Page 3: However, a solid faith in God - one that is based on the Bible - is a much more powerful force for good that the unaided guidance of the conscience.
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Acts 24:24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Page 3: A faith based on the Word of God, the Bible, informs the conscience, makes it keener in discerning right from wrong. (Hebrews 5:1)
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
Page 3: Moreover, faith strengthens people to maintain high standards in the face of enormous pressure.
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Acts 26:15-18 "So I said, 'Who are You, Lord (Jehovah)?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'"
Page 3: However, those with true faith in God refused to compromise their principles, even at the risk of their lives.
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Galatians 2:15-16 "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."
Page 4: One day, John heard his young nephew talking about Paradise. Intrigued, the questioned the boy's parents. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses, and they helped John to learn about it from the Bible.
Correction: True Christians will tell people about Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
Page 4: A sad statistic affecting family life has to do with abortion. A United Nations report estimated that every year at least 45 million unborn babies are deliberately aborted. Each such event is a tragedy.
Note: Many Christians of Christendom are involved in the Pro-Life movement.
Page 4: The Witness gave them, not money, but something better. He encouraged them to develop faith in God, which is "of much greater value than gold." (1 Peter 1:7)
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Page 5: In Liberia, Alex served as an altar boy in the Catholic Church. But at the age of 13, he joined a warring faction and became a notorious child soldier.
Note: The Catholic Church does not condone violence.
The duty of making oneself a neighbor to others and actively serving them becomes even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged, in whatever area this may be. "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." Catechism, Article 3, Section 1932, page 469.
Page 5: The apostle also said: "He that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." - Hebrews 11:6.
Note: The Father and the Son will reward true Christians with eternal life.
2 John 1:8-9 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
Page 5: The power of God's Word helped each individual to build the strong faith that changed his life for the better.
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Page 5: Jehovah's Witnesses are active in more than 230 lands and islands of the sea. They invite you to have a Bible study. Why? Because they are convinced that a Bible-based faith can bring about great improvements in your life too.
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Page 6: JEHOVAH is the Great Purposer. The rebel angel who became Satan the Devil can do nothing to thwart His grand purpose to sanctify His own name and establish a glorious Kingdom rule over a paradisaic earth. (Matthew 6:9, 10)
Correction: The "grand purpose" of God is to bring salvation to those with faith in Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Page 6: Under that rule, mankind will be truly blessed. God "will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces."
Correction: Under the rule of Jesus Christ mankind will be truly blessed.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Page 6: However, the Grand Creator also has human witnesses.
Note: Jesus Christ is the "Grand Creator."
John 1:3-7 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
Page 6: Christ Jesus is the superlative example of a courageous witness. (Hebrews 11:1-12:2)
Note: Jesus Christ was a faithful witness of Himself.
John 8:18 "I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."
Page 6: Recall, for example, his final testimony before Pontius Pilate. Jesus declared: "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth."
Note: Jesus Christ is the truth.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Page 6: From 33 C.E. down to this year 2000 C.E., zealous Christians have followed Jesus' example and have continued to witness, courageously declaring "the magnificent things of God."
Note: True "zealous Christians" are witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
Page 6: Over the millenniums the great Adversary, Satan the Devil, has wickedly sought to discredit the testimony of God's witnesses.
Note: The testimony of God's witnesses will be about Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:40-41 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Page 7: Hence, in 607 B.C.E., the armies of Babylon, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed Jerusalem and its temple and carried most of the Jews off into exile in Babylon.
Correction: Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C.E.
In 588 BC Zedekiah led a revolt against Chaldea, and two years later (586 BC) Nebuchadnezzar's army destroyed Judah and razed Jerusalem. Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 15, page 57.
Page 7: By the time Jesus was born, the nation had again turned away from pure worship.
Correction: The people were still observing the animal sacrifice law requirements.
Luke 2:23-24 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Page 7: While individual Jews responded to the good news declared by Jesus, the nation as a whole rejected him and was thus rejected by God. (John 1:9-12; Acts 2:36)
Correction: God will restore the nation of Israel due to His faithfulness.
