Pages 3-4: A book that has proved to be a reliable source of prophetic information warns us of a coming worldwide disaster and describes it this way: "The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken .... All the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation." (Matthew 24:29, 30) Here celestial phenomena of universal magnitude are described as affecting "all the tribes of the earth."
Correction: All remaining ungodly peoples will be affected at the visible appearance of 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 (erchomai) on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Page 4: In other words, this prophecy relates to a catastrophe that will affect every one of us.
Correction: The return of Jesus will adversely affect only ungodly people.
Matthew 13:30 "Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 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 4: Similarly, Bible students observe the sign of "the conclusion of the system of things" and alert others to the impending danger. - Matthew 24:3.
Correction: True Bible students will preach Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the good news of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Page 4: We do not need to be news analysts to discern the current fulfillment of this prophecy. Especially since 1914, we have experienced it.
Correction: 1914 is based on the bogus date of 607 B.C.E. for the destruction of Jerusalem.
Page 4: The worldwide preaching work, another aspect of the sign, is certainly being accomplished. Just turn back to the cover of this magazine, and you will note the words "Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom" as part of the title.
Note: There are no publishers in the Peoples Republic of China; a land of 1.3 billion people.
Page 5: That good news includes the message that the Creator of the universe, Jehovah God, has established the heavenly Kingdom that will destroy the wicked system of things and bring in a paradise on earth.
Correction: The good news is about 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 5: What will happen when the time is ripe for Jehovah to execute his judgment?
Note: Jesus Christ executes judgment.
John 5:22 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,"
Page 5: We can take refuge by 'seeking Jehovah, seeking righteousness, and seeking meekness.' Who today are seeking Jehovah?
Note: Who today are seeking 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.
Page 5: You no doubt relate the word "Jehovah" to Jehovah's Witnesses because of their preaching work. You may have received this magazine from one of them.
Correction: True Christians are Jesus witnesses.
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 5: They are endeavoring to put on a "new personality," which includes developing meekness. (Colossians 3:8-10) This, they admit, results from being educated by Jehovah's visible organization, throughout the earth represented by local congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Correction: True Christians that have a "new personality" are going to heaven.
Colossians 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Page 5: Yes, you can take refuge along with 'the entire association of brothers' among Jehovah's Witnesses the world over. - 1 Peter 5:9.
Correction: True Christians will spared the wrath of God by being in heaven.
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 5: To take refuge by seeking Jehovah, we have to be his friends. What does that involve? The Bible answers: "Do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God."
Note: The world hates true Christians for their testimony of 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 5: To be friends of God, we must rid ourselves of any emotional attachment to the present wicked world, characterized by a rebellious attitude toward God.
Correction: Friends of God have sincerely asked Jesus to come into their lives.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him (the Son), to them He (the Father) gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Page 5: Most people today are motivated by fleshly desires - uncontrolled sexual appetite, greedy pursuit of money, and abusive use of power. But to be on Jehovah's side, one must overcome such desires. - Colossians 3:5-8.
Correction: A true Christian will overcome fleshly desires by having Jesus first place in life.
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Page 6: Comparably, instead of 'seeking great things for ourselves,' we should seek Jehovah, which can lead to the saving of our own lives.
Note: Have you found Jesus Christ?
Matthew 1:21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
Page 6: At Mount Fugen, over a dozen policemen and volunteer fireman were on duty when the superheated volcanic flow hit them. They were trying to help and protect endangered people. They were like well-meaning men and women who are immersed in improving this world. Lofty though their motives may be, "that which is made crooked cannot be made straight."
Correction: The context of this Scripture is selfish pursuits. Helping others requires selflessness.
Eccl 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered.
Note: The Watch Tower numbering and dating of Biblical prophecies are spiritually lacking.
Page 6: The crooked system of things cannot be straightened out. Is it reasonable to make oneself "a friend of the world" by trying to save a worldwide system that God is determined to eliminate?
Correction: People are not a worldwide system. The Watch Tower depersonalizes people.
Matthew 25:34-40 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"
Page 7: "Jehovah's day will come as a thief," the apostle Peter warned. We need to be alert, "awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah," doing our "utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished and in peace." (2 Peter 3:10-14)
Correction: Are you relying on yourself or Jesus Christ?
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Page 7: After the destruction of the present wicked system of things, a paradise earth under the Kingdom of God awaits.
Correction: The judgment of peoples and nations by Jesus occurs after the "great tribulation."
Joel 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
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 10: The Bible, however, does not focus attention on Jesus' appearance. Rather, Jehovah saw fit to reveal something far more significant: the kind of person Jesus was.
