A belief of the Jehovah Witnesses?

[polonius]

Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 37, 38. ISBN 0-299-20794-3.

" In their opinion, only people who have accepted Jehovah and subsequently submit to his requirements will survive Armageddon and enter into the New World ... Jehovah's Witnesses also believe that a person confessing to worship God has to be associated with the true Christian denomination. Since they claim to be the only true religious denomination, they also claim to have the only means for salvation."

Is this a belief that all Jehovah Witnesses hold?

[brunumb]

[Replying to post 6 by JehovahsWitness]

♦ANSWER No . Jehovahs Witnesses believe many millions of people that held to non-biblical beliefs will be given a ressurection to a paradise earth on this planet (after the destruction of the wicked ) and be afforted the opportunity to learn the truth about God and Jesus.

In that case what is the point of being a Jehovah's Witness?

Wanting to know and obey God and wanting have a close personal relationship with him. Wanting to please him and make Him happy.

PROVERBS 27:11

Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice
So that I can make a reply to him who taunts me.

JW

So, no reason at all. You don't have to be a Jehovah's Witness for any of that.

[Yahwehismywitness]

[Replying to post 31 by brunumb]

That is a true statement actually people met in homes in old testament and with current condition find that is still acceptable.

I can see why Atheists do not believe. Mammon has ruined them.

[tam]

Peace to you,

The WTS teaches that ...in order to survive Armageddon, one has to be a JW (in good standing). Again, with some possible exceptions.

Emphasis MINE

I have never read that anywhere in our literature. Here is the link to our website (it contains practically everything we have ever published) feel free to search and see if you can substantiate this claim.

From the book Revelation, the Grand Climax at Hand (page 128-129)

Very soon, Jehovah and Christ Jesus will execute judgment, and the cry will be heard: “The great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?� (Revelation6:17) The answer? Only a minority of man-kind, including any of the sealed 144,000 who might still be remaining in the flesh and a great crowd of other sheep who will “stand,� that is, survive with them.—Jeremi-ah 35:19; 1 Corinthians 16:13.

32There is no evidence that any apart from these two groups will “stand� in the day of Jehovah’s wrath. What does this mean for the millions who each year show a certain respect for Jesus’ sacrifice by attending the celebration of the Memorial of his death but who have not yet exercised faith in Jesus’ sacrifice to the point of becoming dedicated, baptized servants of Jehovah, active in his service? Further,what about those who were once active but who have allowed their hearts to “be-come weighed down with...anxieties of life�? May all of such awaken, and stay awake, in order to “succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur,and in standing before the Son of man�—Jesus Christ. The time is short!

Seems pretty clear at the end of that second paragraph that even people associated with jws but who are not yet baptized (as well as those who are baptized but are no longer active) will need to 'wake up' if they wish to survive. What then about the rest of the world who rejects the teachings of jws?

In the meantime I as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and am telling you we believe that the incorrigiblly wicked will be destoyed at Armageddon, those Jesus judges as "goats" when he returns.

I accept that you believe this, and even that it has been taught in tandem with the above. How do you reconcile it with the above teachings from that Grand Climax book?


Peace again to you.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 33 by tam]

The WTS teaches that ...in order to survive Armageddon, one has to be a JW (in good standing). Again, with some possible exceptions.

Emphasis MINE

I dont see a single mention of the name "Jehovahs Witness" in either of your quotations, only "144,000" and a "great crowd" (both expressions come from the bible). Find a WT quotation that says what you claim and then we'll talk.

No one has to "reconcile" anything, we can just read the corresponding statement in black and white innthe magazine . You didnt say that is how you interpretted a statement that doesn't actually mention being a Jehovahs Witness at all.... you said "The WTS teaches that ...in order to survive Armageddon, one has to be a [Jehovahs Witnesses]. Are you suggesting it teaches this without actually mentioning becoming one of JWs?





JW

[tam]

[Replying to post 34 by JehovahsWitness]

So may I ask who the WTBTS teaches makes up the 144 000 (today) from anyone other than JW's? May I also ask who they teach make up the great crowd mentioned in the Grand Climax, other than JW's?

