Jehovah's Witnesses

Yes. A Christian is one who not only believes in but follows Jesus Christ. We obey him in every way, such as the command to preach and teach the Good News of God's Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20)

We have the self-sacrificing love for each other that Jesus said would be the identifying mark of true Christians. (John 13:34, 35; 15:12, 13)

We also hallow God's Name by making it known, just as Jesus did. (Matthew 6:9; John 17:6, 26)

There is much more we could consider, but this should provide enough to answer the question.

From a purely physical view, we take care of the necessary matters - funeral or memorial arrangements, whatever else needs to be done when anyone dies - basically the same thing as anyone else does when one of their loved ones dies.

Some cultures may have customs associated with death that go against Bible principles, so we do not do that.

From an emotional standpoint we grieve, just as anyone else would grieve, but not to the same degree as those who have no hope; that is, we do let it overwhelm us because we know in the near future death is to be eliminated. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) We will continue to miss our loved ones until they are back with us after the resurrection, but in the meantime we get on with our lives.

Spiritually, we lean more on Jehovah than we do under normal circumstances, but hopefully the loss of the loved one gives us additional motivation to remain faithful. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)

We believe that when we die we are in a sleep like state, until we are resurrected. No one really dies then they are gone forever, or die and go to the heavens. You are plainly in a sleep mode, waiting to wake up from death.

To clarify more:

The Bible teaches that when we die, we are dead; not alive somewhere else. Gen 3: says that we "return to the dust, from whence we came." We did not come from heaven before we were born; there was no 'sign of our existence' before we existed. That's where we go again, when we die, into nothingness / non-existence.

The concept of an 'immortal soul' is NOT a Bible teaching, but comes from pagandom.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe what the Bible teaches. When we die: any sign of us (other than God's memory of us) goes back into nothingness; into the grave, the ground, the earth.

The 'sleep-mode' is only in the sense that as during literal sleep, -- we do not know anything that's going on; we are not conscieous of anything around us. Jesus likened death to sleep for that reason.

Therefore just as God created us from the elements of the ground the first time; once we return there, God can re-create us again from the same earth elements. This is called a 'resurrection'. This is what the Bible teaches, this is what Jehovah's people believe.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong; But I don't think there are any symbols of Jehovah.

I've been a Witness all my live-long life, and I've never heard of such a thing.

One of the 10 Commandments says not to 'make an image' of anything in heaven or on earth. In fact the Bible ridicules the use of images in worship in a mocking way.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not use any images, symbols, trinkets, or hand gestures to represent Jehovah or Jesus, or anything else in the Bible. My goodness, even the 'cross' is a disgusting symbol in our minds.

As above answer says I don't think there are 'symbols of Jehovah'. Possibly the question could be referring to the actual Hebrew letters of the name/word Jehovah. If so, then it would be the Tetragrammaton YHWH (Hebrew: יהוה‎)

We were very careful to choose the name by which we would be called. We gave much thought to it.

There are 2 parts to our name, which really explains itself. (Part of this explanation is an English lesson.)

1) Jehovah's ---

You will notice the apostrophe 's'. This means: 'Belonging to'. We belong to Jehovah God, the Almighty, the Creator of the whole Universe and everything in it.

Before we get baptized, we make a personal DEDICATION to Jehovah God in prayer. We dedicate ourselves to Him, to do His 'will' (whatever that will may be.) Jehovah's 'will' changes over the years. Since we now belong to Jehovah, that means we will change as his requirements change. (Example: Noah was required to build an ark for salvation. Today that is NOT a requirement anymore for salvation. God's will changed.)

Point 1 also means: We do NOT belong to an organization.We NEVER dedicated ourselves to an organization. We do not even pledge our alliegance to any government on earth.

2) Witnesses ---

You will notice that this is in the 'plural' form. This means 'more than 1'.

This all means that we 'witness' or 'speak' about Jehovah God, and his purposes for mankind.

It may surprise many people, that Jehovah's Witnesses are really MORE THAN CHRISTIAN. Yes, we are 'Christian' -- but we are beyond that; we are MORE THAN that. (Explanation: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, etc were NOT Christians. Christ had not arrived. They were MORE THAN Christian. They too were Witnesses of Jehovah God. -- Even Christ Jesus was a Witness of Jehovah God. You will find this in Revelation.)

Interestingly: The whole world agrees that we indeed ARE Jehovah's Witnesses. That designation was available to anyone before 1931. But no one wanted that label. To this day many despise the word 'Jehovah'. It makes their stomach's crawl. They call us that. Even all the so-called Christians call us that. When we arrive at their doors they say: "Jehovah's Witnesses? --- We're not interested." They acknowledge and recognize that only WE are Jehovah's name people. This will explain the pride we have in being the only ones on earth, recognized as what we really are: Jehovah God's personal Witnesses. It couldn't get much better than that.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe what the Bible states in Genesis 3:19 which says: "From dust you are - - to dust you will return." We understand that to mean that 'after life' you will enter: 'non-life'. After life is death, or non-existence. That's what we were before we came to life (dust / non existence) (there was no sign of us what-so-ever); that's where we would return.

The Bible also stated in Ezekiel 18:4 that "the soul that sins, it itself will die." Therefore, 'souls DIE'.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not worry about 'eternal torment' after death. When we are dead - - we are dead, not alive.

We also do NOT have any desire of getting to heaven. The idea of 'transformed' and 'transferred', smacks of a Hollywood Star Trek concept, not a Bible concept for mankind.

