Page 3: All of these would-be prophets have proved to be most unreliable and disappointing. Why? Because they ignore Jehovah God and his Word, the Bible.
Note: The Watch Tower is one of these would-be false prophets.
Awake! 10/18/1966, page 19. In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of God's rest day come to an end? The year 1975.
Page 4: THANKS to God's Word, the Holy Bible, true Christians view the future with faith, hope, and optimism. Secure in their relationship with Jehovah God, they look forward to tomorrow.
Note: True Christians have a relationship with the Father by way of the Son.
John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
Page 4: The talk "God's Word Has Led Us" explained that Jehovah's people are like a man who starts out on a journey in the darkness of night.
Note: Charles T. Russell was in spiritual darkness.
Watchtower 1/1/2000, 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.
Page 4: As foretold at Proverbs 4:18, Jehovah's people have come to see their way clearly under the bright sunlight of truth from God's prophetic word. They are not left to stumble in spiritual darkness.
Correction: Proverbs 4:18 is simply a contrast of lifestyles: the righteous versus wicked.
Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Note: Is the Watch Tower suggesting that their founder was wicked?
Page 4: Since coming into Kingdom power in 1914, Jesus is also the "daystar" mentioned at 2 Peter 1:19.
Note: 1914 is based on the bogus date of 607 B.C.E. for the destruction of Jerusalem.
Page 5: Study is especially upbuilding, said the speaker, if we 'prepare our hearts' beforehand, as did the Israelite priest Ezra. (Ezra 7:10) But why is study so important? Because it has a direct bearing on our relationship with Jehovah.
Note: Do you have a relationship with Jesus?
John 8:19 Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also."
Page 5: So that we may have "power beyond what is normal" for the Christian ministry, we need to rely on Jehovah, who "is giving to the tired one power." (2 Corinthians 4:7; Isaiah 40:29) Strengthening aids include God's Word, prayer, the Christian congregation, regular participation in the ministry, Christian overseers, and the faithful example of others.
Note: The Watch Tower forgot about the Holy Spirit.
Romans 1:4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness,
Page 5: The theme "Be Teachers in View of the Time" highlighted the need for Christians to be teachers as well as preachers and to work hard at developing the "art of teaching."
Note: Jehovah's Witnesses are taught not to rely on God.
Mark 13:11 "But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit."
Page 5: But we need not fear, for Isaiah 54:17 says: "'Any weapon whatever that will be formed against you will have no success, and any tongue at all that will rise up against you in the judgment you will condemn. This is the hereditary possession of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness is from me.' is the utterance of Jehovah."
Note: The righteousness of God comes from 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.
Pages 5-6: After a discussion of the day's Bible text, those assembled enjoyed the second symposium of the convention, entitled "Glorifying Jehovah as Light Bearers." The first talk showed that a Christian's goal is to glorify Jehovah by preaching everyone.
Note: Are you preaching 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 6: The following part mentioned the need to direct responsive ones to God's organization.
Correction: True Christians will direct "responsive ones" to Jesus Christ.
John 1:40-42 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Page 6: What a privilege these new ones have to share in the fulfillment of John 10:16, where Jesus foretold that he would gather "other sheep" to serve alongside his spirit-anointed disciples!
Correction: The "other sheep" are Gentiles contrasted to Jews.
Page 28: So, then, if salvation was not to be had by works of law but through God's exercise of undeserved kindness toward sinners like Saul himself, potentially it was to the Gentiles that Jesus was sending Saul. - Ephesians 3:3-7.
Page 6: Indeed, an unbridled curiosity could expose us to harmful information planted by apostates and other agents of Satan. How much better it is regularly to read the Bible as well as all the articles in The Watchtower and Awake!
Note: An unbridled curiosity about Bible truth will be harmful to the Watch Tower.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and 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: Based on the prophecy of Haggai, the talk "'Desirable Things' Are Filling Jehovah's House" was most encouraging because it assured the listeners that each member of the "great crowd" is truly desirable to Jehovah. (Revelation 7:9) Therefore, Jehovah will spare them through his final "rocking" of the nations during the coming "great tribulation."
