Understand a J.W.

[AmyTrivitt]

Mainly the threads are of Christians, atheists and one small and way out of context post on Pagans. I would like to get the thoughts and ideas on Jehovas Witness's.
For those who really do not know what they believe in here you go;
Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a single god, the same one that Jews, other Christians and Muslims believe in (God or Allah). They believe that God's name is Jehovah. Jehovah is the English translation of the Hebrew word "YHWH", which is known as the Tetragrammaton. They believe Jehovah is the most powerful being in existence and that he created the heavens and the Earth as written in Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" and in Psalms 83:18 "that people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth". They believe that Jehovah is God the Father, Jesus is God's son, and the Holy Spirit is God's power that he uses. They do not believe in the Trinity.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only a small number of people (144,000, called the "little flock" taken from Revelation chapters 7 and 14) will go to heaven to be kings and priests with Jesus Christ. They believe that after Armageddon (the final battle of Jehovah against his enemies), God will give the Earth to the rest of the people who did what God wanted (the "great crowd"). They believe that God will make the Earth a paradise for them, and also bring back to life those who died in the past into that paradise. They also think that only their religion is true, and that good people willing to listen to God will survive Armageddon. They believe that all other religions (Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, etc.) are false.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God made Adam and Eve, the first people, and put them in a paradise called Eden. They think that when Adam and Eve sinned, and God sent them away from Eden, and that people get sick and die because of that. They believe that the purpose of Jehovah sending his son Jesus Christ to die was to make a way for humans to get back the paradise that Adam and Eve lost and restore them to perfect health and life.

[Falconer02]

I was a JW growing up. Up until I was 15-16. If anyone has any questions, I'll gladly answer them to the best of my ability.

[amyrouse]

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a single god, the same one that Jews, other Christians and Muslims believe in (God or Allah). They believe that God's name is Jehovah. Jehovah is the English translation of the Hebrew word "YHWH", which is known as the Tetragrammaton. They believe Jehovah is the most powerful being in existence and that he created the heavens and the Earth as written in Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" and in Psalms 83:18 "that people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth". They believe that Jehovah is God the Father, Jesus is God's son, and the Holy Spirit is God's power that he uses. They do not believe in the Trinity.

The only thing I really have an issue with here is the statement of Jehovah being the English translation of the Tetragrammaton.  Its not.  YHVH is g-d's name, it means "I AM"...and the Tanakh written in Hebrew is traditionally written without vowels.  Only the rabbis knew the pronunciation of g-d's name, and they only used it during the high holy days...but this pronunciation was lost with the destruction of the second temple.  When attempting to translate the Tanakh, the translators took the vowels off the word "Adonai" and placed them on top of "YHVH" and this garnered the word Jehovah.  So...g-d's name is "YHVH" or "I AM", not Jehovah.  There is a long list of words used to address g-d in prayer...but not a single one of those is g-d's name or Jehovah (and not Yahweh, either).  I see this misused all over the forum, and it digs at me.  I have a feeling it won't stop, though.

However...I must say that even though Jehovah is not the name of g-d, that does not mean I believe their religion or faith is any less valid.  It isn't my religion or faith, but I'm not the one living it, and each person needs to go to sleep at night at peace with their lives/beliefs.

[shernajwine]

There are some critical differences between Christianity and JW.

1.JW-Christ is God's Son and is inferior to him     Christian-Christ is God. He took on the form of man to come to earth.     John 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:16 Scriptures to back up Christian doctrine
2.     Christ was first of God's creations                          Christ is co-eternal with God, and as such was not created        Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, Hebrews 13:8
3.     Christ died on a stake, not a cross                      Christ died on a cross                                                       *John 20:25, Matthew 27:37, 27
4.     Kingdom brings ideal living conditions to earth           New heavens/earth will bring ideal living conditions to God's people Revelation 21:1-5, Isaiah 66:22
5.     Earth will never be destroyed or depopulated          God will create new heavens and earth and new physical laws. God's people will be removed from earth.     Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, 1 Thess. 4:16-17
6.     The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God     All people who confess Christ as Lord and Savior are born again     *John 3:3, John 3:3-7
7.      Satan is invisible ruler of world                           Satan  rules only those who allow him                                     Psalms 109:4-6, 1 Corinthians 7:5
8.     The greatest name is Jehovah                          The greatest name is Jesus Christ                                               Ephesians 1:20-22Philippians 2:9
9.     Man does not have a spirit                                   Man has a spirit                                                                       *Ecclesiastes 3:21

These are only just a few differences and you mentioned a few Amy. Some JW beliefs clearly contradict the bible, I believe it is false religion.

