Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group with more than eight million members around the world. The instead believe the Holy Spirit is a force applied by God. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in Hell but do believe in Heaven. We do not lobby, vote for political parties or candidates, run for government office, or participate in any action to change governments. "When a person dies, he ceases to exist. 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.. 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. We are globally united in our beliefs. The m. In this article, we are going to discover what Jehovahs Witnesses believe. 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. The Lord also demonstrated Himself to be physically raised from the dead because His disciples touched Him, and Thomas placed his hands and fingers into Jesus wounds (Matthew 28:9; John 20:27-29). Conflict arises at times with the medical staff concerning how best to manage their care. Baptist Church: History & Beliefs The rest will live forever in a paradise on Earth, never meeting the person who died for them - Jesus Christ. They believe having faith in Jesus means believing in Him, but they do not see Him as being sufficient to give them salvation. An elder, one of the group's leaders, anxiously shares an . Attend other church services or worship, or sing any other religious songs. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is a created God by the Father who alone is Jehovah. Jehovahs Witnesses deny the existence of hell; therefore, they believe God simply annihilates anyone who never becomes a Jehovahs Witness during their life. [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. If any Jehovah's Witness is deemed to be an apostate, she or he will be disfellowshipped. [97][98][99] Even as king of God's kingdom, Jesus remains subordinate to God. Since they do not place faith in Jesus, they are not saved. The Lord declared Himself to be God through His seven "I AM" statements ( John 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15). Wear or own a cross. How Is Harry Potter a Literary Christ Figure? They believe that ony 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven. Jehovahs Witnesses are a very dangerous culture that nobody needs to be involved in. [47][48] Watch Tower publications teach that the Bible is an "organizational book" that does not belong to individuals and that the Bible cannot be properly understood without guidance by "Jehovah's visible organization". 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 . [103] According to the Watch Tower society, some Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted or killed for not venerating a cross. Jehovah's Witnesses & Their Beliefs Each Witness makes decisions in harmony with his or her own Bible-trained conscience.Romans 14:1-4; Hebrews 5:14. Jehovah's Witnesses - Religion in America: U.S. All rights reserved. Similar to the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, previously known as the Mormon Church, the Jehovahs Witnesses are a cult. [105][106] They believe that demons were originally angels who rebelled against God and took Satan's side in the controversy. Jesus was not only a spirit when He was resurrected. Jehovah's Witnesses hold services on Sunday and twice during the week, in a Kingdom Hall, an unadorned building. This belief, which is contrary to standard medical practice, remains an additional point of controversy with authorities, especially in cases concerning children. Three distinct Persons, yet one God. Therefore, they promote moral and spiritual education over secular education. Why Are There So Many Christian Interpretations? Ephesians 4:30 urges us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, which demonstrates that the Holy Spirit has emotions. 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. They think the Holy Spirit is an "impersonal force" and not actually God and Lord Himself. [115][116], The Watch Tower Society teaches a combination of gap creationism and day-age creationism, with an extended period between the initial creation of the universe and the subsequent 'creative days' in relation to the earth, which are said to have taken "thousands of years". There are concerns that those who seek high education will become distracted from their preaching work by material advancement and success. 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). [51] Watch Tower Society publications urge Witnesses to demonstrate loyalty to the organization without dissent,[52][53] even at the cost of family ties. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. [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). [101], The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society used the Cross and Crown symbol on tombstones, and on its publications until 1931. The terms "little flock" and "other sheep" are drawn from Luke 12:32 and John 10:16 respectively. Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach that Jesus Christ is the . Using a variety of Bible translations can enhance your study of the Bible. Because Jehovah's Witnesses is the only true religion, anyone not part of this society is just another cog in Satan's scheme. Instead of believing Jesus to be God, Jehovahs Witnesses believe that Jesus was created by Jehovah as Michael the archangel at some time prior to the creation of the world. [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. How Should 'Jihad' (Muslim Holy War) Be Understood Properly? While their practices broke with the Adventists . 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. (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. [9][10] All members of the denomination are expected to take an active part in preaching. [201] Apostate behavior is said to include the rejection of biblical teachings or requirements, the rejection of Jehovah's organization, association with or support for another religious group[202] and celebration of religious holidays. 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". Congregations . Jehovah's Witnesses are a people of faith that many of us likely don't know that much about. Each congregation has an assigned territory and each Witness a particular neighbourhood to canvass. The Jehovah's Witnesses are quite forthcoming about their religious beliefs. [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. [77] Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine, which they consider unscriptural. The Bible is clear that salvation is only by grace through faith as Paul tells us, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). They do not view the Holy Spirit as being a true Person only a force. 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'. (Acts 15:28, 29; Galatians 5:19-21) We are peaceful and do not participate in warfare. Satan and his demons are said to have been cast down from heaven to the earth in 1914, marking the beginning of the "last days". (2Corinthians 9:7) All our activities are supported by anonymous donations. They continue to face persecution in several countries, however, particularly for their refusal to serve in the military, and they are often publicly derided for their door-to-door evangelism. 10 Things Everyone Should Know about Jehovah's Witnesses and Their Beliefs. Jehovah's Witnesses (hereafter JWs) consider themselves to be Christians ( but not Protestants ), even though they reject the doctrine of the Trinity. [77] The Holy Spirit is described as God's "active force", rather than the third part of the Trinity. I'm still here, and I'm still the . 