Note: The "great crowd" is in heaven during the "great tribulation."
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 6: The speaker quoted Jesus' words: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42) How do we maintain spiritual vigilance? By keeping busy in Jehovah's service, praying continually, and remaining in expectation of Jehovah's great day.
Correction: True Christians will be looking forward to seeing Jesus.
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."
Page 7: Speaking about Armageddon, the last brother on the symposium evoked a healthy measure of godly fear in his listeners when he said: "Truly, it will be awe-inspiring when Jehovah unleashes the full force of his great power."
Note: Godly persons will not be looking forward to the "great tribulation."
Amos 5:18 Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light.
Page 7: We show the right attitude toward our spiritual heritage by putting Jehovah's service and spiritual privileges before personal or material interests.
Note: Are you serving Jesus Christ?
Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,
Page 7: Yes, he had in mind his Kingdom government (the "new heavens") and its earthly subjects (the "new earth"), who would inhabit a glorious global paradise.
Correction: The "Kingdom" government will be on the earth.
Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Page 7: Bringing the convention to a thrilling and motivating conclusion was the talk "Our Expectations as God's Word Guides Us." It reminded all that "the time left is reduced" for completing the work of Kingdom proclamation. (1 Corinthians 7:29)
Correction: True Christians will proclaim the good news of 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,
Page 7: Yes, we stand at the very threshold of the fulfillment of Jehovah's decree against Satan and his entire wicked system.
Note: The Watch Tower is violating God's word.
Acts 1:7 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 10: Because by preaching, you are sounding God's warning, and thus you are fulfilling the commission that Jesus gave his followers. - Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20.
Correction: True Christians will proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
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 11: In the first century C.E., however, the city was once again slated for destruction because of the unfaithfulness of its inhabitants.
Correction: Jerusalem was destroyed because they did not recognize the time of God's visit.
Luke 19:43-44 "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
Page 11: In emphasizing the need to be watchful, Jesus compared his disciples to slaves awaiting their master's return from his marriage.
Note: Are you waiting for the return of Jesus Christ?
Acts 1:10-11 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Page 12: This has resulted in great woe for the earth. Truly, there has been much woe for the earth. Truly, there has been much woe for mankind, particularly since 1914. But the prophecy in Revelation adds that when the Devil is cast down to the earth, he knows that "he has a short period of time." (Revelation 12:12)
Note: You will not want to be an inhabitant of the earth during the "great tribulation."
Revelation 12:12 "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
Note: 1914 is based on the bogus date of 607 B.C.E. for the destruction of Jerusalem.
Page 12: During this period, Satan wages war with the anointed followers of Christ. (Revelation 12:17) We certainly have seen the effects of his attack in our time.
Note: Have you overcome Satan through faith and testimony of Jesus Christ?
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
Page 12: Here the apostle John mentions seven kings, representing seven world powers - Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the Anglo-American dual world power.
Correction: The Anglo-American power does not have ten distinctive rulers.
Revelation 17:12 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast."
Pages 12-13: He also sees, "an eighth king" that "springs from the seven." This eighth king - the last one that John envisions - now represents the United Nations.
Correction: The eighth king will be the final world ruler.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Page 13: The four metallic parts of the image represents various world powers, beginning with the head (the Babylonian Empire) and extending down to the feet and toes (the governments that are ruling today). All the world powers represented in that image have made their appearance.
Correction: The ten distinctive ten rulers have not made their appearance.
Daniel 2:44 "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."
Page 13: Jesus stated: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) Today, that prophecy is in the course of fulfillment on an unprecedented scale.
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.
Note: There are no Jehovah's Witnesses within Red China! 1/1/2000 Watchtower, page 17.
Page 13: Sixth, the number of genuine anointed disciples of Christ is dwindling, though some will evidently still be on earth when the great tribulation begins.
Correction: All 144,000 servants of God will be on the earth during the "great tribulation."
Revelation 7:2-4 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
Page 14: The destruction of this system of things will come with striking suddenness. Therefore, keep in expectation of Jehovah's day.