Romans 11:1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Page 7: Meanwhile, a Christian "Israel of God" had been born, and this now served as God's witness to the nations. (Galatians 6:16)
Correction: The "Israel of God" refers to believing Jews.
Galatians 6:15-16 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (Jews) nor uncircumcision (Gentiles) avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them (Gentiles), and upon the Israel of God (Jews).
Page 7: Very quickly, Satan schemed to corrupt this new, spiritual nation. By the end of the first century, sectarian influences were seen in the congregations. (Revelation 2:6, 14, 20)
Correction: There were still pure congregations at the end of the first century.
Revelation 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Page 7: Paul's warning was timely: "Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ."
Note: Is Jesus Christ "first place" in your life?
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Page 7: Eventually, Greek philosophy, Babylonian religious ideas, and later such human "wisdom" as the theory of evolution and higher criticism contaminated the religion of many who claimed to be Christian.
Note: Approximately half of the Christians of Christendom are false.
Matt. 25:1-2 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish."
Pages 7-8: It was as Paul had foretold: "I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." (Acts 20:29) As a result of this apostasy, Christendom came into existence.
Correction: Men like Arius arose giving ideas upon which the Watch Tower was formed.
Page 25: By 1924, however, we had an automobile, and our whole family went to the convention in Columbus, Ohio. We children were expected to use our own savings to pay for our meals during the eight-day convention.
Note: The Watchtower will esteem people who violate the Bible.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Page 8: Those truly devoted to pure worship had to "put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones." (Jude 3)
Note: Is your faith in Jesus Christ?
Ephesians 1:15-16 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
Page 8: In the latter part of the 19th century, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., a group of sincere Bible students was organized and became the nucleus of God's modern-day witness class. These Christians drew attention to the Scriptural evidence that the conclusion of the present world system was at hand.
Correction: These phony Christians drew attention to the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
Page 9: In 1886 when C.T. Russell published a book that came to be called The Divine Plan of the Ages, this volume contained a chart linking the ages of mankind with the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
Note: C.T. Russell started the "Great Pyramid of Egypt" scheme to sell books.
Page 9: What relationship could the pyramid have with the Bible? Well, as an example, the length of certain passages in the Great Pyramid was said to indicate the time for the beginning of the "great tribulation" of Matthew 24:21, as it was then understood. Some Bible Students became engrossed with measuring different features of the pyramid to determine such matters as the day they would be going to heaven!
Note: C.T. Russell was not an "anointed Christian." His grave maker is a pyramid.
Pages 9-10: This so-called Bible in Stone was held in esteem for some decades, until the Watchtower issues of November 15 and December 1, 1928, made clear that Jehovah needed no stone monument built by pagan pharaohs and containing demonic signs of astrology to confirm the witness given in the Bible.
Page 8: True to Bible prophecy, this world's "conclusion" began in 1914 and was marked by the outbreak of the first world war. (Matthew 24:3, 7) There is strong evidence that Satan and his demonic hordes were cast out of heaven following that year.
Correction: There is strong evidence that the Watch Tower is absolutely wrong.
Note: 1914 is based on the bogus date of 607 BCE for the destruction of Jerusalem.
Note: A European war began in 1914. World War I is a name given by European historians.
Page 8: The trouble-filled 20th century has provided clear proof of Satan's activity and of a remarkable fulfillment of the sign of Jesus' royal presence in heavenly Kingdom power. - Matthew , chapters 24 and 25; Mark, chapter 13; Luke, chapter 21; Revelation 12:10, 12.
Correction: Jesus Christ has not physically returned to the earth.
Matthew 24:30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming (erchomai) on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Correction: All peoples have not yet stood before Jesus Christ for judgment.
Matthew 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes (erchomai) in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats."
Page 8: Responsible officers of the Society were imprisoned, falsely charged with sedition, as Jesus had been in the first century. (Luke 23:2) But in 1919, these officers were released, enabling them to continue their ministry.
Correction: Judge Rutherford was a conniving attorney.
