What do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?

Seriously, I say if you find something to believe in and it makes you happy, I'm all for it. If it's following all the different Jehovah witness beliefs, great! If it helps make you a better person and to live a better life, it's all OK in my book!

They've altered their Armageddon prediction. While Federick Franz led the sect, the belief was that Armageddon would happen while the generation from 1914 was still alive. As that generation started dying off, that became less and less likely. After Milton Henschel took the lead in 1993, the philosophy changed, stating that it will happen soon, but it isn't tied to a particular generation or date.

I also find it interesting that the sect did its own translation of the Bible to make it fit with their beliefs, but I suppose all religions interpret the Bible or other religious texts in ways that suit their overarching principles or goals.

Yes, and they also predicted Armageddon would come in 1975. When it didn't happen, the sect's leader, who was Federick Franz at the time, came up with an explanation. He said the 1975 date was based on the belief that humans were put on Earth for just 6,000 years. 1975 was an estimated 6,000 years after Adam's creation, which they believe was in 4026 BC. Franz explained that Armageddon would actually come 6,000 years after Eve's creation, and they weren't exactly sure when that happened, so everyone would just have to wait.

One of the intersting things I find in Jehovah's Witness history is the number of failed predictions they've made - though can't you find failed predictions in most all religions?

It started with Russell - the guy who started Jehovah Witnesses - predicting Jesus would return to Earth in 1914. When that didn't happen, he changed the teaching to claim that Jesus had already returned, but remained invisible. His presence would only become known after a battle between God and Satan, a battle the Jehovah's Witnesses call Armageddon.

Rutherford later predicted that the prophets, Isaac, Abraham and Jacob would return to Earth in 1925, and he built them a mansion (which he lived in). He also bought a car so he could drive them around. The Watch Tower Society ended up selling the mansion after Rutherford's death.

The Jehovah's Witness sect was started by a man named Charles Taze Russell who was on a spiritual search after withdrawing from the Adventist movement. He adopted the title of pastor and started the Watch Tower in 1879. The Watch Tower later developed into the teaching branch of the Jehovah's Witnesses called the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

The sect later was renamed by Russel's successor, Joseph Rutherford, who changed the name to the Jehovah's Witnesses based on a passage from Isaiah, "'You are my witnesses,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘even my servant whom I have chosen...'" Rutherford was the one who started the door-to-door calling as well. He sent missionaries out with recordings of his sermons to play for anyone who'd let them in the door.

You guys for being "christians" are very judgemental. My friend is a Witness and though I disagree with many of their views, they are definitely not a cult, and Mormons definitely are not either! In fact LDS believe in very much the same things catholics do. There are some differences but they also believe in the Trinity, and I say this because I know the beliefs of JW from my friend, and I'm looking into the LDS church so I know their beliefs.

I can understand why people think JW is cultish, but LDS definitely is not! you say that because it's a newer faith! But they don't condemn other faiths to hell and the Bible backs up everything that I have been taught so far, everything, and actually there are many things catholics do (as i am one I know) that the Bible tells you not to do, but trust me mormons are not a cult, and I don't think JW are, though I think many of their beliefs are wrong.

Jehovah's witnesses are indeed a cult. I'm a Christian. They once told me that their "religion" believed everyone went to "paradise" and only 400,000 went to heaven. Well one problem is that paradise is heaven. Then they said that every non believer is destroyed. Then they said," Oh you go to the Abyss." what's the abyss. an abyss is the bottom of the ocean.

Well, if there's no hell, what's the abyss. "oh, just a dark flame place where Jehovah sends satan and non believers for 1,000 years." they said. Then they say, "They're destroyed in Armageddon." They don't believe in Jesus. So how can they believe Armageddon. The bible always says that you shall believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons, the father, son and Holy Ghost They use Armageddon to scare you into buying their books. They're cults, just like the Mormons,and so on.

I've never been to their Kingdom Hall. Her daughter dragged me over there all the time. I liked them until they told me crazy stuff. That's all i have to say. Bless the Lord. Amen!

job celebrated birthdays in ch.1:4-5. everyone celebrated their birthday.tell her to compare their bible with god's. jw changed john1:1, genisis1:1-2, 2.Zech. 12:10, colossians Ch.1:15-17; hebrews1:6-8;(Matt2:2,11;14:33;28:9). Show your sister this.

yes you can celebrate holidays. tell her they are false prophets because they made false prophecies in they past. tell her the cross is christianity's symbol. tell her to play gospel music with all jw and see what happens. i did and she went crazy (my jw false teacher). tell her they are a cult and read the next paragraph from me.

if they listen to man they listen to satan antichrist. They don't believe the trinity the father, the son, the holy spirit. if a jw say the rapture is not biblical tell them neither is jesus being called Michael. go online and look up jehovah witness false religion. A cult!

No I don't tell your sister that the Jews celebrate Purim and that is not God's holiday but Jesus didn't change it when he came. he didn't tell them to not celebrate Purim says Esther Ch. 9:9-31 and tell her Job celebrated holidays in job ch.1:4-5. Tell her they don't have God's belief, only their own.

