WITCHTOWER

MAY 1, 2009

THE

EXPOSING JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

The Bibles
Solution to

Poverty

The Final Part of the Days for the Watch Tower Society
Are Jehovahs Witnesses the True Religion?
Getting to Know the Warrior Who Gives Peace
The Witchtower 5/2009

The Witchtower
Downloadable in 194 countries

3 The Bible's Solution to Poverty

5 The "Final Part of the Days" for the Watch Tower Society
9 Are Jehovah's Witnesses the True Religion?
10 Getting to Know the Warrior Who Gives Peace
14 Questions From Readers
16 Keep on the Watch!

This publication is provided as part of a worldwide

mocking work not supported by voluntary donations.

This magazine is downloadable from 194 countries.

Countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of
Congo, Costa Rica, Cte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Myanmar, Nagorno-Karabakh, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Ni-

ger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino,
So Tom and Prncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Bahamas, The
Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom,
United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Zambia, Zimbabwe

Do you want further information? Do

not write to Jehovahs Witnesses, but
visit:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net
http://svhelden.gmxhome.de

The Witchtower 5/2009

THE BIBLES SOLUTION TO POVERTY

Let one drink and forget ones poverty. (Proverbs 31:7)

According to World Bank, as cited in Encyclopaedia Wikipedia, 1.1 billion people lived in
extreme poverty and another 2.7 billion lived
in moderate poverty in 2001. One of the
targets within [the United Nations Millennium Development Goal] is the halving of the
proportion of people living in extreme poverty
by 2015. But sincere people cannot be misled
by human wisdom. Rather, they are interested
in what Gods word, the Bible, says on this
matter. Can we realistically expect that worldwide poverty will be eliminated?
Poverty in ancient times

Poverty was common among Gods people at

all times. Even in the Mosaic Law, God declared: Someone poor will never cease to be in
the midst of the land. (Deut. 15:11) And the
law of Jehovah is perfect. (Ps. 19:7) So, poverty in Israel was not a consequence of them
not observing the law; rather, it was intended
to be a part of the Israelites life. Perfection
does not exclude poverty.

Abolition of the Mosaic Law did not alter

the fact that there were many poor among
Gods people. The apostle Paul wrote: In every
way we recommend ourselves as Gods ministers as poor. (2. Cor. 6:4, 10) Back then,
poverty indicated that one was a servant of the
true God.
Poverty in Gods new world

Isaiah foretold about the future paradise:

In security the poor ones themselves will lie
down. (Is. 14:30) So, the poor will be in security, but still poor. The psalms also give a
preview of the new world. They say of the king
in the ancient type Solomon, in the antitype
Jesus Christ that the souls of the poor ones
he will save. (Ps. 72:13) Hence, the poor must
be pleased with their souls their lives
being saved. But they will have no share of the
kingdoms wealth, for not to them, but to the
king let some of the gold of Sheba be given.
Ps. 72:15.
Jesus declared clearly: You always have
the poor with you, but you will not always have
me. (Mat. 26:11) He used the Greek word
pntote that means forever. Yes, he himself
will only rule for thousand years after that
time, his disciples will not have him anymore,
but the poor will still be there. Rev. 20:4.

Gods servants have always been poor

Later, when he hands over the kingdom to

his God and Father, poverty will continue to
exist. (1. Cor. 15:24) For Gods word clearly
says: Jehovah is an Impoverisher. (1. Sam.
2:7) Under his rule, poverty will continue to be
a permanent feature of human society.

The Witchtower 5/2009

Escape from poverty?

A real solution

Should poor Christians try to earn money

and escape from poverty? No, for two reasons.

The Bible provides a clear instruction to the

poor: Let one drink and forget ones poverty.
(Prov. 31:7) True, alcohol is a gift from God.
(Ps. 104:15) The poor should make an extensive
use of it! Then, they can even more clearly
understand Jesus saying: Happy are you poor,
because yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke
6:20) Not only will be poor be allowed to live
under Jesus kingship in due time; no, in their
drunkenness they can even today see the
kingdom of God, they can be caught away
into paradise and hear unutterable words.
2. Cor. 12:4.

First, it is futile. Jesus explained multiple

times: Whoever does not have, even what he
has will be taken from him. (Mat. 13:12; Luke
8:18) Hence, efforts to earn money are destined
to fail. Only to one that has, more will be given. (Luke 19:26) But someone who is poor will
anyway remain poor forever.
Second, poverty can help us to inherit Gods
kingdom. Jesus said: How difficult a thing it
will be for those with money to enter into the
kingdom of God! (Mark 10:23) He did not mention the rich but those with money not
necessarily much money. Thus, whoever has
any money will have a hard time entering
Gods kingdom. But Jehovah is listening to the
poor ones. (Ps. 69:33) David declared: I am
afflicted and poor. Jehovah himself takes account of me. Ps. 40:17.
It would be even worse to strive for wealth.
The apostle Paul wrote: Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a
snare and many senseless and hurtful desires,
which plunge men into destruction and ruin.
(1. Tim. 6:9) Interestingly, he did not mention
some who are determined to be rich but those
who are determined to be rich. So, everyone
who tries to escape from poverty and to be
rich without exception will surely get into
destruction and ruin.