Note: True Christians will not be looking forward to the "great tribulation."
Amos 5:18 Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!
Page 14: Now think about Jehovah God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Jehovah is "the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them." (Acts 4:24) His Son, the "master worker," was the agent through whom Jehovah made all other things.
Correction: God did not use a "master worker" to create anything.
Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
Page 14: In the role of wisdom personified, Jesus states: "The things I was fond of were with the sons of men," or as William F. Beck's translation renders it, Jesus was "delighted with human beings."
Correction: The Watch Tower proclaims that Jesus was a female at Proverbs 8:30.
Proverbs 9:1-3 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. She she cries out from the highest places of the city, has sent out her maidens,
Page 14: Jehovah unquestionably places high value on people. One indication of this is found in the prophetic words that he spoke in the year 520 B.C.E. through his prophet Haggai. Jehovah declared: "I will rock all the nations, and the desirable things of all the nations must come in; and I will fill this house with glory. ... Greater will the glory of this later house become than that of the former." - Haggai 2:7, 9.
Correction: After the "great tribulation" the nations will come to Jerusalem to worship.
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."
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 21:24 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.
Page 15: What, then, are the "desirable things" that would fill Jehovah's house? Clearly, they must be people.
Correction: The "Desire of All Nations" will be 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 15: Despite relentless opposition, the temple was completed in 515 B.C.E.
Correction: The second temple was completed in 516 B.C.E.
The resulting apathy of the returned Jews was alleviated by the work of two religious leaders, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, who held out the rewards of spiritual life as the ultimate goal. The Jews turned their attention to rebuilding, and in 516 BC the Second Temple was completed. The latter date is regarded, in the Jewish tradition, as the true end of the exile in Babylon, which thus endured 70 years (586-516 BC). Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 15, page 58.
Page 15: In effect, Jesus was offered up on the altar of God's will when he was baptized and anointed by God's holy spirit in 29 C.E. (Luke 3:21, 22) Indeed, this event marked the beginning of a sacrificial life course for Jesus that lasted for three and a half years. (Hebrews 10:5-10)
Correction: The sacrificial death of Jesus was the event that fulfilled the will of God.
Acts 2:23-24 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it."
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Page 15: During that period, Jesus enjoyed a spirit-begotten relationship with God. This unique standing that Jesus had with his heavenly Father could not be fully comprehended by other humans.
Correction: The Son always had a unique relationship with the Father.
Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me."
Pages 15-16: Despite his being a spirit-anointed Son of God, the man Jesus could not attain to life in heaven. Why not? Because flesh and blood cannot inherit God's heavenly Kingdom. (1 Corinthians 15:44, 50) Since Jesus' human flesh was a barrier, it was well symbolized by the curtain that was separated the Holy from the Most Holy in God's ancient temple.
Correction: Jesus was raised with a glorified body with material essence.
1 Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Matthew 26:29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
Mark 14:25 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Luke 22:17-18 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
Page 16: But three days after his death, Jesus was resurrected by God as a spirit. (1 Peter 3:18) Then he could enter the Most Holy compartment of God's spiritual temple - heaven itself. And this is precisely what happened.
Correction: Jesus was raised with a glorified body with material essence.
Luke 24:37-43 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.
Page 16: So by gaining entrance into the Most Holy, or heaven, Jesus opened the way for others to follow. (Hebrews 6:19, 20) These individuals, who would number 144,000, would serve as underpriests in God's spiritual temple arrangement. (Revelation 7:4; 14:1; 20:6)
Correction: The will serve God on the earth during "the tribulation."
Mark 13:19-20 "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days."
Page 16: Just as the high priest of Israel first took the blood of the bull into the Most Holy to atone for the sins of the priests, the value of Jesus' shed blood was first applied to these 144,000 underpriests.
Correction: The value of Jesus' shed blood is equally applied to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Acts 2:39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
Page 16: It seems that by the year 1935, the general ingathering of the anointed was complete.
Correction: There were more than 144,000 anointed Christians in the first century A.D.
