truth. This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. A Jehovah's Witness must become worthy of salvation. Earth. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was Jehovah's first creation, that Jehovah then created everything else by means of Jesus, and that the initial unassisted act of creation uniquely identifies Jesus as God's 'only-begotten Son'. A select few (144,000) of Christ's most faithful followers will be chosen to rule alongside him. They believe that Jesus, as St. Michael the archangel, was God's first . | They claim this "doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies." She was convinced she'd lost me and that I'd be changed for ever now, no longer the daughter she'd always loved and cherished. This date is said to also mark when the Last Days began. The Trinity. Members believe that, 3 years after 1914, Jesus came to "inspect and cleanse" the Watchtower Society, choosing it as the only organization . [202] They are described as "anti-God" and doomed to destruction. [137] Based on this, they believe that parables such as that of "the rich man and Lazarus" should not be interpreted literally, and that such references are speaking of symbolic death, not the physical death of actual individuals. I'm still here, and I'm still the . [38][39][40][41] Members who promote privately developed teachings contrary to those of the Governing Body may be expelled and shunned. Jehovah's Witnesses refer to the fact that the Bible never explicitly mentions the term "trinity." Witnesses believe that the only hope for life after death is in the resurrection, which they say involves re-creation by God of the same individual with a new body. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. [164], Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jesus Christ began to rule in heaven invisibly as king in October 1914. (Matthew 20:28; Acts 5:31) Thus, we are Christians. Jehovah's Witnesses truly believe that they are the one and only true religion and that their leaders are directly appointed by God and should be obeyed as such. [97][98][99] Even as king of God's kingdom, Jesus remains subordinate to God. If any Jehovah's Witness is deemed to be an apostate, she or he will be disfellowshipped. Witnesses believe that they are living in the last days, and they look forward to the imminent establishment of Gods kingdom on earth, which will be headed by Christ and jointly administered by 144,000 human corulers (Revelation 7:4). Their religion, unlike Mormonism, isn't an esoteric one with secret doctrines known only to an initiated few. Pioneers hold part-time secular jobs and devote a greater amount of time to religious service. They teach that Jesus was created by God and not coexistent wth Him. (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12) In order to settle the moral issues raised by Satan, God has allowed evil and suffering, but He will not permit them to continue forever. Jehovahs Witnesses also hold to the belief of annihilationism. [37] Watch Tower Society publications strongly discourage Witnesses from formulating doctrines and "private ideas" reached through independent Bible research. We may remember them as the people who often come to our homes in order to evangelize, but do we actually know what they believe? Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Because Jehovah's Witnesses is the only true religion, anyone not part of this society is just another cog in Satan's scheme. [1] They have their own literature including a Bible and Watchtower Magazine. 10 Things Everyone Should Know about Seventh-Day Adventists and Their Beliefs, 10 Things Everyone Should Know about Mennonites and Their Beliefs, 10 Things Everyone Should Know about Baptists. [77][87] The title, LORD (Greek: Kyrios), is rarely used by Witnesses when speaking about God. The Jehovah's Witnesses movement came out of the Bible Student movement, also founded by Taze. They also believe that the soul dies when the body dies and must wait until the resurrection before Jehovah "remembers" the personality of the deceased and . [182] The Society's publications make no explicit claim about whether small children or the mentally ill will survive, but say God's judgment will be righteous and merciful. While their practices broke with the Adventists . [77] The Holy Spirit is described as God's "active force", rather than the third part of the Trinity. [77] The name is a common modern Latinized form of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, or four-letter name, transliterated as YHWH. Jehovah's Witnesses were not among the five major religious groups that two weeks ago gave support to the Government's COVID-19 vaccination programme; however, the millenarian restorationist Chri. To know what we believe and why requires a bible study with one of Jehovah's Witnesses. [31] However, the Governing Body disclaims infallibility and divine inspiration. [36] All Witnesses are expected to abide by the doctrines and organizational requirements as determined by the Governing Body. They wish to share the literature with the people and will then offer to bring a Bible study to their home. [121][122] The Society teaches that the first human, Adam, was created in 4026 BCE. Help them understand the truth of the Bible and how the Jehovahs Witnesses' beliefs do not align with the truth of Gods Word. Well-wishes made on a person's birthday were historically meant to ward off evil spirits that are non-canonical to the Witnesses' theology; secondarily, they . Wear or own a cross. (Psalm 104:5; 115:16; Ecclesiastes 1:4) God will bless obedient people with perfect health and everlasting life in an earthly paradise.Psalm 37:11, 34. [204], Apostates are said to have become part of the antichrist and are regarded as more reprehensible than non-Witnesses. The basis for this belief originates from several sources: primarily, they believe the celebration of birthdays stems from pagan rituals. Jehovah's Witnesses are a people of faith that many of us likely don't know that much about. The Lord also ate food multiple times after His resurrection, which proved His body was physically resurrected (Luke 24:30; John 21-12-13). He is not an impersonal force. Deliverance from sin and death is possible through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. (Matthew 19:4-9) We are convinced that the wisdom found in the Bible helps families to succeed.Ephesians 5:226:1. This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. Hell is a real place. