Eastwood Park Road, St. Andrew (just behind Television of Jamaica)
JEHOVAH'S Witnesses are an intriguing religious group. For one it is the only organisation using the name "Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses" on all its buildings of worship.
More commonly identified as the people who do not 'accept blood transfusions' using Acts 15:28-29 as reference (also see Ezekiel 18:4 and Revelation 4:11 ), they believe that only 144,000 persons will enter heaven.(see below)
In 1897, two Jamaicans, H. P. Clarke and Louis Facey first introduced this faith to Jamaica, having been introduced to it in Costa Rica. Today there are approximately 196 congregations islandwide. The organisation is headquartered in New York.
The Jehovah's Witnesses strongly endorse the course followed by the first century Bereons (when they heard the apostle Paul preach).
Some fundamental differences from other Christians are:
They believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the first of God's creation, but not a part of a Trinity.
Heavenly life: They believe that 144,000 spirit-anointed Christians will share with Christ in His heavenly Kingdom, ruling as kings with Him. They do not believe that heaven is the reward for everyone who is "good" with reference to Revelation 14:1-4.
Earth: They believe that God's original purpose for the Earth will be fulfilled; that the Earth will become completely populated by worshippers of Jehovah.
Jehovah's Witnesses have no specific day for worship, but their customs involve preaching, attending Christian meetings at a Kingdom Hall or in private homes for a total of five hours each week . In March/April each year Jehovah's Witnesses participate in the Lord's evening meal in commemoration of His death.
Two magazines used, alongside the Bible, primarily to propagate their faith in Jamaica are the 'Watchtower' and the 'Awake'. The 'Watchtower' is mostly used for instructions at their public meetings. The 'Awake' is more commonly offered to members of the public at no charge. They insist that these books in no way replace the Bible.
An institution admired for its focus on education, the same information is delivered simultaneously at all meetings worldwide.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that all religious teachings should be subjected to the authority of the Bible.
- Anthea McGibbon
