Page 12: Thus, in the year 607 BCE., God executed judgment by bringing up the Babylonian armies to destroy the temple. The surviving Israelites were taken captive to Babylon.
Correction: Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BCE.
In 588 BC Zedekiah led a revolt against Chaldea, and two years later Nebuchadnezzar's army destroyed Judah and razed Jerusalem. Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 15, page 57.
Page 12: After 70 years a repentant Jewish remnant returned to Jerusalem and were granted the privilege of rebuilding Jehovah's temple.
Correction: The 70 years refers to the temple being in ruins.
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 & Wagalls Encyclopedia, Volume 15, page 58.
Page 14: Showing his heartfelt desire to submit to God's will, Jesus continued praying: "Look! I am come (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do your will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7)
Clarification: The will of God is that everyone place their sincere belief in Jesus Christ for everlasting life.
This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 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. John 6:39-40.
Note: The Bible (in the roll of the book it is written about me) is about Jesus Christ.
Page 15: The disciple Luke was inspired to pinpoint the year of this momentous event as being "the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar." (Luke 3:1-3) That corresponds to the year 29 C.E.-exactly 69 weeks of years, or 483 years, from the time that King Artaxerxes had given the command for Jerusalem's walls to be rebuilt. (Nehemiah 2:1, 5-8)
Correction: On March 14, 445 BC the command was given to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The Watchtower forgot that God's prophecy year is 360 days long. 69 X 7 X 360 = 173,880 days. Jesus Christ was hailed as Messiah on April 6, 32 AD when He entered Jerusalem.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9.
Page 15: At the time of Jesus' baptism, God's heavenly abode was anointed, or set apart, as "the Holy of Holies" in the great spiritual temple arrangement. (Daniel 9:24)
Correction: Jesus Christ is the "Holy of Holies."
Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple (Holy of Holies), and in three days I will raise it up." But He was speaking of the temple of His body. John 2:19, 21.
Page 15: Also, through his baptism with water and holy spirit, the man Jesus Christ was born again as a spiritual Son of God.
Page 16: The first compartment of the temple pictures a condition superior to that of the courtyard. In the case of the perfect human Jesus Christ, it pictures his rebirth as a spiritual Son of God destined to return to heavenly life.
Correction: Jesus Christ never had to change spiritually.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8.
Page 15: the curtain that separated the Holy from the Most Holy pictured Jesus' fleshly body. (Hebrews 10:19, 20) It was the barrier that kept Jesus from entering into his Father's presence while he was a man on earth. (1 Corinthians 15:50)
Correction: The purpose of Jesus Christ while on the earth was to die for the sins of the world.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8.
Note: According to the Watchtower, Jesus Christ had no joy while on earth.
You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence. Acts 2:28 (Psalm 16:11).
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. Hebrews 12:2.
Page 16: Three days later, Jehovah God performed an outstanding miracle. He raised Jesus from the dead, not as a mortal human of flesh and blood, but as a glorious spirit creature "continuing alive forever." (Hebrews 7:24)
Correction: Jesus Christ was resurrected with a physical body.
"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." Luke 24:39.
Page 16: Furthermore, these anointed ones constituted a new nation, God's "holy nation" of spiritual Israel. Henceforth, all prophecies of good things about Israel, such as the "new covenant" promise recorded at Jeremiah 31:31, would apply to the anointed Christian congregation, the real "Israel of God." - 1 Peter 2:9; Galatians 6:16.
Correction: Anyone who is of the faith of Abraham is spiritual Israel.
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. Romans 4:16.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26.
Page 16-17: Through "water (that is, their baptism) and spirit," they are "born again" as spiritual sons of God.
Correction: Anyone can be "born again" by recognizing the death of Jesus Christ for their sins.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17.
Page 17: As such, they have the hope of being resurrected to heavenly life as spirit sons of God, provided they remain faithful till death.
Correction: God will be faithful to those who have sincerely received Jesus into their lives.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13.
Page 17: Priests who served inside the Holy of the earthly temple were unseen by worshipers on the outside. Likewise, anointed Christians experience a spiritual condition that is not shared or fully understood by the majority of worshipers of God, whose hope is to live forever on a paradise earth.
Correction: God treats everyone the same.
But glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:10-11.
Note: Here is a passage written to all the churches in the province of Galatia.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28.
Page 17: The golden lampstand of the tabernacle pictures the enlightened condition of anointed Christians.
Correction: The golden lampstand is a picture of Jesus Christ.
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." John 8:12.
Page 17: To remain in this enlightened condition, anointed Christians must regularly feed upon what is pictured by the bread on the table of showbread.
Clarification: The showbread pictures Jesus Christ.
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:35.
Page 17: Jesus also promised to provide them with "food at the proper time" through his "faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45) This "slave" is the entire body of anointed Christians on earth at any particular time. Christ has used this anointed body to publish information on the fulfillment of Bible prophecies and to give timely direction on the application of Bible principles in modern daily life.
Correction: The faithful and discreet slave is the person who is serving Jesus Christ at His return.
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Matthew 24:44-46.
