The Bible indicates that 144,000 people will be resurrected to heavenly life. (Revelation 7:4)
They will serve alongside Jesus as kings and priests for 1,000 years. (Revelation 5:9, 10; 20:6) They will form the “new heavens,” or heavenly government, that will rule over the “new earth,” or earthly society. Those heavenly rulers will help restore mankind to the righteous conditions that God originally intended.—Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13.
The Bible generally uses the Greek word stau·rosʹ when referring to the instrument of Jesus’ execution. (Matthew 27:40; John 19:17) Although translations often render this word “cross,” many scholars agree that its basic meaning is actually “upright stake.” According to A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, stau·rosʹ “never means two pieces of wood joining each other at any angle.”
The Bible also uses the Greek word xyʹlon as a synonym for stau·rosʹ. (Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24) This word means “wood,” “timber,” “stake,” or “tree.” The Companion Bible thus concludes: “There is nothing in the Greek of the N[ew] T[estament] even to imply two pieces of timber.”
The Bible says: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalm 146:4) Therefore, when we die, we cease to exist. The dead can’t think, act, or feel anything.
God explained what happens when we die when he spoke to the first man, Adam. Because Adam was disobedient, God said to him: “Dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19) Before God created Adam “out of dust from the ground,” Adam did not exist. (Genesis 2:7) Likewise, when Adam died, he returned to dust and ceased to exist.
The same thing happens to those who die now. Speaking of both humans and animals, the Bible says: “They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust.”—Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20.
The holy spirit is God’s power in action, his active force. (Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35) God sends out his spirit by projecting his energy to any place to accomplish his will.—Psalm 104:30; 139:7.
The Scriptures do at times personify the holy spirit, but this does not prove that the holy spirit is a person. The Bible also personifies wisdom, death, and sin. (Proverbs 1:20; Romans 5:17, 21)
For example, wisdom is said to have “works” and “children,” and sin is depicted as seducing, killing, and working out covetousness.—Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:35; Romans 7:8, 11.
Similarly, when the apostle John quoted Jesus, he personified the holy spirit as a “helper” (paraclete) that would give evidence, guide, speak, hear, declare, glorify, and receive. He used masculine personal pronouns such as “he” or “him” when referring to that “helper.” (John 16:7-15)
However, he did so because the Greek word for “helper” (pa·raʹkle·tos) is a masculine noun and requires a masculine pronoun according to the rules of Greek grammar. When John referred to the holy spirit using the neuter noun pneuʹma, he used the genderless pronoun “it.”—John 14:16, 17.
The Bible gives us God’s clear requirements for salvation (of course, salvation and eternal life are gifts from God, not something you can earn with your actions, but Jehovah specifies the behaviour he expects from those who are going to receive that gift).
JEHOVAHh’s Witnesses do believe that our religion is the only true Christian congregation, the only one that meets those requirements, and thus the only organized group that leads people to Christ for salvation, and the only organized group that will be saved (that’s a reason why we are so conscientious in our preaching work, trying to save people.)
But what about individuals? Do we teach that everyone who is not one of JEHOVAH’s Witnesses will die at Armageddon?
Since this question arises now and then, it should be important to reflect the accurate portrayal of what is taught by JEHOVAH’s Witnesses in this area. Notice the following quotations from our own publications as to what we view in regard to this issue:
Observe, however, that Jesus did not leave it up to humans to determine who are the “sheep” and who are the “goats.” How fine that is! For, if we humans were responsible to judge, how could we properly evaluate factors such as: How much of an opportunity did a person have to hear and accept the good news? Did his genetic, family or religious background affect his response? What is his heart condition—does he love righteousness? If he is a child or was born mentally retarded, how much bearing should family or community responsibility have on the matter?—1 Cor. 7:14; Deut. 30:19.
