What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe? Quiz

Answer: A literal government ruling from heaven

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God's Kingdom, a real government, is the only hope for mankind. As prophesied at Daniel 2:44, they hold the conviction that God's Kingdom will "crush and put an end to" all human governments, and "will stand to time indefinite," bringing about a new system on the earth where righteousness prevails. Their belief is that Jesus Christ has been ruling as King of this Kingdom since 1914, and that 144,000 individuals chosen from among mankind will rule over the earth alongside him in heaven. Since their support and loyalty go to God's Kingdom, Jehovah's Witnesses are politically neutral.

(All Scriptural quotations are from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.)

Answer: All of these statements are true

In carrying out the worldwide preaching campaign they consider to be guided and supported by God's holy spirit, Jehovah's Witnesses are following the instructions given by Christ at Matthew 28:19, which reads: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations." Spurred on by their love for God and for their neighbor, they desire for all to have an opportunity to hear the good news of God and his Kingdom.

As recorded at Matthew 10:11-13, Jesus directed his disciples to go to the homes of people in their ministry. The house-to-house preaching work that Jehovah's Witnesses engage in today is in imitation of this example, as well as that of the apostle Paul, who said at Acts 20:20: "I did not hold back from ... teaching you publicly and from house to house."

Answer: The Bible (as understood by the church)

Jehovah's Witnesses believe, in accordance with 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, that "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." Instead of adhering to human creeds and traditions, the Bible is the basis for all of their beliefs and moral standards.

Answer: Isaiah 43:10, 12

Isaiah 43:10, 12 reads: " 'You are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and have faith in me, and that you may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none ... So you are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'and I am God.' "

The worship of the Bible Students, as Jehovah's Witnesses were formerly known, involved more than simply studying the Bible. Thus, the more distinctive Bible-based name "Jehovah's Witnesses," embraced in 1931, points to the work they are doing: providing a witness about God, his Kingdom, and his purposes for mankind.

Answer: Jesus' death

The Lord's Evening Meal, commemorating the death of Jesus, is the only event that Jesus Christ commanded his disciples to memorialize. This is found at Luke 22:19, where Jesus said, "Keep doing this in remembrance of me." Jehovah's Witnesses believe, in accordance with John 3:16, that this great sacrifice and expression of God's love for mankind makes it possible for those exercising faith to live forever.

Answer: Satan, the Devil, is ruling the world

1 John 5:19 states that "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the earth is currently under, not God's, but the Devil's influence, and therefore reflects the hatred and cruelty that Satan promotes. They consider another contributing factor to be mankind's own imperfection and sinful tendencies. Ecclesiastes 9:11 brings out a further reason: "Time and unforeseen occurrence"; simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God is not responsible for the suffering, but rather as 1 John 4:8 says, that "God is love." Also, Job 34:10 says: "Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!" Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God, through his Kingdom, will soon eliminate all wickedness and undo the effects of the suffering now penetrating the world.

Answer: No

The word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible. Moreover, Jehovah 's Witnesses do not believe the Bible supports the doctrine of the Trinity. Jehovah's Witnesses point to many Scriptural verses that they believe indicate Jesus Christ and God are separate individuals and that God is superior to Christ.

One such verse is found at John 14:28, where Jesus himself said: "The Father is greater than I am." Also, 1 Corinthians 11:3, written 22 years after Jesus returned to heaven, reads: "The head of Christ is God." Jehovah's Witnesses do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the first of God's creations.

Answer: The dead are conscious of nothing

Ecclesiastes 9:5 reads: "As for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." Similarly, Psalms 146:4 says of the dead, "In that day his thoughts do perish." Therefore, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that the dead are capable of experiencing pain or pleasure in a spirit realm, or that some part of them lives on after death.

Instead, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the dead, in a state of unconsciousness, are in God's memory. They have confidence in the promise found at John 5:28, 29, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, who will have the opportunity to live forever on earth.

Answer: The Bible says to abstain from blood

This command is found at Acts 15: 28, 29, which reads: "For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from ... blood." Jehovah's Witnesses consider the issue of blood transfusions a matter of loyalty to and faith in God: if they obey his commands, they have the hope of eternal life. Even if they die, they have faith that God can resurrect them.

Jehovah's Witnesses have a very deep respect for life, and are willing to accept some alternative medical treatments. Their refusal to accept blood transfusions, in addition to following their Bible-based principles, also protects them from blood-borne diseases often transmitted through transfusions.

Answer: To let it be inhabited forever by righteous people

Psalms 37:29 says: "The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God will carry out his original purpose for the earth: having the earth populated by worshipers of God, living forever in perfection, and turning the earth into a paradise.

Over seven million of Jehovah's Witnesses hold the hope of being among the righteous who will possess the earth, experiencing the conditions described at Revelation 21:3, 4: "God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."