Note: Jesus is God in human flesh.
Matthew 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
Page 11: First, the mind of Christ gives us a glimpse into the mind of Jehovah God.
Correction: Jesus Christ is the "exact" replica of the Father.
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"
Page 11: Jesus was so intimately acquainted with his Father that he could say: "Who the Son is no one knows but the Father; and who the Father is, no one knows but the Son, and he to whom the Son is willing to reveal him." (Luke 10:22)
Note: A personal relationship with the Father is only through 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 11: In other words, if we are truly to act like Christ, we must first learn to think and feel like him, that is, to the best of our ability as imperfect humans.
Correction: True Christians act like Jesus based on their love for Jesus.
John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
Page 11: The Gospel of John calls attention to Jesus' prehuman existence as "the Word," or Spokesman, of God. Says John: "In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1, 2)
Note: The Watch Tower declares Jesus to be a false god.
John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Note: The Watch Tower has mistranslated the Word of God.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Note: The WT teaches Jesus was created. Thus, God was speechless sometime in eternity past.
Page 11: Since Jehovah had no beginning, the Word's being with God from "the beginning" must refer to the start of God's creative works. (Psalm 90:2)
Note: God created the universe all by Himself.
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;"
John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Page 11: Jesus is "the firstborn of all creation." Hence, he existed before other spirit creatures and the physical universe were created. - Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14.
Correction: The word "firstborn" refers to the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Acts 13:33-34 "God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You.' And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.'"
Page 11: According to some scientific estimates, the physical universe has existed for at least 12 billion years. If those estimates are anywhere near correct, God's firstborn Son enjoyed close association with his Father for aeons before the creation of Adam. (Compare Micah 5:2.)
Correction: Jesus Christ was never created since He is from everlasting.
Micah 5:2 "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 are from of old, from everlasting."
Correction: The estimated life of 12 billion years for the universe is given by evolutionists.
Isaiah 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man on it. I; My hands; stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded.
Page 11: A tender and deep bond thus developed between the two of them.
Correction: The tender and deep bond always existed and never had to be developed.
Isaiah 45:21 Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.
Note: The Hebrew word for God is 'elohim which is the plural word for God.
Page 11: As wisdom personified, this firstborn Son in his prehuman existence is represented as saying: "I came to be the one (Jehovah) was specially fond of day by day, I being glad before him all the time." (Proverbs 8:30)
Correction: Jesus Christ is never personified as a woman.
Proverbs 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
Proverbs 9:1-5 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 has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed."
Note: This wisdom is outside of God and is totally brilliant in the undefiled state of purity.
Page 11: Surely spending countless ages in intimate association with the Source of love had a profound effect on God's Son! (1 John 4:8)
Note: True Christians will focus on the love of Jesus.
John 15:9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
Page 11: This Son came to know and reflect his Father's thoughts, feelings, and ways as no one else could. - Matthew 11:27.
Page 11: God's Son had more to learn, for Jehovah's purpose was to equip his Son to be a compassionate High Priest, able to "sympathize with our weaknesses." (Hebrews 4:15)
Correction: Jesus Christ has never had to learn before His incarnation (birth).
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Note: The phrase "God's Son" is not found in the Word of God.
Page 11: To meet the requirements for this role was one of the reasons the Son came to earth as a human.
Correction: The reason Jesus came to the earth was for the salvation of mankind.
Luke 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Page 11: Here, as a man of flesh and blood, Jesus was exposed to circumstances and influences that he had only observed from heaven.
Correction: Jesus as God walked through his creation.
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Page 12: Even more, he endured all manner of hardships and suffering. He thus "learned obedience" and became completely qualified for his role as High Priest. - Hebrews 5:8-10.
Note: As a human, Jesus learned obedience. As God, Jesus is the author of salvation.
Hebrews 5:9-11 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek," of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
Page 12: Though perfect, he still had to grow from babyhood through childhood and adolescence to adulthood, all the while learning. (Luke 2:51, 52)
Page 12: On one such occasion, Joseph and Mary, after a diligent search, found 12-year-old Jesus in the temple in the midst of the teachers. To his worried parents, Jesus said: "Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?" (Luke 2:49)
Note: Jesus was born the Christ (Messiah)!
Luke 2:46-47 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
Page 13: Then, in 29 C.E., the time came for Jesus to carry out the divine assignment awaiting him. In the fall of that year, he was baptized in water and was begotten as a spiritual Son of God.
Correction: Jesus was born the Christ (Messiah)!
Luke 2:11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
Page 13: 'The heavens were opened up to him,' evidently indicating that he could now recall his prehuman life in heaven, including the thoughts and feelings that went with it. (Luke 3:21, 22)
Correction: The Father began the ministry of the Son by making a declaration about Jesus.