But, the Bible also promises a 'resurrection'. This would happen as John 11:24 states: "on the last day". God is able to RE-create a person who has died and is non-existent. Mankind would once again be able to live FOREVER in Paradise ON EARTH, not heaven.

Each Witness is an individual, and learns what feels comfortable to them.

After a cordial introduction, and having their Bible already open in their hand,

• One might say: "I'd like to read you one of my favorite Bible verses." Then that forms the topic for discussion on that visit.
• Another might ask a question: "If you had the power, -- which of the many problems in the world, would you solve first?" Then that forms the topic for discussion.
• Another might say: "We're offering you a free home Bible Study, person-to-person. Have you ever been offered a Bible study in your home before?" Then we would offer a short 'demonstration' of how it would go.
• Another might say: "We're calling to encourage Bible reading. Do you think that's a good idea?" Then we would give a short example of what you might learn from a certain scripture.
• Another might say: "Most people have been taught, that if they accept Jesus, they'll be in heaven. Perhaps that's what you were taught. But we found that the Bible actually makes a different promise. May we share that with you?" Then we bring on some scriptures about the Earth being a Paradise; and ask if they would like to live in those conditions.
• Another might say: "We're calling to answer Bible questions. Is there something you've been wondering about?" (Usually, nothing is mentioned.) So we might bring up the concept: "Many people wonder: Why does God permit wickedness? since he has the power to stop it." We explain that "God has a very good reason for allowing it. Would you like to learn the answer from the Bible?" And bingo, we're on our way.
• Another might say: "We're calling to encourage people to take a closer look at religion. Many people are not satisfied with what's going on in religions." And then we can veer off into any of many directions. (Often people are quite livid about their feelings regarding their own church.)

Actually our door-step ministry is quite fun; (not that we do it for fun). We take our ministry seriously; and try to vary what we say, to engage people in conversations; our Bible always ready.

Our door-step ministry gives us the real pulse of the religious community, in all its bareness. People are at ease at their own door. Some really open up. So, we've heard it all. Others put up a real good front; then their neighbors tell us the true story of their messed up lives.

As one of the minor prophets said: "There is a famine in the land. A famine not for bread. A famine for understanding the words of Jehovah." In our ministry, we see the spiritual starvation; and we are right there at their door, to help them.

Scripture reveals that Satan [Lucifer, when he and the angels were first created] had a throne ON EARTH and was standing on the earth when he proposed to himself, to depose God from His throne in heaven:

"For thou hast said in thine heart, I WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN [I will 'go to heaven'], I will exalt MY THRONE above the stars of God [stars are Bible symbolism for angels - see Rev.1:20]... I will ascend above THE HEIGHTS OF THE CLOUDS[clouds are a phenomena WITHIN the earth's atmosphere]; I will be LIKE THE MOST HIGH [I will be God]." (Isa.14:13-14 KJV)

It was somewhere around this time that Satan and the angels he perverted and subverted into following him in his rebellion against God, launched his attack on God's throne in heaven:

"And THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN: Michael and HIS ANGELS fought against the Dragon [Satan]; and the Dragon fought and HIS ANGELS, and prevailed not; neither was there PLACE FOUND ANY MORE IN HEAVEN. And the great Dragon WAS CAST OUT, that Old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he WAS CAST OUT INTO THE EARTH, and HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM." (Rev.12:7-9 KJV)

Angels are "spirit beings" that CANNOT DIE... so, "death" doesn't exist for them. And nowhere does the Bible say 'God is going to kill them.' They have only "eternal torment" when they are unable to possess someone or some thing and are 'cast out into outer darkness,' as is the prospects for their future; following JUDGMENT DAY -- which the Bible tells us will take place on the LAST GREAT DAY OF GOD'S PLAN: on the EIGHTH DAY... or immediately following Jesus Christ's millennial rule over the earth.

God sent these "sinning angels" packing right back down to earth, from whence they launched their attack against God's "third heaven," to CONFINE SIN TO THE EARTH UNTIL GOD'S PLAN IS COMPLETE... to RESTORE THAT BRANCH OF THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM OF GOD BACK ON THE EARTH that Satan's rebellion perverted and destroyed in the beginning [the restoration of which awaits the return of Jesus Christ; the QUALIFIED returning KING who defeated Satan in the "temptation accounts" in Matthew and Luke's chapters 4]... and to REDEEM MANKIND BACK FROM SIN [man's slavery and bondage to the god they chose to worship and obey in the Garden of Eden]. To redeem mankind back from the destructively selfish, vain, lawless, deadly ways of the angels that sinned; who presently "rule this world," have been teaching mankind all about, so that man might learn and know and choose to reject when they realise that God is Truly offering them Eternal Life:

"For we are not fighting against PEOPLE made of flesh and blood, but... against those MIGHTY POWERS WHO RULE THIS WORLD, and against WICKED SPIRITS IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS." (Eph.6:12 NLT New Living Translation)

Satan and his angels CANNOT DIE. God is USING them, for the present time dispensation God has allotted to man, to teach man that he cannot rule himself without his Creator and His laws, and to teach them all about the bottomless depths of sin's despair, misery, suffering and death.

Satan and his demons are STILL HERE. They are still influencing and guiding the world... and man... toward the day of Christ's return... when they will gather deceived man to the place called Armageddon, to fight against the LORD.

God's plan is nearing its completion, and the Judgment draws nearer, when the demons that rule this world no longer will:

"...the FUTURE WORLD we are talking about WILL NOT BE CONTROLLED BY ANGELS." (Heb.2:5 NLT)