More questions for Jehovah´s Witnesses?

Question

I posted a thread the other day asking for some information about Jehovah´s Witnesses and their beliefs. It´s here if you want to check it out: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkgQuyxlxYi4oxrpzfaLRdjsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091016190945AAsPoAg

If you don´t feel like reading it, I just met my husband´s sister (she just moved here to Colombia last week after 10 years of living in Spain). I discovered that she was a JW, and I realized that I didn´t really know much about their faith and wanted to know more. However, I cannot have an in-depth theological discussion with her because she speaks only Spanish, and while I speak a good deal of Spanish, my skills are just not good enough for that kind of discussion.

My new questions are:
1. What is this about 144,000 people? Why that number and what exactly happens to them? How are the 144,000 chosen? What happens to the rest who don´t make the cut?

2. Do you believe in Hell? Or only Heaven? If there is no hell in your faith, what happens to those who don´t make it into Heaven?

3. Is your translation of the Bible different than that of other Christian faiths? If so, what are some of the major differences?

4. If I decided to go to a JW worship ceremony, would I feel welcome? If I mentioned that I wasn´t a JW would I still be received well? How should I dress? What should I expect?

5. Can you accept gifts at all? I am American but we are all living in Colombia, S. America. I am going home for the holidays to be with my family. I was originally planning on bringing my BF´s sister and her family some Christmas presents from the US, but obviously I can´t do that now. Can I still bring them something just as a souvenir? Would such a gift, not attached to any special holiday or occasion, be accepted?

6. If I can bring them souvenirs of some sort, what would you suggest? I had originally been thinking about US t- shirts or something else with ¨USA¨, the flag, etc on it. Would such a gift be acceptable to a JW? Or not, because they cannot salute their flag, pledge to their flag, etc? If gifts with a country on them would be unacceptable, what other suggestions can you offer?

Thank you :)

Answer 1

In brief:



1) 1. What is this about 144,000 people? Why that number and what exactly happens to them? How are the 144,000 chosen? What happens to the rest who don´t make the cut?



144,000 is the number of people selected by God to go to heaven (Rev 7:4; 14:1) to rule as kings with Jesus Christ over the earth (Rev 5:8-10) The rest of mankind will live on earth in a Paradise just like it was in the garden of Eden. (Isaiah 35:1-5; 65:21-25)

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2. Do you believe in Hell? Or only Heaven? If there is no hell in your faith, what happens to those who don´t make it into Heaven?



Yes, we believe in hell, only we know that the Bible teaches that there is no fire there. The Greek and Hebrew words translated "hell" simply mean the grave. God will resurrect people in the future (John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15)



Heaven is where God lives.



Those who are neither in heaven, nor in the Paradise on earth will remain dead in the grave.

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3. Is your translation of the Bible different than that of other Christian faiths? If so, what are some of the major differences?



Not any more different than all other translations are from each other. The main difference between the NWT and other translations is the fact that God's name has been restored all the almost 7,000 times it has been removed and replaced by "LORD" in other Bibles.



The basic message is the same in ALL Bibles and JWs can prove their beliefs using any of them.

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4. If I decided to go to a JW worship ceremony, would I feel welcome? If I mentioned that I wasn´t a JW would I still be received well? How should I dress? What should I expect?



You would feel more than welcome. We get visitors all the time. You are not expected to wear anything that would make you or others uncomfortable, only that it be decent and clean. Most men in attendance wear suits and ties, and women wear skirts and dresses.



Guests are not expected to dress like the Witnesses do. Just don't forget to carry your Bible because you'll use it A LOT.

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5. Can you accept gifts at all? Can I still bring them something just as a souvenir? Would such a gift, not attached to any special holiday or occasion, be accepted?



Yes, we accept gifts.

Whether to accept a "belated" Christmas gift or not is up to the individual Witness. Some would accept it and view it simply as an expression of love on your part, others wouldn't be able to view the gift as something separate from Christmas. Ask your husband about that if you don't feel comfortable asking his sister directly.

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6. If I can bring them souvenirs of some sort, what would you suggest? I had originally been thinking about US t- shirts or something else with ¨USA¨, the flag, etc on it. Would such a gift be acceptable to a JW? Or not, because they cannot salute their flag, pledge to their flag, etc? If gifts with a country on them would be unacceptable, what other suggestions can you offer?



The T-shirts with the flags are a no-no. T-shirts with the name of a country but no other patriotic symbols are iffy too, some Witnesses may have a problem with them, others might not.



Why don't you buy her something you know she cannot find in her own country, or something peculiar to the USA, but nothing to do with the flag?



JWs are not demanding people, we accept most gifts just like everyone else does.



Hope that helps.

