I just got the impression that this was so from a JW. If this is true, then why do they work so hard at 9 am on a Saturday morning, trying to convince people who have better things to do to believe in their god? Why do they even feel a need to follow a god?
2007-04-05 07:42:22 · 12 answers · asked by doubt_is_freedom 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I asked for an answer not a JW website. I won't be converting to your faith (or any sort of faith), but I find it interesting that your beliefs are so different from standard Christianity.
2007-04-05 08:24:17 · update #1
If you mean by "hell" is the fiery furnace where God will punish all wicked for eternity, then NO, we don't believe in that kind of hell. GEHENA (where fire is mentioned) found in the Bible is just a symbolic place where it means no hope for resurrection. and not a literal eternal torment. This is truly mistaken my many to be a literal place! We do believe that their is a resurrection of the dead but only Jehovah can judge who gets resurrected. Why do we keep preaching? Because Jesus said so in the Bible (Matthew 24:14) He said to continue to preach.... and we do continue because our love for God, Jehovah and his Son, Jesus. Because the love for people. I mean, who would really sacrifice their time to go preaching even when they get insulted at the door? Only JWs because we want to give out the warning...it is up to you to heed that warning... or not.
2007-04-05 11:55:00 · answer #1 · answered by Agape 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We go door to door to share the "good news of the kingdom" as Jesus commanded at Matt. 24:14
This good news is that God's purpose for mankind has not changed, he still wants man to live forever on the earth, just as he planned for Adam and Eve. It is his Kingdom that will make this possible, with his now reigning king Christ Jesus.
When Jesus was on the earth he gave us a foregleam of what he would do on a much grander scale under this kingdom. He cured the sick, he resurrected the dead, he provided food etc.. That is why he told us to prayer at Matt 6: 9 & 10 for "Your Kingdom to come and your will to be on earth as it is in heaven.."
Here are some scriptures you can look up in your bible about this Kingdom's hope for the earth: Ecc 1:4; Is 11:6-9; Is 35: 5-7; Is 33:24; Is 55:11; Is 65: 21-25; Is 45:18; Ps 72: 16; Ps 104:5; Ps 37: 10 & 11 & 29; Rev. 11: 18; Rev. 21: 3 & 4; Dan 2:44;
We believe that Hell is the common grave on mankind. As Ecc. 9: 5, 6 & 10 brings out that "...the dead are conscious of nothing..." So when you die you are dead awaiting the resurrection as brought out at John 5: 28 & 29 " Do not marvel at this, the hour is coming when all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out..."
We worship Jehovah because we love him. Any life we get whether we get the chance to be among the great crowd who never have to die as Rev. 7: 9 & 14 brings out, or if we do die and are resurrected, this is a gift from Jehovah. He has told us what he wants from us to be worthy of this gift, but it is still a gift that none of us deserves. Ro. 6: 23
2007-04-05 09:46:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did Jesus prepare that there could be a resurrection? sure. He mentions it lower back and lower back. John 5:28, 29; John 6:40; John 6:40 4. The apostle Paul taught this as properly at Acts 24:15. He replaced into even being judged by the Sadducees over his desire of the resurrection. Acts 23:6-8. Even human beings in hell get resurrected. Revelation 20:13. So the doctrine of the resurrection is firmly widespread in scripture, sure? Now if we 'return and forth to heaven or to hell' as quickly as we die, what want is there of a resurrection? Resurrection is, it appears that evidently, for lifeless human beings, stunning? So if some thing survives demise and is going to heaven, resurrection makes no sense, is it no longer? considering the fact that resurrection is what overcomes demise, then as quickly as we are lifeless, we are unsleeping of truthfully no longer something, only as Ecclesiastes says, stunning? So there is not any contradiction, is there? Hannah J Paul
2016-10-21 02:55:41 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man, I typed a long explanation and when I clicked "Preview" the browser closed.
No 2 belief in Hell
Yes 2 the possibility of living again.
Just b/c there's no Hell doesn't mean that God won't destroy the wicked (which is recorded several places in the Bible). Does a lack of a place of eternal torment make it okay to ignore God's standards and live any kind of way? He still wants us to serve him and will destroy the wicked whether they care or not.
We go door 2 door in order to inform our neighbors of what the Bible says regarding the coming Kingdom and Armageddon.
Jesus commissioned all of his followers to do this, so actually, the question is:
"Why are JWs the only people (save 4 the occasional LDS when they get tired of riding their bikes) the only 1s knocking on your door @ 9am?"