No sooner had Charles T. Russell died (1916) than there came into play a behind-the-seen tug of war for his mantle. Russell's will left instructions for certain men to succeed him. However, the legal counsel, Judge Rutherford, was able to maneuver proxies of the Corporation in such a way that he emerged President of the Watchtower Society. In order to quiet somewhat the furor which had arisen over the high-handed way in which this subversion was accomplished, he succeeded early in the war to create an issue outside of the Organization through his editorial policy of the Watchtower magazine, the outcome of which was to put him into the position of a hero. 30 YEARS A WATCHTOWER SLAVE, William J. Schnell, page 34.
Page 8: When "the time of the end" began, therefore, Jehovah again had a watchman on the scene, alerting people to events having to do with the fulfillment of His purposes.
Page 9: Each issue from 1879 until December 15, 1938, carried on its front cover the words "'Watchman, What of the Night?' Faithfully, for 120 years The Watchtower has kept watch on world events and their prophetic import. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13)
Correction: True Christians will not be concerned about the "time of the end."
Acts 1:6-7 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority."
Page 8: Until this day, that watchman class - anointed Christians, the Israel of God - has been acting in harmony with Isaiah's description of the prophetic watchman: "He paid strict attention, with much attentiveness. And he proceeded to call out like a lion: 'Upon the watchtower, O Jehovah, I am standing constantly by day, and at my guardpost I am stationed all the nights'" (Isaiah 21:7, 8) This is a watchman who takes his task seriously!
Correction: True anointed Christians will proclaim peace through Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:36 "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ; He is Lord (Jehovah) of all;"
Page 8: What did this watchman see? Again, Jehovah's watchman, his witness class, announced: "She has fallen! Babylon has fallen, and all the graven images of her gods he (Jehovah) has broken to the earth!" (Isaiah 21:9) This time, following World War I, it is Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, that is toppled from its perch of authority.
Correction: True anointed Christians will proclaim peace through Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Page 8: The Great War, as it was then called, started in Christendom, where the clergy on both sides fueled the conflagration by preaching the cream of their youth into the trenches.
Correction: The "Great War" began and ended in Europe.
The fundamental causes of the conflict, however, were rooted deeply in the European history of the previous century, particularly in the political and economic policies that prevailed on the Continent after 1871, the year that marked the emergence of Germany as a great world power.
Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 27, pages 400-401.
Page 8: In 1919, Babylon the Great could not prevent the Bible Students, as Jehovah's Witnesses were then known, from escaping from their inactive state and embarking on a worldwide witnessing campaign that still continues. (Matthew 24:14)
Note: Jehovah's Witnesses are not suffering for the name of Jesus.
Matthew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake."
Page 9: God's watchman class and its "other sheep" companions have used this magazine in vigorously proclaiming to mankind that the vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty by Christ's Kingdom is at hand. (John 10:16)
Correction: Salvation has been preached to the "other sheep" Gentiles and many are Christians.
Acts 28:28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!"
Page 9: Has this witness been blessed by Jehovah? Well, from the first issue of 6,000 copies in 1879, The Watchtower has grown to a world-wide circulation of more than 22,000,000 copies in 132 languages - 121 of these being published simultaneously.
Note: There is still less than 6 million publishers in a world of more than 6 billion people.
Page 9: How appropriate that the most widely distributed religious magazine on earth should be the one that magnifies the name of the true God, Jehovah!
Correction: True Christians magnify the name of Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Page 9: During some 40 years up until Christ's heavenly rule began in 1914, the Bible Students had been freed from many of the non-Biblical doctrines of Christendom, such as infant baptism, immortality of the human soul, purgatory, hellfire torment, and a Trinitarian God.
Correction: The human soul does live on after death.
Revelation 6:9-10 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
Correction: Jesus Christ disagrees with the Watch Tower.
Matthew 5:22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Correction: Jehovah is a plural person God.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us (plural) make man in Our (plural) image, according to Our (plural) likeness;
Page 10: As the years pass, Jehovah continues to give us further clarification of truth, including a clearer understanding of his prophetic word. (Proverbs 4:18) In recent years, we have been encouraged to look again with deeper understanding at - among other things - the generation that will not pass away before the end comes, the parable of the sheep and the goats, the disgusting thing and when it will stand in a holy place, the new covenant, the transfiguration, and the temple vision of the book of Ezekiel. It may be difficult at times to understand such updated explanations, but the reasons for them become clear in due course.