Page 18: God rewarded Jesus by resurrecting him from the dead to immortal heavenly life. In this lofty position, Jesus gives attention to the secondary reason for his coming to earth, namely, to reconcile repentant human sinners with God. - Hebrews 4:14-16.
Correction: The only reason Jesus Christ came to the earth was to reconcile people back to the Father through His sacrificial death.
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29.
"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." John 12:27.
Page 18: The book of Revelation foretold that these spiritual sons of Israel would finally number 144,000. (Revelation 7:4) As these ones die in faithfulness, they are instantaneously resurrected as immortal spirit creatures to join those of the 144,000 already in heaven.
Correction: The 144,000 witnesses of God are on the earth during the outpouring of God's wrath.
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. Revelation 7:2-4.
Page 19-20: During the first world war, anointed Christians suffered many hardships and imprisonments at the hands of the warring nations. Their sacrifices of praise to Jehovah were severely restricted and they fell into a spiritually captive state. All of this was foretold at Zechariah 14:2, which describes an international attack on Jerusalem. The city of this prophecy is "heavenly Jerusalem," God's heavenly Kingdom and the location of "the throne of God and of the Lamb." (Hebrews 12:22, 28; 13:14; Revelation 22:3) God's anointed ones on earth represented that city.
Note: According to the Watchtower, the anointed Christians represent a cube of approximately 1,377 miles in length and width.
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. And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Revelation 21:10, 16.
Page 20: As ambassadors of heavenly Jerusalem, they seized the grand opportunity to preach the good news of God's Kingdom and to assist in gathering the final members of the 144,000.
Correction: The good news or gospel is about Jesus Christ.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel 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. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
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. Galatians 1:9.
Page 20: Particularly from the year 1935, they have been joined by the international "great crowd," foretold in the book of Revelation. These too are dedicated, baptized Christians and have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb," Jesus Christ. (Revelation 7:9, 14) However, they are not anointed ones, with the hope of heavenly life.
Correction: The great crowd is in heaven.
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands. Revelation 4:2; 7:9.
Page 20: The great crowd do not serve God in the condition pictured by the inner priestly courtyard. They are not declared righteous for the purpose of being God's adopted, spiritual sons. (Romans 8:1, 15)
Correction: Everyone who exercises faith in Jesus Christ are God's adopted, spiritual sons.
To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. Romans 1:7.
To the churches of Galatia. Galatians 1:2. 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. Galatians 4:4-5.
Page 21: The large container of water that the priests had to use to wash themselves is also an important reminder to these foreigners. They too must submit to spiritual and moral cleansing as God's Word is made progressively clearer to them.
Correction: The large container of water pictures living water which will flow out from people who have sincerely believed in Jesus Christ.
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures (Old Testament) has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38.
Page 21: Just as the lampstand needed a constant supply of oil, so the foreigners need holy spirit to help them grasp progressive truths from God's Word, channeled through "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45-47)
Correction: The Holy Spirit Himself will teach people all spiritual things.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26.
Page 21: Further, God's spirit helps them to respond to this invitation: "The spirit and the bride (the anointed remnant) keep on saying: 'Come!' And let anyone hearing say: 'Come!' And let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life's water free." (Revelation 22:17)
Note: People need to come to Jesus to receive this eternal living water.
But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14.
Page 21: The table of showbread reminds the great crowd that to remain spiritually healthy, they must regularly partake of spiritual food from the Bible and from publications of "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 4:4)
Correction: To remain spiritually healthy people need to partake of Jesus Christ. John 6:51.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.
Page 21: The incense altar also reminds them of the need to praise God in other ways, such as through their wholehearted singing of Kingdom songs at Christian meetings and by their preparing well to make effective "public declaration for salvation." Romans 10:10.
Correction: Instead of praising paradise earth, people need to praise the Father and the Son.
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Revelation 5:13.
Page 22: Then Jehovah will act. As a Warrior-God, he "will certainly go forth and war against those nations" who dare to make this attack. Zechariah 14:2, 3.
Clarification: Jesus Christ will go forth and war against those nations.
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. Matthew 24:30.
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. Revelation 19:15.
Page 22-23: All these resurrected ones must do something in order for their resurrection to turn out to be one of life and not one of adverse judgment. They must come to the earthly courtyards of Jehovah's temple and bow down in dedication to God through Jesus Christ.
Application: Only through Jesus Christ is eternal life to be found.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:28.
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23.
Page 24: The joyful festival was temporarily eclipsed by the apostasy that resulted in the formation of Christendom. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) However, the festival was resumed in 1919 with the joyful ingathering of the final members of the 144,000 spiritual Israelites, followed by that of the international great crowd of Revelation 7:9.
Correction: The joyful festival was never interrupted.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21.
Page 26: When Kay called again, we discussed the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, which claims that God is three persons in one God. Later I carefully examined my own Bible to satisfy myself that it does not teach the Trinity.
Correction: Careful examination of the Bible shows the interaction of three persons within God.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17.
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. Matthew 28:19.
Note: The name (singular) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is Jehovah.
Page 26: My study confirmed that Jesus is not as great as God. He was created. He had a beginning, whereas Jehovah did not.
Correction: Jesus Christ had no beginning.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2.