The poor should drink, not complain

Therefore, Paul advised Timothy: Do not

drink water any longer, but use a little wine.
(1. Tim. 5:23) Likely, Timothy abandoned higher education and became a missionary; hence,
he was poor. With a little wine, he could better cope with his situation and forget his
poverty.
What we can do

If we have a little money, we should do our

best to support poor fellow Christians. We
must guard against giving them money, which
would be contrary to Gods purpose. Rather,
Gods word instructs us: Give intoxicating
liquor, you people, to the one about to perish
and wine to those who are bitter of soul. (Prov.
31:6) So, we should give them the cup of consolation to drink. (Jer. 16:7) Let them drink and
forget how poor and miserable they feel.
Prov. 31:7, CEV.
Are we not looking forward to the time
when Gods kingdom will rule over all the
earth? Without doubt, poverty will then be
more equally distributed than today. Hence,
everywhere on the world, one can have the
privilege of going to the poors rescue with the
cup of consolation. How wonderful is that
prospect!

The Witchtower 5/2009

THE FINAL PART OF THE DAYS

FOR THE WATCH TOWER SOCIETY
He is changing times and seasons, removing kings. (Dan. 2:21)

We all want to know what the future holds.

So did King Nebuchadnezzar. He had a dream,
which is nothing uncommon per se. All people
have dreams time and again. But Nebuchadnezzar took his dream for a sign from God.
Hence, he consulted all the wise men of
Babylon [the Great], but none of them was
able to interpret his dream. (Dan. 2:12) After
some time, Daniel, a servant of Jehovah, had
a similar dream and could tell the king its
meaning.
As the November 1, 1993 Watchtower
pointed out, we know that some of Daniels
prophecies were to be fulfilled in our time.
(p. 8) That applies to Nebuchadnezzars dream
it fulfills right in front of our eyes. Thus, it is
of paramount importance for us to scrutinize it
and take appropriate steps.
An Image

Daniel explained: You, O king, happened to be beholding, and, look! a certain

immense image. That image, which was
large and the brightness of which was
extraordinary, was standing in front of
you, and its appearance was dreadful.
(Dan. 2:31) What does that immense image
illustrate? The December 1, 1976 Watchtower
gives an important hint: There is an image,
however, that has been looked to for more than
thirty years as mans best hope for peace. It is
not some figure of a human or an animal but is
an international organization. What is that
organization? p. 709.
Which international organization claims
to have mans best hope for peace? As Awake!
wrote in its December 22, 1995 issue, only
Jehovahs Witnesses advocate Gods Kingdom
as the only hope for true peace. (p. 24) Hence,
the image is the Watchtower organization.
This organization is really immense and

large, for it floods the whole earth with its

pamphlets. Its brightness is extraordinary,
since by their own admission, their publications always contain brighter light, for many
decades now.
Since the image is so extraordinarily bright,
why does Daniel say: Its appearance was
dreadful? That does not refer to the Watchtower organization itself, but to their followers.
Many of them wear clothes that could only be
purchased at a flea market even hundred years
ago. They dont care much about themselves,
their appearance and their health (because
Armageddon is at hand anyway); hence, they
look miserable and dreadful. They are derided, but they take the mockery as a proof for
being true Christians. (2. Pet. 3:3) Thats why
they think that their brightness would be extraordinary though their fellow men view
them as dreadful.
The Beginnings

Daniel describes the image: Its head was

of good gold, its breasts and its arms were
of silver, its belly and its thighs were of
copper, its legs were of iron, its feet were
partly of iron and partly of molded clay.
(Dan. 2:32, 33) That the materials got cheaper
and cheaper shows that an initially good organization would more and more diverge from its
ideals.

Their ideas of proper dress are dreadful

The Witchtower 5/2009

Then Daniel says to Nebuchadnezzar:

You, O king you to whom the God of
heaven has given the kingdom you yourself are the head of gold. (Dan. 2:37)
Whom did God charge with proclaiming the
kingdom? It was Charles Taze Russell, of
whom Jehovahs Witnesses think that he is
now ruling as heavenly king. According to
Prof. S. A. Ellis, he is without a parallel in
this Age. Without a blemish in his character,
with the loftiest ideals of God, and the possibilities of man, he towers like a giant, unmatched.
[He] is stamping his opinion on the world as
no other man has done since the days of the
Reformation. (quoted from The Finished Mystery, p. 126) There can really be no doubt that
the head of gold is C. T. Russell, the first
president of the Watch Tower Society.*
Daniel continued to tell Nebuchadnezzar:
After you there will rise another kingdom. (Dan. 2:39) Indeed, there rose another
king after Russells death, Judge Rutherford.
But his kingdom was of another kind than
Russells, as he did not emphasize on the individual Christians freedom but rather laid the
foundation for an all-dominating centralized
organization.
Global Expansion

After that, Daniel mentioned another

kingdom, a third one that will rule over
the whole earth. (Dan. 2:39) That indicates
a time of global expansion. Indeed, Nathan
Homer Knorr, the third president of the Watch
Tower Society, delivered the lecture The Problems of Reconstruction and Expansion in
1946. He became president in 1942, and according to the April 1, 1972 Watchtower especially from 1945 onward, global expansion was
truly under way. p. 403.