Unquestionably, not one of us is qualified to weigh these, and perhaps many other, vital factors and principles. We could not reach judgments that are ‘perfect, righteous and upright.’ (Deut. 32:4) Hence, why should any of us become needlessly involved with trying to decide who will survive and who will not? If we say, ‘I think these people in this certain situation are “goats” and will perish eternally, but those in that other category will live,’ are we not making ourselves judges? (Jas. 4:12) Rather than trying to decide whether a certain person, family or group of persons fits the description of the “goats” or not, we can be content to leave the matter in the hands of “the Judge of all the earth.”—Gen. 18:25.
God’s judgments are not merely a matter of applying strict, unfeeling justice. His mercy, compassion and love are involved. As the psalmist David put it: “He has not done to us even according to our sins; nor according to our errors has he brought upon us what we deserve.” (Ps. 103:10) Actually the only wages that imperfect, sinful humans deserve is death. (Rom. 6:23) Yet, in His mercy and compassion Jehovah has purposed that the message of salvation be spread extensively so that humans might gain life. He wants them to do so. (Ezek. 33:11; Isa. 55:6, 7) If God’s mercy, love and compassion have been displayed so consistently down to this time, and we have benefited from them, cannot we be absolutely certain that they will come into play, too, in the judgment at the conclusion of the system of things? Yes, the survivors will be absolutely right when they proclaim, “Jehovah God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judicial decisions.”— Rev. 16:5-7; 19:1, 2.
(Watchtower 1976 6/1 p. 347-8)
.
Many are exposed to our message as we preach from house to house or informally. Others may learn of Jehovah’s Witnesses and what we represent in ways unknown to us. When judgment time arrives, to what extent will Jesus consider community responsibility and family merit? We cannot say, and it is pointless to speculate.
(Watchtower 1995 10/15 p. 28)
.
What will happen to young children at Armageddon? The Bible does not directly answer that question, and we are not the judges.
(Reasoning p. 47)
.
With complete confidence in Jehovah’s righteousness, we need not worry about finding answers to questions like: ‘How will babies and small children be judged? Might it be that a large number of people will not yet have been reached with the good news when Armageddon arrives? What about the mentally ill? What about…?’ Granted, at present we may not know how Jehovah will resolve these issues. He will do so, however, in a righteous and merciful way. We should never doubt that. In fact, we may be amazed and delighted to observe Him resolve them in a way that we never even considered.
(Watchtower 1998 8/15 p. 20.)
It should be apparent that we believe that we simply can’t be certain what JEHOVAH will do in regard to the above mentioned scenarios. JEHOVAH’s Witnesses understand that the Bible does not give details.
While Jehovah’s Witnesses still adjust minor understandings of prophecy and periphery beliefs, major doctrines will not be changed because the doctrinal knowledge has increased so much that any recent changes have not been to doctrine but simple refinements in knowledge.
Solomon declared: “But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” (Proverbs 4:18)
The truth gradually becomes clearer to us as we persist in studying the Scriptures patiently and diligently. The meaning or significance of Bible prophecies also unfolds progressively. Daniel’s prophecy clearly said that true knowledge would “increase” during the time of the end (Dan. 12:4).
Only at “the conclusion of the system of things” would “the righteous ones would then shine as brightly as the sun” (Mt.13:24- 30, 36-43; 24:45-47; Acts 3:20- 21).
Brother @Gospel you are drifting further away from the truth and what the Scriptures actually say, and this is my observation, not being “combative”
The Father has no equal (John 17:3; 2 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 1:17; Eph. 4:6)
Yes, the Father is Almighty. But Scripture also affirms the Son shares in the divine nature.
John 5:18: The Jews sought to kill Jesus because He was “making Himself equal with God” (ἴσον ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν τῷ θεῷ).
Philippians 2:6: Christ, ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων (“existing in the form of God”), did not consider equality (ἴσα) with God something to be grasped. Equality is explicitly affirmed.
Hebrews 1:3: The Son is ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης (“the radiance of His glory”) and χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως (“exact imprint of His nature”). This is not a lesser deity but full participation in God’s essence.