[AmyTrivitt]

There are some critical differences between Christianity and JW.

1.JW-Christ is God's Son and is inferior to him     Christian-Christ is God. He took on the form of man to come to earth.     John 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:16 Scriptures to back up Christian doctrine
2.     Christ was first of God's creations                          Christ is co-eternal with God, and as such was not created        Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, Hebrews 13:8
3.     Christ died on a stake, not a cross                      Christ died on a cross                                                       *John 20:25, Matthew 27:37, 27
4.     Kingdom brings ideal living conditions to earth           New heavens/earth will bring ideal living conditions to God's people Revelation 21:1-5, Isaiah 66:22
5.     Earth will never be destroyed or depopulated          God will create new heavens and earth and new physical laws. God's people will be removed from earth.     Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, 1 Thess. 4:16-17
6.     The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God     All people who confess Christ as Lord and Savior are born again     *John 3:3, John 3:3-7
7.      Satan is invisible ruler of world                           Satan  rules only those who allow him                                     Psalms 109:4-6, 1 Corinthians 7:5
8.     The greatest name is Jehovah                          The greatest name is Jesus Christ                                               Ephesians 1:20-22Philippians 2:9
9.     Man does not have a spirit                                   Man has a spirit                                                                       *Ecclesiastes 3:21

These are only just a few differences and you mentioned a few Amy. Some JW beliefs clearly contradict the bible, I believe it is false religion.

But for the many who do believe, I would think that saying it is a false religion is clearly a way to show your side of saying your religion is right and theirs is wrong. tsk tsk..

[Falconer02]

But for the many who do believe, I would think that saying it is a false religion is clearly a way to show your side of saying your religion is right and theirs is wrong. tsk tsk..]

 

But MY current religion is the best of them all. Everyone else is wrong-- they're all false except MINE! Learn more HERE--

http://churchofprime.wordpress.com
"Go with a deity that can't be nailed to some old wood"

[shernajwine]

But for the many who do believe, I would think that saying it is a false religion is clearly a way to show your side of saying your religion is right and theirs is wrong. tsk tsk..

My belief is the bible. If there is a religion that contradicts the bible then yes, I believe it to be wrong. There is no logic in trying to say that all religions are right.

[Annella]

But for the many who do believe, I would think that saying it is a false religion is clearly a way to show your side of saying your religion is right and theirs is wrong. tsk tsk..

My belief is the bible. If there is a religion that contradicts the bible then yes, I believe it to be wrong. There is no logic in trying to say that all religions are right.

The 144,000 are all Jews.  12,000 from each tribe of Israel (12)....Revelations 7: 1-8

[shernajwine]

Annella I don't know if you were addressing my post from earlier

6.     The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God     All people who confess Christ as Lord and Savior are born again     *John 3:3, John 3:3-7

The first column represented the JW beliefs and the second the Christian beliefs, the third was scripture reference for Christian belief.

My main point was that JW have critical differences compared to Christianity.

[Annella]

Annella I don't know if you were addressing my post from earlier

6.     The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God     All people who confess Christ as Lord and Savior are born again     *John 3:3, John 3:3-7

The first column represented the JW beliefs and the second the Christian beliefs, the third was scripture reference for Christian belief.

My main point was that JW have critical differences compared to Christianity.

Oh, I agree, the JW have critical differences compared to Christianity. 

The JW's also believe they are the 144,000....they are not.  We are not either.  We are the great crowd without number starting in verse 9 of Revelations 7., who washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb.  Out of the whole book of Revelation, that Chapter is very clear who the 144,000 actually is.

[Annella]

There are some critical differences between Christianity and JW.

