Who are Jehovah's Witnesses? What do they believe?

Question

I have heard from people outside that religion but not from people in it. so what is there side?

Wow never expected such a response.
still reading. thank you

Answer 1

Jehovah’s Witnesses refer to themselves a descriptive name, indicating that they bear witness concerning Jehovah, his Godship, and his purposes. “God,” “Lord,” and “Creator”—like “President,” “King,” and “General”—are titles and may be applied to several different personages. But “Jehovah” is a personal name and refers to the almighty God and Creator of the universe. This is shown at Psalm 83:18, according to the King James version of the Bible: “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”

The name Jehovah (or Yahweh, as the Roman Catholic Jerusalem Bible and some scholars prefer) appears almost 7,000 times in the original Hebrew Scriptures. Most Bibles do not show it as such but substitute “God” or “Lord” for it. However, even in these Bibles, a person can usually tell where the original Hebrew text uses Jehovah because in those places the substituted words are written in large and small capitals, thus: GOD, LORD. Several modern translations do use either the name Jehovah or the name Yahweh. Hence, the New World Translation reads at Isaiah 42:8, “I am Jehovah. That is my name.”

The Scriptural account that Jehovah’s Witnesses draw on for their name is in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah. There the world scene is viewed as a courtroom drama: The gods of the nations are invited to bring forth their witnesses to prove their claimed cases of righteousness or to hear the witnesses for Jehovah’s side and acknowledge the truth. Jehovah there declares to his people: “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.”—Isaiah 43:10, 11, American Standard Version.

Jehovah God had witnesses on earth during the thousands of years before Jesus was born. After Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of those men of faith, Hebrews 12:1 says: “So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Jesus said before Pontius Pilate: “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” He is called “the faithful and true witness.” (John 18:37; Revelation 3:14) Jesus told his disciples: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.

Hence, some 6,000,000 persons today who are telling the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom by Christ Jesus in over 230 lands feel that they properly refer to themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe?

(1) Bible: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, and instead of adhering to a creed based on human tradition, they hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.

(2) God: They worship Jehovah as the only true God and freely speak to others about him and his loving purposes toward mankind. Anyone who publicly witnesses about Jehovah is usually identified as belonging to the one group—“Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

(3) Jesus Christ: They believe, not that Jesus Christ is part of a Trinity, but that, as the Bible says, he is the Son of God, the first of God’s creations; that he had a prehuman existence and that his life was transferred from heaven to the womb of a virgin, Mary; that his perfect human life laid down in sacrifice makes possible salvation to eternal life for those who exercise faith; that Christ is actively ruling as King, with God-given authority over all the earth since 1914.

(4) God’s Kingdom: They believe that God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind; that it is a real government; that it will soon destroy the present wicked system of things, including all human governments, and that it will produce a new system in which righteousness will prevail.

(5) Heavenly life: They believe that 144,000 spirit-anointed Christians will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom, ruling as kings with him. They do not believe that heaven is the reward for everyone who is “good.”

(6) The earth: They believe that God’s original purpose for the earth will be fulfilled; that the earth will be completely populated by worshipers of Jehovah and that these will be able to enjoy eternal life in human perfection; that even the dead will be raised to an opportunity to share in these blessings.

(7) Death: They believe that the dead are conscious of absolutely nothing; that they are experiencing neither pain nor pleasure in some spirit realm; that they do not exist except in God’s memory, so hope for their future life lies in a resurrection from the dead.

(8) Last days: They believe that we are living now, since 1914, in the last days of this wicked system of things; that some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete destruction of the present wicked world; that lovers of righteousness will survive into a cleansed earth.

(9) Separate from the world: They earnestly endeavor to be no part of the world, as Jesus said would be true of his followers. They show genuine Christian love for their neighbors, but they do not share in the politics or the wars of any nation. They provide for the material needs of their families but shun the world’s avid pursuit of material things and personal fame and its excessive indulgence in pleasure.

(10) Apply Bible counsel: They believe that it is important to apply the counsel of God’s Word in everyday life now—at home, in school, in business, in their congregation. Regardless of a person’s past way of life, he may become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses if he abandons practices condemned by God’s Word and applies its godly counsel. But if anyone thereafter makes a practice of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drug abuse, drunkenness, lying, or stealing, he will be disfellowshipped from the organization.

(The above list briefly states some outstanding beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses but by no means all the points on which their beliefs are different from those of other groups.)

If you would like further information, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 2

Check this site:
http://www.knocking.org/

Ones can quote various scriptures about what witnesses believe or don't believe, and how they conflict with other religions, but the primary difference comes down to one question: "What day do you observe the memorial on?"

Ask this question of 50,000 random adults from non-JW churches and you will get a variety of answers, with most saying a day in May. Ask this of 50,000 JWs, above the age of 12, and they will all have the same answer. Niacin 14, at sunset, the Memorial of the Last Supper, the only day, aside from wedding anniversaries, that Christ said to continue observing. Is this brainwashing or living ones life in accordance with Christ?

