Jehovah's Witnesses
Below is a brief overview of Jehovah's Witness beliefs.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: Official name of the religion that accepts the authority of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Charles Taze Russell, Brooklyn, NY: Satan is the originator of the idea of the Trinity. The Father is the supreme God whose real name is Jehovah. Jesus is a created being known originally as Michael the Archangel; he is “a god,” not Jehovah. Jesus only rose spiritually, not bodily, from the dead. The Holy Spirit is the impersonal active force of God. Only the anointed class (or little flock) numbering 144,000 will go to heaven, while faithful “other sheep” will live eternally on a paradise earth; the lost will cease to exist (annihilationism). Publishes the Watchtower and Awake! magazines, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (their own version of the Bible), as well as numerous books. Originally called International Bible Students, followers today are called Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Annihilationism: Taught by most Adventist groups, including the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, this doctrine denies the conscious, eternal punishment of the lost. Instead, humans who do not receive eternal life will be destroyed and cease to exist.
Little Flock: (Anointed Class) In the teaching of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, this phrase (Luke 12:32) refers to the 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses who will be allowed to go to heaven. All other worthy Jehovah’s Witnesses (the “other sheep” cf. John 10:16) will live for eternity on a new paradise earth.
- Watchman Fellowship's 2001 Index of Cults and Religions
Also see:
North American Missions Board on Jehovah's Witnesses
Evengelical Outreach on Jehovah's Witnesses
Biblefacts.org Cults List
Watchman Fellowship Articles on Jehovah's Witnesses
Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry on Jehovah's Witnesses
Roman Catholics on Jehovah's Witnesses
Jeremy Brown 2005