According to worldly sources, William Henry Conley was

the first president of the WTS and Charles Taze Russell the
second one. But there is no reason why we should doubt the
writings of the faithful and discreet slave which call Russell consistently the first president of the Watch Tower
Society. (compare Jehovahs Witnesses Proclaimers of
Gods Kingdom, p. 576)

Hence, the third king is N. H. Knorr, who

like a clever businessman turned Jehovahs
Witnesses to a tightly organized preacher organization. Hundreds of thousands of publishers dedicated all their spare time to selling
their organizations books from house to house.
Even a Theocratic Court was held under his
presidency (see page 7).
Strong like Iron

N. H. Knorr was still president of the

Watch Tower Society in 1975. This year came
and went, but the foretold end of mans rule did
not occur. Thus, a firm hand was required to
keep the Watchtower followers together. Exactly this type of leadership had been foretold by
Daniel: As for the fourth kingdom, it will
prove to be strong like iron. Forasmuch as
iron is crushing and grinding everything
else, so, like iron that shatters, it will
crush and shatter even all these. Daniel
2:40.
The fourth king and fourth president of
the Watch Tower Society was Frederick William Franz. He made sure that all marplots
who doubted his ideas were disfellowshipped,
including his nephew Raymond Victor Franz.
Even Carl Olof Jonsson, who made the Watch
Tower officials aware of discrepancies in their
calculation of 607 and 1914, has been thrown
out during Franz presidency. Indeed, F. W.
Franz crushed and shattered everything that
stood in his way.

As is proper for a king, Charles Taze

Russell is buried under a pyramid

The Witchtower 5/2009

THEOCRATIC COURT

From the September 1955 Informer (during Nathan Homer Knorrs presidency)

The Witchtower 5/2009

But the image had two legs of iron.

(Dan. 2:33) The second leg represents Milton
George Henschel, who was president of the
Watch Tower Society from 1992 to 2000. Basically, he continued the iron-like management
style of his predecessor. For example, the new
understanding about the generation of Matthew 24 (that has been abandoned in 2008) was
published during his presidency.
Unstable Feet

Now Daniel explained the condition that

the Watchtower organization would face towards the end of its existence: As for the toes
of the feet being partly of iron and partly
of molded clay, the kingdom will partly
prove to be strong and will partly prove to
be fragile. Whereas you beheld iron mixed
with moist clay, they will come to be mixed
with the offspring of mankind. Dan.
2:42, 43.
The feet symbolize the Watchtower organizations condition since the year 2000. At that
time, its management was reorganized, so that
the Governing Body does not at the same time
make up the directors of the Watch Tower
Society. (see Isaiahs Prophecy Light for All
Mankind, vol. 2, p. 317) The president and
other managers are now from the offspring of
mankind, that is, from the other sheep that
are not born again in Christ (John 3:3) The
Governing Body has to cooperate with these
(allegedly their future subjects), so that
anointed and non-anointed Christians are
mixed at the executive floors in Brooklyn.
In what way, the management of the
Watchtower organization will partly prove to
be strong and will partly prove to be fragile?
Since F. W. Franz death, they are lacking a
charismatic leader. There were even rumors
about a kind of power struggle within the Governing Body. Indeed, no clear course can be
seen in all the theological and organizational
changes of the past years. For example, they
abolished meetings, but at the same time they
say that Christians should gather all the
more in our time. Heb. 10:25.

The End Nears

The end nears, says the brochure Keep on

the Watch!. (p. 21) But likely, the writers did
not consider that their own end is involved.
The prophet Daniel, inspired by God, continued
to explain that out of the mountain a stone
was cut not by hands, and that it crushed
the iron, the copper, the molded clay, the
silver and the gold. At that time the
iron, the molded clay, the copper, the silver and the gold were, all together,
crushed and became like the chaff from
the summer threshing floor, and the wind
carried them away so that no trace at all
was found of them. Dan. 2:45, 35.
What does the stone that will finally
crush the image stand for? It was cut out of
the mountain. And streaming to the mountain of Jehovahs house means becoming his
baptized witnesses, according to the May 15,
1988 Watchtower. (p. 17) Hence, the mountain represents the Watchtower organization.
The stone are apostates who were disfellowshipped not by hands not by physical violence, but by a judicial committee. Using books
and brochures, internet forums and other
means, they uncover the errors of the Watch
Tower Society and their presidents.

