See the next couple points for more details on this. At Armageddon, Satan is to be bound for 1,000 years, and then given a brief opportunity to mislead perfect humanity before being destroyed. This is the Great Commission commandment established by Jesus. [136] They reason that complete destruction does not allow for literal "torture" of the wicked, as the deceased person is not conscious. 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. They will be given the opportunity to join Jesus' "other sheep" and live forever on a paradise earth. Moreover, governments are the preferred tool of the devil and this is why members are forbidden to get involved in any political action. [38][39][40][41] Members who promote privately developed teachings contrary to those of the Governing Body may be expelled and shunned. They believe that Jesus Christ is St. Michael the archangel. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses use a Bible translation called the New World Translation. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". [138], Witnesses teach that wicked angels (demons) sometimes pretend to be spirits of the dead, and that their deception is the basis for many beliefs about ghosts. God. (John 13:34, 35) We avoid practices that displease God, including the misuse of blood by taking blood transfusions. If you are a Jehovahs Witness, you can come to know Christ today and experience His saving grace by placing faith in Him. Many people are curious about who Jehovahs Witnesses are. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World NewslettersPressDonateMy Account Read our research on: Congress| Economy| COVID-19 Research Topics We follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and honor him as our Savior and as the Son of God. JW.org explains, " [W]e take Jesus at his word when he said: 'The Father is greater than I am.' 2:6-7). Looking for an old soul like myself. [204], Apostates are said to have become part of the antichrist and are regarded as more reprehensible than non-Witnesses. [123], Publications of Jehovah's Witnesses teach that God's kingdom is a literal government in heaven, established in 1914,[124] ruled by Jesus Christ and 144,000 humans raised to heaven. What Are Familiar Spirits and What Does the Bible Warn about Them? (Matthew 19:4-9) We are convinced that the wisdom found in the Bible helps families to succeed.Ephesians 5:226:1. We worship the one true and Almighty God, the Creator, whose name is Jehovah. All rights reserved. They urge young Witnesses to pursue higher education only to gain skills to obtain a reasonable living while maintaining flexibility to pursue their "true" vocation, serving God. The group was initially called the Watch Tower Society because founder Charles Taze Russell published Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence magazine. 9. We do not venerate the cross or any other images. Each congregation has an assigned territory and each Witness a particular neighbourhood to canvass. [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. Jesus acts as the mediator of a "new covenant"[96] referred to in Jeremiah 31:31, Luke 22:20, and Hebrews 9:15; 12:24, mediating between the parties of that covenant (God and the "144,000"). [202] They are described as "anti-God" and doomed to destruction. [38][42][43], Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God uses an organization both in heaven and on earth, and that Jehovah's Witnesses, under the direction of their Governing Body, are the only visible channel by which God communicates with humanity. [159] Those of the "other sheep" who die faithful to God will receive the "resurrection of the righteous" ("just" KJV) mentioned at Acts 24:15. This is wrong because the Holy Spirit is God, and He is divine. (Psalm 83:18; Revelation 4:11) He is the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.Exodus 3:6; 32:11; John 20:17. The Lord declared Himself to be God through His seven "I AM" statements ( John 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15). They are also known for their evangelical work going door-to-door attempting to make converts. Promotion of personal doctrinal views that deviate from official teachings is also regarded as apostasy. Zavada, Jack. Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/jehovahs-witnesses-beliefs-700792. Jehovah's Witnesses believe God is the Creator and Supreme Being. "When a person dies, he ceases to exist. Conflict arises at times with the medical staff concerning how best to manage their care. [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. [164], Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jesus Christ began to rule in heaven invisibly as king in October 1914. Witnesses also oppose certain medical practices that they believe violate Scripture. They say that God's Kingdom (mentioned (thy Kingdom come) in the Lord's prayer) will restore God's original purpose for the Earth: bringing about peace for . [146], For anointed Witnesses, salvation is said to be achieved through their death and subsequent resurrection to heavenly life to share with Christ as a co-ruler of God's kingdom;[147] for others, it is gained by preservation through the Great Tribulation and the battle of Armageddon. Individuals who are inactive discontinue their preaching work and distance themselves from the congregation. (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. https://www.learnreligions.com/jehovahs-witnesses-beliefs-700792 (accessed March 4, 2023). Jehovahs Witnesses believe that if someone dies who is not a Jehovahs Witness that they will be annihilated. 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. [143][144][145] According to Watch Tower Society theology, salvation requires Christ's mediation as part of God's purpose to grant humans everlasting life, either in heaven (for 144,000 "anointed" Christians, or the "little flock") or on earth (for the "other sheep", the remainder of faithful humanity). We are globally united in our beliefs. Why Are There So Many Christian Interpretations? [77] Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine, which they consider unscriptural. Satan persuaded Adam and Eve to obey him rather than God, raising the issueoften referred to as a "controversy"of whether people, having been granted free will, would obey God under both temptation and persecution. Jehovah's Witnesses believe in going to people's homes to spread the word of their religion and make disciples of all people. God (the Father): God is a single being whose personal name is Jehovah they also accept the name Yahweh and other. Catholic Church: History, Tradition & Beliefs