Answer 2

1-144,000 faithful followers are chosen from the earth and will return with Jesus to fight the last righreous battle at armageddon. the earth will be cleansed of all wickedness and those destroying the earth. the rest of righteous ones that survive and the ones that have died over time that are kept in his memory will have the chance to live in paradise earth.

2- hell is not a place it simply means the common grave of mankind.heaven is the angels,dwelling place and of course almighty Jehovah and Jesus too.

3-bibles are pretty much the same only people interpret the meanings differently.some people use their own bible when they first begin bible study.

4-you definately will be welcomed at the kingdom hall no matter what your faith.you can wear what you want,but ones that have been there long usually dress nice in respect for Jehovah.

5-gift acceptence is fine on most days,but keep in mind no holidays are celebrated.

6-flags are a bad idea for gift giving and no crosses or anything religeous. hope i helped

Answer 3

Revelation 14:1 (+ verse 3) refers to the 144,000.

They are those who make up the heavenly government (or kingdom, if you wish) that will rule over all the earth.

"The rest" as you put it, will be the subjects of that kingdom rule. Here on the earth (Psalm 39:27).

It is not to be considered secondary.

The gift God gives is eternal life (Romans 6:23).

If eternal life is here, or there, it shouldn't matter.

Hell is the grave .....6 feet under. No fire, no torment. More like sleep.

The NWT translation of the Bible is not different with the one exception it employs God's name (Jehovah) about 7,000 times .....as did the original writings.

It is a translation esteemed by scholars not JWs.

You would be very welcomed at their meetings. Dress business-like.

JWs happily exchange gifts. However, it depends on the reason (or occasion).

Xmas, birthdays, etc. are out.

The best is to give on a date that has no significance at all. Just for the pure joy of giving.

If you do give a gift, make it totally NOT political, nor religious.....please.

They are actually fun people, they just have standards higher than the average.

Answer 4

If you are an RN, you might want to check out the Sept. 1, 1987 Watchtower pp.12-15. JW RNs are expected to reveal private medical records so they can root out all those nasty fornicators and blood guzzlers.



Read the article here:

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20091018192447AAmF

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The Watchtower 1987 9/1, pages 12-15.





“A Time to Speak”—When?



MARY works as a medical assistant at a hospital. One requirement she has to abide by in her work is confidentiality. She must keep documents and information pertaining to her work from going to unauthorized persons. Law codes in her state also regulate the disclosure of confidential information on patients.



One day Mary faced a dilemma. In processing medical records, she came upon information indicating that a patient, a fellow Christian, had submitted to an abortion. Did she have a Scriptural responsibility to expose this information to elders in the congregation, even though it might lead to her losing her job, to her being sued, or to her employer’s having legal problems? Or would Proverbs 11:13 justify keeping the matter concealed? This reads: “The one walking about as a slanderer is uncovering confidential talk, but the one faithful in spirit is covering over a matter.”—Compare Proverbs 25:9, 10.



More to come later... We'll see if the JWs are so ashamed of this article that they delete my answer.

Answer 5

Check out our official website at http://www.watchtower.org



Sorry I do not have the time to avail myself to answer them all.



The public are very welcome to our meetings providing the dress is of at least basic modesty and respect shown to meetings as these are places of revered sincere worship.

We advertise meeting times for the benefit of the public outside our kingdom halls.

Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses often and enjoy giving gifts we don't attach any worldly celebration to them such as Christmas or birthdays for strict scriptural reasons. You can give t shirts I do not know why the stars and stripes is a necessity in your question. But we would probably prefer just modest plain ones.



Edit: It is nice that you are considerate in giving of gifts. Jehovah's Witnesses wearing a t-shirt with a flag obviously doesn't mean we are saluting or giving reverence to the flag but we also do not want to stumble or confuse others in the world.

I am sure you could give gifts as you say if the badged t-shirts was discreet and tasteful but each Jehovah's Witness has their own conscience of what they accept in these cases.

Some may feel they are okay with it, some may feel it is touching on nationalistic praising. Though we Jehovah's Witnesses are not easily offended people we do though seek to keep ourselves clean in the eyes of Jehovah.

Just having a nationalistic emblem is not a problem itself say as being printed on a souvenir plate but wearing a flag on their person may make the Witness recipient wary about it. Perhaps the Witnesses in your family own no such articles of clothing with nationalism slogans or emblems so perhaps you could use that as a guide to their tastes.



But I have to highly commend you on your searching out the facts and you can now make your own judgments of what sort of gifts you would like to give and I hope you enjoy your time away from your home.

Answer 6

the 144,000 go to heaven to rule as kings and priests, god chooses them. Everyone else has an earthly hope to live on earth in paradise.



Heaven only hades means the common grave.



the NWT is in plain english



you would be welcomed and received well, dress modestly.