1.JW-Christ is God's Son and is inferior to him     Christian-Christ is God. He took on the form of man to come to earth.     John 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:16 Scriptures to back up Christian doctrine
2.     Christ was first of God's creations                          Christ is co-eternal with God, and as such was not created       Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, Hebrews 13:8
3.     Christ died on a stake, not a cross                      Christ died on a cross                                                       *John 20:25, Matthew 27:37, 27
4.     Kingdom brings ideal living conditions to earth           New heavens/earth will bring ideal living conditions to God's people Revelation 21:1-5, Isaiah 66:22
5.     Earth will never be destroyed or depopulated          God will create new heavens and earth and new physical laws. God's people will be removed from earth.     Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, 1 Thess. 4:16-17
6.     The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God     All people who confess Christ as Lord and Savior are born again     *John 3:3, John 3:3-7
7.      Satan is invisible ruler of world                           Satan  rules only those who allow him                                    Psalms 109:4-6, 1 Corinthians 7:5
8.     The greatest name is Jehovah                          The greatest name is Jesus Christ                                              Ephesians 1:20-22Philippians 2:9
9.     Man does not have a spirit                                   Man has a spirit                                                                       *Ecclesiastes 3:21

These are only just a few differences and you mentioned a few Amy. Some JW beliefs clearly contradict the bible, I believe it is false religion.

But for the many who do believe, I would think that saying it is a false religion is clearly a way to show your side of saying your religion is right and theirs is wrong. tsk tsk..

Not really, anyone can make up any kind of religion.  I could start a following that is based on an angel appeared to me and told me if we all eat chocolate cake everyday, we'll be saved.  Now that sounds silly right.  However there are religions started that have nothing to do with the Bible.  In fact they write their own bibles or books of their religion and beliefs.    Some will even take parts of the Bible out, and then add their own words to it to match what they want to believe.  The Bible warns about adding or taking away from the Word of God.  (Revelations 22: 18-19).

If I hear something that doesn't line up, or can't be proven with the Word of God......something doesn't add up, and it's fasle teachings or false doctrine.  There's one religion (very popular) that was founded when a man was in the woods and an angel supposedly came to him and handed him tablets or something like that (not the Bible), and they built their whole church on that foundation.

The Bible says, even if an angel come preaching anything but the Word of God....believe him not.

We go strictly by the Word of God.  Does that make me better than you...nope, just means we take it quite literally and base our life on it.  I guess what it comes down to is......are you following the Word of God?  Not this religion is wrong and that one is right.  Are you following the Word of God?

[freepcmoney]

I used to be a Jehovah's Witness. They have some things that they are correct in( I believe) BUTTTTTT regardless of that, they violated their own rules, that they made up and wrote in their own book. They treated me worse than a dog. SO inhumane. Not one bit of LOVE or CARE or CONCERN. By the grace of God, I survived the suiside attempt and twice dead on the table while the ER doctors pumped my stomach and worked with me for 3 hours. SO they told my ex husband. I was totally out of this world for 3 days.Woke up with "I'm gonna die headache" Could not lift my head off the pillow.

Eventually, I called them up and asked them to come and visit me. I told them, " Yes, I did one thing wrong, one time. I came to you and freely confessed it, because I felt so terrible about it and I wanted council and help. No one else caught me or reported me. Your rule book says that you are supposed to put me on probation, but you broke your own rules. AND you have disfellowshipped me. You say that you don't forgive me and that God don't forgive me. My BIBLE says that HE does. BUTTT if you don't and he don't.......I DON"T GIVE A DAMN!!

Eventually I got out of the hospital and went into TOTAL REBELLION against God, Religion, and my whole former way of life for over 5 years. I was a total mess. But God kept me alive through all the CRAZY things that I did, BECAUSE He loves me, and he was not done with me. I LOVE HIM and JESUS. I read the King James Bible and other versions. I worship God, the creator, the father of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Yes, Jehovah is one of his names, but only one of them. It does not matter if Jesus died on a cross or a stake. His blood sacrifice washes away my sins, and by his stripes I am healed. The SABBATH is really from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday.

I don't care what they believe or what they teach, they are nothing but DECEIVED DEVELS in my book. They did write their own bible. I know what I am talking about.

God will seperate the chaff from the wheat come JUDGEMENT DAY, and the chaff will be burned up. AND Jesus is coming to set up his kingdom on this earth for 1000 years.