The stone will crush the Watchtower

The Witchtower 5/2009

They have fully discarded all Watchtower

teachings, so that no trace at all was found in
their minds. But it is only a question of time
until nothing at all will remain of this mendacious organization. Their followers will be scattered to the four winds like the chaff from the
summer threshing floor.
But dont C. T. Russell, J. F. Rutherford, N.
H. Knorr, F. W. Franz and M. G. Henschel
already rule as heavenly kings? That may be
true, but Jehovah is changing times and
seasons, removing kings. (Dan. 2:21) These self-proclaimed kings will face the same
destiny as Saul, who was first chosen and then
abolished by Jehovah. 1 Sam. 10:1, 16:14.
It Will Come True

Some may argue, this prospect would be too

good to be true. But the dream is reliable,
and the interpretation of it is trustworthy. (Dan. 2:45) The Bibles statement is
clear. The major part of the prophecy has already fulfilled, and there is no doubt that the
remaining part will come true within a short
time.

ARE JEHOVAHS WITNESSES THE TRUE RELIGION?

Yes, without doubt, this is the case. The
brochure You Can Be Gods Friend! that is
published by the Watch Tower Society frankly
declares: Jehovahs Witnesses practice the
true religion on earth today. (p. 17) Millions
of people throughout the world have evaluated
the facts and have become convinced that Jehovahs Witnesses alone are practicing the true
religion. The Watchtower, June 1, 2001, p. 16.
Should you join them therefore? No, because
religion is a snare and a racket. Even 1938,
Jehovahs Witnesses blazed abroad that slogan
throughout the world. (see 1975 Yearbook Of
Jehovahs Witnesses, p. 225) Hence, Jehovahs
Witnesses are not only the true religion, but also
the true snare and the true racket.

Wise King Solomon wrote: It is a snare

when earthling man has rashly cried out, Holy! (Pr. 20:25) True, superficially speaking,
one can call Jehovahs Witnesses holy; their
anointed call themselves the holy ones of the
Supreme One. (Dan. 7:18) But in fact, they are
a racket.
According to the Random House Dictionary,
a racket is an organized illegal activity or a
dishonest scheme. According to the 2008 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide, there
are about 18,000 people proclaiming Watchtower teachings in countries where that is not
allowed really an organized illegal activity.
And isnt it a dishonest scheme to constantly
publish new teachings and hope that no one
remembers the old (contradictory) ones?
The Witchtower 5/2009

GETTING TO KNOW THE WARRIOR WHO GIVES PEACE

I am Jehovah; I have not changed. (Malachi 3:6)
1 We can learn something about God when
we are concerned with people like Jacob, who
saw God face to face. (Gen. 32:30) True, Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy
of the older men of Israel proceeded to go up,
and they got to see the God of Israel. Ex.
24:9, 10.

Someone who has seen God face to face surely would

be able to teach us many things about him. But no man
has seen God at any time. (John 1:18) Paul clearly wrote
that not one of men has seen or can see him. (1. Tim. 6:16)
Jehovah himself said: No man may see me and yet live.
Ex. 33:20.

2 It is obvious that Jehovah wants to be

seen by men. The apostle Paul wrote that he
dwells in light. (1. Tim. 6:16) John also
stated that God himself is in the light and
there is no darkness at all in union with him.
(1. John 1:6, 7) Jesus made clear that Jehovah
is always approachable:: Everyone seeking
finds, and to everyone knocking it will be
opened. (Luke 11:10) Jehovah himself said:
Those looking for me are the ones that find
me. (Pr. 8:17) It is not difficult to get to know
something about God.

2 It is obvious that Jehovah does not want to be seen by

men. David wrote that Jehovah made darkness his concealment place, all around him as his booth, dark waters,
thick clouds. (Ps. 18:11) His son Solomon said: Jehovah
himself said he was to reside in the thick gloom. (1. Ki.
8:12) He made clear that there will come a day where he
will not be approachable: At that time they will keep calling me, but I shall not answer; they will keep looking for
me, but they will not find me. (Pr. 1:28) It is not easy to get
to know something about God.

All people have equal chances, for there

is no partiality with God. (Rom. 2:11) In another letter, the apostle Paul wrote that God
is not partial, but in every nation the man that
fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34, 35) So, we can be
absolutely sure that we can approach God and
get to know him.

3 Not all people have equal chances. When Jacob and

Esau had not yet been born nor had practiced anything
good or vile, in order that the purpose of God respecting the
choosing might continue dependent, not upon works, but
upon the One who calls, it was said : The older will be
the slave of the younger. Just as it is written. (Rom. 11:913) Likewise, Canaan had been cursed even before his
birth. (Gen. 9:25) So, we cannot be sure at all if we can
approach God and get to know him.

Mankind really has the most favorable

circumstances for a good relationship with
God. Everything he had made including
mankind was very good. (Gen. 1:31) And he
is not ... a son of mankind that he should feel
regret. (Num. 23:19) Samuel said to Saul: He
will not feel regrets, for He is not an earthling
man so as to feel regrets. 1. Sam. 15:29.
4

Mankind really has no favorable circumstances for a

good relationship with God. Even shortly after completing
creation, Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth. And Jehovah felt regrets that he had
made men in the earth. Gen. 6:5, 6.
4

1. Can humans see God?

2. a) What kind of dwelling place did Jehovah choose for himself? b) Is Jehovah approachable anytime?
3. Does every man have equal chances before God? Explain.
4. Was Jehovah pleased with his creation?

