footnote: Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the rapture?

Question

I kept reading it in here and so asked if this is true. I was told no it is no true we do not believe we are going to be raptured out.
Matthew 24;21 where it speaks of the great tribulation says if god didn't but it short no flesh would be saved alive, on account of the chosen ones it will be cut short.
so some people will be alive on this earth after the great tribulation. That is what they believe.
So unless I understood it wrong they do not believe they are going to meet the Lord in the air. They do however believe in a paradise earth and they will live forever on the earth.
NOw, am I wrong? Don't they all believe the same or do some believe in a rapture?

Answer 1

Regarding the resurrection of humans to heaven, Jehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that exactly 144,000 humans will join Christ Jesus as kings and priests to administer God's Kingdom (which will soon replace all earthly governments) after Armageddon.
(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
(Revelation 14:1) Lamb [Jesus] standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
(Revelation 20:6) they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him
(Luke 12:32) Have no fear, LITTLE FLOCK [with a heavenly hope], because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom [rulership alongside the Christ] [caps added]
(John 10:16) And I [Jesus] have OTHER SHEEP, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring [to be subjects of the kingdom] [caps added]

Over whom will they rule? Over those "other sheep", 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

Almighty Jehovah God selects those few who have the heavenly calling from among godfearing worshippers, including many who were never Jehovah's Witnesses. Today, each true worshipper "feels" his own hope and each person's hope remains unquestioned by his fellow Christians. Still 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

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

Answer 2

I think all the Christian religions believed in the rapture about the turn of the century. They knew based on studies of the bible that something was going to happen, just like we know from reading Rev., that something is going to happen. All the things mentioned in Matthew regarding the last days have happened, the only thing remaining is the fall of Babylon the Great and then "Oh Oh."

Shortly after the turn of the century, the big event turned out to be World War I. The next big war is going to be from the hand of God himself, Jehovah, YHWH, or whom ever you want to call him.

The word rapture is not found in the scriptures, it goes along side the trinity doctrine and hell fire. The apostles did speak of being caught away in clouds to meet the Lord, I Thess 4:13-17. This would be the remnant of the 144,000 still on earth at the great tribulation, they can't take their human bodies into heaven. The apostle says it's a secret that some may not fall asleep, but will be changed. I Cor 15:51.

The rest of the survivors from all the tribes and nations of the earth are shone standing before the throne and before the Lamb, described as those that come out of the great tribulation. Rev 7:9-14. The were here on the earth.

Answer 3

JW's have their own Bible translation, which contains a very unbiased translation of the greek and hebrew scriptures. The actual word are probably different than what you have quoted.

JW's believe that when jesus comes back to the earth there will be "Armageddon" which comes from the name of Middle Eastern hill called something like "harmagedon" where armies met to do battle (it's meant symbollically). After all of the fighting is over there will be a resurrection of all people, good and bad who are not currently alive. There will be 144,000 faithful servants appointed as "kings" to oversee the earth. The rest of the people on the earth will stay there and live in a 1000 year period without the influence of Satan. After 1000 years Satan will be allowed one more chance to sway people over to his side. At this point everyone human being would have had enough time to gain knowledge to make the decision between good and evil. Those choosing evil would face death and those who choose good will live forever.

There is no disagreement in what the "rapture" will be. All of the teachings are disseminated from their headquarters in New York. They are very diligent about conformity of beliefs.

If you have more questions you can go to Watchtower.org...

Answer 4

I can clear that up. No they do not believe in the rapture.
The lady who said they do not believe in Jesus coming to the earth is wrong. They believe he is our savior and he is going to rule the world. So we very much believe in Jesus Christ.
Now as to that scripture if the good were raptured out why would God have to cut short the time of the great tribulation.
But the bible says he is cutting that time short to protect his chosen people. That would not be necessary if they were raptured into heaven.
They do believe that they will live forever on the earth and Jesus will be king of God's kingdom that will rule the world.

Answer 5

Where is the rapture mentioned anywhere in the Bible?
I have heard of a loud clap in heaven that some will hear and some will not, but have not read anywhere myself about us floating up to the sky. If the Bible does state that Christians will defy gravity and float into the sky, but unless I read it myself I consider it a misinterpretation at worst, wishful thinking for believers at best.
Maybe I have missed the appropriate scripture, but I don't think the rapture is mentioned.
I find it hard to understand why he would give trials and tribulation to those without faith, and leave the actual body of Christ exempt from trial by fire.

Answer 6

The pop-theology "rapture" was not dreamed up until a couple hundred years ago. Among the primary "rules" of "exegesis" or the science of "Biblical interpretation" is a rule stating that no figurative passage can be PROPERLY interpreted in any manner which leads to conflict with a "clear language" passage of scripture.

This rule comes into play when we look at teaching about the "rapture" in light of 2Peter 3:7-12.

2Peter 3:7 BY GOD’S WORD THE HEAVENS AND EARTH OF TODAY ARE BEING RESERVED FOR FIRE. They are being kept for the day when God will judge. Then ungodly people will be destroyed.
8 Dear friends, here is one thing you must not forget. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years are like a day.
9 The Lord is not slow to keep his promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. He is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, he wants all people to turn away from their sins.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. THE HEAVENS WILL DISAPPEAR WITH A ROAR. FIRE WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING IN THEM. God will judge the earth and everything in it.
11 So everything will be destroyed. And what kind of people should you be? You should lead holy and godly lives.
12 Live like that as you look forward to the day of God. It will make the day come more quickly. ON THAT DAY FIRE WILL DESTROY THE HEAVENS. ITS HEAT WILL MELT EVERYTHING IN THEM.

Peter describes a "reversed creation." At God's word the universe will cease to exist just like it began so many years ago. Peter repeats the basic message three times, a very common element of Jewish teaching. He wanted everyone to understand that portion of his letter.

Answer 7

I had a rapture once. I had to go to the Doctor and he made me wear a truss.

Seriously, the concept of the Rapture is a relatively recent evangalistic creation. There is nothing written about the rapture until mid 1800s.

Answer 8

Most Christians do not believe in the rapture

Answer 9

They don't believe in the rapture. They believe that only a certain number (144,000) will go to heaven - and they are only jw's - no "unbelievers" are going to heaven. The rest of the jw's are going to live on earth.

Answer 10

There is alot of back and forth on this one, I don't like to say that I know just because I am a Christian,, I don't like to put words in God's mouth,, But read Revelation 3:10 this is why I like to believe we will be raptured.

read the book of Revelation