Page 4: It is true that Jehovah's Witnesses feel strongly about God's name, Jehovah.
Correction: The corporate name of God is YHWH, not Jehovah.
Jehovah, name of the God of the Hebrew people as erroneously transliterated from the Masoretic Hebrew text. The word consists of the consonants JHVH or JHWH, with the vowels of a separate word, Adonai (Lord). Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 15, page 24.
Page 4: The first-century Christians baptized in Jesus' name, cured in his name, taught in his name, called on his name, suffered for his name, and magnified his name.
Note: The Watchtower does not follow the example of first-century Christians.
Page 5: Jesus' name, therefore, stands for the majestic and vast executive authority that Jehovah God has entrusted to him. Jesus himself stated: "All authority has been given me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)
Correction: The Hebrew words behind "Jehovah God" is YHWH 'elohim. The full meaning of "Jehovah God" would be "Jehovah is a plurality" since 'elohim is the plural title of God.
Note: Since YHWH 'elohim are Hebrew words, they do not appear in the Greek New Testament.
Page 5: The religious leaders of Jesus' day also did not want to bow in submission to Jesus. They stated: "We have no king but Caesar," thereby rejecting God's Son. (John 19:13-15)
Correction: The phrase "God's Son" does not appear in the Holy Bible.
Page 6: "The earliest Christians did not serve in the armed forces," states an article in The Christian Century magazine. It explains that until the decade of 170-180 C.E., there is no evidence whatever that Christians served in the army.
Correction: A Roman military officer was highly commended by Jesus Christ.
Matthew 8:8-11 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."
Page 6: "Perhaps nothing has done more to discredit Christianity that its practice of taking a stand virtually indistinguishable from that of non-Christians on the practice of war," notes The Christian Century article. "That Christians on the one hand espouse the faith of the gentle Savior while on the other they warmly support religious or nationalistic wars has gone far toward damaging the faith."
Note: Jesus Christ is the "Lion of Judah" Who will be executing the wrath of God.
Revelation 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
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 on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Pages 6-7: Putting faith in Jesus' name, however means more than simply refraining from war. It means obeying all of Christ's commandments.
Note: The "work of God" is to place your faith and trust (belief) into Jesus Christ.
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Page 7: His life-giving message was not to be restricted to the Jews. Accordingly, Peter was instructed to visit the Roman centurion Cornelius. Although it was unlawful for a Jew to visit someone of another race, God showed Peter that he "should call no man defiled or unclean."
Note: A centurion was a Roman military officer.
Acts 10:1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
Page 9: No one forces us to serve Jehovah as a follower of Christ. It is a voluntary decision; it is also an informed decision.
Note: To be a follower of Christ is be a servant of Jesus.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
Page 9: It was not difficult for the Jewish leaders to preach contempt for Gentiles, since the Jews at the time considered Gentiles to be vile creatures.
Note: The Watchtower practices this very contempt.
It is not difficult for the Governing Body to preach contempt for the clergy of Christendom, since the Jehovah's Witnesses at this time consider the clergy to be vile creatures.
Page 10: On the one hand, he said that his followers would be separate from the world - that is, they would shun attitudes and conduct that were in conflict with Jehovah's righteous ways. They would remain neutral in matters of war and politics. (John 17:14, 16)
Correction: Jesus Christ wants Christians to be His witnesses wherever we may be.
John 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one."
Page 10: The Christians had high principles of morality and integrity, and they delivered a hope-inspiring message with fiery zeal. Thousands abandoned Judaism and embraced Christianity. (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 6:7)
Note: The message of true Christians is salvation in Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Page 11: From 36 C.E. on, Gentiles could become Christians, sharing the same faith and enjoying the same privileges as Jewish Christians. - Acts 10:34, 35.
Correction: Salvation was available to everyone before 36 C.E.
John 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."
Page 11: Primarily, Christians were hated in the Roman world for practicing their religious beliefs. For example, they kept separate from the world. (John 15:19)
Correction: Christians were hated for preaching Jesus Christ.