The Witchtower 5/2009

10

Early in human history, he gave a perfect

Early in human history, he gave an imperfect law to

law to the nation of Israel through which they

the nation of Israel. Later, he said: I myself also gave them

could gain life. David wrote: The law of Jeho-

regulations that were not good and judicial decisions by

vah is perfect, bringing back the soul. And

which they could not keep living. (Eze. 20:25, footnote)

Moses writes that the man that has done the

Therefore by works of law no flesh will be declared right-

righteousness of the Law will live by it.

eous before him. Rom. 3:20.

Rom. 10:5.
6

We can get to know Jehovah through the Bible, but

We can get to know Jehovah through the

not all of its content is inspired by God. For example, the

Bible, for all Scripture is inspired of God. (2.

apostle Paul acknowledged I say, yes, I, not the Lord

Ti. 3:16) Its writers spoke from God as they

(1. Cor. 7:12) Jesus also implied that some commands from

were borne along by holy spirit. (2. Pet. 1:21)

the Mosaic Law had not come from God. Mark 10:3-6.

Hence, it is important to adhere closely to the

Bible in all questions.

So, what should we do if the Bibles advice does not

conform to our personal opinion? Jehovah tells us through

So, what should we do if the Bibles advice

Jeremiah: Behave with understanding. (Jer. 9:17) And

does not conform to our personal opinion? Wise

the apostle Paul advises us: Let your reasonableness be-

Solomon advises us: Trust in Jehovah with all

come known to all men. (Phil. 4:5) Indeed, it can be unrea-

your heart and do not lean upon your own

sonable to take the Bibles rules literally they were writ-

understanding. (Pr. 3:5) So, instead of listen-

ten thousands of years ago for a totally different cultural

ing to our own mind and our treacherous

sphere. We should rely to our heart and our own under-

heart, we should fully trust in the Bibles ad-

standing to make a good decision.

vice. To rely on our own understanding may

lead to ruin.

What does the Bible tell us about Jehovah? Moses

mentions one of his outstanding qualities: Jehovah is a

What does the Bible tell us about Jeho-

manly person of war (a warrior, NIV)." (Ex. 15:3) He said

vah? The apostle Paul mentions one of his

regarding his enemies: I will dash them one against an-

outstanding qualities when he calls him the

other. I shall show no compassion, nor feel any sorrow,

God who gives peace. (Rom. 15:33) True, God

and I shall not have the mercy to keep from bringing them

is a God, not of disorder, but of peace. (1. Cor.

to ruin. (Jer. 13:14) Since we should become imitators of

14:33) Since we should become imitators of

God, we must not refrain from fighting against his ene-

God, we also must work towards peace. Isaiah

mies. We could consider a military career to put on the

foretold about Gods servants: Neither will

complete suit of armor and be prepared for Gods war.

they learn war anymore. Is. 2:4.

Eph. 6:11.

5. a) What kind of law did Jehovah give to the nation of Israel? b) Could the Israelites gain life by following Jehovahs law?
6. Is the whole Bible inspired of God? Explain.
7. What should we do if we dont understand a Bible-based advice?
8. a) Mention Jehovahs most outstanding quality. b) How should Gods servants view military service?

The Witchtower 5/2009

11

9 Jehovah does not become provoked easily.

He is slow to anger pardoning error and
transgression and sin. (Ex. 34:6, 7) James
wrote that Jehovah is very tender in affection
and merciful. (James 5:11) He is good, for to
time indefinite is his loving-kindness. (1. Chr.
16:34) He declared: I do not take any delight in
the death of someone. (Eze. 18:32) True, Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and
abundant in loving-kindness. (Ps. 103:8) Let us
imitate him by being merciful to our fellow men.
Let us help them to survive Gods day of judgment instead of rejoicing at their annihilation.

It is surely comforting for us to know that

God does never bring temptations upon his
servants. The apostle James wrote: When
under trial, let no one say: I am being tried by
God. For with evil things God cannot be tried
nor does he himself try anyone. (James 1:13)
The tempter is Satan the Devil. (Mat. 4:1-3) It
was him who incited David to number Israel;
the count revealed that there were 1,570,000
men and led to a three-year famine where
70,000 Israelites died. (1. Chr. 21:1, 5, 14) So,
we should be on the guard against Satan.
10

11 Jehovah said with regard to other nations

customs: Everything detestable to Jehovah
that he does hate they have done to their gods,
for even their sons and their daughters they
regularly burn in the fire. (Deut. 12:30, 31)
True, human sacrifices are an abomination for
Jehovah. He clearly said that to burn their
sons and their daughters in the fire was a
thing that I had not commanded and that had
not come up into my heart. (Jer. 7:31) Under no
circumstances, he would accept or even require
a human sacrifice. In ancient times, he wanted
animals as sacrifice, and today it is the sacrifice of praise that makes him rejoice. Heb.
13:15.

