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Why exactly do Jehovah's Witnesses evangelize?

Triumphant_Loser

Triumphant_Loser

Libertarian Egalitarian
If I am not mistaken, (and please correct me if I am wrong) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 elect Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven, while the rest are just sent to the grave along with the rest of us. So if that is the case, why evangelize? Chances are they are not going to heaven, and neither are you. Also, doesn't converting other people lessen YOUR chances of getting into heaven? Your thoughts?
 
CynthiaCypher

CynthiaCypher

Well-Known Member
Because they believe they are commanded in the Bible to tell people the Good News. And they don't believe that just 144,000 are saved, they believe the rest will live in a paradisical earth after the resurrection.
 
Saint Frankenstein

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
Well, they think the rest of the JWs are going to live on a paradisaical Earth after being resurrected in the future. Everyone else who wasn't a faithful JW just stays dead. The 144,000 are supposed to "rule" with god in heaven (I don't understand it, either, and i don't see what makes those people so much more special than anyone else).
 
Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I would think that, most likely, they need to proselytize in order to replace members lost to deconversion from the JWs. That is, I suspect they most likely have a deconversion rate similar to Evangelicals. And Evangelicals have to proselytize to replace members lost to deconversion.
 
Amechania

Amechania

Daimona of the Helpless
saint_frankenstein said:
Well, they think the rest of the JWs are going to live on a paradisaical Earth after being resurrected in the future. Everyone else who wasn't a faithful JW just stays dead. The 144,000 are supposed to "rule" with god in heaven (I don't understand it, either, and i don't see what makes those people so much more special than anyone else).
Click to expand...

Actually I think the JW's believe everyone gets resurrected in a new body not just them. You get another crack at accepting Jesus in a world where it is clearly obvious he has returned in triumph. Makes gathering converts even less important, IMO. Of course you probably get a job like cleaning up all the corpses or something with a JW overseer on your back.
 
natasha levchenko

natasha levchenko

Member
Triumphant_Loser said:
If I am not mistaken, (and please correct me if I am wrong) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 elect Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven, while the rest are just sent to the grave along with the rest of us. So if that is the case, why evangelize? Chances are they are not going to heaven, and neither are you. Also, doesn't converting other people lessen YOUR chances of getting into heaven? Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

a group called the "holy ones" will rule with Jesus in heaven. the first holy ones chosen were Jesus' faithful apostles. like Jesus ,they are resurrected with a spiritual body.
John 14:1-3“Do not let YOUR hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God, exercise faith also in me. 2*In the house of my Father there are many abodes. Otherwise, I would have told YOU, because I am going my way to prepare a place for YOU. 3*Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for YOU, I am coming again and will receive YOU home to myself, that where I am YOU also may be.
also, Jesus called him "little flock" which consists of 144.000.

but there is a hope for the rest faithful followers to reside in the future paradise on earth.
 
Saint Frankenstein

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
Amechania said:
Actually I think the JW's believe everyone gets resurrected in a new body not just them. You get another crack at accepting Jesus in a world where it is clearly obvious he has returned in triumph. Makes gathering converts even less important, IMO. Of course you probably get a job like cleaning up all the corpses or something with a JW overseer on your back.
Click to expand...

I've never heard that. Maybe it's true. I don't know. JW theology doesn't seem merciful enough to allow all us lowly sinners a second chance after death, however.
 
rusra02

rusra02

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
saint_frankenstein said:
I've never heard that. Maybe it's true. I don't know. JW theology doesn't seem merciful enough to allow all us lowly sinners a second chance after death, however.
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Jw's believe what the Bible says at Acts 24:15: "And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." Many people lived and died without opportunity to know the true God. All those in God's memory will have the opportunity to live again, in a new world of peace and righteousness. So, why do Jw's preach so tirelessly today?
We believe we are living in the last days of this wicked system of things, and that soon, God will destroy the wicked "who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. *These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction." (2 Thessalonians 1:8,9) Jesus said that "this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)
We also believe this evangelizing is the same work Jesus did, and the work he commanded his true followers to do also.(2 Timothy 4:5) Our motive in doing this preaching is love for God and love for neighbor.
 
