Since 1976, all doctrinal decisions have been made by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, a group of elders at the denomination's headquarters. [204], Apostates are said to have become part of the antichrist and are regarded as more reprehensible than non-Witnesses. This means they are not true Christians, and they do not truly know the truth of Jesus. [155][156], Members who claim to be anointed are not given special treatment by other congregation members. Jesus was not only a spirit when He was resurrected. (John 14:28) So we do not worship Jesus, as we do not believe that he is Almighty God." According to their website, "Jehovah is the personal name of God, as found in the Bible. The leaders of some mainstream Christian churches have denounced the Witnesses for doctrinal deviation (especially their non-Trinitarian teachings) and have condemned them as a cult.. Our relationships with others. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/luchschen, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God. 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). Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. These short video lessons answer key Bible questions, such as: Why did God create the earth? One who has been baptized as a JW and is still loyal to the organization. Promotion of personal doctrinal views that deviate from official teachings is also regarded as apostasy. [164], Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jesus Christ began to rule in heaven invisibly as king in October 1914. Salvation is only by placing faith in Christ, not by following rules. [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. [67] Based on their interpretation of Revelation 18:2-24, Jehovah's Witnesses believe all other religions are part of "Babylon the Great", a "world empire of false religion" under the control of Satan. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Christianity died soon after Christ, but was resurrected under Russell. This date is said to also mark when the Last Days began. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/NexTser, There are reportedly 8.3 million Jehovah's Witnesses around the world and nearly 120,000 congregations. The Kingdom of God. Matthew 28:19-20 says, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. [129], Witnesses regard the soul as mortal, based on the statement at Ezekiel 18:4 that "the soul that sins, it shall die" (MKJV)[130] and thus believe the soul does not continue to live after one dies. Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. This article is part of our Denomination Series listing historical facts and theological information about different factions within and from the Christian religion. [57] Former Governing Body member Raymond Franz, who was expelled as part of the purge, subsequently criticized the Watch Tower concept of organization,[58] claiming the conceptwhich posits that God does not deal with individuals apart from an organizationhas no scriptural support and serves only to reinforce the group's authority structure, with its strong emphasis on human authority. Outside of Jesus, there is no way to salvation. [214][215] Because evangelistic activities take priority over educational success, young Witnesses rarely progress to college or university,[216] which Holden describes as a source of regret in subsequent years among those who are raised in the organization and later choose to leave. Jehovah's Witnesses & Their Beliefs 9. (John 17:17; 2Timothy 3:16) We base our beliefs on all 66 of its books, which include both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Professor Jason D. BeDuhn aptly described it when he wrote that Jehovahs Witnesses built their system of belief and practice from the raw material of the Bible without predetermining what was to be found there.a. The Bible tells us that Jesus was resurrected with a true flesh and bone body (Luke 24:39; John 2:19-21). Below are 10 facts about this group which branched off from orthodox Christianity in the late 1800's. (Exodus 15:8, 10) A craftsmans hands cannot function independent of his mind and body; likewise, Gods holy spirit operates only as he directs it. The Meaning of Angel Numbers: Are They Biblical or Demonic? It is important that as a future healthcare provider, you have some background knowledge about the medical beliefs among prominent religions in the United States in the likely event that one of your future patients follows them. Jehovah's Witnesses cite the Old and New Testaments as the Biblical basis for refusing transfusions. What is the condition of the dead? Jehovahs Witnesses believe in a myriad of unbiblical ideas. [121][122] The Society teaches that the first human, Adam, was created in 4026 BCE. [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". 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 . Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs. Salvation. [136] They reason that complete destruction does not allow for literal "torture" of the wicked, as the deceased person is not conscious. Bible. They believe they have the only true religion and that all other religions are under Satan. [103] According to the Watch Tower society, some Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted or killed for not venerating a cross. Despite widespread excitement over a cure, Jehovah's Witnesses contend that a plasma-based solution would be a gross violation of their beliefs. [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. [169], Witnesses base their beliefs about the significance of 1914 on the Watch Tower Society's interpretation of biblical chronology,[170] based on their belief that the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian captivity both occurred in 607 BCE. Learn Religions. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in Hell but do believe in Heaven. Vivian Brickerloves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. Discuss a Bible question, or learn more about Jehovahs Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses (hereafter JWs) consider themselves to be Christians ( but not Protestants ), even though they reject the doctrine of the Trinity. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when Jesus was born on earth, he was a mere human and not God in human flesh. They do not believe in the Trinity. [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. As believers, we need to share the truth of Jesus and the gospel. Find single woman in the US with footing. They also don't celebrate other national holidays or birthdays in an attempt to remain separate from the world. At Armageddon, Satan is to be bound for 1,000 years, and then given a brief opportunity to mislead perfect humanity before being destroyed. Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? While we accept the entire Bible, we are not fundamentalists. 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. For example, we dont accept blood transfusions because the Bible forbids taking in blood to sustain the body. In their booklet entitled Jehovah's Witnesses in the Twentieth Century, for example, may be found a chart titled "What Jehovah's Witnesses Believe . God (the Father): God is a single being whose personal name is Jehovah they also accept the name Yahweh and other. (Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:9, 10) It will take these actions soon, for Bible prophecy indicates that we are living in the last days.2Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:3-14. [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." [111][112][113][114] Watch Tower Society publications state that Witnesses need not harbor dread or superstitious fear of demons, because their power over humans is limited. In the 1870s Russell organized the Watchtower Society, which directs, administers, and disseminates all doctrine. They are also known for their evangelical work going door-to-door attempting to make converts. Jehovah's Witnesses are strictly non-violent and refuse participation in warfare. What Are Familiar Spirits and What Does the Bible Warn about Them? Individuals who are inactive discontinue their preaching work and distance themselves from the congregation. It will replace human governments and accomplish Gods purpose for the earth. [77] The Holy Spirit is described as God's "active force", rather than the third part of the Trinity. Buddhism places strong emphasis on "mindfulness," so patients may request peace and quiet for the . Jesus is the King of Gods Kingdom in heaven. 2:6-7). The Bible tells us the Holy Spirit has a personality and the Bible describes the Holy Spirit with personal pronouns (Acts 13:2). The Trinity. 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"). Our worship. Meeting together to pray, study the Bible, sing, express our faith, and encourage fellow Witnesses and others.Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:23-25. (Galatians 6:10; 2Corinthians 6:14) However, we respect the choices that others make in such matters.Romans 14:12. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world. Why? Brooklyn, NY: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, 1993. no social, ethnic, racial, or class divisions, speak to one of the Witnesses in your area. How long after death is a Jehovah's Witness funeral? If you are a Jehovahs Witness or you know one, share these truths with them. We are organized into congregations, each of which is overseen by a body of elders. If any Jehovah's Witness is deemed to be an apostate, she or he will be disfellowshipped. 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. Jehovahs Witnesses also hold to the belief of annihilationism. Answer (1 of 14): In their defense, I could argue that every religion has its own peculiarities and "weird" beliefs (transubstantiation [1]anyone?). The Holy Spirit is in charge of administering spiritual gifts, which this shows the Holy Spirit has an independent will of His own (1 Corinthians 12:11). They believe that Jesus can be called a deity or a god, but only in the sense that an angel can be thus called. Jehovah's Witnesses are primarily known to physicians for their refusal of blood transfusions. [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. Check the facts with this eight-question self-test. Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? Catholic Church: History, Tradition & Beliefs They wish to share the literature with the people and will then offer to bring a Bible study to their home. [186], Most of those who had died prior to God's intervention will gradually be resurrected to a "day of judgment" lasting for the thousand years referred to in Revelation 20. How Should 'Jihad' (Muslim Holy War) Be Understood Properly? The Bible teaches the truth of the Trinity in multiple passages. Each congregation has an assigned territory and each Witness a particular neighbourhood to canvass. [183] After Armageddon, Satan will be cast into an abyss and unable to influence humanity, then God will extend his heavenly kingdom to include earth,[184][185] which will be transformed into a paradise similar to the Garden of Eden. Ephesians 4:30 urges us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, which demonstrates that the Holy Spirit has emotions. "Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs." [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. The issue is said to be whether God can rightfully claim to be sovereign of the universe. The U.S. government sent Rutherford and other Watchtower leaders to prison for sedition during World War I. [38][39][40][41] Members who promote privately developed teachings contrary to those of the Governing Body may be expelled and shunned. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Yet again, this is another wrong belief being taught by Jehovahs Witnesses. Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. 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. Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses? Rather than believing Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead, Jehovahs Witnesses believe Jesus was only spiritually resurrected. [189] At the end of the thousand years, Christ will hand all authority back to God. 1. [88] Because no other religion uses the name Jehovah with the same prevalence, they believe that only Jehovah's Witnesses are making God's name known. We strive to show unselfish love in all our actions. [167][168] They believe that when Jesus became king, Satan was ousted from heaven to the earth, bringing a period of "woe" to mankind. [200] Sociologist Andrew Holden claims his research indicated many Witnesses who would otherwise defect because of disillusionment with the organization and its teachings remain affiliated out of fear of being shunned and losing contact with friends and family members. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In particular, they oppose blood transfusions, because of the scriptural admonition against the consumption of blood (Leviticus 3:17). The lists below address select points for the care of patients from Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu , Jehovah's Witness , Jewish , Muslim and Pentecostal traditions. Thus, Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible is a good . "Mum, I haven't died. These practices have brought them under the scrutiny of government authorities. The m. In 1876, Russell encountered Nelson H. Barbour; later that year, they together produced the book Three Worlds, which combined restitution views with end-time prophecy. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven and that the rest of humanity will live forever on a paradise earth. Jehovah witness dating websites - Rich man looking for older man & younger woman. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses also believe that Armageddon is coming very soon. [86][89], Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's "only-begotten Son", and that his life began in heaven. [203] It is grounds for expulsion from the group and subsequent shunning. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The resurrection of the Lord also attests to Jesus divinity. Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religious sect rooted in the Adventist movement of the late 1800s in the United States. Instead, they emphasize citizenship in God's heavenly kingdom. What Is Protestantism & Why Is it Important? Witnesses also oppose certain medical practices that they believe violate Scripture. Looking like a jerk when someone sneezes. But, ok, because most people have no idea what Jehovah's Witnesses believe, here's a list of some of the more "weird" beliefs they have or are suppo. The Jehovah's Witnesses are quite forthcoming about their religious beliefs. He began ruling in 1914.Revelation 11:15. [160] Those who die without faithfully serving God will receive the "resurrection of the unrighteous" ("unjust" KJV). Until late 2012, the Governing Body described itself as the representative[13] and "spokesman" for God's "faithful and discreet slave class",[14][15][16][17] a limited number of "anointed" Jehovah's Witnesses. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/kevinschreiber, Similar to their view of Jesus, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father. Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group with more than eight million members around the world. 5 things you should know" and the ChristianHeadlines.com article "10 Things You Should Know about Jehovah's Witnesses.". Deliverance from sin and death is possible through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. They affirm that GodJehovahis the most high. They affirm the deity of God the Father, and specifically deny the deity of Jesus Christ. 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 Since they do not place faith in Jesus, they are not saved. Zavada, Jack. Presbyterians: History & Beliefs Do Jehovahs Witnesses Have Their Own Bible. (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. 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. 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. The result is that you look like an asshole every time someone sneezes as you just sit there staring at them blankly. They affirm that GodJehovahis the most high. (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. 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 . They claim this "doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies." This article is about Jehovah's Witnesses' core beliefs. Although they are generally law-abiding, believing that governments are established by God to maintain peace and order, they refuse on biblical grounds to observe certain laws. As previously mentioned, Jehovahs Witnesses view Jesus as a lesser god. The Holy Spirit is not seen as God either as Jehovahs Witnesses teach the Holy Spirit is just a force.. [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. [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. This belief, which is contrary to standard medical practice, remains an additional point of controversy with authorities, especially in cases concerning children. Witnesses hold a number of traditional Christian views but also many that are unique to them. They don't believe in serving in politics or in the military, mainly as another way for them to distance themselves from the culture. We recognize that parts of the Bible are written in figurative or symbolic language and are not to be understood literally.Revelation 1:1. Mennonites & Their Beliefs 2. Zavada, Jack. Since they do not place faith in Jesus, they are not saved. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". It is one of the more major ways in which Jehovah's Witnesses differ from various Christian denominations. This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. [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. [187][188] This judgment will be based on their actions after resurrection rather than past deeds. What Do You Know About Jehovahs Witnesses? Jehovahs Witnesses deny the existence of hell; therefore, they believe God simply annihilates anyone who never becomes a Jehovahs Witness during their life. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.