[Annella]

I used to be a Jehovah's Witness. They have some things that they are correct in( I believe) BUTTTTTT regardless of that, they violated their own rules, that they made up and wrote in their own book. They treated me worse than a dog. SO inhumane. Not one bit of LOVE or CARE or CONCERN. By the grace of God, I survived the suiside attempt and twice dead on the table while the ER doctors pumped my stomach and worked with me for 3 hours. SO they told my ex husband. I was totally out of this world for 3 days.Woke up with "I'm gonna die headache" Could not lift my head off the pillow.

Eventually, I called them up and asked them to come and visit me. I told them, " Yes, I did one thing wrong, one time. I came to you and freely confessed it, because I felt so terrible about it and I wanted council and help. No one else caught me or reported me. Your rule book says that you are supposed to put me on probation, but you broke your own rules. AND you have disfellowshipped me. You say that you don't forgive me and that God don't forgive me. My BIBLE says that HE does. BUTTT if you don't and he don't.......I DON"T GIVE A DAMN!!

Eventually I got out of the hospital and went into TOTAL REBELLION against God, Religion, and my whole former way of life for over 5 years. I was a total mess. But God kept me alive through all the CRAZY things that I did, BECAUSE He loves me, and he was not done with me. I LOVE HIM and JESUS. I read the King James Bible and other versions. I worship God, the creator, the father of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Yes, Jehovah is one of his names, but only one of them. It does not matter if Jesus died on a cross or a stake. His blood sacrifice washes away my sins, and by his stripes I am healed. The SABBATH is really from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday.

I don't care what they believe or what they teach, they are nothing but DECEIVED DEVELS in my book. They did write their own bible. I know what I am talking about.

God will seperate the chaff from the wheat come JUDGEMENT DAY, and the chaff will be burned up. AND Jesus is coming to set up his kingdom on this earth for 1000 years.

I'm so glad you realized that the Lord did forgive you, and had his hand on you.  I'm so glad.  Your right, He was not done with you.  Your story touched my heart.  No one can say your not forgiven on this earth.  That's God's job, and He said if we confess our sins to Him, He is just to forgive our sins.  We can take that to the bank!  We don't have to confess our sins to any man.....they aren't God.  You can walk right in the throne room and talk to your Father any time you please.  You dont need anyone's permission. 

He loves us so completely, unconditionally, and everlastingly.  He will never leave us or forsake us, lo He is with us always, even unto the end of the world.

Your a miracle of His Love and forgiveness.  Thank you so much for sharing that with us, it took a lot of courage to post your post.  Your right about the Sabbath also.  When I was in Israel, I loved getting ready for the Sabbath, it's a special time.  We made or bought enough food Friday, and on Saturday we didn't cook or anything.  Never drove around.  We took walks.  There's something very profound I got out of that experience, that still affects me today.  If we had the Shabbot meal at someone else's house, we took flowers with us.  I got to where I looked forward to it.

I'm happy your here and hope you make some good money.  Lord Bless you!

[Annella]

Not really, anyone can make up any kind of religion.  I could start a following that is based on an angel appeared to me and told me if we all eat chocolate cake everyday, we'll be saved.  Now that sounds silly right.

 Silly?  Why is that silly Annella...sounds very good to me.    lol    I know... "great temples" aren't built of chocolate cake and scripture will confirm it --when common sense doesn't.  Loved your post btw.  I had studied false religions years ago and don't recall much about the J.W.'s .  My former J.W. friend used to ask me questions about Bible things and no matter what answer I gave him he'd act all "confused" and say "wait a minute...don't you mean" and he'd say something so "out there" for me that I thought he was just being a "smart aleck" (because he can be sometimes) and I finally told him if that's how he's going to be then just don't even ask me anything.  I realize now he was truly "confused" and that also explains his sometimes "lost" look in church.  This was a good thread to start, now I know what is wrong there and can help.  J.W.'s have Bibles, and I knew they had different views...I just never  thought about how different they are.  (My friend that used to be one, he's never said why he quit but he gets really "hostile" when asked about his J.W. experience, he prefers not to think about it.)

As we know Sheryl, God is NOT the author of confusion.....

[shernajwine]

I LOVE HIM and JESUS. I read the King James Bible and other versions. I worship God, the creator, the father of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Your post was a blessing! I'm so thankful you had ears to hear the voice of God calling you into his awesome love and grace! Lots of love freepcmoney!