For Tammy 13. To find out exactly jehovahs witnesses believe in
relation to your question, go to their website, and talk to baptised
members. The link given by Tar heel v is accurate but only part of the
belief. It is not possible to take this part only in isolation as the
total answer. And much as I appreciate the good work put in by the
famous lady, Pink, the website given is from a source outside the
organization of the Jehovahs witnesses and is full of inaccuracies.
The belief that death is a form of long sleep is not an idea of any
Witness, but is derived from what Jesus stated about Lazarus when he,
Jesus, resurrected Lazarus from death. John 11;11.."...and after this
he said to them,"Lazarus our friend has gone to rest, but I am
journeying there to awaken him from sleep. This resurrection was not
only an act of love towards Lazarus and his family, but a
demonstration, with God`s power, of the resurrection still to come to
all those who had no opportunity to learn about God`s incoming
Kingdom, specifically mentioned at Matthew 6; 9,10, the Lord`s Prayer.
Even after being resurrected, Lazarus continued life into old age and
eventually died, just like every person since his day right up to the
present. Because we are all sinful, death is the price we pay. But it
will not always be so. Revelation 20;3,4. ....and death will be no
more....
Jehovah`s Witnesses belief that if they die still faithful to God, He
will resurrect us as complete living flesh and blood persons to live
on the cleansed earth, without the prospect of death. This is why at a
Witness funeral, during the scriptural talk by an experienced elder,
nothing is said about going to heaven, and nothing is implied that its
all over with no hope for anything. The Bible gives us tremendous hope
and by doing so, relieves a lot of the grief suffered by the deceased
persons family. Of course the family are stricken by the loss, but do
believe that the loved one will be seen and spoken to in the future,
according to God`s timetable. Psalm 37;29. " The righteous themselves
will possess the earth, and they will reside FOREVER upon it". If, as
some religions teach [ and without scriptural backup] we all went to
heaven as angels when we die, and look down on those left on the
earth, there would not be much point in changing the present earthly
system of fights, murders, war and starvation. It negates Jesus`
sacrifice for us. It implies the Bible has got it wrong, and by
extension, God is wrong. BUT HE ISN`T. |
