Page 3: In 1473 B.C.E., Jehovah bequeathed to the nation of ancient Israel a new home - the Promised Land, a strip of territory measuring about 300 miles from north to south and 35 miles wide, on an average.
Correction: The Promised Land was far greater according to the Holy Bible. Deut. 11:24.
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory.
Page 3: Furthermore, at its height the Promised Land provided a small-scale example of what Paradise under God's Kingdom will soon mean for mankind earth wide!
Correction: The garden of Eden gives us a picture of what earth will be like in the future.
And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. Genesis 2:9.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:20-21.
Page 5: Similarly, Satan the Devil is "seeking to devour" God's servants, but often he must first penetrate a strong buffer zone - their adherence to Bible principles, such as those regarding bad associations and materialism.
Correction: We need to rely on God instead of ourselves.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17.
Page 6: Hezekiah's efforts to protect and increase Jerusalem's water supply can teach us a practical lesson. Jehovah is "the source of living water."
Note: So is Jesus!
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.
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 Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38.
Page 8: There the promise recorded at Psalm 37:29 will be fulfilled: "The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." When Jehovah gives that Paradise home to obedient mankind, how happy they will be to inspect all its "rooms" and to have forever to do so!
Note: Obedience is believing.
And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:18-19.
Page 9: At Matthew 24:3, we find one of the most important questions Jesus ever answered. With the end of his earthly life near, Jesus had just warned that Jerusalem's temple would be destroyed, marking the end of the Jewish system.
Note: The Watchtower has made doctrine out of a ignorant question from the disciples.
What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things? N.W.T.
Page 10: And what answer did Jesus give?
Answer from the word of God: Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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 24:29-30.
Page 12: The answer is the same-presence. We see that from examples to the Philippians: "In the way that you have always obeyed, not during my presence only, but now much more readily during my absence, keep working out your own salvation."
Note: The Watchtower never mentions the next verse from Philippians.
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.
Page 12: First there must appear "the man of lawlessness," which has proved to be the clergy of Christendom. Paul wrote that "the lawless one's presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs."
Note: The Watchtower does not understand rules of grammar. Paul uses singular personal pronouns numerous times in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses three through nine. Singular personal pronouns refer to just one person not numerous people.
Page 12: Just as the presence of "the man of lawlessness" would be over a period of time, Jesus' presence would extend for some time and would climax in the destruction of that lawless "son of destruction." 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
Correction: The appearing or presence of Jesus will be in a moment of time.
And while they looked 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." Acts 1:10-11.
So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Hebrews 9:28.
Page 13: Such a use of bi'ah' would, understandably, have to support what Jehovah's Witnesses have long taught, that the composite "sign" Jesus gave was to reflect that he was present.
Note: Jesus warns us about organizations that teach against His dramatic second coming.
"Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:26-27.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11.
Page 14: Jesus foretold that it would be the same with "the presence of the Son of Man." The people around Noah might have felt that nothing would happen. You know differently. Those days, which spread over time, led to a climax, "the flood came and swept them all away."
Correction: Jesus Christ will return to earth in a day. Matthew 24:36.
But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
Correction: The days before the return of Jesus will be similar to the days before the flood.
But as the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:38-39.
Page 17: Thus they were saved from part of what Jesus termed 'great tribulation such as had not occurred since the world's beginning until then, nor would occur again' on Jerusalem.
Correction: The great tribulation will be on the entire world not just Jerusalem.
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21.
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Revelation 16:18.
Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, every hailstone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. Revelation 16:20-21.
Page 17: In the past it was explained that the 'flesh to be saved' referred to Jews who survived the tribulation on Jerusalem in 70 C.E.
Correction: Unless the number of days (not years) were shortened no one would survive.
And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:22.
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:8.
So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Revelation 9:15.
Page 19: John foretold "a great crowd...out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues." Who are they? A voice from heaven answers: "These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation." (Revelation 7:9, 14)
Note: The great crowd is in heaven.
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 7:9.
Page 19: The opening phase of this tribulation will be an attack on a symbolic prostitute called "Babylon the Great." (Revelation 14:8; 17:1, 2) She represents the worldwide empire of false religion, with Christendom being most reprehensible.
Correction: The opening phase of the great tribulation will be the unveiling of the future world leader or 'beast.'
And I looked, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:2.
So they worshipped the dragon (Satan) who gave authority to the beast (world leader); and they worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months (not years). Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:4-7.
Page 30: There is good reason to believe that the number of 144,000 anointed Christians was complete decades ago.
Correction: There are not different classes of Christians.
For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11.
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 31: But it seems that in the mid-1930's, the full number of the 144,000 was basically completed. Thus there began to appear a group of loyal Christians with the earthly hope. Jesus termed such "other sheep," who unite in worship with the anointed as one approved flock.
Correction: The "other sheep" are gentiles or non-Jews.
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16.
And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Matthew 10:18.
For so the Lord has commanded us: "I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth." Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. Acts 13:47-48.
And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Acts 14:27.
Then He said to me, "Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles." Acts 22:21.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16.
Page 31: Over the years some, even ones newly baptized, have suddenly begun to partake. In a number of cases, after a while they acknowledged that this was an error.
Correction: Jesus commands us to partake until he returns to the earth.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, ALL of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26.