John 1:1: καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος - “and the Word was God.” The anarthrous θεός here is qualitative, describing the Word’s essence as fully divine. The LXX uses θεός consistently for Yahweh; John deliberately applies it to the Logos.
Bereshis (in the Beginning) was the Dvar Hashem [YESHAYAH 55:11; BERESHIS 1:1], and the Dvar Hashem was agav (along with) Hashem [MISHLE 8:30; 30:4], and the Dvar Hashem was nothing less, by nature, than Elohim! [Psa 56:11(10); Yn 17:5; Rev. 19:13]
John 14:28: “The Father is greater than I” refers to role and mission during the incarnation, not essence. In context, Jesus is speaking as the sent Son who humbled Himself (Phil. 2:7–8). After resurrection, He is exalted to equality (Phil. 2:9–11).
Colossians 2:9: ἐν αὐτῷ κατοικεῖ πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος σωματικῶς - “in Him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily.” No lesser deity here.
This is troublesome to me…
John 15:26: The Spirit is called ὁ παράκλητος (“the Helper/Advocate”), a masculine noun, and Jesus says ἐκεῖνος (“He”) will bear witness.
When the Comforter is come (hotan elthēi ho paraklētos). Indefinite temporal clause with hotan and the second aorist active subjunctive of erchomai, “whenever the Comforter comes.”
Whom I will send unto you from the Father (hon egō pempsō humin para tou patros). As in Jhn_16:7, but in Jhn_14:16, Jhn_14:26 the Father sends at the request of or in the name of Jesus. Cf. Luk_24:49; Act_2:33. This is the Procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and from the Son.
Which (ho). Grammatical neuter to agree with pneuma, and should be rendered “who” like ho in Jhn_14:26.
Proceedeth from the Father (para tou patros ekporeuetai). “From beside the Father” as in the preceding clause.
He (ekeinos). Emphatic masculine pronoun, not neuter (ekeino) though following ho.
Shall bear witness of me (marturēsei peri emou). Future active of martureō. This is the mission of the Paraclete (Jhn_16:14) as it should be ours.
Greek grammar uses masculine pronouns for the Spirit, showing personhood.
Acts 13:2: “The Holy Spirit said (εἶπεν) ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul…’”
The Spirit speaks, commands, and uses first person pronouns. Forces do not speak or command.
Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve (λυπεῖτε) the Holy Spirit.” Only persons can be grieved.
2 Corinthians 13:14: Paul’s benediction places the Spirit alongside Father and Son in blessing.
The LXX uses πνεῦμα for God’s Spirit, but the NT expands this to show personal agency, not impersonal energy.
The Father is supreme, but the Son shares His divine nature (John 5:18; Phil. 2:6; Heb. 1:3).
The Son is not a lesser deity; He is fully God (John 1:1; Col. 2:9).
The Spirit is not an impersonal force but a divine person who speaks, commands, and can be grieved (John 15:26; Acts 13:2; Eph. 4:30).
Your position collapses under the weight of the Greek text and the LXX usage. JW’ theology imposes a system that cannot accommodate the plain force of the verbs and nouns Scripture uses for Father, Son, and Spirit.
You say you believe the Scriptures, do you? Please just answer my questions and not questioning me, since something is painfully wrong here and I’m familiar with Kingdomhall.
J.
"• Why do we celebrate birthdays?
The idea of celebrating the date of your birth is a pagan tradition. In fact, many Christians didn’t celebrate birthdays historically, because of that link to paganism."
We strongly believe that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” and that “no one comes to the Father except through him.” (John 14:6).
So, according to this, Jesus is clearly our intermediary, go-between, advocate, helper, middleman or, yes, mediator, isn’t he?
Between human beings and God.
This concept of Jesus being the key to worship God and to obtain eternal life is fundamental in JWs beliefs.
Then, why the fuss about Jesus not being our mediator?