Since 1935, Jehovah’s Witnesses have thus understood that the great crowd of John’s vision is made up of a group of faithful Christians who have the prospect of living forever on earth. In order to survive the great tribulation, the great crowd would have to be educated in Jehovah’s ways before the Millennium begins. They would need to show strong faith in order to “succeed in escaping all these things that must occur� before Christ’s Thousand Year Reign

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2019566

How can we state so positively that the great crowd is this modern-day group of dedicated Christians who hope to live forever on God’s earth?

and,

This great crowd is part of the only truly united multinational organization on earth today. They do not have different standards for different countries but apply the Bible’s right principles consistently wherever they live. They are not involved in nationalistic, revolutionary movements but have truly ‘beaten swords into plowshares.’ (Isaiah 2:4) They are not divided into sects or denominations, so that they shout confused or mutually contradictory messages as do the religions of Christendom; nor do they leave it to a professional clergy class to do their praising for them. They do not cry out that they owe salvation to the holy spirit, for they are not servants of a trinitarian god. In some 200 geographical territories around the earth, they are at one in calling upon the name of Jehovah...

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101988020#h=9




**


So who is being spoken of here?




(I don't blame you for not believing it - it certainly is NOT true - but I don't see how you could say that it is not being taught.)




Peace again to you.

[Matthew S Islam]

@Jehovah's Witness

Do the Jehovah's Witnesses consider Trinitarians to be polytheist/idol-worshippers? What is the fate of those who fell into idolatry and believed in false-gods?

[JehovahsWitness]

@Jehovah's Witness

Do the Jehovah's Witnesses consider Trinitarians to be polytheist/idol-worshippers?

No, at least I dont. I dont recall reading anything of the sort in any of our literature but I haven't really done a search on the question. My understanding is that trinitarians believe in one truine god made up of three different persons.

What is the fate of those who fell into idolatry and believed in false-gods?

Emphasis MINE

Fell? Are you referring to a past event? Do you have anyone particular in mind or are you just speaking generally? Idolators can change and God is merciful, in any case God will decide the fate of individuals.

Hope that answers your question, if not perhaps you could clarify a little.

JW

[bjs]

[Replying to post 32 by Yahwehismywitness]


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[JehovahsWitness]

So may I ask who the WTBTS teaches makes up the144 000 (today) from anyone other than JW's? May I also ask who they teach make up the great crowd mentioned in the Grand Climax, other than JW's?
The

144 000: spirit anointed born again Christians

great crowd Armageddon survivors that acknowledge Jehovah and Jesus saved them

All of Jehovahs Witnesses entertain the hope of being in one group. Nobody can say if someone is born again or not except that person. We trust those among us that claim to be are not lying but if they are God will judge them not I or any other Witness. Jesus was clear about heaven one has to be a Christian but who is God's decision.

I don't have a hope of going to heaven , I hope to be an Armageddon survivor. I cannot say if I will be or not but I'm hoping to be!! If I cannot guarantee my being in that crowd I certainly cannot speak about someone else (Witness or non-Witnesses) We leave such decisions in Gods capable hands.

Do you mind?


JW

[Matthew S Islam]

@Jehovah's Witness

Do the Jehovah's Witnesses consider Trinitarians to be polytheist/idol-worshippers?

No, at least I dont. I dont recall reading anything of the sort in any of our literature but I haven't really done a search on the question. My understanding is that trinitarians believe in one truine god made up of three different persons.

What is the fate of those who fell into idolatry and believed in false-gods?

Emphasis MINE

Fell? Are you referring to a past event? Please clarify.


JW

Interesting. I was always under the impression that JWs/Unitarians considered it polytheism and idolatry. So what is the verdict on someone who believes in the deity of Christ? Is it merely just an incorrect interpretation or does it have more theological significance?

Polytheism/idolatry = Ascribing full Divinity to a creature or entity other than God-Almighty. Jesus Christ was not God-Almighty according to the JW's/Unitarians. So would that not make the Trinitarians who falsely deified Jesus idolators?