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. Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Share [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. Our organization. [68][69], The entire Protestant canon of scripture is seen as the inspired, inerrant word of God. They believe that Daniel chapter 4 prophesied a period of 2,520 years starting with 607 BCE and ending at 1914 CE. They reject the concept of universal salvation[141] and the concept of predestination. Jehovah's Witnesses do believe in resurrection of the soul, however. [203] It is grounds for expulsion from the group and subsequent shunning. Should Christians Seek Revelation from God Apart from the Bible? Instead, they emphasize citizenship in God's heavenly kingdom. The Witnesses distrust of contemporary institutions extends to other religious denominations, from which they remain separate. He began ruling in 1914.Revelation 11:15. Moreover, governments are the preferred tool of the devil and this is why members are forbidden to get involved in any political action. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. [31] However, the Governing Body disclaims infallibility and divine inspiration. Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/jehovahs-witnesses-beliefs-700792. [12], Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by their Governing Body, which Witnesses are taught Jesus uses as a channel for God's progressive revelations and to direct Christians on biblical matters. Family. Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe Jesus is God, which means they do not place faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord. Mennonites & Their Beliefs They see their mission as primarily evangelical, disseminating "the good news", to warn as many people as possible in the remaining time before Armageddon. [196] They believe the congregation must "maintain God's favor in order to be used by him and to represent him" or else the whole congregation would lose God's approval. [78][79] They view God as the Father, an invisible spirit "person" separate from the Son, Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to save you . 9. [204], Apostates are said to have become part of the antichrist and are regarded as more reprehensible than non-Witnesses. (Psalm 83:18; Revelation 4:11) He is the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.Exodus 3:6; 32:11; John 20:17. 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. They believe they have the only true religion and that all other religions are under Satan. 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. [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. [133], Watch Tower publications teach that hell (hades or sheol) is not a place of fiery torment, but rather the "common grave of mankind", a place of unconscious non-existence. (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. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world. They believe that all intelligent creatures are endowed with free will, and that salvation is dependent on God's "undeserved kindness", but also requires faith in God and in the "ransom sacrifice" of Jesus Christ,[142] demonstrated by "zealous" preaching activity. Zavada, Jack. How Is Harry Potter a Literary Christ Figure? In his life. 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? and Why does God allow suffering? Rather than believing Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead, Jehovahs Witnesses believe Jesus was only spiritually resurrected. [80] They believe God is "infinite, but approachable"; he is not omnipresent, but has a location in heaven;[81] it is possible to have a personal relationship with him as a friend;[82] he is kind and merciful, and would not eternally "torture" wicked people. Ex-Jehovah witness religion or personals for ex-jehovah's witnesses - is, and. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The Witnesses understand Jesus' words at John 3:3"except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"to apply to the 144,000 who are "born again" as "anointed" sons of God in heaven. Although they allegedly started dating site, professionally done dating then called a data-gathering. 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. A significant underpinning belief of Jehovah's Witnesses is that Jesus' heavenly rule (or "heavenly Kingdom power") began in 1914. And they claim to have support for their views in the Bible. When Taze began disputing some of the traditional views within Christianity, the Jehovah's Witnesses were born. This article summarizes our basic beliefs. [193] They believe coerced worship is unacceptable to God. The Meaning of Angel Numbers: Are They Biblical or Demonic? [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. If you are a Jehovahs Witness or you know one, share these truths with them. Jehovahs Witnesses believe that if someone dies who is not a Jehovahs Witness that they will be annihilated. (Matthew 19:4-9) We are convinced that the wisdom found in the Bible helps families to succeed.Ephesians 5:226:1. We do not venerate the cross or any other images. Jesus Christ is Gods agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. Members of local congregations, known as publishers, meet at Kingdom Halls and engage in doorstep preaching. Special pioneers are full-time salaried employees of the society. [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. (2021, February 8). (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. No mere man could live a sinless life, die for the sins of the world, and rise up from the grave. Jehovah's Witness Christians have distinct beliefs about the end times, as well. 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 . Historically, . What do Jehovah Witnesses believe and not believe? 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 Jesus died for humankind's sins, however they do not believe that he was physically resurrected after his crucification. 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 . [77][85] The use of his personal name is regarded as vital for true worship,[86] and Witnesses usually preface the term God with the name Jehovah. [189] At the end of the thousand years, Christ will hand all authority back to God. Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses? Jehovahs Witnesses Denomination Overview, Christian Reformed Church Beliefs and Practices, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. Worship services begin and end with prayer and may include singing. Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses also differ in their beliefs about the Bible. God (the Father): God is a single being whose personal name is Jehovah they also accept the name Yahweh and other. Find out more directly from the source. God. The U.S. government sent Rutherford and other Watchtower leaders to prison for sedition during World War I. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that rejecting the teachings or instructions of the leaders means to reject God himself. [105][106] Instead of destroying Satan, God decided to test the loyalty of the rest of humankind and to prove to the rest of creation that Satan was a liar. The "identifying marks" of apostates are said to include attempts to gain followers, disregard for the Witnesses' preaching activity, rejection of God's visible organization, public criticism of other Witnesses and attempts to hinder their work. [196], They are still visited by church elders yearly and encouraged by congregation members. (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.