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. "[210] Apostates must be shunned and Witnesses are warned that those who greet one become "a sharer in his wicked works". The translators of The New World Translation were: Nathan Knorr, Albert Schroeder, George Gangas, Fred Franz, M. (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. Rather, unbelievers spend eternity separated from God in hell and later in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Our conduct. Moreover, governments are the preferred tool of the devil and this is why members are forbidden to get involved in any political action. Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong because Jesus is God. They believe it is God's will to "abstain from blood" (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10;. Jehovahs Witnesses also hold to the belief of annihilationism. Main Differences Between Jehovah's Witnesses and Christianity. This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. This belief, which is contrary to standard medical practice, remains an additional point of controversy with authorities, especially in cases concerning children. [201] Other identifying behavior is said to include deviation from the truth, twisted, empty speech, hypocrisy and involvement in deeper forms of ungodliness. As Jehovahs Witnesses, we strive to adhere to the form of Christianity that Jesus taught and that his apostles practiced. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics | Pew Research Center Explore the geographic distribution and demographics of America's major religious groups. (1Corinthians 1:10) We also work hard to have no social, ethnic, racial, or class divisions. They use the terms Hebrew and Christian Greek Scriptures rather than Old and New Testament to avoid implication that the Old Testament is outdated or inferior. Promotion of personal doctrinal views that deviate from official teachings is also regarded as apostasy. [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. 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. The rest will live forever in a paradise on Earth, never meeting the person who died for them - Jesus Christ. [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. It is a religion where people believe in one god. Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. [36] All Witnesses are expected to abide by the doctrines and organizational requirements as determined by the Governing Body. Mormons: The Church of Latter Day Saints & Their Beliefs They believe that Daniel chapter 4 prophesied a period of 2,520 years starting with 607 BCE and ending at 1914 CE. 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 don't say "god bless you" when someone sneezes, because that practice supposedly has a pagan origin. "Mum, I haven't died. Historically, . 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. [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. One as becoming inactive, one as becoming disassociated, and one as becoming disfellowshipped. The Holy Spirit is a real independent Person, who is the Third Member of the Trinity. These short video lessons answer key Bible questions, such as: Why did God create the earth? The Meaning of Angel Numbers: Are They Biblical or Demonic? [100] Witnesses reject the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary, who they believe bore more children after Jesus. How Should 'Jihad' (Muslim Holy War) Be Understood Properly? [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. [190] Then Satan is released for a final opportunity to mislead perfect mankind;[191] Satan, his demons, and any who fail the test will be destroyed, leaving a fully tested, perfect human race who will live forever. [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 believe and teach that Jesus Christ is the . [128] The kingdom is said to have been the focus of Jesus' ministry. ", "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. Find out more directly from the source. 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? The Governing Body, a small group of mature Christians who serve at our world headquarters, provides direction for Jehovahs Witnesses worldwide.Matthew 24:45. The Lord wants you to come to Him and trust in Him as your Savior and Lord. What Do You Know About Jehovahs Witnesses? Jehovah's Witnesses are strictly non-violent and refuse participation in warfare. They do not believe in the Trinity. They only see Jehovah as being God. Buddhist Patients and Health Care: Nine Practical Points for non-Buddhist Providers. (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. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when Jesus was born on earth, he was a mere human and not God in human flesh. Share any teaching or belief that is contrary to what Jehovah's Witnesses are taught. [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. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 9. These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower magazine and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, and at conventions and congregation meetings. 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 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'. [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. (Acts 10:34, 35; James 2:4) Our unity allows for personal choice, though. How long after death is a Jehovah's Witness funeral? Jesus died on an upright stake and not the cross [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. Constructing and maintaining Kingdom Halls and other facilities used to further our worldwide Bible educational work.Psalm 127:1. Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe Jesus was physically resurrected. [46] Witnesses teach that people must choose between God's organization and Satan's. In particular, they oppose blood transfusions, because of the scriptural admonition against the consumption of blood (Leviticus 3:17). 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. [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. Jehovahs Witnesses try to claim that they are Christians, but they are not. However, to deviate from the beliefs would be to position oneself in a light of apostasy. (Acts 15:28, 29; Galatians 5:19-21) We are peaceful and do not participate in warfare. Presbyterians: History & Beliefs Jehovah's Witnesses are among the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in America. (John 13:34, 35) We avoid practices that displease God, including the misuse of blood by taking blood transfusions. Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity. Our organization. Preaching the good news of the Kingdom.Matthew 24:14. This article will begin with a brief description of the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses and will then recommend spec 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. [102] Since 1936, Jehovah's Witnesses have rejected the idea that Jesus died on a cross, and instead teach that he died on a single wooden stake (crux simplex), asserting that the Koine Greek word "" (stauros) refers to a single upright post. Before this translation was released specifically by and for Jehovah's Witnesses, most relied on the King James Version. 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. JW.org explains, "[W]e take Jesus at his word when he said: 'The Father is greater than I am.' They teach that Jesus was created by God and not coexistent wth Him. 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. JWs claim that Jesus was not divine and that the Holy Spirit is an " active force " and not a person. [187][188] This judgment will be based on their actions after resurrection rather than past deeds. [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. JWs believe that Jesus is God's only direct creation, "the firstborn of all . This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. We recognize the Bible as Gods inspired message to humans. Because Jehovah's Witnesses is the only true religion, anyone not part of this society is just another cog in Satan's scheme. [166] As such, the Second Coming is considered an invisible presence, lasting for an extended period of time, and ending with Jesus' "coming" to separate the Sheep and the Goats. I'm a woman. Jehovah's Witnesses (hereafter JWs) consider themselves to be Christians ( but not Protestants ), even though they reject the doctrine of the Trinity. [77] The name is a common modern Latinized form of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, or four-letter name, transliterated as YHWH. Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to save you . They believe and teach that Jesus was then recreated by the Father in spirit form, and before going to heaven . Jehovah's Witnesses are a people of faith that many of us likely don't know that much about. The Jehovah's Witnesses movement came out of the Bible Student movement, also founded by Taze. 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 . (Deuteronomy 4:15-19; 1John 5:21) Key aspects of our worship include the following: Reading and studying the Bible.Psalm 1:1-3. Why? This article is part of our Denomination Series listing historical facts and theological information about different factions within and from the Christian religion. 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 . [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. (Acts 15:20) Likewise, the Bible prohibits health treatments or procedures that include occult practices.Galatians 5:19-21," explains JW.org. Regarding sin. [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. Beliefs and Practices . And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.. [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". We follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and honor him as our Savior and as the Son of God. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [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." We are globally united in our beliefs. Jehovahs Witnesses deny the existence of hell; therefore, they believe God simply annihilates anyone who never becomes a Jehovahs Witness during their life. In the mind of Jehovahs Witnesses, there is not a Trinity. 9. [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". Per current Watchtower doctrine, society members are "modern day servants of Jehovah, a people intent on living in the light of . He began ruling in 1914.Revelation 11:15. Exaltation, or going to the highest of the three degrees of glory and becoming a god, is achieved by getting baptized, confirmed, ordained in the Melchizedek priesthood (if a man), endowed, and married and then by keeping the covenants for the rest of one's 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. 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. [167][168] They believe that when Jesus became king, Satan was ousted from heaven to the earth, bringing a period of "woe" to mankind. They will be given the opportunity to join Jesus' "other sheep" and live forever on a paradise earth. 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. Jesus. The basis for this belief originates from several sources: primarily, they believe the celebration of birthdays stems from pagan rituals. They affirm the deity of God the Father, and specifically deny the deity of Jesus Christ. What Are Familiar Spirits and What Does the Bible Warn about Them? My interests include staying up late and taking naps. The Bible teaches that if a person places faith in Christ, they are given forgiveness of sins, redemption, and eternal life. It will replace human governments and accomplish Gods purpose for the earth. Share [125] The kingdom is viewed as the means by which God will accomplish his original purpose for the earth,[126][127] bringing about a world free of crime, sickness, death and poverty, and ultimately transforming the earth into a paradise. They believe they have the only true religion and that all other religions are under Satan. Zavada, Jack. Outside of Jesus, there is no way to salvation. 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. They believe having faith in Jesus means believing in Him, but they do not see Him as being sufficient to give them salvation. [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". [196], They are still visited by church elders yearly and encouraged by congregation members. The Jehovah's Witness beliefs about God are outlined in detail below. Learn Religions. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Sharing in disaster relief.Acts 11:27-30. Jesus is the King of Gods Kingdom in heaven. [180] This will mark the beginning of the great tribulation. Jehovah's Witnesses believe in going to people's homes to spread the word of their religion and make disciples of all people. Zavada, Jack. (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) They do not suffer in a fiery hell of torment. Pioneers hold part-time secular jobs and devote a greater amount of time to religious service. 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