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If someone approaches you and offers you a Watchtower or Awake magazine, then the chances are that you have just encountered one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Who are these people and what is their basic beliefs?
Jehovah's witnesses are a worldwide organization, now operating in over 200 lands around the world. The principal publication of this organization is the 'Watchtower' magazine, which is published, in over 137 different languages. The purpose of the Watchtower magazine is that it 'keeps watch on world events as they fulfill bible prophecy'. The Watchtower has been published continuously since 1879 with an average printing of each issue of some 22,398,000 copies of each magazine. All magazines and literature published by the Jehovah's witnesses are based on bible texts.
So what are the basic beliefs of Jehovah's witnesses today?
They believe that all scripture is based on the word of God, so they take the bible as a whole book, not just parts of it. They do not believe in a trinity of gods, as do most other religions. They use God's personal name which when translated into English, becomes Jehovah. They believe that Jehovah created first his Son Jesus Christ, thus making him a father image.
Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to take part in any political activities of the earth. Their hope remains that the Kingdom of God will one day do away with all other governments earth wide and then begin to rule the entire earth. They do not participate in any wars of mankind, as they believe in the Bible commands of "loving your neighbor as yourself" and the commands of "not to kill your fellow man."
They also have firm conviction against taking any blood transfusions. The reasons for this are because of commands given directly from the scriptures against the eating of blood. Animals that are killed for meat only are to be properly bled before any eating takes place.
Jehovah's Witnesses adhere closely to the Bible standards for morality, and live their lives in accordance with these principals. Jehovah's Witnesses have a hope for the future here on earth in paradise conditions. They believe that only a few of their number will go to heaven when they die (144,000) while the remaining ones look forward to life on earth forever. They believe in a future where there will be no more sickness, pain, or even death anymore. People will once again be in a perfect condition. They also believe that the dead have the hope of being resurrected back to life here on earth in the future paradise.
As a truly international organization, the Jehovah's witnesses are now considered as one of the leading religions of the earth. So much so that their numbers are increasing by some 300,000 every year earth wide, while the other religions of the earth is dwindling in numbers.
So the next time that you encounter one of Jehovah's Witnesses at your door, your place of work, or on the street corner, think of them as not just a small sect of people, but rather part of a worldwide international organization of people.
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