Tell her what will happen when she disobeys God and let he make up her own mind. Read Proverbs Ch.1-ch2 to her to let her know you cannot just believe in the word of God, you have to live by his words and obey him.

Tell her they are fake christians because satan has his own mind also. Tell her true christians have God's belief. Tell her hell does exist in Malachi Ch. 4v.1.

Let her know that Jesus name is not Michael, like Jw says says Luke Ch.2v.21. Let her know that is a lie and is false.

Let her know he is a Satanist. Read to her

2John 7-11. Jw don't believe Jesus is a human.

1John Ch.22-25 They don't believe Jesus is God.

They don't believe in Matt Ch.4:4. They promote hate so they can later kill christians. When they get the mark they will.

Let her know why they don't celebrate holidays like christmas bc JW don't believe he is a human and that he is God. Let her know Jesus shouldn't celebrate holidays. because he is god we are supposed to celebrate him coming to earth.

Let her know that Jw don't believe in a new heave and a new earth, and the Antichrist (Mark of the Beast 666) will rule this world and kill christians. Jw worship man's belief so who do you think they worship and if she joins them she will have the mark of the beast. So go save her and tell her they are all about recruitment.

Tell her God wants to be over man not an organization.

Tell her that Jw tell their members what they are not supposed to do in bed, as for sex. No tv, and a lot of stalking. Let her know the Pharisees stalked Jesus let her they are the same organization. They have the Jewish name and let her know Mormons have the same teachings. they are the same organization.

My sister has been raised a catholic her whole life and has raised her kids as such. now she has met a jehovah's witness and has suddenly turned. now her four kids are forced to not celebrate birthdays, christmas, easter or the fourth of july. just because of these stupid, beliefs. does anyone think this is fair to the kids? jews

People don’t like JW because they refuse Christian doctrine and falsely teach it as well.

Jw, if you don't believe in your salvation, then how the heck will you be on Paradise Earth without being forgiven for your sins? You have to believe and you jw do not so you are an apostate. Believers only get paradise not Satanists.

First of all, I said Hebrews 1:8 says Jesus is God and if you don't believe it the you are the Antichrist says 1 john Ch.1:22-25. If you JW claim that catholic religions are false then why do you read their Encyclopedia. Everyone in the catholic church do not have God’s belief at all. It does not surprise me that JW follow them by their founder was a Freemason (govt person) and a person who founded Catholic was also Freemason. That is why you guys have the same teachings. I was wondering how you guys get almost the same teachings.

Above all you JW listen to your organization and not to God. But God said only the faithful and discreet slaves believe in the second coming of christ and you guys call yourselves faithful and discreet, just to hide and protect your false religion. matt. Ch 24:37-47; 2 peter ch.3:10

You guys don't believe in that which means you are not faithful and discreet slaves. O.K. Jesus didn’t die on a torture stake; he died on a tree like paul said in the bible. You JW don't believe Jesus to be a human which means you are an Antichrist organization because he was a human says 2 John 7-11.

You jw refuses christian doctrine which means you are not christians. You are all about looks and status and not about what Jehovah says about his son, whom you guys killed 2000 years ago.

Yes people, jw have the teachings of the pharisees and scribes and so do the mormons. Sda and muslims all are government religions. If jw and mormons are not the same as the pharisees then why do they have the same teachings and why do they call themselves a jewish name? Common sense people. use your head.

They all use mind control. Brainwashing is this: you try to leave and they put fear and guilt on you, they accuse you of doing a lot of things, they stalk you (I have been stalked by jw until I wrecked my truck), they believe that you should dress perfect, they often change their teachings and they control their members after Jesus said he wants man to be free. Because jesus came for our freedom we are free. JW do not believe in freedom. That is why they stalk. God didn't tell adam and eve how to have sex at all. JW tell married people what they should and should not do in their bedroom. did god tell them to do that? no!

You cannot trust an organization that has their own belief, because it is not God's words you will obey. it will be man’s words.

God said his son Jesus was jesus in heaven and earth in luke chapter2:21. The jw said his name is Michael. that is a lie which is false, which means they are false teachers and false prophets. Because they have made false prophecies.

They are liars. Do not trust people who refuse christian doctrine and follow man, because they will kill Christians because they listen to man. if man say kill them, they would do it.

God said in the bible he does not want ordinances, which means he does not want man over man; he wants to be over man. hebrews ch.9:1-10

They go by perfection but God says you are saved by grace and when you have God's belief you are perfect. because believing God and obeying his words makes you have power.

For the person who asked the question on where does it say that some will go to heaven and the rest will live on earth: In the seventh chapter of Revelation it says how there were 12,000 sealed out of the 12 tribes of Judah or 144,000. These are all going to heaven. This 144,000 is a literal number. Also in John it says that there will be a resurrection of the righteous as well as the unrighteous, referring to the fact that there will be billions resurrected to perfect life on earth.

