Understanding the Knock at Your Door
ORIGIN:
Founded 1879 by Charles Tate Russell (1852-1916) and originally known as the Russellites. Russell broke away from his own church after disagreeing with some of its core doctrine. Russell ardently preached the end of the world, and predicted it to happen in 1914. Further dates were subsequently set, like 1925 and 1975. J.F. Rutherford, who was a legal advisor to JW, succeeded Russell. Russell and Rutherford are still recognized as the fathers of JW.
MAIN MANUSCRIPTS:
The Jehovah's Witnesses use their own version of The Bible, known as ‘The New World Translation’ (NWT) which was first printed in 1961 which was translated by unknown “scholars.” The New World Translation has some key alterations to the original text (for instance, Jesus is referred to as “a God” in John 1, rather than “God”), i.e. denying Christ’s deity. Russell wrote ‘Studies in Scripture’ which forms the underlying authority for JW’s theology. In addition, ‘The Watchtower’ magazine is used in conjunction with their Bible, and is used as a main source of teaching.
ERRONEOUS BELIEFS:
• JWs reject the Biblical concept of the trinity.
• JWs teach God (Jehovah) is eternal and omnipotent, but not omnipresent and that the Holy Spirit is the ‘active force of God’.
• JWs believe Jesus was created by Jehovah (Father God)
• JWs believe Jesus was created by God and called “the only begotten Son” because he was the “first born of all creation” and preceded other created things
• JWs believe Jesus is NOT God but “a god.”
• JWs believe that before Jesus was born of Mary, He pre-existed and was known as Archangel Michael.
• JWs deny Jesus’ “bodily resurrection,” but instead believe he was resurrected as a “glorious spirit creature”
• JWs believe Christ atoned for sin, but only partially. So, the original sin that brought death (via Adam and Eve) is taken away by Christ, but one can still be lost by being rebellious toward God or failing to strictly adhere to JW doctrine.
• JWs believe Jesus’ spirit temporarily took on different forms at such times as He appeared to His disciples
• JWs believe Jesus currently exists in heaven, again known as Michael the Archangel
• JWs believe that forgiveness of present and future sins is earned by continuing to do the right and required works, which include: being baptized, doing active door-to-door witnessing (for which monthly reports have to be submitted), repentance, as well as keeping a variety of ordinances such as to not display a cross, not give blood, abstain completely from things such as smoking, participating in raffles, saluting a flag, voting, celebrating birthdays, Christmas or Easter; and a host of other acts
• JWs deny the existence of Hell
• JWs believe that upon death we fall into a “soul sleep” from where the “righteous” will be resurrected; the remainder will be condemned by God and cease to exist altogether
• JWs believe only 144,000 “reborn souls” will enter heaven as members of the spiritual body of Christ and will reign with Him (which number they purport has
already been filled).
• JWs believe all remaining believers (the part in addition to the 144,000) will live in Paradise on earth which is established after Armageddon
• JWs do not celebrate holidays or birthdays
• JWs believe that God will destroy everyone who is not a Jehovah’s Witness
• JWs teach God (Jehovah) is eternal and omnipotent, but not omnipresent and that the Holy Spirit is the ‘active force of God’.
• JWs believe Jesus was created by Jehovah (Father God)
• JWs believe Jesus was created by God and called “the only begotten Son” because he was the “first born of all creation” and preceded other created things
• JWs believe Jesus is NOT God but “a god.”
• JWs believe that before Jesus was born of Mary, He pre-existed and was known as Archangel Michael.
• JWs deny Jesus’ “bodily resurrection,” but instead believe he was resurrected as a “glorious spirit creature”
• JWs believe Christ atoned for sin, but only partially. So, the original sin that brought death (via Adam and Eve) is taken away by Christ, but one can still be lost by being rebellious toward God or failing to strictly adhere to JW doctrine.
• JWs believe Jesus’ spirit temporarily took on different forms at such times as He appeared to His disciples
• JWs believe Jesus currently exists in heaven, again known as Michael the Archangel
• JWs believe that forgiveness of present and future sins is earned by continuing to do the right and required works, which include: being baptized, doing active door-to-door witnessing (for which monthly reports have to be submitted), repentance, as well as keeping a variety of ordinances such as to not display a cross, not give blood, abstain completely from things such as smoking, participating in raffles, saluting a flag, voting, celebrating birthdays, Christmas or Easter; and a host of other acts
• JWs deny the existence of Hell
• JWs believe that upon death we fall into a “soul sleep” from where the “righteous” will be resurrected; the remainder will be condemned by God and cease to exist altogether
• JWs believe only 144,000 “reborn souls” will enter heaven as members of the spiritual body of Christ and will reign with Him (which number they purport has
already been filled).
• JWs believe all remaining believers (the part in addition to the 144,000) will live in Paradise on earth which is established after Armageddon
• JWs do not celebrate holidays or birthdays
• JWs believe that God will destroy everyone who is not a Jehovah’s Witness
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