Everything they do is filtered through what Christ would want. Is this brainwashing by a cult? And if it is, than wouldn't the same thing be said of the Apostles and the early Christians? Were they brainwashed into believing that thousands of years of "traditional" Jewish teachings were no longer correct by a small cult?

Witnesses pay their taxes without trying to find loopholes.

Their strength is based around the strength of the family.

They have the lowest rates, per capita, of divorces, STDs, illegitimate births, and sexual abuse of children by priest, bishops, pastors, etc. Of course that last is because they don't separate the children from their parents, to learn differently.

They don't demand that creation be taught in the schools, since the parents teach the Bible to the children, and the children attend Bible classes right along side their parents, even answering questions. They also don't deny the kids learning about Evolution, as it is helpful in understanding the spread of humans and animals after the great flood.

Jehovah's Witnesses are in high demand in jobs that involve confidentiality without involve the government or illegal activities. Jane Fonda, as well as many movie stars, only uses JWs as maids, drivers, etc. They can't be bought. When Charlton Heston asked her why she didn't become one, since she liked them so much, she said that she couldn't live her life so close to the teachings of Christ as they do, and neither could he (Heston).

Regardless of what people say is right or wrong about their teachings, when it comes down to it, the question is how can they live, as a whole, so close to the teachings of Christ, and the other religions cannot? Do they think such a life is too harsh, or that it is impossible to live that way without being brainwashed?

Answer 3

I have been a Jehovah's Witness for 53 going on 54 years and find that many people really don't understand our teachings. That is why we offer free home bible studies so each individual can learn who the true and only Supreme being is Jehovah God. So many call us a cult, which is not true, for we do not follow a "HUMAN" mans ways we are dedicated to serve Jehovah God until eternity. There are far too many ideas for one person to address...so my suggestion is to turn to the official web site or contact your local Kingdom Hall if you truly want to learn the truth of our faith.

Answer 4

JW are in no way Mormons. They are a religious organization known for going door to door and giving away free info about their beliefs. If you want to know more, visit one of there churches. You are going about it the wrong way asking on this site. You will get everything but a good answer. I have always felt it is best to ask a believer of something than a non believer and then take the info and research it myself.

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion which believes strongly in the bible in the Christian commission to preach the good news of God's Kingdom.

Jehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that God's Kingdom will soon replace all earthly governments.
(Daniel 2:44) God of heaven will set up a kingdom... It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite

That Kingdom will rule over the vast majority of mankind, most of whom will have been raised from the dead after Armageddon.
(John 11:23,24) Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Until that resurrection, there is no suffering in "hell", or the grave. Sometime after the resurrection, death and "hell" will themselves be destroyed.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all
(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]
(Revelation 20:14) And death and Hades ["hell"] were hurled into the lake of fire

While a limitted number of humans will be resurrected to heaven to share in ruling over mankind, the vast majority (literally more than 99.9%) of Jehovah's Witnesses expect an EARTHLY hope, the same hope given to Adam and Eve.
(Genesis 1:28) God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill THE EARTH and subdue it [caps added]
(Genesis 2:17) You must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die [so never eating from that tree means never dying]

Interestingly, the Scriptures are full of references to this earthly hope.
(Psalms 37:11) 'the meek will possess the earth'
(Proverbs 2:21) 'upright will reside in the earth'
(Isaiah 45:18) 'God formed the earth to be inhabited'
(Matthew 5:5) 'the mild will inherit the earth'
(Revelation 21:3) The tent of God is with mankind

Jehovah's Witnesses' official website:
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm

Answer 6

It's a Christian offshoot. They are considered very close to a cult. Basically they believe the world is evil and only through God can you be saved (Christian doctrine). They tend to shun the outside world though, home schooling and not engaging with the outside world, sticking mainly to other Jehovah Witnesses.

Answer 7

It is evil to learn too much about a cult. They are a cult, they believe that salvation is received by going door to door. They don't believe that Christ is the Son of God, they added their own stuff to the Bible and misinterpreted a lot out of the Bible. The name Jehovah is a mistaken Hebrew name for God, when it should be Yahweh(that may be mispelled, but you get the picture). What else would you need to know? Oh and no celebrations of any kind.

Answer 8

Members of a cult. They believe in the writings of some idiot from Brooklyn, New York the mecca of religious beliefs in America. They destroy families, think there will be a heaven on Earth, shunning is practiced, they force members to go knock on doors to convert and place tremendous demands on them, they think they are better than everyone, are nice only when forced to be or when they have an angle to have to be for their ulterior motives, they hold no allegiance to any country or flag but leach off of the country they are in. I hate these people with a passion.

Answer 9

JW's believe that Jesus Christ was a perfect man, and that He is a person distinct from God the Father. However, they also teach that before His earthly life, Jesus was a spirit creature, Michael the archangel, who was created by God and became the Messiah at His baptism. According to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus is a mighty one, although not almighty as Jehovah God is. According to John 1:1 in their Bible, The New World Translation, Christ is "a god" but not "the God." They teach that Jesus "was and is and always will be beneath Jehovah" and that "Christ and God are not coequal".
Does the Bible confirm their beliefs or does it teach the orthodox Christian concept that Christ is God? This is an extremely important question. Consider the following points:


The Christ of the New Testament is the Jehovah of the Old Testament.