2007-04-05 07:47:03 · answer #4 · answered by DwayneWayne 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Love should motivate your desire to live, not fear. The "god" that torments people with unwanted eternal life in hell is not my God.
Hell is a debatable term. It is often translated from sheol or hades meaning grave. This is the first death and is called a sleep because although there is no conciousness, God can still resurrect the dead soul. Sometimes hell is from the word gehenna which is a junkyard symbolizing a second death where the soul dies (ceases existing).
2007-04-05 07:49:07 · answer #5 · answered by Cyber 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We do believe in eternal life as described in the Bible.
Many people misunderstand what the bible teaches; many people also misunderstand our beliefs. Below are some links that deal specifically with your question, followed by a couple of other links that deal with beliefs in general.
Please read these, looking up the Scriptures in your own copy of the Bible.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: -- As others have said, the answers are in the links to the articles, which in turn point you to your Bible. I wasn't trying to convert you, but to simply answer your question.
I find it interesting that the beliefs of "standard Christianity" are so different from what is taught in the Bible.
2007-04-05 07:46:47 · answer #6 · answered by Abdijah 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
HELL is the common grave of men. (the cemetary; six feet under). Afterlife? no they do not believe in that . They do believe in the resurrection of the dead to live an eternal life on a restored Paradise earth. So, why do they keep knocking on our doors? sacrificing their time to preach? Because they want us to know the will of God for people. No such thing as eternal torment (God is LOVE- torment is NOT LOVE so that teaching or belief is not from God). Afterlife? as what? a dog? a fly? a plant? --- No, there is no such thing. They have the need to follow God because they love God and they love people. At church, the pastor keeps emphasizing "hell as eternal torment." You know, that just discourages me. Why would i worship a god who will allow his creations to life of torment? Isn't "death" enough to pay off any sins? what is the need of eternal torment? but JW believe other wise. NO HELL. NO AFTERLIFE!
2007-04-05 08:02:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
You know... You asked this question and he gave you some wonderful links that answer YOUR question.... You should look at them if you are interested in the answer...... They are GREAT articles that do NOT try to get you to change your religion as you would call it... It explains it according to the Bible... You want to know the truth, right? From the Bible right? Not just from Man, then look at the links, look at the scriptures in YOUR own copy of the Bible and see for yourself. Do the research, he gave you the links the answers are there and if YOU should believe in hell or the afterlife. Its not about what we believe, its about whats in the Bible.
Take care!
2007-04-05 08:33:52 · answer #8 · answered by Learn about the one true God 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Our website is full of Bible-based information.
I challenge you to find anything on it that isn't BIBLE-based.
There is More than one kind of fear:
The kind the Bible actually teaches us to have is:
"a profound emotion inspired by a deity" : The fear of God
"regard with feelings of respect and reverence;
consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe"
The kind that is encouraged by beliefs like hellfire is:
"to be afraid or scared of; be frightened of, or, feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event"
Why Study the Bible...?
-- The Key to A Meaningful Life
>- What the Fear of God Means <
>- Fear and Love Work Together <
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2001/7/1/article_02.htm
How can anyone believe that a father who abuses his children --24/7, every day of every week,of every month of every year of every decade of every century-- could at one & the same time be a loving father?
What Has Happened to Hellfire?
- What Really Is Hell? [cessation of life, except in God's memory]
- - Life After Death?
- - Unending Torment or Common Grave? = Love? of What?
- - Hellfire--All-Consuming?
- - Hell Will be Emptied!
http://watchtower.org/e/20020715/article_01.htm
For a person who has died to experience life again requires resurrection. We do not believe in the transubstantiation of life --from physical to spirit-- because the Bible says:
"The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages..." --Ecclesiastes 9:5
"God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man CAME TO BE a living soul." --Genesis 2:7
"The first man Adam BECAME a living soul." --1 Corintians15:45
Ezekiel 18:4 says:
"The soul who sins will die." (NASV, WEB)
"The soul that sinneth, the same shall die." (Douay-Rheims)
"The soul that is sinning--it itself will die." (NWT)
2007-04-05 08:55:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
its interesting to note that satan decieved Eve by lying to her and telling her she would not die, now all the religions in the world (except JWs) teach that after your body dies that you go on living in some other realm... that you do not die...
this refusal to believe satans lie is one of the many things that make JWs different from all other belief systems
2007-04-05 09:20:51 · answer #10 · answered by seeker 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