Also in revelation in the 21st chapter it says how there was a great crowd that no man was able to number that would fill the earth but there was a small remnant of 144,000 going to heaven, then God Jehovah said write because these words are faithful and true. Also, as regards to how we believe the world will end, we don't believe that the earth will be destroyed. We believe that the wicked will be destroyed and those judged righteous by God will survive.

In the bible it says that Jehovah desires none to be destroyed but all to repent so he is giving humans a chance to turn around and follow his commandments. Also, as regards the cross, yes the cross was used but then the light got brighter and it was removed. In the bible it says that idols should not be used in worship (ad idol being an image or an object used to pray to or worship God) and a cross would be one of the many forms of idols – one reason why we do not use them or support the use of them.

Also even the Catholic Dictionary showed that Jesus did not die on a cross, but a torture stake. When the hebrew word originally used in the bible is translated, it does not translate into cross, but rather pieces of wood put together to form a stake.

As regarding Christ being God, read your bible and you will clearly get the answer. When Jesus was baptized in the bible in the gospels, it showed that a dove came down and a voice from heaven said this is my son the beloved whom I have approved. If Jesus was God how could he be his own son? Also how could Jesus as God implant himself in Mary's womb, live a life up to adulthood and still be in heaven at the same time?

Also in the bible when Jesus' disciples asked him about when the end of the world would come, he said “I do not know. only the father who sent me knows.” if he was God, common sense dictates that he would know. But they are two separate beings. The holy spirit is separate, too. it is not God or Jesus, rather it is God's active force. All throughout the bible it shows how the holy spirit empowered Jesus and his disciples to do many things and at other points, it says that God helped them. Why the distinction if these things were one and the same?

Hell is not a place of fiery torment and the dead do not have a soul that survives death. In Ecclesiastes it says that the soul that is sinning, it itself will die and the living are conscious that they will die, but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all. When Jesus referred to Lazarus after he had died. he said he was sleeping. Death is like a deep sleep with no dreams. You are not out of your body; you are motionless and can't do anything.

As regards abortion, in the bible God says that if a mother was accidentally killed while pregnant, the offender was guilty of two deaths, showing that he valued the life of a fetus, so abortion is wrong. As regards holidays, Christmas is pagan. Jesus was not born on December 25th at all. In the bible it says that when Jesus was born the shepherds were outside in Bethlehem. Around late December it is very cold and snowy so how could they have been outside?

Also if Jesus died when he was 33 1/2 years old around March or April when the Passover is commemorated that would put us in October not December. December 25th is actually the birthday of a pagan God who was worshipped. To later lead pagans into Christianity the religious leaders back then attached Jesus onto it to make the Pagans like Christianity. You can look this up anywhere.

And the reason why we go from door to door is because in Matthew 24:14 Jesus said this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the nations and then the end will come and in the bible he also said to go from door to door, preaching the good news of the kingdom. That was a commandment which we follow as regards drinking. We can drink – not to the point of getting drunk -- but in moderation. Everything that we believe is found in the bible and completely supported by scripture in a clear and easily understood way.

I would like to say one thing: it's not about religion, it's about your relationship with God. Everyone gets so caught up in different belief systems they forget God. He's right there waiting to hear from you.

Pray. Ask God. He has all the answers. I promise if you're obedient, faithful and willing you'll get your answer and you'll know. God wants us to overcome confusion, lies, and so much more. He's loving, kind and just, so if we really want the unbiased plain God truth, just ask him. That's why he invented prayer. Just love people. Because God loves all of you no matter who you are.

In isaiah it says god wants a new heaven and new earth because he doesn't want to remember the past. Isaiah 65:16-17. if your organization loves Jehovah then they wouldn't say that this world will remain the same. this world hurts God a lot so he wants to start fresh in a New Earth and New Heaven.

i am so confused now about everything!!

Can someone, a Jehovah's Witness, preferably explain to me in what bible verse does it state that not everyone goes to heaven but we may live eternally on heaven? I've grown up believing what i was taught and I'm just beginning to discover the truth of the word for myself. if you could answer me that'd be awesome!

First of all, I'm going to shut down everyone. let me tell you something: the only way you serve god is by god's belief not your own. Got it. you are an antichrist organization. Jehovah our father said his son is god in hebrews 1 v.8. Now if you are serving jehovah shouldn't you believe him. All of you all who take up for your false religion killed jesus 2000 years ago.

look up teachings of the pharisees and scribes. they did not have god's belief, they worked on perfection, just like you all. Jehovah said in genesis ch 9v3-6 said you can have blood transfusions. But in your bible it says otherwise.

Because have your own belief, so of course you will change god's words when you have your own belief. God's belief sends you to paradise pm earth. Since when doesn't god not want you to obey his words. you cannot have the holy spirit without god's belief (believing god.) Not saying it but obeying his words. I'm not jw. i just studied!

i am j! all witnesses love jehovah! we are allowed to talk with non-jw for purposes, but we must do activities with them! i lost all my friends for my love to jah and i become more happy. please do not judge us because jw are wonderful people. i never celebrated holidays, not even my birthday, so i don't think anyone should make a big deal about it.