It is due to the fact that we teach that when certain specific verses in the Bible use the Greek term μεσίτης “mesites”, that is usually rendered as “mediator”, it is always used in a very specific formal context: he is the mediator of the New Covenant. JWs believe that that New Covenant is between God and the annointed Christians who will rule with Christ in heaven. So, in that specific situation Jesus is the mediator for those annointed Christians.
But in a broader sense, Jesus is the way to everlasting life for anyone, of course.
God, Jesus, and the angels all have the “essence” or “nature” of spirit. This obviously does not make them all equally God! Man, mouse, and canary are certainly not all equally man simply because they all have the same “essence” or “nature” of flesh.
Jesus is god inasmuch as when you beget, you beget something of the same kind as yourself. A man begets human babies, a beaver begets little beavers and a bird begets eggs which turn into little birds.
However, we do believe that the one who begets is greater than the one begotten. That the one who sends is greater than the one sent. That the one who commands is greater than the one who follows.
The Father alone is the Almighty Creator and Sovereign of the universe. Jesus is his Son and submits to his direction.
OK, I see what you are doing @Gospel , you are “selling” your brand and not here to reconsider that you might be deceived.
Shalom.
J.
JEHOVAH’s Witnesses openly share their beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible.
And yet did not offer any rebuttals to what I have posted, I say again, you are not here to reconsider you might be in error, but are selling your brand, a works based salvation, and clearly wrong on Yeshua, the stauros, His resurrection, the Ruach, and salvation.
This is a monologue, not a dialogue.
Shalom.
J.
We do not, and never have, taught works-based salvation.
Jesus is a powerful spirit who lives in heaven. He was created by JEHOVAH God before everything else. For that reason, he is called “the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)
“Samuelsson devoutly believes the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but says for generations people have misinterpreted and mistranslated the Greek word “stauros” to mean crucifix, when really the term just means a suspension device, which might have been anything such as a “pole or a tree trunk.”” Jesus Christ May Not Have Died on Cross - ABC News
Jesus was not resurrected in His original body. That is why none of His disciples initially recognized Him when He appeared to them. e.g. Mary Magdalene who was very acquainted with Jesus thought He was the gardener when she encountered Him.
In the Bible, God’s holy spirit is identified as God’s power in action. Hence, an accurate translation of the Bible’s Hebrew text refers to God’s spirit as “God’s active force.” (Genesis 1:2) This concept is well supported throughout the Bible.—Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35; Acts 10:38.
The Bible often compares death to sleep. (Psalm 13:3; John 11:11-14; Acts 7:60) A person who is fast asleep is unaware of what is happening around him. Likewise, the dead are not conscious of anything. Yet, the Bible teaches that God can awaken the dead as if from sleep and give them life again. (Job 14:13-15) For those whom God resurrects, death is not the end of everything!
I’m more than willing to sit here and debunk all your outrageous, erroneous claims, not found in Scripture, but like I’ve said, this is a monologue, not a dialogue.
I just came from a month suspension, and don’t want to get banned from speaking the truth, rightly cutting straight the D’varim of YHWH.
J.
We believe that bowing down to a flag or saluting it, often in conjunction with an anthem, is a religious act that ascribes salvation, not to God, but to the State or to its leaders. (Isaiah 43:11; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21)
One such leader was King Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon. To impress the people with his majesty and religious ardor, this powerful monarch erected a great image and compelled his subjects to bow down to it while music, like an anthem, was being played. However, three Hebrews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—refused to bow to the image, even on pain of death.—Daniel, chapter 3.
Both the Old and New Testaments clearly command us to abstain from blood. (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10; Deuteronomy 12:23; Acts 15:28, 29) Also, God views blood as representing life. (Leviticus 17:14) So we avoid taking blood not only in obedience to God but also out of respect for him as the Giver of life.
I’m more than willing to sit here and debunk all your outrageous, erroneous claims, not found in Scripture, but like I’ve said, this is a monologue, not a dialogue.
I just came from a month suspension, and don’t want to get banned from speaking the truth, rightly cutting straight the D’varim of YHWH.