9 Jehovah does become provoked easily. The psalmist

wrote: His anger flares up easily. (Ps. 2:12) When the
Philistines brought back the Ark of the Covenant and the
men of Beth-Shemesh looked upon it, he struck down
among the people seventy men and then fifty thousand
men, he struck down the people with a great slaughter.
(1. Sam. 6:19) Many hundred years after the Amalekites
showed a hostile attitude towards Israel, Jehovah commanded Saul: Go, and you must strike down Amalek and
devote him to destruction with all that he has, and you
must not have compassion upon him, and you must put
them to death, man as well as woman, child as well as
suckling. (1. Sam. 15:3) Let us imitate Jehovah by not
having compassion upon our fellow men. Rather, let us
rejoice that he will execute judgment against all worldlings.
10 It is surely daunting for us to know that God does
bring temptations upon his servants. Jesus taught his
disciples to ask Jehovah on every occasion: Do not bring us
into temptation. (Mat. 6:13) Even Moses explained to the
nation of Israel: Jehovah your God is testing you. (Deut.
13:3) Hundreds of years before, the true God put Abraham
to the test. (Gen. 22:1) It was him who incited David to
number Israel; the count revealed that there were
1,300,000 men and led to a seven-year famine where 70,000
Israelites died. (2. Sam. 24:1, 9, 13, Footnote) So, we should
be on the guard against Jehovah.
11 Jehovahs command to Abraham was clearly defined:
Take, please, your son, your only son whom you so love,
Isaac, and make a trip to the land of Moriah and there offer
him up as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I
shall designate to you. (Gen. 22:2) Jehovah required Abraham to burn his son in the fire and offer him as a sacrifice.
On this occasion, he intervened at the last minute and
prevented the offering. (Gen. 22:12) But later, Jehovah
accepted a human sacrifice. There came to be a famine in
the days of David for three years. Jehovah told David:
Upon Saul and upon his house there is bloodguilt, because
he put the Gibeonites to death. (2. Sam. 21:1) David accepted the Gibeonites suggestion to take seven men of his
sons, and he gave them into the hand of the Gibeonites
and they proceeded to expose them on the mountain before
Jehovah, so that the seven of them fell together; and they
themselves were put to death. So God let himself be
entreated for the land after this. (2. Sam. 21:7, 9, 14)
Likewise, Christian parents of our day can offer their apostate children as a burnt offering to Jehovah. That may be
contrary to worldly law, but we must obey God as ruler
rather than men. Acts 5:29.

9. a) Does Jehovah become provoked easily? b) Is Jehovah merciful and gracious?

10. a) Who brings tests and temptations upon Gods servants? b) How many men revealed the census in Davids day?
c) How long did the famine last that Jehovah brought upon Israel?
11. a) How does Jehovah view human sacrifices? b) How can we soften Jehovahs face today?

The Witchtower 5/2009

12

12 Jehovah is not in need of putting people

to the test or tempting them, as the apostles
prayed: You, O Jehovah, who know the hearts
of all. (Acts 1:24) And David said to God: You
have considered my thought from far off.
You have become familiar even with all my
ways. (Ps. 139:2, 3) The creator does not need
to go anywhere in order to see something. The
eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping
watch upon the bad ones and the good ones.
(Pr. 15:3) There is not a creation that is not
manifest to his sight. Heb. 4:13.

12 Jehovah had to put Abraham to the test in order to

get to know his state of heart. Only when he applied the
knife to put his son to death, Jehovah said to him: Now I
do know that you are God-fearing. (Gen. 22:12) He could
also not see from heaven what actually happened in Sodom
and Gomorrah. Hence, he said to Abraham: I am quite
determined to go down that I may see whether they act
altogether according to the outcry over it that has come to
me, and, if not, I can get to know it. (Gen. 18:21) Even
before, shortly after the flood, Jehovah proceeded to go
down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had
built. Gen. 11:5.

Jehovah does not dwell in houses made

with hands. (Acts 7:48) The apostle Paul confirmed this fact to the inhabitants of Athens
(Acts 17:24) Jehovah in the heavens is his
throne. (Ps. 11:4) Should not the fact that he
can watch us always and everywhere fill us
with awe? At the same time, we can be sure
that he can hear our prayers, regardless of
where we are.

Jehovah said about the temple in Jerusalem: My

eyes and my heart will certainly prove to be there always. (2. Chr. 7:16) Jehovahs eyes are in Israel up to
now. Hence, he cannot see what happens elsewhere on
earth. We can feel unobserved when we live outside Israel.
However, we should offer our prayers in or at least near
Jerusalem. When Jerusalem was devastated and Daniel
lived at Cyrus court, he prayed with the windows in his
roof chamber being open for him toward Jerusalem.
Dan. 6:10.

13

The apostle Paul wrote that it is impossible for God to lie; he called Jehovah the God
who cannot lie. (Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2) Indeed,
God is not a man that he should tell lies. (Nu.
23:19) Therefore, we too wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things. (Heb. 13:18) All
the liars, their portion will be in the lake that
burns with fire and sulphur. Rev. 21:8.

13

14

15 Are we not grateful that Gods word provides clear and distinct answers to many important questions?

God makes use of lies to reach his accomplish his

goals. Paul wrote about his contemporaries: God lets an
operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing
the lie. (2. Th. 2:11) Hundreds of years before, the prophet
Micaiah said to King Ahab: Jehovah has put a deceptive
spirit into the mouth of all these prophets. (1. Kings 22:23)
Like the prophet Elisha, we too can lie if it boots. 2. Kings
6:19.
14

15 Are we not grateful that Gods word provides clear

and distinct answers to many important questions?

