"The Watchtower," the World's Most Widely Distributed Printed Magazine : History of Information (2024)

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Watchtower magazine? ›

The Watchtower is a magazine that is used by the Jehovah's Witnesses to spread information about their religion. It contains articles, information about Biblical prophecies, information on how Jehovah's Witnesses should live and behave, morality, and the history of the religion.

In 1879, he began the Watch Tower—what would later be known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the teaching organ of the Jehovah's Witnesses. In 1908 he moved its headquarters to Brooklyn, where it has remained ever since.

Without a shred of doubt, it is the Watchtower: 'With a circulation of more than 25 million, the Watchtower is the most widely distributed magazine in the world. Every month, nearly 40 million copies are printed in more than 180 languages by Jehovah's Witnesses…'

The Watchtower is overseen by the Writing Committee of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. The Watchtower is the official means of sharing Jehovah's Witness beliefs, and includes articles relating to biblical prophecies, Christian conduct and morals, and the history of religion and the Bible.

They affirm that God—Jehovah—is the most high. Jesus Christ is God's agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world.

A watchtower is also used for watching over people (like a town or a city). Watchtowers were popular in the Middle Ages. They are still often used to watch over prisoners and make sure that they don't escape or leave the area. Forestry uses watchtowers to find fires before they become more dangerous.

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is a translation of the Bible published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; it is used and distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Nonetheless, there are several disadvantages to having a neighbourhood watchtower. There can be worries about privacy and surveillance, and building and upkeep can be expensive. The watchtower could also pose a safety risk if it is not adequately staffed and maintained.

They refuse participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities. They abstain from celebrating religious holidays, and reject many customs they claim have pagan origins. They do not work in industries associated with the military, nor serve in the armed services.

Furthermore, Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate the regular holidays as other Christians, and they only celebrate the Memorial of Christ's death and wedding anniversaries. They memorialize the holiday of Christ's death because they believe Christ himself took part in it; hence it is not a pagan holiday.

How many languages do Jehovah's Witnesses translate? ›

As of December 18, 2023, jw.org, the official Jehovah's Witnesses website, remains the most translated website in the world which is currently available in 1,084 languages.

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It focuses on topics such as health, finance, travel, and lifestyle. The magazine has a reach of about 38.2 million, making it the largest-circulation magazine in the United States.

Jehovah's Witnesses have been criticized by adherents of mainstream Christianity, members of the medical community, former Jehovah's Witnesses, and commentators with regard to their beliefs and practices.

Jehovah's Witnesses is a nontrinitarian, millenarian, restorationist Christian denomination. As of 2023, the group reported approximately 8.6 million members involved in evangelism, with around 20.5 million attending the annual Memorial of Christ's death.

Religious beliefs and practices

Jehovah's Witnesses identify as Christians, but their beliefs are different from other Christians in some ways. For instance, they teach that Jesus is the son of God but is not part of a Trinity.

Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their door-to-door preaching, distributing literature such as The Watchtower and Awake!, and for refusing military service and blood transfusions. They consider the use of God's name vital for proper worship.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe a literal 144,000, no more no less, will rule with Christ in heaven over the subjects on earth. For the Jehovah's Witnesses the 144,000 are the number of those from the time of Christ to 1935, although that number gets changed more recently.

I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint. LORD Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.

Watch Tower is a religious organization that supports the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses internationally and is dedicated to supporting the teaching of God's Word, the Bible. It has produced Bible and Bible-based publications in over 700 languages.