Page 5: Clearly, the soul is not what a man has but what he is. The Hebrew word used here for soul is ne'phesh. It occurs some 700 times in the Bible, and it never refers to a separate and ethereal part of a human but always to something tangible and physical. - Job 6:7; Psalm 35:13; 107:9; 119:28.
Correction: Strongs Concordance defines neshamah as wind, breath, divine inspiration, intellect, soul or spirit.
Note: A person cannot physically eat goodness.
Psalm 107:9 For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Page 5-6: Consider what happened to Adam at his death. When he sinned, God told him: "You (will) return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19) Think of what that means. Before God created him from the dust, Adam did not exist. After his death, Adam returned to the same state of nonexistence.
Note: The Watchtower holds views similar to the Sadducees.
The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection or in any personal immortality, and they denied angels and spirits. Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 23, page 61.
Page 6: At Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10, we read: "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going."
Note: The theme of Ecclesiastes is the vanity of this material world. (After death is not vanity)
Ecclesiastes 1:2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Philippians 1:22-24 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Page 6: This means that the dead are unable to do or feel anything. They no longer have any thoughts, nor do they remember anything. The psalmist states: "Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish." - Psalm 146:3, 4.
Note: When a person dies his dreams and goals for this life are ended.
Luke 12:18-20 "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' "
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 6: The Bible clearly shows that at death the soul does not move on to another body, but it dies. "The soul that is sinning - it itself will die," the Bible emphatically states. (Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Acts 3:23; Revelation 16:3) Thus, the doctrine of the immortality of the soul - the very foundation of the theory of reincarnation - does not find any support in the Scriptures.
Correction: At death a person will know their destiny.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Correction: At death the unrighteous will be continually dying.
Rev. 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
Note: The Bible teaches one spiritual rebirth of the soul and one glorified resurrected body for true Christians unlike reincarnation which teaches many rebirths.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He 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.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Page 7: "He who has died has been acquitted from his sin," states the Bible. (Romans 6:7, 23) Thus the fruitage of sin is not carried over to a life after death.
Note: The body that is dead sins no more.
Correction: People will be judged according to what they did in this lifetime.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Page 8: Jehovah God also abounds in love. (1 John 4:8) Hence, he can use his perfect memory, not to punish the dead for the bad they have done, but to bring them back to life on a paradise earth with the personality they had before they died.
Correction: The unrighteous will not inherit paradise earth.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Correction: True Christians will not have the same sinful personalities.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Page 11: Since the beginning of "the Lord's day" in 1914, many of the visions seen by John have been fulfilled. (Revelation 1:10) What of Jesus' 'coming in the glory of his Father,' as foreshadowed by the transfiguration? This vision began to be fulfilled at the birth of God's heavenly Kingdom in 1914.
Correction: Jesus will return or come back to the earth after the tribulation not before or 1914.
Matthew 24:29-30 " 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.
Page 11: Jesus was not alone in the transfiguation. Moses and Elijah were seen with him. (Matthew 17:2, 3) Were they literally present? No, for both men had long since died and were asleep in the dust awaiting a resurrection. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Hebrews 11:35) Will they appear with Jesus when he comes in heavenly glory? No, because Moses and Elijah lived before the heavenly hope opened up to humans.
Correction: Moses and Elijah did literally appear since they were talking with Jesus.
Matthew 17:3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Correction: Moses and Elijah will return with Jesus to the earth since they will be in heaven.
Revelation 11:11-12 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
Page 12: Further, in the context of Revelation chapter 11, Moses and Elijah foreshadow the anointed remnant in the time of the end. How do we know that? Well, turn to Revelation 11:1-6. In verse 3 we read: "I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth." This prophecy was fulfilled upon the remnant of anointed Christians during World War I.
Correction: The "anointed Christians" did not prophesy or were clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Correction: The "anointed Christians" were not standing with Jesus Christ.
Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
Correction: The "anointed Christians" did not kill their enemies with fire.
Revelation 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
Correction: The "anointed Christians" did not forbid rain, turn water to blood or send plagues.
Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
Page 12: Does not all of that remind us of the Israel of God? Yes, indeed, Jesus told his faithful followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all 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. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things." (Matthew 28:19, 20) In obedience to these words, anointed Christians have served as Jehovah's spokesman from Pentecost 33 C.E. until now.
Note: True Christians will preach Jesus Christ not paradise earth.
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
Page 14: As the remnant of Jesus' anointed brothers finish their earthly course, they are glorified with him. (Romans 2:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 15:53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 17) Thus they become immortal kings and priests in the heavenly Kingdom. With Jesus, they will then "shepherd the people with an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels." (Revelation 2:27; 20:4-6; Psalm 110:2, 5, 6)
Correction: Jesus alone will crush the unrighteous into pieces as if they were clay vessels.
Psalm 2:8-9 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'" (The Father speaking to the Son)
Isaiah 63:3 " I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes.
Revelation 19:15 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.
Page 15: After the first century C.E., the gathering slowed down as genuine Christians (called "wheat" by Jesus) were overgrown by apostate "weeds" sown by Satan. But as "the time of the end" approached, the true Israel of God came back into human view and in 1919 was appointed over all Jesus' belongings. - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; 24:45-47; Daniel 12:4.
Note: Genuine Christians are the true Israel of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Page 15: After 33 C.E., the 12 apostles acted as an authoritative central governing body. As such, they took a fearless lead in the witness work. (Acts 4:33, 35, 37; 5:18, 29)
Note: The authoritative central governing body was wrong according to Paul!
Galatians 2:11-16 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."
Page 17: Since 1975 a number of these 18 individuals have finished their earthly course. They have conquered the world and have 'sat down with Jesus on his heavenly throne.' (Revelation 3:21) For this and other reasons, the Governing Body now has ten members, including one who was added in 1994. Most are quite advanced in age.
Note: Former Governing Body member Raymond Franz was disfellowshipped in 1981.
Page 17: Gradually, however, another group began to appear, and in 1935 this group was identified as the "great crowd" of Revelation chapter 7. Having an earthly hope, these represent "the things on the earth" that Jehovah purposes to gather together in the Christ. (Ephesians 1:10) They represent the "other sheep" of Jesus' parable of the sheepfolds. (John 10:16)
Correction: The "great crowd" have a heavenly hope!
Revelation 7:9-10 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, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Correction: The "other sheep" will be brought together with Messianic Jews to form one flock.
John 10:16 "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."
Page 19: Further, when addressing the Israel of God, Jehovah said: "Strangers will actually stand and shepherd the flocks of you people, and the foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. And as for you, the priests of Jehovah you will be called; the ministers of our God you will be said to be." (Isaiah 61:5, 6) The "strangers" and "foreigners" are the other sheep. These have been delegated responsibilities so as to shoulder more and more work as the aging anointed remnant finish their earthly course and go to serve in a complete sense as heavenly "priests of Jehovah," surrounding Jehovah's throne of majesty as "ministers of our God."
Correction: The "strangers" and "foreigners" are Gentiles who have been anointed!
Isaiah 61:9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed."
Acts 10:45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
Page 19: The Watchtower said: "Jesus spoke of them as his 'other sheep.' " 'The generation to come' refers to humans who will live under the new earthly administration governed by the Kingdom of the heavens.
Correction: The "other sheep" will be fellow heirs.
Ephesians 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
Page 19: The events foretold in Jesus' great prophecy about "the time of the end" have been coming to pass since 1914, showing that the destruction of this world is near.
Note: 1914 is based on the bogus date of 607 BCE for the destruction of Jerusalem.