Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation
Encyclopedia
Jehovah's Witnesses
teach that salvation
is possible only through Christ’s ransom sacrifice and that individuals cannot be saved until they repent of their sins and call on the name of Jehovah. Salvation is described as a free gift from God, but is said to be unattainable without good works that are prompted by faith. Preaching is said to be one of the works necessary for salvation, both of themselves those to whom they preach. They believe that people can be "saved" by identifying God's organization and serving God as a part of it. Regarding whether non-Witnesses will be "saved", they have stated: "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the 'great crowd,' ... have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system" but that God has committed the responsibility of judging such ones to Jesus.
The Witnesses reject the doctrine of universal salvation, as well as that of predestination
or fate. They believe that all intelligent creatures are endowed with free will
. They regard salvation to be a result of a person's own decisions, not of fate. They also reject the concept of "once saved, always saved" (or "eternal security
"), instead believing that one must remain faithful until the end to be saved.
. They believe that most of those are already in heaven, and that the "remnant" at Revelation 12:17 (KJV) refers to those remaining alive on earth who will be immediately resurrected to heaven when they die. The Witnesses understand Jesus’ words at John 3:3—"except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"—to apply to the 144,000 who are "born again" as "anointed" sons of God in heaven. They teach that the New Testament, which they refer to as the Christian Greek Scriptures, is primarily directed to the 144,000, and by extension, to those associated with them. They believe that the terms "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16), "little flock" (Luke 12:32), and "the bride, the Lamb's wife
" (Revelation 21:9) in the New Testament
also refer to the same group of "anointed" Christians.
Members who claim to be anointed are not given special treatment by other congregation members. However, only those in the anointed class partake of the unleavened bread and wine at the yearly commemoration of Christ's death, or Memorial. Only anointed male elders can serve on the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
. In August 2011, the Governing Body cast doubt on other members' claims of being anointed, stating that "A number of factors—including past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance—might cause some to assume mistakenly that they have the heavenly calling." The Governing Body also stated that "we have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know", and that it "does not maintain a global network of anointed ones."
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that being 'anointed' involves a personal revelation by God's spirit which "gives positive assurance of adoption" to the individual alone. They believe that falsely claiming to have this inner knowledge is a sin, but they are instructed not to pass judgment on members who make such a claim.
In the 1930s, the number of believers desiring to live forever on earth rather than in heaven rose sharply, leading the Witnesses to the conclusion that the 144,000 limit had been essentially filled. Members who believe they were called to the heavenly hope after 1935 were for a time considered 'replacements' of other anointed who proved unfaithful. The current thinking is that a date for the end of the heavenly calling cannot be determined.
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
teach that salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
is possible only through Christ’s ransom sacrifice and that individuals cannot be saved until they repent of their sins and call on the name of Jehovah. Salvation is described as a free gift from God, but is said to be unattainable without good works that are prompted by faith. Preaching is said to be one of the works necessary for salvation, both of themselves those to whom they preach. They believe that people can be "saved" by identifying God's organization and serving God as a part of it. Regarding whether non-Witnesses will be "saved", they have stated: "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the 'great crowd,' ... have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system" but that God has committed the responsibility of judging such ones to Jesus.
The Witnesses reject the doctrine of universal salvation, as well as that of predestination
Predestination
Predestination, in theology is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted biblical predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation for others...
or fate. They believe that all intelligent creatures are endowed with free will
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
. They regard salvation to be a result of a person's own decisions, not of fate. They also reject the concept of "once saved, always saved" (or "eternal security
Perseverance of the saints
Perseverance of the saints, as well as the corollary—though distinct—doctrine known as "Once Saved, Always Saved", is a Calvinist teaching that once persons are truly saved they can never lose their salvation....
"), instead believing that one must remain faithful until the end to be saved.