Romans 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:
Page 16: Since the priests pictured the anointed ones who would be with Jesus in the heavenly Kingdom, whom did the nonpriestly tribes represent?
Correction: God does not show partiality with salvation destination partiality.
Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."
Pages 16-17: The answer is found in Jesus' words recorded at John 10:16: "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd." Hence, Jesus' shed blood benefits two groups of people - first, those Christians whose hope is to rule with Jesus in heaven and second, those who look forward to everlasting life on a paradise earth.
Correction: The two groups of people are Jews and Gentiles.
Romans 3:29-30 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Romans 9:22-25 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved."
Page 17: These "desirable things" are still filling Jehovah's house. In recent years, restrictions have been lifted in Eastern Europe, parts of Africa, and other lands, allowing the good news of God's established Kingdom to flourish in hitherto untouched territories.
Note: There are no Jehovah's Witnesses within Red China! 1/1/2000 Watchtower, page 17.
Page 19: Are you having a share in the vital Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work? If so, you are truly privileged.
Correction: You will be under a curse of God if you preach the Kingdom without the King.
Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other good news 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 good news to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Page 19: Indeed, it is through this work that "desirable things" are being drawn by Jehovah into his house. (John 6:44)
Correction: It is through sincere faith and trust in Jesus that people become true Christians.
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Page 19: Observe that Jehovah not only exhorts us to be strong but also provides us with the means for gaining strength. How? Note the reassuring words: "I am with you people." How faith-strengthening it is to realize that no matter what obstacles we face, Jehovah is with us!
Note: Jesus Christ is always with true Christians.
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Page 19: Indeed, it is just as he stated through the prophet Haggai: "Greater will the glory of this later house become that that of the former ... And in this place I shall give peace." (Haggai 2:9) Truly, the greatest glory today is to be found in Jehovah's spiritual temple.
Correction: Haggai prophecy is yet future.
Revelation 21:22-23 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 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.
Page 19: Why, hundreds of thousands flock to true worship each year. These are being well fed spiritually, and even in this turbulent world, they enjoy a peace that will be surpassed only by that experienced in God's new world. - Isaiah 9:6, 7; Luke 12:42.
Correction: The peace of God can only be found in Jesus Christ.
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Page 19: Jehovah's rocking of the nations at Armageddon is just ahead. (Revelation 16:14, 16) Let us therefore use the remaining time to help save more lives. May we be strong and have complete trust in Jehovah.
Note: True Christians will place their trust in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Page 20: Unbalanced thinking nearly ensnared Jesus' apostles. They became very concerned with personal glory and power. When the time of great test came, they abandoned Jesus and fled. (Matthew 18:1; 20:20-28; 26:56; Mark 9:33, 34; Luke 22:24)
Correction: The disciples abandoned Jesus to fulfill Bible prophecy.
Matthew 26:31-32 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
Page 21: As Jehovah's Witnesses, we may meet with ridicule and rejection in our public ministry.
Note: True Christians will suffer 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 21: We need to remember that such opposition is really directed, not against us personally, but against Jehovah, the Source of our message.
Note: True Christians will suffer because "the world" hated Jesus Christ.
John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
Page 21: To do his Father's will and to bring salvation to mankind, God's Son willingly left his glorious heavenly position and became a lowly human on earth.
Note: Are you in the will of God? Have you put your trust in Jesus?
John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Note: The phrase "God's Son" is not found in Scripture.
Page 21: Despite insults, abuse, and an ignominious death, he maintained self-control and dignity. (Matthew 20:28; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Peter 2:23, 24) How was Jesus able to do this?
Answer: Jesus Christ truly loved people.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
Page 21: He relied completely on Jehovah and was determined to do the divine will. Jesus studied God's Word diligently, prayed fervently, and exerted himself vigorously in the ministry.
Correction: Jesus Christ never had to study the Scriptures since He is the Word.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 7:15 And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"
Page 22: Having a modest and humble spirit enables Jehovah's servants to find true joy in their ministry.
Correction: True Christians find joy in Jesus.
