Jehovah's Witness'

[Peg]

we got conflicting stories - the young lady spoke to me about heaven and hell, and how everybody goes to 'sleep' when they die, awaiting resurrection and judgement, and that those who are faithful and 'good' will go to Paradise...
but the man who visited with her was having a separate conversation with DH (about the same topic) and said his belief was that we die, that's it, no soul, no memories, no thoughts... I just don't think I understand? I mean I get the bit about going to 'sleep' and awaiting Judgement Day, but if we are resurrected as 'clean slates', then what are we judged upon?

they are really saying the same thing, just in different ways.

The paradise doesnt come straight away...its for a futre time. The bible teaching is that a person doesnt have a soul, but IS a soul. So when a person dies, they loose all consciousness and are in a sleeplike condition. there is no life after death until the resurrection....which has not occured yet.

the resurrection is the hope that in the near future, Jesus will bring all who are in that state of sleep/death back to life into an earthly paradise.

They will not be judged on their past life because they have already paid for all those errors thru death, but rather they will be judged on their behavior once they have had time to learn about Jehovah God and submit to his authority. They will be given 1000 years to come to an accurate knowledge and accept God in their lives.

The ones who will be resurrected are both the good and the bad...those who knew God in their previous life, and those who didnt....this would include children/babies who have died too.

I hope this clears up the misunderstanding, but please feel free to ask if its still not clear.