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that: Jesus Christ is a mighty being, but he is not God Jesus Christ is a lesser and separate spirit being Jesus Christ is not equal to God in power or eternity (i.e. [132] They believe that 144,000 people will be resurrected to life as spirit creatures in heaven to be priestly rulers under Christ, but the vast majority, to physical life on earth. Only God in the flesh could do all these things. Those who acknowledge Jehovah in this life will become members of the millennial kingdom; those who reject him will not go to hell but will face total extinction. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible is a good . Jehovah's Witnesses are among the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in America. Only those thought to be among the 144,000 corulers eat and drink the bread and wine. [90] He is described as God's first creation and the "exact representation of God",[91] but is believed to be a separate entity and not part of a Trinity. This cannot be answered with a brief comment. They believe God, who's name is Jehovah (Ps. The result is that you look like an asshole every time someone sneezes as you just sit there staring at them blankly. Jehovah's witnesses teach that he'd become a jehovah witness is an interfaith marriage 1 corinthians 7: 39. How Should 'Jihad' (Muslim Holy War) Be Understood Properly? The Jehovah's Witness Organization is the prophet of God. Witnesses hold a number of traditional Christian views but also many that are unique to them. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. [195] Watch Tower publications define three different types of defection. [11] Witnesses refer to all their beliefs collectively as "the Truth". The Holy Spirit is a real independent Person, who is the Third Member of the Trinity. Jesus was not only a spirit when He was resurrected. The BBC reports that Witnesses believe the end times began in 1914. Main Differences Between Jehovah's Witnesses and Christianity. They don't believe in hell. [46] Witnesses teach that people must choose between God's organization and Satan's. For example, we dont accept blood transfusions because the Bible forbids taking in blood to sustain the body. [1][2][3] Since 1976, all doctrinal decisions have been made by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses,[4] a group of elders at the denomination's headquarters. [167][168] They believe that when Jesus became king, Satan was ousted from heaven to the earth, bringing a period of "woe" to mankind. Jesus Christ is God's agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that it is the Christian's duty to remain "neutral" during warfare. They are also known for their evangelical work going door-to-door attempting to make converts. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 persons since the time of Jesus can ever go to heaven, there to be co-rulers with Christ Jesus over the inhabitants of a paradise earth. 9. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world. Annihilationism teaches that when a person dies, they cease to exist. The resurrection of the Lord also attests to Jesus divinity. Like the Quakers, another Christian religious group, they are conscientious objectors regarding military. The Pentecostal Church: History & Beliefs They believe they have the only true religion and that all other religions are under Satan. The Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach, that the body of Jesus was buried in a tomb, where it was not raised to life again after three days and three nights, as according to scripture, but rather totally destroyed by God forever. People who die pass out of existence. It is a religion where people believe in one god. Sierra leone family of jehovah's witnesses dating network for true faith to use your phone. "When a person dies, he ceases to exist. Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe Jesus was physically resurrected. This article is part of our Denomination Series listing historical facts and theological information about different factions within and from the Christian religion. Looking for jehovah's witnesses in which is a guy for true love in the right. They reject the concept of universal salvation[141] and the concept of predestination. What Do You Know About Jehovahs Witnesses? [18][19][20] The Governing Body seeks neither advice nor approval from any "anointed" Witnesses, other than high-ranking members at the Brooklyn headquarters. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 3. Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong because Jesus is God. As Jehovah's Witnesses returned to knocking on doors this month after a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic, here's a quick look at the history, beliefs and worldwide reach of the organization . There are concerns that those who seek high education will become distracted from their preaching work by material advancement and success. In addition to all of these things, the Holy Spirit can do things that a person can do such as giving commands (Acts 8:29), interceding for others (Romans 8:26), teaching (John 14:26), and testifying of the Father (John 15:26). This is the Great Commission commandment established by Jesus. [92] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Archangel Michael, "the Word" of John 1:1, and wisdom personified in Proverbs 8 refer to Jesus in his pre-human existence and that he resumed these identities after his ascension to heaven following his death and resurrection. 