OK JW's I'm not judging anyone so please don't take offense but you say there is no holy trinity when there is. It says so in 1st John chapter 5 verses 5-7 so look it up in the bible --not your bible but in the King James Version of the Bible. Also you're not allowed to associate with people who aren't JV? that's ridiculous. you people judge us when there's only supposed to be one judge and that's God.

So I don't believe in your religion.

i don't want to offend others but i don't believe that jehovah's witnesses should talk bad about us catholics no matter what nonsense is being said about us. Stop it and leave us alone, please! that's all i ask. I'm just a teen.

I have personally been to the Kingdom Hall and have attended a couple of their reunions but I am a Catholic. What bothers me is that the times that I've attended they have always criticized other religions, especially Catholics. I don't think that is a very Christian thing to do, specially when you're preaching the word of God.

The bible doesn't teach you to shun people when they make mistakes or don't believe what you believe. The bible doesn't say that because you make a mistake you're exiled from the house of God. I thought that God loved everyone. I thought God was the only one who could judge us.

JW's are also humans and make mistakes and I don't think that they have a right to say who can or cannot be present at their place of worship.

I am a jehovah's witness and i am proud to be one and please learn about him because he is the way, the light and the word, and just understand that.

If the JW are correct about the grave being hell, then i think we should all become JWs because there is no suffering for wrong doing, no justice for the evil doers. i believe that God is loving and Just at the same time. Sending someone who was good to "hell" a.k.a. the grave, and someone like hitler is just stupid to think.

No matter what you call God: Jehovah, Allah, or God, he's all the same person. The problem is when you think something is God that is not. Like Jesus or Mohammad. The Quran says that you can call god anything that is not tainted. you can't call him an apple because we picture something when we say that.

You can't call him Jesus because you picture something when you say that. God is nothing like anything in the creating. Thinking he became a man, and die for you sins is ridiculous. The old testament is the Jews' book and they know that someone isn't going to die for their sins, just just waiting for the Messiah. that doesn't mean to die for your sins.

Jesus never ever said he was God. In fact he was dead against anyone even hinting to it. He says "Why do you call me good? No one is good except the Father" He says "I am going to my father and your father, to my God and your God."

Think people and read your book. That is all!

very, very, very, very little said here is true. There are a great many things that i would like to say, however i won't cast pearls among swine. If you people think that by outwardly showing your hatred for Jehovah's Witnesses you're doing God's will, just remember, Jesus Christ himself was hated by the people of the nations, and said that his true followers would be hated also, because a slave is not greater than his master!

Hell is the common grave. good and bad go to hell and wait on resurrection. --etvu

How are JW funerals observed? i would like to ask the same Q?

The janitor in our office is a Jehovah's Witness. I find it so ironic that he doesn't celebrate Christmas but always accepts the Christmas gift of cash we collect for him each year. Isn't this celebrating Christmas by accepting a gift given in the spirit of Christmas?

we don't judge, we tell people the truth, and the truth is jehovah's word (the bible).

Well I was never actually a JW before my dad passed away though he did go the Jehovah Witness church --I'm sorry I mean the Kingdom Hall. JW's get mad if you call it church. it's not church, it's the Kingdom Hall they say. but they are not nice people. they choose what they want to believe in from the bible and they are a cult.

I personally can't stand the JW's. They have no idea what they are talking about and they judge you the minute they look at you and they look down on you for being poor.

You sit there and think you have some kind of right to judge us but you aren't god and I don't believe that any human being has the right to judge another. You can lie and say that you don't be we both know that you do. the least you can do is be honest.

Jehovah Witness never stand up for sexual abuse! I got proof that they are greedy and that they are somewhat righteous in every way! I hate them because they showed me hell! I hate them all and they are so selfish at saying how the earth is going to be populated by them only!

Speaking your own opinion is not allowed! I know because I've been through hell with those kind of "nice" people!

I believe in the Life Force when somebody dies. It's an amazing thing for it to happen and of course, so hard to explain at a JW who is unable to think for themselves!

I hate it when people are hostile to Jehovah's Witnesses. I was a member from birth until I turned 17, when I left because I found the inaccuracies regarding prophetical dates and the covered-up falsities they had taught as facts.

That being said, they are generally nice people and preach to you because they believe in what they are doing. As a kid trying to preach door-to-door I encountered many hostile people, and that only serves to make you angry people look like idiots, so be civil and politely refuse them.

I now disregard just about all JW and fundamental protestant teachings. I have found a home in the Catholic church and get a headache arguing with evangelicals over "judgment day". By the way, "Allah" is simply the name given to God by the false prophet Muhammad.

If there is no hell or soul how does one explain the following Bible verses?

