Do JWs believe that they are the only ones who will be saved?

by undercover 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  undercover

  From the WTS website:

  Do they believe that they are the only ones who will be saved?

  No. Millions that have lived in centuries past and who were not Jehovah's Witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life. Many now living may yet take a stand for truth and righteousness before the "great tribulation," and they will gain salvation. Moreover, Jesus said that we should not be judging one another. We look at the outward appearance; God looks at the heart. He sees accurately and judges mercifully. He has committed judgment into Jesus' hands, not ours.? Matthew 7:1-5 ; 24:21 ; 25:31 .

  I was in the "troof" for 30 some years and I got the distinct impression that anyone not associated with God's earthly organization(read the WTS or JWs) would be destroyed at Armageddon. Isn't it heartwarming to know that the WTS is finally committing our judgement into Jesus' hands?
• 

  Gopher

  The Watchtower has put themselves into a bind here. On the one hand, they promote their organization as the "ark of salvation", onto which one must get aboard before the big "A".

  On the other hand, they've said that Jehovah (or Jesus, depending on the writer's whim) will judge those in lands where the preaching work was not fully accomplished (at the time of Armageddon). So SOME may be saved through the JW Armageddon without having even heard the "good news".

  This raises the question, if their Jehovah/Jesus can judge the goodness of people's hearts, what good does the preaching work accomplish? They've already backed away from the idea that their preaching is currently separating sheep from goats. The preaching work isn't needed if Jehovah/Jesus can already judge everyone as worthy for life or death.

  The preaching work keeps the followers busy and props up the Society's publishing and real estate empire.

  Their publicly saying that they ARE NOT the only ones saved goes against the main thought of what they teach their followers, namely, that loyalty to their organization is vital.
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  freedom96

  There is no question as a witness that you believe you are the only ones that will be saved. Oh my, was that beaten into our heads.

  They are simply trying to appeal to the masses by saying what they are. But they are just blowing smoke.
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  Gill

  From my understanding and my mothers regular reminders, 'God chooses the stupid ones of the world

  to be his servants'.

  My mum prides herself on being one of these so it's no good telling her she's being stupid following the WTBTS teachings, because you have to be stupid to follow them in the first place. But, there would be no point in going through all that stress of being a witness in the first place if they didn't believe they were the only ones going to be saved.

  What happened to 'only those calling on the name of Jehovah will be saved'?
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  Buster

  This is just a flat-out bold-faced WTS lie. They want the public to believe that they think that there are some non-JWs that can/will be saved. This is to make them seem less judgemental.

  They are taught to preach that drivel door-to-door.

  But they are taught in the Kingdom Hall that only faithful JWs (not even all JWs in good standing) will get through Armageddon.
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  blondie

  w96 1/15 p. 17 Jehovah?s Sheep Need Tender Care
  As a result of his dedication and baptism, he becomes ?marked? for salvation.?Ezekiel 9:4-6.
  
  w89 1/15 p. 20 How Baptism Can Save Us
  Baptism Can Save Us
  
  20 By our works, we can show that ?we belong to Jehovah.? Why, salvation depends on working faithfully as his dedicated slaves! (Romans 6:20-23; 14:7, 8) In ancient times, slaves were often marked on the forehead. By the preaching work today, the antitypical ?man clothed in linen??the remnant of Jesus? anointed followers?is ?marking? those who will survive the end of this system. In this work the anointed are assisted by their associates, the ?other sheep.? (Ezekiel 9:1-7; John 10:16) And what is the ?mark?? It is the evidence that we are dedicated to Jehovah and are Jesus? baptized disciples who have a Christlike personality.
  21 Especially now is it vital that we have the ?mark? and retain it, for we are deep into ?the time of the end.? (Daniel 12:4) To be saved we must ?endure to the end? of our present life or of this system. (Matthew 24:13) Only if we thus remain faithful as witnesses of Jehovah will baptism save us.
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  undercover

  This is just a flat-out bold-faced WTS lie. They want the public to believe that they think that there are some non-JWs that can/will be saved. This is to make them seem less judgemental.

  (playing Devil's advocate; I agree, but how would you answer a JW)

  Prove it's a lie. JWs don't judge people, they just preach the good news of the kingdom to people. It's up to Jehovah who will survive Armageddon.

  (A family member said that to me almost word for word)

  edited to add: Damn, blondie. You were too quick, LOL.
  anybody got other good ones to add to the list?
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  Buster

  I really liked Blondie's quotes. They clearly state that only JWs will be saved.

  But, if I were talking across the table from a JW family member, or any dubbie for that matter, I would want to show them that they cannot enter into an honest conversation on their beliefs. I would ask the question straight, "Will living, non-JWs survive through the big A?" I would tell them that I know the answer - and so do they. I would point out that they are not telling the truth of their beliefs.

  I think the most I would hope for is that they, in a moment of strength, question why they cannot speak candidly of their beliefs.
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  Truth2Me

  The original quote in the first post was regarding who would be resurrected, not who would be saved at Arm'gn.
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  Jez

  If JW do not judge people, then why do they bother with disfellowshipping? IF they truly believed Jesus will judge all mankind's hearts, why not leave it to God to decide as there are so many unseen factors that lead people, only God can know....so why do they disfellowship thereby judging someone as unworthy?

  Remember, they say that if Armageddon comes and you are df'ed, you are for sure DEAD. No chat with God for you.

  Jez