Changes

==Theology==

==Theology==

2 Jehovah's Witnesses believe their faith is 'The' restoration of the early 'Way', or Christian Congregation. This belief is based on their attempts to align their organizational structure and scriptural interpretation as closely as possible to that of the Christian congregation of the first century.  There is no clergy-laity distinction as all, male and female members, are considered to be ordained ministers at the time of [[baptism]] (note that Witnesses do not practice [[infant baptism]]).

1 Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and firstborn Son of God, and died for man's sins at Calvary, and is the only hope out of death and the grave, and was made King of God's Kingdom.

3 Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there is only one God, Jehovah, and that Jesus Christ is God's First-begotten Son rather than Almighty God himself. They teach that the references to Jesus as "God" is in an indefinite sense, as in John 1:1, and that Jesus was made "God" or Divine over the circumstances, by the Father's permission and power. They do not believe that God is three persons or gods or beings in One, but rather One God (who is the infinite Father alone) that created all things, and thus reject the doctrine of a co-equal or co-eternal trinity. They support such teachings using scriptures such as (Matthew 4:10), (Deuteronomy 6:4), and (Psalms 83:18) in their Bible translation where God is spoken of as the One God Alone.

2 They primarily use the ''[[New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures]]'', their Modern translation of the Bible.  It was produced because in their words: "No translation of the Bible can ever be considered final. Translations must keep pace with the growth in biblical scholarship and the changes in language."<ref>The Watchtower October 15, 1999 p.28</ref> They accept, use, quote from, and cite other Bible versions and translations freely in their literature and sermons, and acknowledge their value, but the Bible version that they mainly and mostly use, read from, and quote is the NWT (in whatever language) that is produced by their organization, The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, and specifically the New World Translation Committee.

4 Witnesses Reject teaching of the immortal soul, but rather teach that the soul and the whole person dies awaiting a future resurrection by Christ, citing such scriptures as (Ezekiel 18:4) and (John 11:11) as proof that the soul can die, and that death can be likened to sleep, where no activity exists. As such, Witnesses believe that a place, like the modern concept of ''Hell'', cannot exist, citing scriptures such as (Matthew 10:28) which also speak of the soul being ''Destroyed'' rather than tortured forever. For the same reasons, they also do not believe in a place called "Heaven" either.

3 Jehovah's Witnesses believe their faith is 'The' restoration of the early 'Way', or Christian Congregation. This belief is based on their attempts to align their organizational structure and scriptural interpretation as closely as possible to that of the Christian congregation of the first century.  There is no clergy-laity distinction as all, male and female members, are considered to be ordained ministers at the time of [[baptism]] (note that Witnesses do not practice [[infant baptism]]).

5 Witnesses do not celebrate secular holidays such as Christmas, Easter, or Birthdays pointing out that no such celebrations were held by God's people in the Bible. They also believe that since these celebrations have their origins in Pagan festivities that dealt with the worship of False gods, that True Christians should have no part in them.  

4 Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there is only one God, Jehovah, and that Jesus Christ is God's First-begotten Son rather than Almighty God himself. They teach that the references to Jesus as "God" is in an indefinite sense, as in John 1:1, and that Jesus was made "God" or Divine over the circumstances, by the Father's permission and power. They do not believe that God is three persons or gods or beings in One, but rather One God (who is the infinite Father alone) that created all things, and thus reject the doctrine of a co-equal or co-eternal trinity. They support such teachings using scriptures such as (Matthew 4:10), (Deuteronomy 6:4), and (Psalms 83:18) in their Bible translation where God is spoken of as the One God Alone.

6 Witnesses believe that Christ was raised from the dead on the third day as a spirit being, "made alive in the spirit", and that the appearances to the Apostles were materializations, and so they deny the fleshly resurrection of Christ. Witnesses interpret the Bible as saying that Christ's soul was separated from his body, and that Jehovah the Father raised Christ and gave Him a new body of glorified spirit, rather than his old one being resurrected on the Third Day. Most other professed Christians disagree, believing that the Christ's resurrection was in his actual same flesh that he died in, and not as a spirit being, and some call the Witness doctrine on this matter a damnable heresy.

5 Witnesses Reject teaching of the immortal soul, but rather teach that the soul and the whole person dies awaiting a future resurrection by Christ, citing such scriptures as (Ezekiel 18:4) and (John 11:11) as proof that the soul can die, and that death can be likened to sleep, where no activity exists. As such, Witnesses believe that a place, like the modern concept of ''Hell'', cannot exist, citing scriptures such as (Matthew 10:28) which also speak of the soul being ''Destroyed'' rather than tortured forever. For the same reasons, they also do not believe in a place called "Heaven" either.

