What Do They Believe?
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EARTH . . . created by Jehovah . . . cared for by man . . . inhabited forever |
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES believe in Almighty God, Jehovah, Creator of the heavens and the earth. The very existence of the intricately designed wonders in the universe surrounding us reasonably argues that a supremely intelligent and powerful Creator produced it all. Just as the works of men and women reflect their qualities, so do those of Jehovah God. The Bible tells us that "his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made." Also, without voice or words, "the heavens are declaring the glory of God."óRomans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-4.
People do not mold clay pots or make television sets and computers without a purpose. The earth and its creations of plant and animal life are far more marvelous. The structure of the human body with its trillions of cells is beyond our understandingóeven the brain with which we think is incomprehensibly wonderful! If men have a purpose in bringing forth their comparatively insignificant inventions, surely Jehovah God had a purpose in his awesome creations! Proverbs 16:4 says that he does: "Everything Jehovah has made for his purpose."
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Jehovah made the earth for a purpose, as he stated to the first human pair: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth . . . , have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28) Because they became disobedient, this couple failed to fill the earth with righteous families who would lovingly care for the earth and its plants and animals. But their failure does not make Jehovah's purpose fail. Thousands of years later, it was written: "God, the Former of the earth . . . , did not create it simply for nothing." He "formed it even to be inhabited." It is not to be destroyed, but "the earth endures for ever." (Isaiah 45:18; Ecclesiastes 1:4, The New English Bible) Jehovah's purpose for the earth will be realized: "My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do."óIsaiah 46:10.
Hence, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the earth will remain forever and that all people, living and dead, who will fit in with Jehovah's purpose for a beautified, inhabited earth may live on it forever. All mankind inherited imperfection from Adam and Eve and, hence, are sinners. (Romans 5:12) The Bible tells us: "The wages sin pays is death." "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." "The soul that is sinningóit itself will die." (Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Ezekiel 18:4, 20) Then how can they live again to share in the earthly blessings? Only through the ransom sacrifice of Christ Jesus, for he said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life." "All those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."óJohn 5:28, 29; 11:25; Matthew 20:28.
How will this come about? It is explained in "the good news of the kingdom," which Jesus started to proclaim while on earth. (Matthew 4:17-23) But today Jehovah's Witnesses are preaching the good news in a very special way.
WHAT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BELIEVE
| Belief |
Scriptural Reason |
| Bible is God's Word and is truth |
2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; John 17:17 |
| Bible is more reliable than tradition |
Matt. 15:3; Col. 2:8 |
| God's name is Jehovah |
Ps. 83:18; Isa. 26:4; 42:8, AS; Ex. 6:3 |
| Christ is God's Son and is inferior to Him |
Matt. 3:17; John 8:42; 14:28; 20:17; 1 Cor. 11:3; 15:28 |
| Christ was first of God's creations |
Col. 1:15; Rev. 3:14 |
| Christ died on a stake, not a cross |
Gal. 3:13; Acts 5:30 |
| Christ's human life was paid as a ransom for obedient humans |
Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; 1 Pet. 2:24 |
| Christ's one sacrifice was sufficient |
Rom. 6:10; Heb. 9:25-28 |
| Christ was raised from the dead as an immortal spirit person |
1 Pet. 3:18; Rom. 6:9; Rev. 1:17, 18 |
| Christ's presence is in spirit |
John 14:19; Matt. 24:3; 2 Cor. 5:16; Ps. 110:1, 2 |
| We are now in the 'time of the end' |
Matt. 24:3-14; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Luke 17:26-30 |
| Kingdom under Christ will rule earth in righteousness and peace |
Isa. 9:6, 7; 11:1-5; Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 6:10 |
| Kingdom will bring ideal living conditions to earth |
Ps. 72:1-4; Rev. 7:9, 10, 13-17; 21:3, 4 |
| Earth will never be destroyed or depopulated |
Eccl. 1:4; Isa. 45:18; Ps. 78:69 |
| God will eliminate present system of things in the battle at Har-Magedon |
Rev. 16:14, 16; Zeph. 3:8; Dan. 2:44; Isa. 34:2; 55:10, 11 |
| Wicked will be eternally destroyed |
Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:6-9 |
| People God approves will receive everlasting life |
John 3:16; 10:27, 28; 17:3; Mark 10:29, 30 |
| There is only one road to life |
Matt. 7:13, 14; Eph. 4:4, 5 |
| Human death is due to Adam's sin |
Rom. 5:12; 6:23 |
| The human soul ceases to exist at death |
Ezek. 18:4; Eccl. 9:10; Ps. 6:5; 146:4; John 11:11-14 |
| Hell is mankind's common grave |
Job 14:13, Dy; Rev. 20:13, 14, AV (margin) |
| Hope for dead is resurrection |
1 Cor. 15:20-22; John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26 |
| Adamic death will cease |
1 Cor. 15:26, 54; Rev. 21:4; Isa. 25:8 |
| Only a little flock of 144,000 go to heaven and rule with Christ |
Luke 12:32; Rev. 14:1, 3; 1 Cor. 15:40-53; Rev. 5:9, 10 |
| The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God |
1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:3; Rev. 7:3, 4 |
| New covenant is made with spiritual Israel |
Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:10-13 |
| Christ's congregation is built upon himself |
Eph. 2:20; Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42 |
| Prayers are to be directed only to Jehovah through Christ |
John 14:6, 13, 14; 1 Tim. 2:5 |
| Images should not be used in worship |
Ex. 20:4, 5; Lev. 26:1; 1 Cor. 10:14; Ps. 115:4-8 |
| Spiritism must be shunned |
Deut. 18:10-12; Gal. 5:19-21; Lev. 19:31 |
| Satan is invisible ruler of world |
1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 4:4; John 12:31 |
| A Christian ought to have no part in interfaith movements |
2 Cor. 6:14-17; 11:13-15; Gal. 5:9; Deut. 7:1-5 |
| A Christian should keep separate from world |
Jas. 4:4; 1 John 2:15; John 15:19; 17:16 |
| Obey human laws that do not conflict with God's laws |
Matt. 22:20, 21; 1 Pet. 2:12; 4:15 |
| Taking blood into body through mouth or veins violates God's laws |
Gen. 9:3, 4; Lev. 17:14; Acts 15:28, 29 |
| Bible's laws on morals must be obeyed |
1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Heb. 13:4; 1 Tim. 3:2; Prov. 5:1-23 |
| Sabbath observance was given only to Israel and ended with Mosaic Law |
Deut. 5:15; Ex. 31:13; Rom. 10:4; Gal. 4:9, 10; Col. 2:16, 17 |
| A clergy class and special titles are improper |
Matt. 23:8-12; 20:25-27; Job 32:21, 22 |
| Man did not evolve but was created |
Isa. 45:12; Gen. 1:27; Matt. 19:4 |
| Christ set example that must be followed in serving God |
1 Pet. 2:21; Heb. 10:7; John 4:34; 6:38 |
| Baptism by complete immersion symbolizes dedication |
Mark 1:9, 10; John 3:23; Acts 19:4, 5 |
| Christians gladly give public testimony to Scriptural truth |
Rom. 10:10; Heb. 13:15; Isa. 43:10-12 |
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