Luke 3:22-23 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age,
Page 14: Even more significant is what he taught. His teachings reflected his heartfelt desire to acquaint his listeners with the thoughts, feelings, and ways of Jehovah. - John 17:6-8.
Note: Do you personally know 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 15: Understandably, people were astounded at Jesus' "way of teaching" and were drawn to him. (Matthew 7:28, 29) Why, on one occasion "a big crowd" remained near him for three days, even going without food! - Mark 8:1, 2.
Note: Are you drawn to Jesus?
Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Page 16: When Jesus realizes what the disciples are doing, he is not pleased. Jesus calls the children to him, saying: "Let the young children come to me; do not try to stop them."
Note: Have you received the kingdom of God into your life?
Mark 10:15 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
Page 16: Reflecting on this account, we can ask ourselves, 'Do I have the mind of Christ? Am I approachable?'
Correction: Have you been saved into the kingdom of God through childlike faith?
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Page 17: Next, Jesus looked up to heaven and uttered a prayerful sigh. These demonstrative actions would say to the man, 'What I am about to do for you is due to power from God. Finally, Jesus said: "Be opened." (Mark 7:34)
Note: Jesus Christ is the power of God.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor 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.
Page 18: Jesus had a balanced, realistic view of his disciples. He well knew that they were not perfect. After all, he could read human hearts. (John 2:24, 25)
Note: Only God knows the heart.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."
Page 18: Even so, he saw them not simply in terms of their imperfections but in terms of their good qualities. He also saw the potential in these men whom Jehovah had drawn. (John 6:44)
Correction: There is no potential in people unless they do the will of God.
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."
Page 18: How did Jesus demonstrate that trust? When he left the earth, he delegated a heavy responsibility to his anointed disciples. He placed in their hands the responsibility of caring for the worldwide interests of his Kingdom. (Matthew 25:14, 15; Luke 12:42-44)
Correction: Jesus Christ never gave up His kingdom.
Matthew 28:20 "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.
Revelation 2:5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place;"
Page 18: During his ministry, he showed even in small, indirect ways that he trusted them. When he miraculously multiplied food to feed the crowds, he delegated to his disciples the responsibility of distributing the food. - Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-37.
Note: The Watch Tower has never organized a food drive for the poor and needy.
Acts 4:34-35 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
Page 18: Think about this: Jesus undoubtedly knew of the common storms, for he was raised in Galilee. Yet, he slept in peace trusting in the skills of his disciples, some of whom were fisherman. - Matthew 4:18, 19.
Correction: Jesus Christ was testing their faith.
Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Page 19: It was a full evening for Jesus. He gave his apostles an object lesson in humility be washing their feet. Afterward, he instituted the evening meal that would be a memorial of his death.
Note: Do you partake of the bread and the cup? Are you focusing on Jesus or the WT?
John 6:53-55 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."
Page 19: There, Jesus gave them a weighty commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of people 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 the things I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19, 20)
Note: Did anyone notice the Trinity? The word "name" is singular.
Page 19: The book of Acts gives us clear evidence that the apostles followed through on that commission. They faithfully spearheaded the work of preaching the good news in the first century. - Acts 2:41, 42; 4:33; 5:27-32.
Note: The good news is about Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree."
Page 20: The confidence and faith that he had expressed in them no doubt strengthened them to be resolved in their hearts to carry out the work he commanded them to do.
Correction: Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to empower true Christians.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Page 20: Cultivating and demonstrating the mind of Christ goes deeper than just imitating certain things Jesus did. As mentioned in the preceding article, if we are truly to act like Jesus, we must first learn to view things as he did.
Correction: True Christians have received the Holy Spirit into their lives.
1 Corinthians 2:11-12 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
Page 20: Jehovah God possesses and displays love, kindness, generosity, and other qualities that we esteem. Humans were created in God's image. So we can appreciate why many would show a degree of love, kindness, compassion, and other divine qualities, even as most reflect a conscience. (Genesis 1:26; Romans 2:14, 15)
Note: Jehovah God is a plurality of persons.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Page 21: Jesus' displays of love, tenderness, and compassion are reflections of "the mind of Christ," who in turn was imitating his heavenly Father. - 1 Corinthians 2:16 .
Correction: The mind of God is the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
Page 21: (Ezekiel 34:2-4; John 7:47-49) Jesus would treat them differently, doing the greatest possible good for them. He began teaching them about God's Kingdom.
Correction: Jesus was teaching people about Himself.
John 7:37-38 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."