Correction: Stay away from people and organizations that are continually changing.
Prov 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those given to change;
Page 10: If a Christian does not fully understand a new explanation of a scripture, he does well humbly to echo the words of the prophet Micah: "I will show a waiting attitude for the God of my salvation." - Micah 7:7.
Note: Have you missed Jesus Christ?
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time had come,
God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to
redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption as sons.
Page 11: The anointed remnant have shown lionlike courage in exposing false religion and showing people the way to freedom. (Revelation 18:2-5)
Note: Jesus Christ will liberate you from religious organizations that require time cards.
John 8:36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
Page 11: They have taken the lead in gathering the "great crowd ... out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues." These too are cleansed by the ransoming blood of Jesus and show themselves lionhearted in rendering God "sacred service day and night." (Revelation 7:9, 14, 15)
Note: The "great crowd" is in heaven!
Revelation 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!"
Page 11: "DARKNESS itself will cover the earth, and thick gloom the national groups; but upon you Jehovah will shine forth, and upon you his own glory will be seen." (Isaiah 60:2) These words well describe the situation on earth since 1919.
Correction: The "great tribulation" has not yet begun.
Revelation 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
Page 11: Christendom has rejected the sign of the royal presence of Jesus Christ, "the light of the world." (John 8:12; Matthew 24:3)
Correction: The Watch Tower bases its theology on the ignorance of the disciples question.
Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
Correction: The presence of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit within you.
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,...
Page 11: Because of the "great anger" of Satan, chief of "the world rulers of this darkness," the 20th century was the cruelest, most destructive time of man's history. (Revelation 12:12)
Correction: The "great tribulation" has not yet begun.
Revelation 6:14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
Page 11: Still, light does shine today, Jehovah 'shines forth' upon his servants, the anointed remnant, who are the earthly representatives of his heavenly "woman." (Isaiah 60:1)
Correction: Jesus Christ is not a "heavenly woman."
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Page 11: Especially since their release from Babylonish captivity in 1919, these have reflected God's glory and have 'let their light shine before men.' (Matthew 5:16)
Correction: True Christians have been witnesses of Jesus since Pentecost.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Page 11: From 1919 through 1931, Kingdom light shone brighter and brighter as these ones cast off the remaining shackles of Babylonish thinking. They increased in numbers to tens of thousands as Jehovah fulfilled his promise: "I shall without fail collect the remaining ones of Israel together. In unity I shall set them, like a flock in the pen, like a drove in the midst of its pasture; they will be noisy with men." (Micah 2:12)
Correction: This prophecy is about the future restoration of literal Israel.
Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Page 11: In 1931, Jehovah's glory upon his people became even more evident when they accepted the name Jehovah's Witnesses. - Isaiah 43:10, 12.
Note: True Christians are Jesus witnesses. 1 x 1 x 1 = 1; Father, Son, & Spirit = Jehovah!
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Page 12: Who are marked on the forehead by that "man"? "Other sheep," ones who have the hope of living eternally on a paradise earth. (John 10:16; Psalm 37:29)
Correction: The "other sheep" are Gentiles versus Jews.
Psalm 18:49-50 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name. Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore.
Page 12: In 1935 this group of "other sheep" were discerned to be the "great crowd...out of all nations" seen in vision by the apostle John. (Revelation 7:9-14)
Note: This "great crowd" is standing before the throne of God in heaven.
Revelation 7:15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God,..."
Page 12: This gathering work is alluded to in Isaiah's prophecy when it says: "Nations will certainly go to your light, and kings to the brightness of your shining forth." (Isaiah 60:3)
Correction: This is a future prophecy about the "New Jerusalem."
Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Revelation 21:23-24 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
Note: No rulers past, present, or future will bring their glory into the Watch Tower.