Isaiah wrote about seeing Jehovah in Isaiah 6:1-10.

In John 12:31-42, we are told that Isaiah saw Jesus' glory and spoke of Him

In Exodus 34:14 we are to worship no one but Jehovah.

In Hebrews 1:6 the angels worship Christ.

In Isaiah 44:6 Jehovah is called the first and the last (confirmed in Revelation 1:8),

but in Revelation 22:13 Christ is the first and the last.

These verses demonstrate that the name "Jehovah" is used for both God the Father and of God the Son. Although they are distinct persons they are each called "Jehovah" because they each possess deity.

The deity of Christ is taught in Scripture.
In Matthew 1:23, Christ is called "Immanuel," which means "God with us."
When Thomas touched Jesus' wounds, after the resurrection, he exclaimed, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). There is no basis whatsoever for saying, as some JW's say, that Thomas was referring to Christ when he said "my Lord" but was referring to God (Jehovah) when he said "my God." Instead, Thomas called Christ both his Lord and his God. And Christ did not correct him! Colossians 2:9 clearly confirms the deity of Christ when it states that in Him "all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily" (New World Translation). Stephen called Jesus "Lord" (Acts 7:59,60), and we are to confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9; I Cor. 12:3). "Lord" in these verses is Kurios, which is the Greek word for Jehovah in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament. It is evident from this that Christ the Lord (kurios) is Jehovah God.

Attributes of Christ show that He is God.
Jesus Christ knows all things (John 1:48; 2:25; 6:64; 14:30; 21:17). He is all-powerful (Matt. 28:18; Heb. 1:3), sinless (John 8:46), eternal (Mic. 5:2), and unchanging (Heb. 13:8). Since only God possesses these attributes, Christ must be God.

Certain works of Christ show that He is God.
Jesus Christ has the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-7; Eph. 1:7), give eternal life (John 10:28; 17:2), judge the world (John 5:22, 27), and control nature (Matt. 8:26). Since only God can do these things, Christ must be God.

Christ received worship as God.
Jesus is worshipped by the angels (Heb. 1:6) and by man (Matt. 14:33), and yet only God is to be worshipped (Ex. 34:14). Christ Himself said that worship is due to God alone (Matt. 4:10), and yet He accepted worship. If Jesus in His pre-existent state were the archangel Michael, how could He have received worship, since angels are not allowed to receive worship (Rev. 19:10)? If Christ were not God, then worshipping Him would be idolatrous.

Jesus Christ is called "the mighty God" in Isaiah 9:6.
JW's have a ready answer for this verse. They explain that Christ is "the mighty god" but not "the almighty." They say that Christ is the mighty, never the almighty and that Jehovah is the almighty God, never the mighty. However, Jeremiah 32:18 shows that Jehovah is the mighty One. Therefore, since Christ is the mighty God (Isaiah 9:6) and Jehovah is the mighty God (Jer. 32:18), they are both God. They both possess full deity.

Christ is God, the Creator of all things according to Colossians 1:15-17.
JW's refer to this passage to support their teaching that Christ was created by Jehovah (for example, Let God Be True, p.35). This is based primarily on the words, "the firstborn of all creation," in verse 15. However, if this verse was teaching that Jesus Christ is the first created being made by God, the word "first-created" would have been used of Christ, not the word "firstborn." These are two different words in the Greek, with two different meanings. "First-created" is protoktistos, and "firstborn" is prototokos. Colossians 1:15 does not use the protoktistos, "first-created." Instead it uses prototokos, which means an heir, a begotten one, the first in rank. The teaching of Colossians 1:15 is that Christ is first in rank above all creation; He is the Heir of all things. He is prior to all creation and superior over it.
The JW's New World Translation adds the word "other" four times in Colossians 1:15-17, so that the passage states that Christ created "all other things," everything except Himself. However, there is no basis for adding "other." It certainly does not occur in the Greek manuscripts. The translators of the New World Translation admit this by putting "other" in brackets. This "translation" attempts to comply with the assumption that firstborn means first-created. But, as shown, this is not the meaning of firstborn, and therefore it is also wrong to add the word "other." There is no verse in the entire Bible that states that Christ was created by Jehovah!


Christ claimed to be equal with God in John 10:30.
JW's believe that this verse, "I and the Father are one," means that Christ was one with God the Father in purpose and not in nature and essence. However, if that was all Christ was saying, why did the Jews want to stone Him? They themselves thought His purpose was the same as God's. Verse 33 of John 10 explains that they wanted to stone Him because of blasphemy, because He claimed to be God!

The deity of Christ is the central point of the Scriptures. It clearly teaches that Christ is God. The teachings of the Jehovah's Witness' concerning Jesus Christ clearly contradict the teachings of the Bible. Passages such as Philippians 2:5-11 tell us that Jesus Christ, who existed as God, took the bodily form of a humble servant so that He could die on the cross in our place. "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (kurios), to the glory of God the Father."

Answer 10

Good for you Butch. At least give people a chance to say what they believe. We need more on his site like you.