10 Things Everyone Should Know about Jehovah's Witnesses and Their Beliefs. They believe that ony 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven. Jesus commanded: You must love your neighbor as yourself. He also said that Christians are no part of the world. (Matthew 22:39; John 17:16) So we try to work what is good toward all, yet we remain strictly neutral in political affairs and avoid affiliation with other religions. This article is about Jehovah's Witnesses' core beliefs. This violates the biblical teaching that in the incarnate Jesus, "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Col. 2:9; cf. The Jehovah's Witness must do God's will the rest of his life to be saved. ( Psalm 83:18; Revelation 4: 11) He is the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Influenced by Restorationism in the 19th century, Charles Taze Russell and his associates formed a Bible study group in the 1870s in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, developing teachings that they considered to be a revival of "the great truths taught by Jesus and the Apostles". Heaven. Looking like a jerk when someone sneezes. no social, ethnic, racial, or class divisions, speak to one of the Witnesses in your area. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics | Pew Research Center Explore the geographic distribution and demographics of America's major religious groups. [188][192], Watch Tower Society publications assert that members of the group are not compelled to remain part of the congregation. Death. They think the Holy Spirit is an "impersonal force" and not actually God and Lord Himself. Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine . Learn Religions. Seventh-Day Adventists & Their Beliefs [189] At the end of the thousand years, Christ will hand all authority back to God. In this article, we are going to discover what Jehovahs Witnesses believe. [202], Jehovah's Witnesses regard secular education as fundamental, but they emphasize their preaching work as the top priority in their life. JWs claim that Jesus was not divine and that the Holy Spirit is an " active force " and not a person. [134] Gehenna, the Bible word commonly translated as "hellfire", is said to describe a judgment of complete destruction,[135] from which resurrection is not possible. If you are a Jehovahs Witness or you know one, share these truths with them. Now, try the right place. This is an erroneous view of salvation because salvation is only by placing faith in Jesus by believing that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again (John 3:16-17: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). (Acts 15:28, 29; Galatians 5:19-21) We are peaceful and do not participate in warfare. They affirm the deity of God the Father, and specifically deny the deity of Jesus Christ. We answer the questions of how they got their start, what their core beliefs are, and how many people ascribe to this faith in the world today below. [201] Other identifying behavior is said to include deviation from the truth, twisted, empty speech, hypocrisy and involvement in deeper forms of ungodliness. These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower magazine and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, and at conventions and congregation meetings. Article based on the Christian Today article titled "Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses? Definition of a Jehovah's Witness. Instead, they emphasize citizenship in God's heavenly kingdom. He is the bible highly discourages an interfaith . They disavow terms such as minister and church. [51] Watch Tower Society publications urge Witnesses to demonstrate loyalty to the organization without dissent,[52][53] even at the cost of family ties. (BX 8526 .J44 1993) [Find in a library near you] Describes the teachings, beliefs, and history of Jehovah's Witnesses, including a section on instances of religious persecution. [6] The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8.5 million adherents involved in evangelism and an annual Memorial attendance of over 19.7 million. Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs include works such as learning about Jehovah, living a moral life, regular witnessing to others and obeying God's commandments as part of the requirements for salvation. 83:18), will end crime, violence, sickness and death by destroying all wickedness in the world. They teach that Jesus was created by God and not coexistent wth Him. Worship services begin and end with prayer and may include singing. The terms "little flock" and "other sheep" are drawn from Luke 12:32 and John 10:16 respectively. Individuals who are inactive discontinue their preaching work and distance themselves from the congregation. [160] Those who die without faithfully serving God will receive the "resurrection of the unrighteous" ("unjust" KJV). Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to save you . Jehovah's Witnesses are primarily known to physicians for their refusal of blood transfusions. "[218], Jehovah's Witnesses provide religious training programs for their members, focusing on improving skills for their ministry. If a person fails to place faith in Christ, they go to hell and ultimately the lake of fire. (Acts 15:20) Likewise, the Bible prohibits health treatments or procedures that include occult practices.Galatians 5:19-21," explains JW.org. [131] Death is considered a state of non-existence, based on their understanding of Ecclesiastes 9:5: "For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." This is an erroneous belief because Jesus was physically resurrected from the grave. The present study of 50 Jehovah's Witnesses admitted to the Mental Health Service facilities of Western Australia suggests that members of this section of the community are more likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital than the general population. [157] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that being "anointed" involves a personal revelation by God's spirit which "gives positive assurance of adoption" to the individual alone. What is the condition of the dead? Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Tero Vesalainen. [139][140], Jehovah's Witnesses' believe that faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice is essential for salvation. For activities and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses, see, Testimony by Fred Franz, Transcript, Lord Strachan vs. Douglas Walsh, 1954. p. 123, as reproduced in R.Franz. Jehovah's Witnesses with 1.3 million members in the U.S. who hand out brochures on sidewalks and subway platforms and ring doorbells are one of the most visible religious groups in the. In this statement, the Lord is telling His disciples to baptize others in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, thus equating each of the three Members of the Trinity. [15][21][22] At the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Watch Tower Society, the "faithful and discreet slave" was defined as referring to the Governing Body only. Jehovahs Witnesses believe that if someone dies who is not a Jehovahs Witness that they will be annihilated. Some of the distinct beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses set this religion apart from other Christian denominations, such as limiting the number of people who will go to heaven to 144,000, denying the Trinity doctrine, and rejecting the traditional Latin cross. The rest will live forever in a paradise on Earth, never meeting the person who died for them - Jesus Christ. Salvation is only by placing faith in Christ, not by following rules. Jesus is the King of Gods Kingdom in heaven. Jesus died on an upright stake and not the cross We're a post and chat jehovah's witnesses of this reason the preferred religious beliefs and proper etiquette. They also identify him with the "rider of the white horse" at Revelation 6 and 19. An elder, one of the group's leaders, anxiously shares an . Jehovah's Witnesses believe in going to people's homes to spread the word of their religion and make disciples of all people. Jehovahs Witnesses are wrong because Jesus is God. Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity. They see their mission as primarily evangelical, disseminating "the good news", to warn as many people as possible in the remaining time before Armageddon. I'm laid back and get along with everyone. Looking for an old soul like myself. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God. Many people are curious about who Jehovahs Witnesses are. age) Jesus Christ never thought of himself as God or equal to God Jesus Christ is the son of God Jesus Christ was created by Jehovah as his first creation [148][149] Watch Tower Society publications state that salvation at Armageddon is also contingent on baptism, accurate knowledge of Bible truth, adherence to God's standards of conduct and morality, use of the divine name "Jehovah" in worship,[150] membership of God's "organization",[151] and active support of anointed Christians. 1. While all members are considered ministers, an elder or overseer conducts services and usually gives a sermon on a Bible topic. Rather, unbelievers spend eternity separated from God in hell and later in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Ex . Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. [153] They believe that most of those are already in heaven, and that the "remnant" at Revelation 12:17 (KJV) refers to those remaining alive on earth who will be immediately resurrected to heaven when they die or during the Great Tribulation. These practices have brought them under the scrutiny of government authorities. (Acts 24:15) However, those who refuse to learn Gods ways after being raised to life will be destroyed forever with no hope of a resurrection.Revelation 20:14, 15. Salvation. Christians believe Jesus was and is the eternal God, the second person in the Trinity, equal in nature with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Henschel. [72] Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs on the Bible, as interpreted by the Governing Body.[73]. Baptist Church: History & Beliefs I'm a woman. [74] They believe that the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) contain prophecy that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ,[75] and that the books of the Christian Greek Scriptures (New Testament) are primarily directed to the 144,000 chosen by God for life in heaven. This period will conclude with Judgment Day, the 1,000 year reign of Christ with the 144,000 "anointed" resurrected people who are chosen by God. Jehovahs Witnesses are a very dangerous culture that nobody needs to be involved in. [9][10] All members of the denomination are expected to take an active part in preaching. The Jehovah's Witness beliefs about God are outlined in detail below. What Do Jehovahs Witnesses Believe? Jehovah 's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God. We are organized into congregations, each of which is overseen by a body of elders. [76] The Watch Tower Society's New World Translation of the Holy Scripturesthe main translation used by Jehovah's Witnessesrenders the name of God as Jehovah, rather than .mw-parser-output span.smallcaps{font-variant:small-caps}.mw-parser-output span.smallcaps-smaller{font-size:85%}God or LORD as found in English translations such as the King James Version. [165] They assert that the Greek word parousia (translated in most English Bible translations as coming when referring to Christ) is more accurately rendered presence, perceived only by a composite "sign". These short video lessons answer key Bible questions, such as: Why did God create the earth? This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. Witnesses participate in the annual commemoration of Christs death, celebrated on 14 Nisan of the Jewish calendar (March or April of the Gregorian calendar); Witnesses pass around bread and wine, symbols of the body and blood of Christ.