Acts 17:2-5 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Page 12: The first-century Christians preached the good news of God's Kingdom with uncompromising zeal. (Matthew 24:14)
Note: True Kingdom preaching will be about Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Page 12: By about 60 C.E., Paul could say that the good news had been "preached in all creation that is under heaven." (Colossians 1:23)
Note: Colossians 1:23 is a reference to 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.
Page 12: Jesus' followers rendered Jehovah exclusive devotion. (Matthew 4:8-10) Perhaps this aspect of their worship, more than any other, put them at odds with Rome.
Correction: The followers of Jesus were hated because "the world" hates Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:12-14 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
John 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."
Page 13: Besides, the Bible says: "All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted." - 2 Timothy 3:12.
Correction: True godly devotion can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Page 13: They desire to 'lead a calm and quiet life' so that they can preach the good news of God's Kingdom without hindrance. (1 Timothy 2:1, 2)
Correction: Jesus Christ is to be preached.
1 Timothy 2:5-7 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle; I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Page 14: Basically, Jehovah's Witnesses have been unjustly hated for the same reasons that the early Christians were persecuted. First, Jehovah's Witnesses act upon their religious beliefs in ways that make them unpopular with some. For example, they zealously preach the good news of God's Kingdom, but people often misunderstand their zeal, viewing their preaching as "aggressive proselytizing." (Compare Acts 4:19, 20)
Correction: True Christians preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."
Page 14: Second, Jehovah's Witnesses have been targets of false accusations - barefaced lies and twisted presentations of their beliefs.
Correction: The Watchtower has made numerous false accusations of the Christian clergy.
May 1, 1998 WT, page 5: Right now, before the great day of Jehovah, Christendom's clergy are figuratively so full of sweet wine that they barely conscious of this summons from the Most High. How surprised they will be when they are aroused from their spiritual drunken stupor by the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah!
Page 16: Especially is this so when determined opposers try to draw us into pointless arguments. We must not forget that some people simply do not want to know the truth.
Correction: True Christians recognize that 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 18: Our authorization to preach the good news of God's Kingdom comes from heaven.
Correction: The good news is Jesus Christ.
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,
Note: The Watchtower has put Jehovah's Witnesses under a curse from God.
Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Page 18: Our objective is not social reform, but "the defending and legally establishing of the good news." - Philippians 1:8.
Correction: True Christians will overflow with the love of God and established in the truth.
Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Page 18: As Jehovah's Witnesses, we acknowledge Jehovah as the Universal Sovereign. His law is supreme.
Correction: God's love is supreme for the true Christian.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Page 19: At the same time, it protects the Witnesses' legal rights so that they can freely carry out their worship. (Compare Matthew 5:14-16.) This wall safeguards their way of worship and their right to preach the good news of God's Kingdom.
Note: The Watchtower came to the legal defense of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Early in 1980, the State of California informed Jimmy Swaggart Ministries that tax was due for religious books and tapes sold in the state since 1974. The case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. On June 22, 1989, the Watchtower Society filed a "amicus curiae" (friend of the court) brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. However, on January 17, 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Jimmy Swaggart Ministries declaring that the sales tax must be paid. The court filing number of the Watchtower "amicus curiae" is No. 88-1374 in the Supreme Court of the United States, October Term, 1988. On February 21, 1990 a letter to congregations explained from the Watchtower point of view why set prices were being eliminated for literature items. It read in part: "By adopting a method of literature distribution based completely on donation, Jehovah's people are able to greatly simplify our Bible education work and separate ourselves from those who commercialize religion."
Page 22: Following his Bible-trained conscience, this young Witness felt that these drills were not in harmony with such Bible principles as the one found at Isaiah 2:4, which says: "They will have to beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore."
Correction: This young Witness misapplied a future prophecy with this present evil age.
Luke 22:36 Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
Page 23: After having been instructed for five months, the students were well equipped to represent the greatest Kings, Jehovah God and Christ Jesus.
Correction: There is only one King of heaven and earth.
Psalm 2:6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."
Psalm 5:2 Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray.
Psalm 10:16 The LORD is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land.
Psalm 20:9 Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.
Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
Revelation 17:14 "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."