Page 22: Earlier in his ministry, Jesus had said: "To other cities I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth." (Luke 4:43)
Note: The good news of the kingdom of God is the good news of 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.
Page 22: The ultimate good that Jesus could do - even for the sick, the demon afflicted, the poor, or the hungry - was to help them to know, accept, and love the truth about God's Kingdom.
Correction: Jesus helped them to know, accept, and love the truth about Himself.
Luke 5:24 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"; He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
Page 22: That truth was of central importance because of the role of the Kingdom in vindicating Jehovah's sovereignty and providing permanent blessings for humans.
Correction: The truth of Jesus Christ is central to the salvation of mankind.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Page 22: Jesus' active preaching about the Kingdom was at the core of the reason why he came to earth. Near the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus told Pilate: "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice." (John 18:37)
Correction: 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 22: We have noted in the two preceding articles that Jesus was a person of tender feelings - caring, approachable, considerate, trusting, and above all, loving. We need to appreciate those aspects of his personality if we truly want to understand the mind of Christ.
Correction: True Christians will know Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:2-5 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Page 24: By being with him, the apostles could absorb some of the mind of Christ. They could sense that their being truly loving and compassionate toward people included preaching and teaching about the Kingdom - that was to be a principal aspect of their good works.
Correction: The apostles preached Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
Page 24: Beyond being of physical help, however, those works actually moved observers to recognize that Jesus was the Son of God and "the prophet" that Moses had foretold. - John 6:14
Note: True Christians will be doing the work of God by sincerely believing in 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 24: Love for God is a primary reason why we share in the ministry, and truly being like Jesus includes being moved by compassion to preach and teach. - Matthew 22:37-39.
Note: True Christians love for God will be centered on Jesus Christ.
John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
Page 24: Yet, if we were to lose our love and compassion for people, we could lose a vital motivation for sharing in the Christian ministry. How, then, may we cultivate compassion?
Answer: By abiding in Jesus Christ.
John 15:5 "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 25: They have been neglected and blinded spiritually by false religious shepherds. As a result, they do not know of the sound guidance found in the Bible nor of the Paradise conditions that God's Kingdom will soon bring to our earth.
Correction: False religious shepherds will not know God.
John 16:2-3 "They will put you out of the synagogues (kingdom halls); yes, the time is coming that whoever kills (slanders) you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me."
Page 25: They face the problems of daily life - including poverty, family discord, sickness, and death - without having the Kingdom hope. We have what they need: the life-saving good news of God's Kingdom now established in heaven!
Correction: True Christians will have their hope in Jesus Christ.
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 25: When you thus ponder the spiritual needs of those around you, does not your heart move you to want to do all you can to tell them about God's loving purpose? Yes, ours is a work of compassion.
Correction: True Christians will tell people about Jesus Christ.
Acts 22:18 "and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.'"
Page 25: When we feel for people as Jesus did, it will be evident in our tone of voice, our facial expression, our manner of teaching. All of that will make our message more appealing to those who are "rightly disposed for everlasting life." - Acts 13:48.
Note: Those "rightly disposed for everlasting life" will personally know Jesus Christ.
Acts 13:27-28 "For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death."
Page 25: Yet, such manifestations of love, kindness, and compassion must not become the main focus of our good works, as they are with some humanitarians.
Correction: Good works of compassion will follow sincere faith in Jesus Christ.
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.
Page 25: Of much more lasting significance are efforts motivated by similar divine qualities but manifested in sharing in the work of Christian preaching and teaching. Recall what Jesus said about the Jewish religious leaders: "You give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law. These things it was binding to do, yet not to disregard the other things." (Matthew 23:23)
Note: False religious leaders will not do anything for those in need.
Luke 14:13 "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind."
Page 25: How grateful we can be that Jehovah has revealed the mind of Christ to us! By means of the Gospels, we can come to know better the thoughts, feelings, qualities, activities, and priorities of the greatest man who ever lived.
Note: From the Gospels we learn that the Holy Spirit will bear witness of Jesus Christ.
John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."
Page 25: Remember, if we are truly to act like Jesus, we must first learn to think, feel, and evaluate matters as he did, to the best of our ability as imperfect humans. Let us, then, be determined to cultivate and demonstrate the mind of Christ.
Correction: True Christians will be abiding in Jesus and thus will be glorifying God.
John 15:6-8 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
Page 29: They proved to be among the worst enemies of religious freedom and truth. Sadly, this is a stance that in various ways survives even to our day. It is a sobering reminder of what happens when clergy-instigated intrigues stand in the way of freedom of thought and expression.
Correction: The slanderous Watch Tower lacks religious freedom and truth.