They believe that Daniel chapter 4 prophesied a period of 2,520 years starting with 607 BCE and ending at 1914 CE. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God. It is a religion where people believe in one god. WHO ARE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES? [193][199], Jehovah's Witnesses claim the purpose of denying fellowship to a wrongdoer safeguards the congregation's moral and spiritual cleanliness and protects its name. In the mind of Jehovahs Witnesses, there is not a Trinity. Ephesians 4:30 urges us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, which demonstrates that the Holy Spirit has emotions. (Acts 11:26) However, we have learned from the Bible that Jesus is not Almighty God and that there is no Scriptural basis for the Trinity doctrine.John 14:28. Mennonites & Their Beliefs
[44][45] The organization is said to be theocratic, "ruled from the divine Top down, and not from the rank and file up". They see their mission as primarily evangelical, disseminating "the good news", to warn as many people as possible in the remaining time before Armageddon. Should Christians Seek Revelation from God Apart from the Bible? This date is said to also mark when the Last Days began. Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, and the faithful angels reside in the spirit realm. Answer (1 of 14): In their defense, I could argue that every religion has its own peculiarities and "weird" beliefs (transubstantiation [1]anyone?). Their religion, unlike Mormonism, isn't an esoteric one with secret doctrines known only to an initiated few. Buddhism places strong emphasis on "mindfulness," so patients may request peace and quiet for the . [5], Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the present world order, which they perceive as being under the control of Satan, will be ended by a direct intervention of Jehovah (God), who will use Jesus Christ to fully establish his heavenly government over earth, destroying existing human governments and non-Witnesses,[6][7][8] and creating a cleansed society of true worshippers who will live forever. The Jehovah's Witnesses movement came out of the Bible Student movement, also founded by Taze. Witnesses - knowing what /r/exjw is the group reports a good. They affirm that GodJehovahis the most high. Three points in particular make the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures worthy to include in your studies. 9. [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. Why Do Cults Use God Falsely in Their Mission? Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? [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. (Matthew 5:9; Isaiah 2:4) We respect the government where we live and obey its laws as long as these do not call on us to disobey Gods laws.Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29. Jehovahs Witnesses are a very dangerous culture that nobody needs to be involved in. [77] The name is a common modern Latinized form of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, or four-letter name, transliterated as YHWH. I'm still here, and I'm still the . What Do You Know About Jehovahs Witnesses? (Matthew 20:28; Acts 4:12) To benefit from that sacrifice, people must not only exercise faith in Jesus but also change their course of life and get baptized. The Bible never directly uses the term Trinity, yet the truth of the Trinity is present. The Witnesses teachings stress strict separation from secular government. 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. [56], Disagreement with the Watch Tower Society's concept of God's organization, figured prominently in events that led to a 1980 purge of high-level members at the group's Brooklyn headquarters. Help them understand the truth of the Bible and how the Jehovahs Witnesses' beliefs do not align with the truth of Gods Word. [174][175] They believe that their preaching is also part of that sign, citing Matthew 24:14. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Is the number one destination for online dating with more . All rights reserved. [187][188] This judgment will be based on their actions after resurrection rather than past deeds. "Some treatments conflict with Bible principles, though, and we reject these. Per current Watchtower doctrine, society members are "modern day servants of Jehovah, a people intent on living in the light of . Basically, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their own members will survive Armageddon, and live on earth after everyone else dies in the day of destruction. Jesus served as a ransom sacrifice to pay for the sins of all humankind. (Deuteronomy 4:15-19; 1John 5:21) Key aspects of our worship include the following: Reading and studying the Bible.Psalm 1:1-3. They do not salute the flag of any nation, believing it an act of false worship; they refuse to perform military service; and they do not participate in public elections. This article is about Jehovah's Witnesses' core beliefs. Jehovahs Witnesses have a wrong view of salvation in addition to their other erroneous beliefs. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when Jesus was born on earth, he was a mere human and not God in human flesh. Jehovah's Witnesses By: Addison Tucker What is a Jehovah Witness? Jesus is the King of Gods Kingdom in heaven. [59], He also claimed that The Watchtower has repeatedly blurred discussions of both Jesus Christ's loyalty to God and the apostles' loyalty to Christ to promote the view that Witnesses should be loyal to the Watch Tower Society. [97][98][99] Even as king of God's kingdom, Jesus remains subordinate to God. Do Jehovahs Witnesses Have Their Own Bible. Jesus Christ is God's agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. Pioneers hold part-time secular jobs and devote a greater amount of time to religious service. [110], Writers including James Beckford and former members James Penton and Barbara Grizzuti Harrison have stated that Jehovah's Witnesses' have a fear of demons, which Penton says is "sometimes so extreme that it becomes quite superstitious". The lists below address select points for the care of patients from Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu , Jehovah's Witness , Jewish , Muslim and Pentecostal traditions. (1Corinthians 1:10) We also work hard to have no social, ethnic, racial, or class divisions. Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses also differ in their beliefs about the Bible. If a person fails to place faith in Christ, they go to hell and ultimately the lake of fire. Annihilationism teaches that when a person dies, they cease to exist. 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. [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". Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate Christmas or Easter, which makes sense when you remember that they don't believe Jesus is equal to God. Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity. Earth. JW.org explains, "[W]e take Jesus at his word when he said: 'The Father is greater than I am.' The Jehovah's Witness beliefs about God are outlined in detail below. Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Great pains are taken to keep records of the number of visits, return calls, Bible classes, and books and magazines distributed. [197] Individuals who choose to publicly repudiate their association to the organization and renounce their place in the congregation are considered disassociated. [196], They are still visited by church elders yearly and encouraged by congregation members. After the war the Witnesses brought several suits in American courts dealing with their beliefs and practices, resulting in 59 Supreme Court rulings that were regarded as major judgments on the free exercise of religion. Bible. In Germany prior to World War II, the Nazis sent Witnesses to concentration camps, and Witnesses were also persecuted in Britain, Canada, and the United States. (Acts 15:20) Likewise, the Bible prohibits health treatments or procedures that include occult practices.Galatians 5:19-21," explains JW.org. Since they do not place faith in Jesus, they are not saved. Jehovah's Witnesses cite the Old and New Testaments as the Biblical basis for refusing transfusions. They only see Jehovah as being God. 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. United Methodist Church: History & Beliefs
Consequently, they refuse all ecumenical relations with other religious denominations. 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 . "Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs." 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. Explore the various characteristics of different denominations from our list below! [167][168] They believe that when Jesus became king, Satan was ousted from heaven to the earth, bringing a period of "woe" to mankind. This is an erroneous belief because Jesus was physically resurrected from the grave. Meeting together to pray, study the Bible, sing, express our faith, and encourage fellow Witnesses and others.Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:23-25. [70] Jehovah's Witnesses consider the Bible to be scientifically and historically accurate and reliable[71] and interpret much of it literally, while also accepting it contains much symbolism. 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. [24][25][26] The view is based on their interpretation of Proverbs 4:18, which they believe refers to a continuous progressive advancement in doctrinal knowledge and scriptural understanding for "righteous ones",[27][28] with the holy spirit helping "responsible representatives of 'the faithful and discreet slave' at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood". Find single woman in the US with footing. | Some of these programs are by invitation only.[219]. [180] This will mark the beginning of the great tribulation. Jehovah's Witnesses are strictly non-violent and refuse participation in warfare. Jehovah's Witnesses hold the controversial view of rejecting blood transfusions, even in life or death situations. Jehovahs Witnesses also hold to the belief of annihilationism. Family. 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. [181] Satan will subsequently attack Jehovah's Witnesses, an action that will prompt God to begin the war of Armageddon, during which all forms of government and all people not counted as Christ's "sheep", or true followers, will be destroyed. Bowler then try to meet and even drive-in. And they claim to have support for their views in the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses refer to the fact that the Bible never explicitly mentions the term "trinity." Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe Jesus is God, which means they do not place faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord. 83:18), will end crime, violence, sickness and death by destroying all wickedness in the world. Share It will replace human governments and accomplish Gods purpose for the earth. Henschel. (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. [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. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Christianity died soon after Christ, but was resurrected under Russell. ", "The Pessimistic Sect's Influence on the Mental Health of Its Members", "War of Words Breaks Out Among Jehovah's Witnesses", "The Educational Identity Formation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Religion & Education", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_beliefs&oldid=1141650652, Beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 03:23. Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach that Jesus Christ is the . [171][172], They equate this period with the "Gentile Times" or "the appointed times of the nations", a phrase taken from Luke 21:24. 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 b Wicked angels have been cast out of heaven, although they continue to exist in the spirit realm.Revelation 12:7-9. JWs claim that Jesus was not divine and that the Holy Spirit is an " active force " and not a person. While their practices broke with the Adventists . [117] It dismisses Young Earth creationism as "unscriptural and unbelievable",[118] and states that Jehovah's Witnesses "are not creationists" on the basis that they do not believe the earth was created in six literal days. We believe that the Bible gives solid reasons for following this course," states JW.org. | Jehovahs Witnesses are wrong because Jesus is God. Discuss a Bible question, or learn more about Jehovahs Witnesses. [105][109] Witnesses believe that Satan and his demons influence individuals, organizations and nations, and that they are the cause of human suffering. The beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russellfounder of the Bible Student movementand successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and Nathan Homer Knorr. They believe having faith in Jesus means believing in Him, but they do not see Him as being sufficient to give them salvation. They believe and teach that Jesus was then recreated by the Father in spirit form, and before going to heaven . Yet again, this is another wrong belief being taught by Jehovahs Witnesses. God. Buddhist Patients and Health Care: Nine Practical Points for non-Buddhist Providers. Attend other church services or worship, or sing any other religious songs. [189] At the end of the thousand years, Christ will hand all authority back to God. In particular, they oppose blood transfusions, because of the scriptural admonition against the consumption of blood (Leviticus 3:17). 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. Witnesses hold a number of traditional Christian views but also many that are unique to them. These began when one of Gods angels rebelled. In his life. Jehovah's Witnesses believe God is the Creator and Supreme Being. 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. Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe Jesus is God. [84], Witnesses teach that God must be distinguished by his personal nameJehovah. [217] According to Carrie S. Ingersoll-Wood, "By eliminating access to external knowledge, the congregation as a whole surrenders autonomy and willingly subjects themselves and their children to the external regulation of the religion. What Do Jehovahs Witnesses Believe? Jehovahs Witnesses believe in a myriad of unbiblical ideas. The instead believe the Holy Spirit is a force applied by God. 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. [62], Witnesses believe that after the death of the apostles, the Church embarked on a "Great Apostasy", diverging from the original teachings of Jesus on several major points. Sierra leone family of jehovah's witnesses dating network for true faith to use your phone. Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong because Jesus is God. Audio download options Rather, unbelievers spend eternity separated from God in hell and later in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). He is the bible highly discourages an interfaith . Jehovah's Witnesses started in 1870 when a man named Charles Taze Russell led Bible studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Salvation. This article summarizes our basic beliefs. ( Psalm 83:18; Revelation 4: 11) He is the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. What Do I Need to Know about the Anglican Church? Unlike many other religions, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that death is not just the death of the physical body but also the death of the soul. [195] Watch Tower publications define three different types of defection. The Lord wants you to come to Him and trust in Him as your Savior and Lord. [121][122] The Society teaches that the first human, Adam, was created in 4026 BCE. This belief, which is contrary to standard medical practice, remains an additional point of controversy with authorities, especially in cases concerning children. [204] Watch Tower Society literature says apostates are motivated by vitriolic bitterness and that their writings are poisonous, distorted and false, display the characteristics of "cunning, contrived error, prideful intelligence, lack of love and dishonesty" and are designed to undermine the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. [188][192], Watch Tower Society publications assert that members of the group are not compelled to remain part of the congregation. They believe that when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, the line of kings descended from David was interrupted, and that God's throne was "trampled on" from then until Jesus began ruling in October 1914. What Do Jehovahs Witnesses Believe? [100] Witnesses reject the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary, who they believe bore more children after Jesus. PRIVACY SETTINGS, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/502015242/univ/art/502015242_univ_sqr_xl.jpg. Heaven. While all members are considered ministers, an elder or overseer conducts services and usually gives a sermon on a Bible topic. [78][79] They view God as the Father, an invisible spirit "person" separate from the Son, Jesus Christ. [72] Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs on the Bible, as interpreted by the Governing Body.[73]. Similar to the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, previously known as the Mormon Church, the Jehovahs Witnesses are a cult.