Mat 10:28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

-anon697

people, Jesus isn't god. Jehovah isn't god. okay you guys are mixing it all up. there is one and only true god who is Allah the almighty. If you don't believe me, then see the day of judgment then you're going to say I'm right. i believe jehovah and Jesus and Moses and all that stuff but they are messengers of god. jehovah is a false religion.

I was in the JW cult for 15 years while I was going through a troubled period of my life. Finally, I just could no longer continue to partake in the nonsense that is taught there. At this point, I am a completely happy agnostic. The funniest part is that when I left the cult, they all "shunned" me, as if I ever wanted anything to do with any of them anyway. It was pretty pompous and humorous actually.

i am shocked at what Jehovah's witnesses believe and don't believe in. maybe they got a different bible than the rest of the world?

for you JW'S. let me reiterate the facts.

Jesus is god.

You know that feeling you get when you feel the works of god working through your life? We call that the holy spirit.

there is a hell. believe it.

Jesus is not the archangel gabriel. he is god.

you JW's say that the bible has been corrupted and rewritten. You've got to be kidding me.

for you JW's out there: the holy bible is not a buffet where you can pick and choose what is real and what isn't.

i think its great you believe in a supreme being called Jehovah (as named in the hebrew texts). but you believe in it arrogantly, not righteously.

"There is probably no religious group that is more faithful than the Jehovah’s Witnesses at getting their message out. Unfortunately, the message is full of distortions, deceptions, and false doctrine. May God open the eyes of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to the truth of the gospel and the true teaching of God’s Word."

i've always been raised as a good christian. I'm against organized religion only because it causes so much flack between people's belief systems.

i have read a few well read posts below this (from non JW's). it seems to me that the JW's are more like children who are more interested in waiting for their turn to speak, rather than listening to the message. read proverbs.

and how can you not believe that christ is god? wouldn't that make you exactly like the pharisees in the bible?

i was shocked when i found out what JW's believe in and don't believe in. everything in the bible should not be treated literally. why would you think that? when almost every word out of Jesus' mouth was spoken in metaphor? prophecies that are written outside of the bible (mother Theresa) are written in metaphor because that's how they received the messages from "jehovah".

a) get your facts straight. read the bible. focus on Christ's message.

b) stop arguing with me at my doorstep.

c) if hell didn't exist i would be drinking like a fish and reverting back to my old life before i became a born again christian.

d) its OK to drink. christ drank wine. and "jehovah" says its OK in the bible too. just don't be ruled by alcohol.

i'm going to quote a previous post i read.

"If people celebrate holidays, Christmas for example, we should not have it thrown in our faces that we are celebrating a holiday that doesn't exist. It is our choice whether we want to celebrate it. If it bothers a JW, then maybe they should reconsider going to people's homes. "

it says in the bible that the word of god should be spread, hence the jehovah witness at our doorsteps. but i truly believe that when the student is ready the teacher will present himself.

i sought out God and the bible when my life was in ruins. and it changed my life. it led me to jesus christ, a person we could relate too, whose a lot more than just a representative of god.

my final words are these. religion is a faith. its not a door to door conversion quota. if someone seeks the lord (or "jehovah"), let them find you. otherwise use the internet or street side billboards. it's called marketing and advertising.

Can a JW go to a family member's funeral if the person who died is not a JW?

Almighty God, the Big Bang, Evolution, Reincarnation and Pendulum Dowsing are

related subjects. Jehovah Witnesses should share each others blood and allow their children to enjoy Xmas. - Jehovah Witnesses represent the ‘Family Unit’ and providing their rules are changed they will expand in number.

People that are in favor of sharing each others' blood and celebrating Christmas should consider forming a group that would lead the way for Jehovah Witnesses to increase in number and become an example for the rest of the world to follow. By showing care and consideration for others.

If you read their magazines or went to where they worship, you would know that most of what JWs teach is how to show love to each other and their neighbor. That's why they bother to get up early in the morning to spread the same message that Jesus and his disciples did.

Their character is that of someone who cares enough to help those who want to, learn the 'good news of God's Kingdom.' Whether you agree with them or not, they have enough character to do that. They can't convert you. You make the choice as to what you do, or who or what you put your faith in.

As far as I can tell, they just help you learn what God wants according to the bible.

Most of you quoting what you believe your bible says or means are in the dark because it keeps Satan happy and in control. So much research is required to truly know what was originally written. You have to study and pray, and study more. You should use many versions of the bible, not just the King James.

Many bibles have God's personal name in them. Look online. Look up Exodus 3:15 where God first told Moses what His personal name was. The Darby Translation, the American Standard Version, Young's Literal Translation, even the King James 1621 Version (which is very hard to find,) all had God's name as Jehovah. Most older versions/translations have that because it was there as YHWH and later replaced with LORD or Adoni'. If you search the Tetragrammaton(YHWH), or the name Jehovah, you will find that it was in the earliest writings that are found, over 6,800 times but was taken out due to Jewish superstition and later tradition.

Trust that Satan does not want us to know God's name or the truth, because it exposes him and the lying rebel that he is.