Gifts are excepted but obviously not for xmas or birthdays, otherwise all fine.



wouldnt suggest gifts with flags on as witnesses are non political and wouldnt really appreciate them



Sorry my answers are a bit short, its late at night :/

Answer 7

What is this about 144,000 people? First read Revelation 14:1-4



Revelation 14:1-4 And I saw, and, look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.



2 And I heard a sound out of heaven as the sound of many waters and as the sound of loud thunder; and the sound that I heard was as of singers who accompany themselves on the harp playing on their harps.



3 And they are singing as if a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth.



4 These are the ones that did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb



According to the bible in verse 3 says that only them are redeem from earth......God is the one who decide who



What happens to the rest who don´t make the cut?



Millions will live in the earth during the time Jesus rules this planet

Answer 8

call the kingdom hall...tell them to send out Spanish and English speaking people to your home...ask all the questions you want. They will answer all and help you two communicate.

Answer 9

What do the Jehovah's Witnesses Teach?

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/what-do-jehovahs-witnesses-teach

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUS1mvSNEg



Jehovah's Witnesses in a Nutshell

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/jehovahs-witnesses-nutshell



Jehovah's Witnesses' History

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/jehovahs-witnesses-history



Is the Jehovah's Witness religion Christian?

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/jehovahs-witness-religion-christian



Questions for Jehovah’s Witnesses

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/questions-jehovah%E2%80%99s-witnesses



Has the Jehovah's Witness' god performed the greatest act of love?

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/has-jehovahs-witness-god-performed-greatest-act-love



Jehovah's Witness are Really "Watchtowerites."

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/jehovahs-witness-are-really-watchtowerites



If you are a Jehovah's Witness, please read this first.

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/if-you-are-jehovahs-witness-please-read-first



Contradictions in Watchtower Literature

http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/contradictions-watchtower-literature

Answer 10

The Survivors

http://www.nobeliefs.com/DarkBible/darkbible3.htm#the-survivors

"Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." Revelation 7:3-4 http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Rev/Rev007.html#top



"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." Revelation 9:3-4 http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Rev/Rev009.html#top



"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1 http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/get_verses.pl?hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fsearch.html%23verses&icon=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fgifs%2Fsearch_tools.gif&bgcolor=FFFFFF&textcolor=000000&linkcolor=39398C&vlinkcolor=0000FF&Book=Rev&Chapter=14&show_all=on&Start=3&End=4&anything.x=52&anything.y=16



"...the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins." Revelation 14:3-4 http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/get_verses.pl?hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fsearch.html%23verses&icon=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fgifs%2Fsearch_tools.gif&bgcolor=FFFFFF&textcolor=000000&linkcolor=39398C&vlinkcolor=0000FF&Book=Rev&Chapter=14&show_all=on&Start=3&End=4&anything.x=52&anything.y=16



Comment



Here we have the great future destruction where billions of people will die. Only 144,000 virgin Jews with a protective mark on their heads will survive. (I suppose the 'Jews for Jesus' cult would serve as the leading candidates.)



How many believers realize that this means the death of everyone on earth but a few virgin Jews? And this includes the destruction of all Christians! (Of course the alleged Jesus, a virgin Jew, who claimed only a few would enter heaven would agree with this).



Note: Of course faithful Christians cannot accept the 144,000 figure so they must either become atheists, ignore these verses, reject Revelation as just dream nonsense, or try to revise its meaning to something they can accept. Some try to get creative by claiming that Rev. 7:-9, http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/get_verses.pl?hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fsearch.html%23verses&icon=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fgifs%2Fsearch_tools.gif&bgcolor=FFFFFF&textcolor=000000&linkcolor=39398C&vlinkcolor=0000FF&Book=Rev&Chapter=7&Start=9&End=9&anything.x=62&anything.y=2 "...a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues...," means an unlimited number will enter heaven. Not so. The "all" in this verse speaks about all the tribes of Israel (the Jews) scattered around the nations of the world. The verse comes right after listing the tribes in Rev. 7:1-8. http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/get_verses.pl?hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fsearch.html%23verses&icon=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueletterbible.org%2Fgifs%2Fsearch_tools.gif&bgcolor=FFFFFF&textcolor=000000&linkcolor=39398C&vlinkcolor=0000FF&Book=Rev&Chapter=7&show_all=on&Start=1&End=8&anything.x=46&anything.y=12 And man doesn't name the number but rather the angel who speaks in John's dream. And John reports the number, three times, in chapters 7 and 14, as shown above. Sorry Christians but all of you will have to suffer with all the atheists and unbelievers in God's hell. Welcome to the club!

Beware of a future "Armageddon" caused by religious people. Belief in self-fulfilling prophesies creates self-fulfilling acts.

Answer 11

Jehovas witnesses dont have computers.