Page 12: Who are the "kings" referred to here? The remaining ones of the 144,000 who, along with Jesus Christ, are joint heirs of the heavenly Kingdom and have taken the lead in the witness work. (Romans 8:17; Revelation 12:17; 14:1)
Correction: "Anointed" Jehovah's Witnesses are not Jesus witnesses.
Rev. 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Page 12: Today, the few thousand remaining ones of the anointed remnant are greatly outnumbered by the "nations," those with an earthly hope who come to Jehovah for instruction and invite others to do the same. - Isaiah 2:3.
Note: Have you come to Jesus for instruction?
Matthew 5:1-2 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
Page 12: What zeal Jehovah's modern-day Witnesses showed throughout the 20th century! And despite increasing pressures, their zeal did not diminish as the year 2000 approached.
Correction: Jehovah's Witnesses are not suffering for the name of Jesus.
John 15:21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me."
Page 12: The number of active publishers of the good news in the last service year of the 20th century reached a new peak of 5,912,492.
Correction: Jehovah's Witnesses are not Jesus witnesses.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the good news which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Page 12: Last January, the Governing Body announced an adjustment in the hour requirement for pioneers. Many took advantage of this to enter the ranks of regular or auxiliary pioneers.
Page 12: In the 1999 service year, the number of pioneers worldwide reached 738,343 - a wonderful demonstration of 'zeal for fine works.' - Titus 2:14.
Correction: True godly work will be rooted in the acknowledgment of Jesus being God.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Page 12: Has Jehovah blessed this zealous activity? Yes. Through Isaiah he says: "Raise your eyes all around and see! They have all of them been collected together; they have come to you. From far away your own sons keep coming, and your daughters who will be taken care of on the flank." (Isaiah 60:4)
Correction: Isaiah's prophecy concerns Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats."
Page 12: Anointed "sons" and "daughters" who have been gathered in are still zealously serving God. And now, Jesus' other sheep are being gathered to the side of Jehovah's anointed "sons" and "daughters" in 234 lands and islands of the sea.
Note: True Christians will be serving Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Pages 12-13: Christians have the responsibility to preach the good news of the Kingdom and to help interested ones to become disciples.
Note: The "good news of the Kingdom" concerns Jesus Christ.
Acts 28:30-31 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
Page 13: Witnesses in Honduras and many other lands donated clothes, food, medicine, and other basic items. Regional Building Committees used their skills to rebuild houses. Soon, our brothers who were victims of the disaster were being helped to return to their regular activities.
Note: Jehovah's Witnesses did not help other people.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Page 13: In Ecuador, Jehovah's Witnesses came to the aid of their brothers when serious flooding destroyed some homes.
Note: Jehovah's Witnesses did not help other people.
Luke 10:29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Luke 10:36-37 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Page 13: (Isaiah 60:8-10) First to respond to Jehovah's 'shining forth' were his "sons," anointed Christians. Then came the "foreigners," the great crowd, who loyally minister to their anointed brothers, following their lead in preaching the good news.
Correction: The "sons" and "foreigners" are Jews and Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:1-7 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles; if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the good news, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Page 13: Thus, although the number of the anointed is dwindling, Jehovah's name is being declared around the earth as never before.
Correction: True Christians declare the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Page 13: As a result, millions are flocking "like doves to their birdhouse holes," finding refuge within the Christian congregation.
Note: Have you come to Jesus?
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
Page 13: "The desirable things of all the nations," members of the great crowd, are still crowding through them. (Haggai 2:7) None who want to leave the darkness are turned away. (John 12:46) May all such ones never lose their appreciation for the light!
Correction: Jesus Christ is not a N.Y. corporation called the Watch Tower.
Haggai 2:6-7 "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts."
John 12:44-46 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness."
Page 14: Those who love the darkness hate Jehovah's light. (John 3:19)
Note: Have you recognized the "true Light" as being Jesus Christ?
John 1:9-11 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Page 14: Throughout the 20th century, Jehovah's Witnesses too have been mocked, imprisoned, banned, even killed, as they faithfully reflected Jehovah's light.
Note: Jehovah's Witnesses are not suffering for the name of Jesus.