As example, Jesus died and was resurrected, and told his followers that he would also resurrect them (John 5:28,29; Acts 17:31; 1 Cor. 15:12,22), but people still think that they are going to heaven or hell when they die. It's the first lie that Satan told when he seduced Eve into disobeying God, "You surely will not die!" (Gen 3:4 NASB)

Satan rules this world (John 14:30;1 John 5:19;Rev 12:9) and he controls what most men believe. He lies to us the same way he lied to our forefathers and brought sin and death into this world. Don't be foolish enough to think that he can't do the same to you. Study and know what it is that God, the creator of the universe and of you and me, wants you to know and do.

The first place to look is at the one who he sent to show us the way: His son and our savior, Jesus Christ.

If we do what he did we can not go wrong. Make sure you know what that is. Read what he did and do that.

Someone posted something about the parable of Lazarus and the rich man "proving" that this means there's a hell.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that parable was not meant to be literal. It was actually a teaching that Jesus wanted to give the Pharisees to show them how the love of money would be their downfall.

For the record, I am not a Jehovah's Witness. I used to be a Pentecostal, but my own study of scriptures is in conflict with both those sects now.

Well, I find it surprising that JW rarely talk about how to be better, more considerate people. Why so much focus on what the bible says or not says, when everyone interprets words very differently?

I am a Catholic and have been since i was born. Whenever I go to church I feel this sense of warmth, i feel humble, and i feel loved. No one here talks about what the heart feels.

We focus on being good christians, meaning feeling with the heart, and truly putting them to practice. I always think people say or do things that can contradict what they feel inside. I do have self discipline, but I always meet JWs who preach so much, and their character is just so the opposite.

I am glad and happy I do not agree to many of their "rules." People believe in what's convenient for them. Period.

I can't stand it when people try to justify their drinking. I never could see how being a Christian and drinking can mix- it just does not work.

To anon58191 re. question about hell.

The article says Jehovah's Witnesses believe that "Those judged unrighteous will cease to exist", which apparently means they don't believe in hell, contrary to what scripture says. Hell is real, avoid it at all costs.

Jesus spoke to us about hell in a parable in Luke 16:19-31.

Jesus said "search the scriptures". It is there that you will find the truth that sets you free.

-anon 177743

To anon53242 who commented about abortion, saying "children....or as a fetus....it's saying that they are worth nothing at all".

You conclude erroneously; beware of adding words that are not in the text.

Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Life begins at conception. -anon 177743

I am considering studying with JW but I am not to sure with what they believe in about Hell because it talks about Hell in other words in the Bible (It Is Written). Can someone help me with that?

Why do the Jehovah's Witnesses have to go door to door to preach their beliefs? Why is it that a Catholic or a Protestant do not come to homes nor do they approach you on the street handing out their papers?

If a person wants to understand about this religion, can we not go to a kingdom hall to see if that is what we want, or do research online if that interests us? As for the comments about celebrating holidays, I am thankful everyday for what God has done for me.

If people celebrate holidays, Christmas for example, we should not have it thrown in our faces that we are celebrating a holiday that doesn't exist. It is our choice whether we want to celebrate it. If it bothers a JW, then maybe they should reconsider going to people's homes.

Becoming a witness later in life, gave me the regret of my life that i was not one from the beginning. I would have avoided many, many problems.

The trinity is a fallacy. If Jehovah and Jesus were one, then who was Jesus praying to while on earth? Himself? Now let's not forget the holy spirit. Why did not Jesus ever ask the holy spirit to take away his trial, or to comfort him? Also, Jesus never told us to pray to anyone besides Jehovah. He gave a model of a prayer. Beginning at Matthew 6:7, Jesus said, "But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words." Verse 9 says, "You must pray, then, this way: "'Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.'""

The article says JW's consider abortion a sin. Is that true? Because according to Leviticus 17:6, "A boy one month the five years old shall have paid for him two and a half dollars; a girl, one and a half dollars."

It has no mention of children under the age of one month or as a fetus, so in turn, it's saying that they are worth nothing at all. So why then is it a problem to have an abortion if they aren't worth anything?

i have been reading about tradition of weddings and funerals. cremations traditionally were used to kill off the evil spirit in the deceased, and flowers were put on the grave as an offering intended to gain favor with spirit of the dead.

Brides wore veils to ward off evil spirits while entering a union with their husbands, and also carried flowers for similar reasons, to name but a few.

What do JW do with the ashes? The reason I am asking is because my brother and sister are witnesses and they destroyed my mother's ashes without telling the family.

i believe that you are all full of it because I know JWs and they seem to know more of god and the bible than any other religion so i think you should all go to the kingdom hall and check it out for yourselves

Jesus said "you must be born again". John 3:3

WOW!!! Praise the Lord for this servant of Him! What an answer!

Posted by: anon6281

"#1. If one is to proclaim to have "true" grace, one does not attack others for having a different belief. Preaching the truth of the Bible without grace is just brutality. The Christian's job is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ (the Good News about Christ) in a gentle and respectful way.

