Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

We recieved a visit the other day from a few of them, and they handed us some literature, but it wasn't a lot of help in answering my questions about their faith. What do they believe happens when one of them dies, and what do they believe happens when one of us dies? How does one get to heaven? Is there a hell? Who was Jesus Christ?

I am not asking what your opinions are, because I happen to know what I believe, and can defend it, but I want to know what the JWs believe.

Answer 1

I'll give you the shorter version! :)

When any of us die, we are simply sleeping. That is the penalty of sin, non-existence.

There is no burning hellfire. That is a corruption of the truth. What is translated as "hell" was originally Sheol or Hades, the grave.

We believe that there will be 144,000 who go to heaven to reign as Kings and priests with Jesus. Those who have been faithful until death and who do not have the heavenly hope, will be resurrected to live on Earth forever in paradise. The ransom that Jesus paid allows us to have that resurrection hope.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he is now ruling in Heaven as King.

If you have any other questions you can go to www.watchtower.org or feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 2

I am providing a link to an brochure that explains who Jehovah's Witnesses are and what they believe. On the page "What do they believe" you will find a chart that provides the basic teachings as well as the scriptural texts to back up the belief.
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm

Here is also a link to an article that discusses some myths about death. It will help you understand what Jehovah's Witnesses believe regarding death. And it also provides a positive hope for the future.
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/6/1/article_02.htm

Also, the next time you see one of Jehovah's Witnesses you could ask them for the brochure called, "What Happens to Us When We Die" It gives a very thorough explanation of what the Bible says happens when we die.

Answer 3

Rather than cite scriptures, I will explain why we do. I could tell you anything and say it is from the Bible. I was watching CNN the other night that had some clergy talking who apparently have not opened a Bible in years except to shake it at their congregations during sermons. Jehovah has set down how he wants to be worshiped. The way that pleases Him. That is what we should believe. Example: You own a large corporation. You set goals and objectives. Those that meet the objectives make you very pleased. What happens to those who go their own way not even close to making one goal? Why should we expect Jehovah to be different? Sure He is a great boss, but do you not think He has goals for us? We are able to show you from your own Bible what our beliefs are based on. Write down your questions and ask Jehovah's Witnesses when they call. We will be HAPPY to answer them. Any of us will. Or you can go to www.watchtower.org that has a link to request someone call on you. Just remember, if someone says the Bible says the moon is made of green cheese, make them show you in your
Bible.

Answer 4

JW do not believe in hell or immortal soul (?) I'm not a jehovah's witness so i could be wrong. They believe in the resurrection. They do not believe in the Trinity but believe instead that Jesus is the son of Jehovah, God. They accept jesus as their Savior of course or else why would they celebrate his death on Passover night? But they also believe that faith without WORKS is dead. Accepting someone does not mean you have faith in that person. So, just because you accept Jesus as your Savior does not mean you are saved. You have to continue to show faith and acting upon that faith to be saved. That makes sense, right? For example, if i receive my degree in teaching....it does not mean that i am a teacher. For me to be a teacher, i need to continue to teach and practice teaching. Jesus died for us, yes but that death of Jesus is useless if we don't continue to practice what he taught us to do... love, preach, teach, endure, hold on to the faith... and the list goes on....

JW are the only religion i know who continues to love, preach, teach..... if we are all saved by just accepting Christ, then whats the point of goin to chruch? reading the Bible? I mean, we are saved already right? No WORK IS NEEDED.

Blondiebaptist.... think about that...........

Sorry, Brad K... i'm as interested as you are about these jehovah's witnesses but also in other religions which most of them have shallow reasons for their faith. so far, jehovah's witnesses make more sense..."so far..."

Answer 5

Just some of the things we believe: There is no eternal torment (hell) or a soul leaving your body when you die. Death is just a state of deep sleep and when and if Jehovah finds you worthy of resurrection, He will bring you back to life and live on a Paradise Earth. DEATH pays off our sins. No matter how evil you are as a person...once you die, you have paid off all your sins and Jehovah will cancel out all your debts to Him. God will never allow you to be punished eternally! Jesus is the Son of God, Jehovah (John 17:3; Colosians 1:15; Psalms 83:18) We go door to door (not to annoy anyone) but because we, as Christians were given this command by Jesus himself! (matthew 24:14) Jesus was treated the same way when he went door to door. He annoyed the Pharisees and the religious leaders so much they plotted to kill him! We get the same treatment even today as Jesus' followers. Yes, many were killed because of our faith. We believe that Armageddon is God's War and no man...no goverment will be able to stop it. Jehovah will use his Son, Jesus to destroy all wicked and bless those who are righteous and fought the fine fight of faith with everlasting life. Jesus said, "he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) With this said, obviously, we are not a cult or a sect. We are a true follower of Christ...therefore makes us the true Christians.

Answer 6

It is surprising that a Jehovah's Witness seemed unable to answer fundamental questions about the bible's teachings. Of course, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage their children and students to participate in the ministry as early as they feel comfortable. Obviously, some Witnesses are more experienced as ministers than others.

Jehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that God's Kingdom will soon replace all earthly governments. Jehovah the Father has anointed Jesus the Son to be the King of that Kingdom.
(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 limited 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. Eternal life on earth is not a 'lesser hope' than heaven, and any hope of salvation is a gift, rather than something any human can "earn".
(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

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_06.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/trueworship.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_07.htm

Answer 7

I'm not a JW, but I can tell you about what happens after anyone dies. If you're saved, that is you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, asked Him to forgive you of your sins, then you're saved and on your way to Heaven. If you reject Jesus,then when you or anyone dies, they go to Hell. Jesus is the Son of God, but God too, its called the Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, three in one. I know it sounds complicated, but its really not. Jesus has always been, always will be. He died on the cross for our sins, so that we can go to Heaven when we die.

To answer your question on Hell, there is a Hell. I don't know what the JW believe, only what I've read on here. My bad, I didn't read all your question--you said you know what you believe and can defend it. God Bless

Answer 8

I have found the non-Christian religions, such as Jehovah Witnesses, to be philosophically indefensible, being internally incoherent or undermining human reason and experience. To better understand Jehovah Witnesses, I suggest you review the following site:

http://www.carm.org/witnesses.htm
http://www.premier1.net/~raines/offshoot.html

The Watchtower quotes from old versions of the Catholic Encyclopedia to support their disbelief of the Trinity. But the Watchtower is misquoting the actual text from the 1912, and 1965 editions of the Encyclopedias.

See:
http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-Catholic.htm

The Watchtower’s version of the bible, New World Translation, alters biblical verses to match JW doctrines. For example, see John 1:1; John 17:3; Philippians 1:23; Colossians 1: 16; Hebrews 1:8 and compare it to any of the little green JW bibles.

Answer 9

They believe that a certain amount of people will go to heaven, and that number is found in Revelation.

Answer 10

they think you have to do a certain amount of good deeds to get into heaven like a ticket or something and that there are only a few places in heaven so to make sure you get in you have to do a **** load more good deeds than anyone else i say the best good deed to do is to not do any good deeds and leave the space in heaven for someone else.