The 'anointed'
Based on their understanding of scriptures such as Revelation 14:1-4, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven to rule with Christ in the kingdom of GodKingdom of God
The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
. They believe that most of those are already in heaven, and that the "remnant" at Revelation 12:17 (KJV) refers to those remaining alive on earth who will be immediately resurrected to heaven when they die. The Witnesses understand Jesus’ words at John 3:3—"except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"—to apply to the 144,000 who are "born again" as "anointed" sons of God in heaven. They teach that the New Testament, which they refer to as the Christian Greek Scriptures, is primarily directed to the 144,000, and by extension, to those associated with them. They believe that the terms "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16), "little flock" (Luke 12:32), and "the bride, the Lamb's wife
Bride of Christ
The Bride of Christ or bride, the Lamb's wife is a term used in the New Testament of The Bible. Sometimes the Bride is implied through calling Jesus a Bridegroom. Sometimes the Church is compared to a bride betrothed to Christ. However there are instances where the interpretation of the usage of...
" (Revelation 21:9) in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
also refer to the same group of "anointed" Christians.
Members who claim to be anointed are not given special treatment by other congregation members. However, only those in the anointed class partake of the unleavened bread and wine at the yearly commemoration of Christ's death, or Memorial. Only anointed male elders can serve on the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is the ruling council of Jehovah's Witnesses based in Brooklyn, New York. The body assumes responsibility for formulating policy and doctrines, producing material for publications and conventions, and administering its worldwide branch office staff...
. In August 2011, the Governing Body cast doubt on other members' claims of being anointed, stating that "A number of factors—including past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance—might cause some to assume mistakenly that they have the heavenly calling." The Governing Body also stated that "we have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know", and that it "does not maintain a global network of anointed ones."
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that being 'anointed' involves a personal revelation by God's spirit which "gives positive assurance of adoption" to the individual alone. They believe that falsely claiming to have this inner knowledge is a sin, but they are instructed not to pass judgment on members who make such a claim.
The 'other sheep' and the 'great crowd'
Watch Tower Society literature states that Jesus' use of the term "other sheep" at John 10:16 was intended to indicate that some of his followers were not part of the 144,000 and would have an earthly, rather than heavenly hope. In the resurrection, those who died faithful to God are included in the 'other sheep' and will receive the "resurrection of the righteous" ("just" KJV) mentioned in Acts 24:15. Those who died without faithfully serving God will receive the "resurrection of the ... unrighteous" ("unjust" KJV). They will be given the opportunity to join Jesus' 'other sheep' and live forever on a paradise earth. There are some who will not be resurrected due to special judgment by God. Those of the 'other sheep' who are alive today, some of whom survive through Armageddon without needing a resurrection, are referred to as the 'great crowd'.Development of doctrine
In 1932, as the number of Jehovah's Witnesses grew, they began to teach that those not of the 144,000 made up a class referred to as the "Jonadab" class, who hope to live on earth rather than in heaven. At first, the "Jonadab's" were not considered fully consecrated witnesses. They were not included in some Witness activities. Then, in 1935, the “Jonadabs” were identified as the "other sheep", a designation based on their understanding of the passage at John 10:16 where Jesus speaks of having "other sheep ... that are not of this fold." Another group, based on the “great crowd” (“great multitude” KJV) of Revelation 7:9 was said to be the modern day members of the “other sheep”. These groups were now collectively understood to represent a fully consecrated group of loyal servants of God who will live forever on earth, rather than in heaven. The teaching of a heavenly and an earthly class of believers is in contrast to the mainstream Christian belief that the term "other sheep" generally refers to Gentile believers who Jesus would bring into 'one fold' with Jewish believers, the "little flock". After 1949 the Witnesses began teaching that the "Jerusalem" that would be exalted in the last days was "Heavenly Jerusalem," referred to in Hebrews 12:22, and not the city in the middle east.In the 1930s, the number of believers desiring to live forever on earth rather than in heaven rose sharply, leading the Witnesses to the conclusion that the 144,000 limit had been essentially filled. Members who believe they were called to the heavenly hope after 1935 were for a time considered 'replacements' of other anointed who proved unfaithful. The current thinking is that a date for the end of the heavenly calling cannot be determined.
See also
- Jehovah's Witnesses beliefsJehovah's Witnesses beliefsThe beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russell—founder of the Bible Student movement—and successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford and Nathan Homer Knorr...
- Eschatology of Jehovah's WitnessesEschatology of Jehovah's WitnessesThe eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses is central to their religious beliefs. They believe that Jesus Christ has been ruling in heaven as king since 1914 , and that after that time a period of cleansing occurred, resulting in God's selection of the Bible Students associated with Charles Taze...
- 144,000