Acts 5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Page 14: Where appropriate, Jehovah's Witnesses have gone to the media to explain the facts. As a result, Jehovah's name has been widely published in newspapers and magazines and on radio and television.
Correction: True Christians will publicize the name of Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Page 14: Jehovah's Witnesses know that many in this world will oppose them. (John 17:14) Still, they are strengthened by Isaiah's prophecy: "To you the sons of those afflicting you must go, bowing down; and all those treating you disrespectfully must bend down at the very soles of your feet, and they will have to call you the city of Jehovah, Zion of the Holy One of Israel."
Correction: Isaiah's prophecy is yet future and about the restoration of Jews in Jerusalem.
Zechariah 1:17 "Again proclaim, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem."'"
Page 14: Yes, Jehovah is the Savior of his people. If they rely on him, they will last "to time indefinite.
Note: Yes, Jesus is Jehovah!
Matthew 1:21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Page 14: When the Croatian version of the Christian Greek Scriptures was released in 1999, thousands gave way to tears of joy. One elderly brother said: "I have waited for this Bible for so long. Now I can die in peace!"
Correction: True Christians can die in peace after receiving Jesus.
Luke 2:27-32 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."
Pages 14-15: Jesus said: "He that practices vile things hates the light." (John 3:20) On the other hand, those who remain in the light love Jehovah's high standards.
Correction: True Christians will love Jesus Christ.
John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me."
Page 16: Their faith, and that of their parents, 'beautifies' - brings honor to - Jehovah God's name. - Isaiah 60:21b.
Note: True Christian faith will glorify the name of Jesus.
Acts 3:16 "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."
Page 16: During the 20th century, they saw the fulfillment of Isaiah's words: "The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, shall speed it up in its own time." (Isaiah 60:22)
Correction: The Jews will be reestablished as a nation during the millennial reign of Jesus.
Romans 11:26-28 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Concerning the good news they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
Page 16: Jehovah still shines brightly upon his people. The door to his organization is still open. Let all, then, be determined to stay with Jehovah's light.
Correction: Jesus Christ is not an organization.
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Page 21: The Socinian movement itself became divided, with those who embraced more radical views taking one side and those whose ideas were more moderate taking the other.
Note: The Socinian movement were composed not of true Christians.
Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
Page 23: The Polish Brethren were students of God's Word. They discovered some precious truths, and they unhesitatingly shared them with others. Eventually, however, they were scattered across Europe and found it more and more difficult to maintain their unity. In time, the Polish Brethren disappeared.
Note: The Polish Brethren were not true Christians.
Matthew 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Page 30: They believe, however, that it is better to worship him in their own way than to do so in association with a church or other organization.
Note: Early Christians would gather together and worship not belonging to a legal organization.
Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
Page 30: At Pentecost 33 C.E., Jehovah poured out his holy spirit, not upon a few isolated believers, but upon a group of men and women who came together "at the same place," namely, in an upper room in the city of Jerusalem. (Acts 2:1) At that time, the Christian congregation, which became an international organization, was formed.
Correction: There was no centralized human authority directing the affairs of Christians.
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 2:29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3:6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3:13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3:22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Page 30: For one thing, they had been given an important assignment - that of preaching the good news of God's Kingdom eventually "in all the inhabited earth." (Matthew 24:14)
Note: The kingdom of God is centralized on Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Page 30: In the congregation new converts could learn from experienced fellow believers how to carry on the preaching work.
Note: True Christians will not need teaching on how to place Watchtower magazines.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Page 30: Soon the Kingdom message spread far beyond the walls of Jerusalem.
Note: The message of Jesus Christ spread far beyond the walls of Jerusalem.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
Page 30: As Paul wrote to the Colossians in 60-61 C.E., the good news had been "preached in all creation that is under heaven." - Colossians 1:23.
Correction: The good news had been preached in all the "Roman" world.
Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
Note: Caesar had no authority in China and the good news had not been preached in America.
Page 31: Each congregation recognized the God-given authority of the governing body and its representatives to organize the ministry, appoint men to positions of service, and make decisions on doctrinal matters.
Note: Paul disputed with Peter who showed partiality to representatives from Jerusalem.
Gal. 2:11-12 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.