#2. Not only did Jesus turn water into wine, but the apostle Paul actually advised Peter (I think, it could've been Timothy, can't remember exactly off the top of my head) to drink a bit of wine to "settle his stomach." The principal there being that drinking is OK in moderation and when used for medicinal purposes.

#3. The word "trinity" is never actually found in the Bible, but that does not mean the Bible does not teach us about it. The word God used in the Bible is actually "Godhead." The Bible is filled with God telling us that the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit are one. The word "Trinity" is in my humble opinion, just one of two things. a) another word for "Godhead." or b) a word to simplify saying "Father, Son and the Holy Spirit." Either way, both are Biblically acceptable and do not conflict with what God teaches us in the Bible.

I would encourage anyone who is even remotely interested in or curious about God to seek Him out and ask God to give you the answers. Say a prayer when you have some private time, make it real, not religious. Just talk to God and sincerely ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Then, be patient, wait and watch.

Jesus said if we seek we shall find. He doesn't lie and He is 100% true. Jesus also said we should come to Him if we have burdens and are weary and He would give us rest; that He would teach and guide us and for us not to worry because His way is easy and His burdens for us are light.

It's not about religion. It's not about me. It's not about you. It's not about being perfect. It's about a relationship with Christ that will last an eternity. It's about a free gift of everlasting life that is yours for the taking, no strings attached. We are saved from judgment by what Jesus did for us. He paid the price. We get the gift. It's as simple as that. The rest of the journey is between you and God.

Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I'm just inviting you to open your heart to Jesus and let "Him" do the convincing. You really have nothing to lose. :)

Peace and God bless from a servant in Christ.

*Thank you for posting this*~!!!!

I want to second that we should pray about this, and let Him be the the clarity in our being. Pray that he show you the true meaning of the word, the true saints and the true body of Christ, because it is out there~!

well what im trying to find out is how do they believe the world will end?

There are 2 things that I can not understand about JWs and maybe you can help me understand.

1. The origin of the translation of Jehovah.

I understand its from the Hebrew tetragrammaton which is the letters YHWH, most often pronounced Yahweh, but how does it become Jehovah. I read a WatchTower called the Divine Name. After all the discussing on why we should call god jehovah it ended with no one really knows Gods name. Isn't that blasphemy? and if so then the whole religion is blasphemy.

2. Jesus's crucifixion to this day is represented by a cross but yet Jehovah witnesses say Jesus died on a torture stake. The early doctrine when Charles Russell first began publications showed Jesus on a cross. My answer was it changed because of a new light and crosses do not represent Jesus dying for our sins.

If you look up cremation on the computer, you find it is thought to be of Pagan Origin.. Why are you so against some things Pagan but not all things Pagan.. ????

Most ancient men Abraham Issac Jacob were buried not cremated.. What say you???

Jehovah's Witnesses pray only to Jehovah God in the name of Jesus. They are able to pray directly to God Jehovah due to the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

at matthew 26.39 it says: going a little farther he (jesus christ) fell on his face and prayed:" my father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as i will, but as thou wilt.(if the father and the son were not distinct individuals such a prayer would have been meaningless. Jesus would have been praying to himself, and his will would of necessity have been the father's will.

#1. If one is to proclaim to have "true" grace, one does not attack others for having a different belief. Preaching the truth of the Bible without grace is just brutality. The Christian's job is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ (the Good News about Christ) in a gentle and respectful way.

#2. Not only did Jesus turn water into wine, but the apostle Paul actually advised Peter ( I think, it could've been Timothy, can't remember exactly off the top of my head) to drink a bit of wine to "settle his stomach." The principal there being that drinking is OK in moderation and when used for medicinal purposes.

#3. The word "trinity" is never actually found in the Bible, but that does not mean the Bible does not teach us about it. The word God used in the Bible is actually "Godhead." The Bible is filled with God telling us that the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit are one. The word "Trinity" is in my humble opinion, just one of two things. a) another word for "Godhead." or b) a word to simplify saying "Father, Son and the Holy Spirit." Either way, both are Biblically acceptable and do not conflict with what God teaches us in the Bible.

I would encourage anyone who is even remotely interested in or curious about God to seek Him out and ask God to give you the answers. Say a prayer when you have some private time, make it real, not religious. Just talk to God and sincerely ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Then, be patient, wait and watch.

Jesus said if we seek we shall find. He doesn't lie and He is 100% true. Jesus also said we should come to Him if we have burdens and are weary and He would give us rest; that He would teach and guide us and for us not to worry because His way is easy and His burdens for us are light.

It's not about religion. It's not about me. It's not about you. It's not about being perfect. It's about a relationship with Christ that will last an eternity. It's about a free gift of everlasting life that is yours for the taking, no strings attached. We are saved from judgment by what Jesus did for us. He paid the price. We get the gift. It's as simple as that. The rest of the journey is between you and God.

Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I'm just inviting you to open your heart to Jesus and let "Him" to the convincing. You really have nothing to lose. :)

Peace and God bless from a servant in Christ.