7 Witnesses generally do not believe that Jesus died on a traditional cross-shaped stake, but rather that Jesus most likely died a single-piece upright stake or a big wooden stick, post, or big tree limb with both of his hands above his head. And that the Greek word "stavros" simply means "stake", regardless of shape.  This belief is rejected by most professed Christians.

6 Witnesses do not celebrate secular holidays such as Christmas, Easter, or Birthdays pointing out that no such celebrations were held by God's people in the Bible. They also believe that since these celebrations have their origins in Pagan festivities that dealt with the worship of False gods, that True Christians should have no part in them.  

8 They do observe an annual observance of the Lord's Supper, the [[Last Supper]], or Lord's Evening Meal (1 Corinthians 11:20 NWT).  This event, which they refer to as the Memorial of Christ's Death, taken from the words of Jesus to the Apostles "do this as a memorial of Me" (Luke 22:19), falls on the night of Nisan 14 which corresponds with the ancient [[Passover]] celebration observed by Jews, which is in March/April of our calendar.

7 Witnesses believe that Christ was raised from the dead on the third day as a spirit being, "made alive in the spirit", and that the appearances to the Apostles were materializations, and so they deny the fleshly resurrection of Christ. Witnesses interpret the Bible as saying that Christ's soul was separated from his body, and that Jehovah the Father raised Christ and gave Him a new body of glorified spirit, rather than his old one being resurrected on the Third Day. Most other professed Christians disagree, believing that the Christ's resurrection was in his actual same flesh that he died in, and not as a spirit being, and some call the Witness doctrine on this matter a damnable heresy.

9 According to the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, the "Angel of the LORD" of Exodus was the pre-existent Christ, and is also identified as the Archangel Michael of Daniel, who leads and protects God's covenant people, and that God made the [[Michael (archangel)|Archangel Michael]], one of the "Sons of God", his incarnate Son, making him Jesus Christ. Then when his ministry was completed, he returned to heaven and resumed his position as Michael the Archangel, a Son of God (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7). Some Trinitarians such as Charles Spurgeon also taught that Jesus is Michael, but that Michael is God, and co-equal to the Father.  The Witnesses reject a co-equal Trinity, and teach the supremacy of the Father over the Son (or Michael) in all things.  This doctrine of Michael is usually carefully withheld by door-to-door missionary-minister Witnesses until the prospective convert is considered to be receptive, and ready to receive it.<ref>See  

 

9 They do observe an annual observance of the Lord's Supper, the [[Last Supper]], or Lord's Evening Meal (1 Corinthians 11:20 NWT).  This event, which they refer to as the Memorial of Christ's Death, taken from the words of Jesus to the Apostles "do this as a memorial of Me" (Luke 22:19), falls on the night of Nisan 14 which corresponds with the ancient [[Passover]] celebration observed by Jews, which is in March/April of our calendar.

 

20 According to the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, the "Angel of the LORD" of Exodus was the pre-existent Christ, and is also identified as the Archangel Michael of Daniel, who leads and protects God's covenant people, and that God made the [[Michael (archangel)|Archangel Michael]], one of the "Sons of God", his incarnate Son, making him Jesus Christ. Then when his ministry was completed, he returned to heaven and resumed his position as Michael the Archangel, a Son of God (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7). Some Trinitarians such as Charles Spurgeon also taught that Jesus is Michael, but that Michael is God, and co-equal to the Father.  The Witnesses reject a co-equal Trinity, and teach the supremacy of the Father over the Son (or Michael) in all things.  This doctrine of Michael is usually carefully withheld by door-to-door missionary-minister Witnesses until the prospective convert is considered to be receptive, and ready to receive it.<ref>See  

*[http://standequipped.com/jehovahs-wtinesses-beliefs/jehovahs-witnesses-beliefs-about-jesus/michael-the-archangel.html '''Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?''' - Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs (standequipped.com)]

*[http://standequipped.com/jehovahs-wtinesses-beliefs/jehovahs-witnesses-beliefs-about-jesus/michael-the-archangel.html '''Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?''' - Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs (standequipped.com)]

*[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/1-5.htm commentaries on '''Hebrews 1:5'''] [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/1-6.htm and '''6''']</ref>

*[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/1-5.htm commentaries on '''Hebrews 1:5'''] [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/1-6.htm and '''6''']</ref>