How long after death is a Jehovah’s Witness funeral?Ī Jehovah’s Witness funeral should generally take place within a week of death. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in Hell but do believe in Heaven. A select few (144,000) of Christ’s most faithful followers will be chosen to rule alongside him. Jehovah’s Witnesses do believe in resurrection of the soul, however. They also believe that many individuals will be brought back to life in a paradise. (This is in contrast to Christian beliefs where the body might die, but the soul remains intact.) They do not believe in an immortal body or an immortal spirit and believe that death is the end of all things. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that death is permanent and that with the death of the body, comes the death of the soul. Common questions regarding Jehovah’s Witness funeral traditions What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe about death? Overall, Jehovah’s Witness funerals are brief affairs that focus on simplicity and modesty. Once the talk given by the Congregation Elder and the other readings are finished, the body is buried or the urn taken away. A prayer, a song, and a reading can be done, but these will generally be shorter to respect the brief nature of the funeral. The service will be led by the Congregation Elder, who will lead those attending in a small speech regarding the deceased. The funeral can take place at any location such as a funeral home, the family’s home, graveside, or in the Kingdom Hall. Funerals are not opportunities to show off wealth or extravagance in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, so purchasing large and loud flower arrangements or lavish and expensive caskets are frowned upon. One of the main concepts of a Jehovah’s Witness funeral is to keep the funeral as simple and straightforward as possible since they value modesty. The main difference between the two services is that a Jehovah’s Witness funeral lasts only about 15-30 minutes, which leaves little room for extended readings, songs, or prayers. Jehovah's Witness Funeral Traditions, Customs, and BeliefsĪ Jehovah’s Witness funeral is very similar to a Christian funeral in terms of customs and practices.

Jehovah witness beliefs on death