Salvation is by GRACE! Not by works! Works for the expansion of Kingdom of God shall be motivated by the LOVE of the peoples for God's sovereignty! And it shall not be driven in the fear of not getting a place in heaven!

Why do you question the existence of TRINITY when the Bible stated very clearly GOD exists as GOD the FATHER, GOD THE SON & GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT?! Wake up Jehovah witnesses! Twisting the word of GOD and preaching false message is definitely a SIN!

Worst still, why do you call yourself a believer of JESUS when you guys questioned the existence of TRINITY?!

If you read the Bible it stated the dead know nothing and Jesus even says when Lazarus died he was just asleep. And God says the meek will inherit the earth, not we all go to heaven. And about the drinking thing Jesus turned water into wine. If it was wrong to drink, would he have done that? And what about crosses? Isn't that an idol? what does the Bible say about that? Everyone who celebrates Christmas is celebrating a pagan holiday. Look up the origin of Christmas. Its not about Jesus at all

How could you believe that Jesus already came in 1914? The Bible says that He will come like a thief at night and take those who believed and ACCEPTED Jesus Christ in their hearts. The Bible clearly says that Jesus is the son of GOD, it also states the divine trinity. For the love of everyone around you i think you should read the whole Bible without deletions in it and see that you too can go to heaven by accepting Jesus Christ in your heart and doing what He wants a personal relationship with him. Plus the Bible says to stay away from drinking... that alters your normal state of mind. The bible was not made for man's interpretation but rather to live a straight life before Him. The Bile says that not by works you will be saved. The bible is clear that once you die you are judged you either go to heaven or hell. We have a soul and i can say that He has helped me in life, i have felt peace that i could not find in religion only in His word of truth.

Is it appropriate to send flowers to a memorial service?

In answer to a question already posted: "How are J[ehovah's] W[itnesses'] funerals observed?"

Answer: Funerals or memorial services conducted by Jehovah's Witnesses are generally moderate in length, conservative in tone, and feature little ritual. Usually a lay minister will discuss highlights of the individual's life, often drawing particular attention to values, qualities or life experiences from which friends and family can draw practical lessons for their own lives. Jehovah's Witnesses prefer a modest approach and do not eulogize in the sense of offering extreme or prolonged praise. The service usually concludes with some discussion of what the person believed about death. As appropriate, this might include biblical references to their hope in a resurrection, the condition of the dead, or why God allows good people to suffer from illness or tragedy. Jehovah's Witnesses tend to be practical in their approach and use the sad occasion as impetus to personally reflect on the fragility of life and how they are using their own lives.

There may be other variations in line with local custom, the expressed wishes of the deceased, or family requests. This might range from limited use of religious music to personal comments from Jehovah's Witnesses that may have known the deceased. Sometimes, in Canada, a picture of the person is featured at the entrance along with a guest register. Congregants often gather for light refreshments following the service either using facilities at the house of worship, known as a Kingdom Hall, at the home of a relative, or in another location.

Like the service itself, where interment follows the service, the minister does not have any specific ritual at the graveside. He may make very brief comments, usually reading one or two Bible verses and offering a prayer, before allowing the family a few minutes of private reflection.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not have any religious objection to cremation. They have no specific religious requirements with regard to burial. They do not ascribe religious significance to the color of flowers or clothing. Since Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the persistence of an immortal soul, they do not speak directly to the dead either at the graveside or at the open casket. Jehovah's Witnesses do not shave their heads in mourning in lands where that is culturally popular.

The Kingdom Hall is usually surprisingly comfortable for persons who have never been there before. There are no iconic religious symbols such as crosses that might make non-Christians uncomfortable. Jehovah's Witnesses never have collections during any service. Since most regularly scheduled services are in the form of Bible lectures or classroom-style discussions, in the West, the room is usually well lit, the seating is fairly comfortable, and the decor is not unlike a comparable meeting space offered for business meetings in a hotel. Elsewhere, such as the Third World, the standard will be neat, tidy, and in line with community expectations for a well-maintained, modest place of religious education typical of that country.

Jehovah's Witnesses usually dress for services in a business-like manner. Gentlemen typically wear business suits. Women typically wear dresses or suites with skirts. Guests, however, will not feel uncomfortable or unwelcome however they choose to dress. There is no clergy/laity divide and so members often address each other with the term “brother” or “sister”. A visitor, however, need not feel pressed to use the convention.

Aside from the possible use of a hymn at which point the audience may be explicitly asked to stand, a visitor need not worry about any other ritual. Visitors will find themselves particularly comfortable if they bring their own copy of the the Bible but even this is not necessary. Services usually end in a conservative but heartfelt prayer to their heavenly Father, God.

I've been a jehovah witnesses for 18 years now and most of the things a said here are true but... we CAN DRINK just as long as we don't get drunk or buzzed and we never vote or celebrate thanksgiving at all. We don't celebrate thanksgiving because we feel that we should be thankful everyday for what god has gave us and not just one day out of the year.

How are JW funerals observed?