12. a) Is Jehovah in need of putting men to the test? b) Can he look into the heart?
c) How can he get to know what happens on earth?
13. a) Where does Jehovah stay? b) Can he watch us always and everywhere? c) Where does he hear our prayers?
14. Is lying appropriate for Christians? Explain.
15. Why should we be grateful?

The Witchtower 5/2009

13

QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Where can Christ be found? I. J., Paris
The Bible does not provide a clear answer to
the question where Christ can be found. However, it explains clearly where he cannot be
found. Jesus himself said: if anyone says to
you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!'
do not believe it. For false Christs and false
prophets will appear and perform great signs
and miracles to deceive even the elect if that
were possible. See, I have told you ahead of
time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in
the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the
inner rooms,' do not believe it. Mat. 24:2326, NIV.

Of peculiar interest is the advice that

Christ could not be found in the inner rooms.
The March 1, 2001 Watchtower made clear that
the interior [or inner] rooms of the prophecy
likely have to do with the tens of thousands of
congregations of Jehovahs people around the
world. (p. 21)
So, the Christ whom Jehovahs Witnesses
follow must be one of the false Christs that
Jesus mentioned. Hence, the Governing Body
of Jehovahs Witnesses serves as Gods false
prophet, trying to deceive even the elect.
Rev. 19:19.

Is toast dangerous for Christians? M. C., Munich

First, we must say that Jesus asked for
bread for this day, not for toast, in the model
prayer. Actually, the Bible does not mention
any servant of Jehovah who ate toast. In contrast, it is known that something like toast was
used in ancient Egypt the Egyptians toasted
bread over fire to make conserve it. The Romans adopted this custom and spread it all
over Europe. Shouldnt it make us wonder that
only two pagan nations who were rather hostile
to Gods people used a kind of toast?
Furthermore, some sorts of toast contain
leaven, something that Jesus particularly advised against. (Mat. 16:5) But the progressing
estrangement from God, especially in Germany, made it possible that a Consortium for
promotion of toast consumption could be founded in 1963.* Since then, the sales of toast and
toasters have increased drastically. In 2004, it
finally became apparent that toast is inextricably linked to false religion, when a toast with
the face of the Virgin Mary was sold on eBay.

But toast does also cause literal danger. In

March 2008, a 68 year old German was seriously injured when making a toast. The heat of his
toaster made a nearby burner explode; the
blast wave hurled the man five meters far, and
the house was damaged.
Time and again, the officials find inferior
toasters that can catch fire or cause an electric
shock. In January 2008, a toaster caused an
apartment fire in Germany. By chance, no one
was injured, but there was more than 5000 of
material damage.
We can summarize: Gods servants of old
did not use toast, but pagan nations did. Jesus
warned against toast, and it is linked to false
religion, maybe even to demons. Toast does
also cause literal dangers. So, true Christians
should steer clear of toast and everything related to toast.

The German name was Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Frderung

des Toastbrotverzehrs, It is today known as Golden Toast.

The Witchtower 5/2009

14

In what sense should Christians love their neighbor as themselves?

Jesus repeated the commandment of the
Mosaic Law: You must love your neighbor as
yourself. (Mat. 22:39) The religious organizations of Babylon the Great usually misinterpret
this statement; they teach, Christians should
do good to fellow men. But a careful examination of the Bible reveals clearly what Jesus
actually wanted to say.

stead, they write: These ungodly men will be

destroyed at what the Bible calls the battle of
Armageddon which, as this magazine has
often shown, will take place soon. ... What a
wonderful provision Judgment Day is! ... No
wonder the psalmist expressed joy at the
thought of Gods judgment!" The Watchtower,
August 1, 1991, p.5-7.

The issue is: How do Christians love themselves? Jesus provided a clear answer to that
question: If any man comes to me, he must
hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sister. Yes, he must hate
himself too. If he does not, he cannot be my
disciple. (Luke 14:26, Worldwide English) So,
true Christians do not love themselves at all,
but hate themselves. The apostle John agreed
with that and wrote about faithful, anointed
Christians: They did not love their lives.
Rev. 12:11, NIV.

Love for their fellow men would prevent Jehovahs Witnesses from rejoicing at their annihilation. But supposedly in the near future
none of Jehovahs faithful servants, the only
ones surviving, will mourn over the destruction
of the wicked. To the contrary, they will rejoice. (The Watchtower, June 1, 1977, p. 345)
According to the book Mans Salvation Out of
World Distress at Hand!, the destruction of
mans Satan-controlled old order will provide
an occasion for spiritual feasting. p. 280.

So, it is evident what Jesus had in mind

when he gave the command found in Matthew
22:39: Christians should love their fellow men
as themselves, that is, not at all. Thats why
Jehovahs Witnesses do not participate in human efforts to aid and why they provide magazines instead of food to the hungry.