SkylarHunter

SkylarHunter

Active Member
Triumphant_Loser said:
If I am not mistaken, (and please correct me if I am wrong) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 elect Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven, while the rest are just sent to the grave along with the rest of us. So if that is the case, why evangelize? Chances are they are not going to heaven, and neither are you. Also, doesn't converting other people lessen YOUR chances of getting into heaven? Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Here's the answer from their website http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/door-to-door/#?insight[search_id]=fbd72468-155f-4fad-90f5-b757880953f5&insight[search_result_index]=2
 
Flankerl

Flankerl

Well-Known Member
SkylarHunter said:
It is. Either by the hand of God or by Climate Change. Either way, the end of civilization as we know it is near.
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Yeah yeah the end has been near for christians for their whole existence. And its always in the current generation that its obviously going to happen soon.


And climate has been changing since forever. Didnt know that there are people in France who believe in the climate change bogeyman.
 
SkylarHunter

SkylarHunter

Active Member
Flankerl said:
And climate has been changing since forever. Didnt know that there are people in France who believe in the climate change bogeyman.
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Here in France a lot of people believe in climate change. Apparently that's a believe we share with most climate scientists in the world - around 95% of them. Maybe science is getting out of the rails, who knows? ;)
 
L

lockyfan

Active Member
Triumphant_Loser said:
If I am not mistaken, (and please correct me if I am wrong) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 elect Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven, while the rest are just sent to the grave along with the rest of us. So if that is the case, why evangelize? Chances are they are not going to heaven, and neither are you. Also, doesn't converting other people lessen YOUR chances of getting into heaven? Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Matthew 28:19-20 Tells us to go make disciples baptising them.
Matthew 24:14 says the good news of Gods Kingdom will be preached to all the inhabited earth before Armageddon.

Jehovahs Witnesses believe that the 144000 have a job in heaven, while everyone else will live on earth in a paradise,

Saint Frankenstein said:
Well, they think the rest of the JWs are going to live on a paradisaical Earth after being resurrected in the future. Everyone else who wasn't a faithful JW just stays dead. The 144,000 are supposed to "rule" with god in heaven (I don't understand it, either, and i don't see what makes those people so much more special than anyone else).
Click to expand...

They are chosen by God, not Just Jehovahs Witnesses. Those who were faithful and anointed with holy spirit between The first century after penticost 33CE and until now.
Must be faithful according to Gods Word. Not mans
Will be kings and priests.
The fact is that All people whether righteous or unrighteous will be ressurected to life on earth, there will be some who survive through armageddon

Sunstone said:
I would think that, most likely, they need to proselytize in order to replace members lost to deconversion from the JWs. That is, I suspect they most likely have a deconversion rate similar to Evangelicals. And Evangelicals have to proselytize to replace members lost to deconversion.
Click to expand...

Actually this is incorrect. Right now there are over 8 million Witnesses with almost 19 million who attend the memorial of Christs death. This growth is accordsing to bible prophecy.

Saint Frankenstein said:
I've never heard that. Maybe it's true. I don't know. JW theology doesn't seem merciful enough to allow all us lowly sinners a second chance after death, however.
Click to expand...

Jehovahs Witnesses believe in the "law of love" 1. Love God as yourself. 2. Love your neighbour as yourself. However we are all imperfect and need reminding of this. from time to time. Cant help our sinful nature, but we can fight it.
The law of love is also why we preach to our neighbours. we believe in what the bible says and we believe that armageddon is coming. Gods will is that people get the good news of the bible, Gods Kingdom and that it be spread so many who listen can get a clean standing before God. Just like in Noahs day, how he kept trying to get people into the ark, we are trying to get people to follow the bible and live how God wants them to live, so they have a chance at life.

We dont force anyone and we like Jehovah God, dont want anyone destroyed.
 
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