WATCHTOWER - NOVEMBER 1, 1996

 

Page 5-6: The psalm was written by Solomon's father, King David. Its superscription reads: "Regarding Solomon." Evidently, it was written by aged King David respecting One who would inherit his throne.

Page 6: Since Jesus' resurrection to God's right hand, he has been in heaven, in the location from which he can fulfill the words of Psalm 72.

Correction: David's throne was on the earth and so will the Messiah's throne when He returns.

Ezekiel 43:7 And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places."

 

Page 7: As a Bible writer observed over 1,900 years ago, "all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now." (Romans 8:22) In our time "groaning" and "pain" have been greater than ever. Since World War I, mankind has suffered one crisis after another in the form of wars, crime, and natural disasters that often are linked to man's mismanagement of the earth.-Revelation 11:18.

Correction: The account in Romans is speaking of the earning for future glory of God's creation.

Romans 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

 

Page 7: Describing the casting of Satan from the heavens following the Kingdom's birth in 1914, the Bible answers: "Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." (Revelation 12:12)

Note: Jesus Christ was wrong about the timing of the Kingdom according to the Watchtower.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Note: The date of 1914 is based on the bogus date of 607 BCE for the destruction of Jerusalem.

 

Page 10: However, such help should not be viewed as something automatic. To benefit from it fully, each Christian must continue praying for the comforting help that God provides through his holy spirit.-Luke 11:13.

Correction: We must simply trust Jesus.

Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

 

Page 10: Paul wrote: "All the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4) This shows the need for us regularly to study and to meditate on the things written in the Bible and Bible-based publications.

Note: Watchtower and Awake! magazines are not Scriptures.

 

 

Page 11: The Bible reports that "as angel from heaven appeared to (Jesus) and strengthened him." (Luke 22:43) The courageous and manly way in which Jesus went on to face his opposers is evidence that God's way of comforting his Son was most effective.-John 18:3-8, 33-38.

Correction: Through His love for us, Jesus joyously endured the punishment.

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 12: Many current readers of The Watchtower grew up without a knowledge of God's truth. Perhaps that is true of you. If so, recall how you felt as your eyes of understanding began to open. For example, when you first understood that the dead are not suffering but are unconscious, were you not relieved?

Correction: Unrighteous people who have not put their faith in God will suffer after dying.

Luke 16:22-24 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' "

 

Page 12: And when you learned of the hope for the dead, that billions will be resurrected to life in God's new world, were you not comforted?-Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; John 5:28, 29.

Correction: The dead in Christ will be resurrected to glory.

John 5:25 "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live."

 

Page 12-13: How did you feel when you first learned of the possibility of never dying but of surviving into that coming earthly Paradise? No doubt you were thrilled. Yes, you had become a recipient of God's comforting message now being preached worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Correction: We can be in Paradise by having Jesus Christ as our Lord or Master.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Correction: The comforting message or good news should be 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 13: The opposition may have intensified as you began making changes to bring your life into harmony with Bible principles. You began to experience the tribulation that Satan and his world bring upon all who accept God's comfort.

Correction: Biblical tribulation is 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 13-14: Thus, whatever comfort we may experience from the kindness of fellow believers, we can look to Jehovah as the source. There is no real, lasting comfort that does not originate with God.

Note: Comfort also originates with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation (comfort) also abounds through Christ.

Philippians 2:1-2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

 

Page 14: We too can experience an abundance of comfort by meditating on God's precious promises, by praying for the support of his holy spirit, and by experiencing God's answers to our prayers. Thus we will be strengthened to continue upholding Jehovah's sovereignty and proving the Devil to be a liar. (Job 2:4; Proverbs 27:11)

Correction: We will experience an abundance of comfort only through the Father and the Son.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

 

Page 14: All members of the Christian congregation need to "share the comfort" that God provides through his Word, his holy spirit, and his earthly organization.

Correction: The Watchtower substitutes an organization for Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 

Page 16: Some Bible scholars believe that Paul was referring to the riot in Ephesus, which could have cost Paul as well as his two Macedonian traveling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, their lives.

Note: Bible scholars are not Jehovah Witnesses.

 

Page 17: We can be sure that God's comforting power enabled them to endure and that they died with hearts and minds firmly fixed on the fulfillment of their hope, be that a heavenly hope or an earthly one. (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Revelation 2:10)

Correction: True Christian hope is based on Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:5-6 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope.

 

Page 26: After five hours in a stuffy basement, I found a saucer bearing Jehovah's name, the Tetragrammaton.

Correction: The name of God the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, is not Jehovah.

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