John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
Page 23: Clearly, Jehovah God wants us to have an intimate relationship with him. Yet, not everyone worshiping God and obeying his laws necessarily feels close to him.
Note: Without Jesus you will never know God.
Matthew 11:27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
Page 23: Being abundant in loving-kindness, Jehovah is "ready to forgive." (Psalm 86:5)
Note: Jesus will forgive you of your sins.
Matthew 9:6 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"; then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
Page 23: If we have repented of our past sins and are now making straight paths for our feet, we are assured that "seasons of refreshing" will come from Jehovah. (Acts 3:19)
Note: True Christians are refreshed by Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
Pages 23-24: Can we really expect Jehovah to be our Friend if we lead a double life - acting one way around Christian associates and another way when out of their sight - like "men of untruth" who hide what kind of people they are? (Psalm 26:4)
Note: Jehovah is not your friend unless you obey Jesus.
John 15:14-15 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."
Page 24: The wise king continues: "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5, 6.
Note: True Christians will be focusing on Jesus Christ.
John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
Page 24: As the Creator, he is "vigorous in power" and is the Source of "dynamic energy." (Isaiah 40:26, 29)
Note: Jesus Christ is the Creator.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
Note: Jesus Christ is the "power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Note: True Christians are filled with joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Page 24: The fact that "it is impossible for God to lie" makes him the very epitome of truth. (Hebrews 6:18) His dominant quality is love. (1 John 4:8)
Note: I am persuaded by Scripture that the love of God can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Page 24: Prayer is also an important way of taking notice of Jehovah. King David kept calling on Jehovah "all day long." (Psalm 86:3)
Note: Early Christians prayed to Jesus Christ.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Page 24: How often do we pray? Do we enjoy having personal heartfelt communication with God? When faced with trying situations, do we petition him for help? Do we prayerfully seek his guidance before making important decisions? Our sincere prayers to Jehovah endear us to him.
Note: Have you endeared yourself to Jesus?
John 14:13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
Page 24: To honor Jehovah means to show him high regard and to exalt him publicly by sharing in and supporting the public proclamation of his name.
Correction: True Christians will proclaim 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 25: The doing of God's will was sustaining "food" for Jesus. (John 4:34) Likewise, having a share in the preaching and disciple-making work that glorifies Jehovah nourishes us.
Correction: True Christians are nourished by Jesus Christ.
John 6:53-58 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."
Page 26: Yes, we can walk in security and sleep with peace of mind as we await the thieflike approach of the day of "sudden destruction" upon Satan's wicked world.
Note: Jesus will give you security and peace of mind.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Page 26: These, then, are the days for showing zeal in the Kingdom-preaching and disciple - making work. - Matthew 28:19, 20.
Correction: True Christians will preach King Jesus.
Colossians 1:27-28 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Page 26: Let us therefore reject the devious ways of this wicked and violent world. Indeed, let us pursue an upright course and cultivate intimacy with Jehovah!
Correction: Let us therefore reject the Watch Tower and cultivate intimacy with Jesus.
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Page 28: The impaled Lord Jesus Christ - condemned by the highest Jewish authority and 'despised and avoided by men' - was alive.
Note: The word "impale" does not mean to be "hung up." Impale: to pierce with. Webster's
Page 28: Yet, Jehovah had allowed him to suffer the most ignominious of deaths and to fall under the Law's sentence: "Something accursed of God is the one hung up." (Deuteronomy 21:23) Jesus died while he hung on the torture stake.
Note: The "torture stake" is a fable. There was a nail for each hand according to a eyewitness.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
Page 28: Jesus was the Messiah. Stephen and others were right. (Isaiah 53:3; Acts 7:56; 1 Timothy 6:16) Saul had been utterly wrong, for Jesus identified himself with the very ones whom Saul was persecuting!
Note: Are you 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 28: On grasping that fact, Saul could esteem as "wisdom of God" the torture stake that was "to the Jews a cause for stumbling." (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Colossians 2:14)
Note: True Christians will always proclaim the death of Jesus Christ for personal salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.