Why should Christians feel love for their

fellow men today, when before long they will
have to rejoice in their annihilation? It is a
proof of Jesus extraordinary wisdom that he
commanded his followers to love their fellow
men even today just as little as themselves.

This way, they fulfill Jesus prophecy: The

love of the greater number will cool off and
this good news of the kingdom will be preached
in all the inhabited earth. (Mat. 24:12-14)
Jesus knew that love would be a hindrance for
the preaching work. According to the October
1957 issue of Our Kingdom Ministry, a true
Christian must be a capable, efficient huntsman and must seek to let nothing escape.
According to the May 1, 1980 Watchtower,
Jehovahs Witnesses keep proclaiming the
message of doom against the God-defying
world. (p. 22) If they would love their fellow
men, they would be mourning for them. InWhat a wonderful provision Judgment Day is!

The Witchtower 5/2009

15

KEEP ON THE WATCH!

Thousands of Keep on the Watch district conventions will be held throughout the world for months to
come. Most of these are open-air events. While the
speakers and JW managers can sit beneath a shadowy
roof or even in an air-conditioned lounge, the common audience will have to sweat in the blazing sun.
Fridays theme is: Prove yourselves ready. Indeed, all attendees should always be ready to leave
the convention and the organization arranging it. One
of the talks is entitled: Jehovah God of Times and
Seasons. In fact, Jehovahs Witnesses are imitating
their God, for they too put emphasis on times and
seasons. For example, the Berean Bible Teachers
Manual (published in 1912) contained twenty time
proofs that the Kingdom of evil will cease and the
earthly phase of the Kingdom of God be established
in 1914-1915, like: Ezra's resumption of work upon
the temple, 521 B.C., 590 years prior to Israel's complete overthrow typified Christendom's overthrow in
1914, 605 years after the publication of Marsiglio's
Defensor Pacis. In later years, Jehovahs Witnesses still
attached great importance to times and seasons
not only related to the years 1925 and 1975, but also
to the times that the publishers spend in the
preaching work during a specified season.
Unfortunately, the symposium Imitate Faithful
Ones Who Remained Watchful will refer only to Noah,
Moses and Jeremiah, but not to Raymond Franz, Carl
Olof Jonsson or Richard Dawkins. In the afternoon,
there will allegedly be Answers to Questions about
the Last Days, but the question Why has not a
single one of Jehovahs Witnesses prophecies
come true? will likely remain unanswered. Instead,
there will be two speeches that rather contradict
each other: You Know Neither the Day nor the Hour
Why? and immediately afterwards Know That the
End Is Near. But the day of Jehovah has been near
already 3000 years ago. (Joel 1:15) Jehovahs Witnesses
have provided ample evidence that not only do they
not know the day nor the hour, but not even the
century. For example, they wrote in the book The
Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah How? that
within our twentieth century, the battle in the day
of Jehovah will begin p. 217.
Though Fridays audience will have been advised to
Stay Awake as Christian Families, on Saturday even
more of the listeners will be tired. In view of the
boring talks, the long journey and the hot summery
temperatures, a significant part of the audience will
fall asleep, for what reason a part Help People to
Awake from Sleep has been scheduled.

Later, the listeners will be urged: Dont Forget

Your Relatives. However, disassociated ones are
dead in Jehovahs eyes; hence they are no relatives
anymore, even if they are related to us. (compare
Revelation Its Grand climax at Hand!, p. 223) Then,
some new ones will symbolize their dedication to the
organization by getting baptized.
The afternoon will start with the symposium Watch
out for Satans Traps. But Satans real traps the
Watchtower, the congregation meetings, the conventions are not discussed. Rather, they talk about The
Trap That Crushes or The Fire though there are
fire brigades all over the world.
As an exception, there is some good advice after
that: Do Not Look at the Things Behind. Indeed, the
listeners should not look back at the many years they
spent uselessly serving the Watchtower organization.
Rather, they should look forward to all the things
they can live to see if they leave this dishonest organization.
Sundays theme is Keep in Expectation, It Will
Not Be Late and surely does refer to the journey
home. In Germany, the homeward journey usually was
delayed for some hours until 1983, when Konrad
Franke died. Since then, the scheduled end time is
usually adhered to, so that the audience can leave
timely. But first, they have to endure the talk Keep
Your Eyes on the Things Unseen. Indeed, many things
that mark Jehovahs Witnesses as the false religion
like unfulfilled prophecies, unbiblical teachings or
their collaboration with the United Nations can be
clearly seen. But the publishers should not consider
these things, but rather keep their eyes on things
that cannot be seen (because they are not there), like
fulfilled prophecies, Christian love or the spiritual
paradise.
The public talk How Can You Survive the End of
the World? will complete the morning session. Some
faithful Christians who already survived the end of
the world in 1975 will report their experiences. A
special touching feature on Sunday afternoon is the
touching modern-day drama Your Brother Was Dead
and Came to Life! It will likely be about a disassociated person who was dead for Jehovahs Witnesses.
Make plans now to steer clear of the convention
locations. If you are already a Jehovahs Witness, ask
an apostate about the next apostafest or write to the
publisher of this magazine.

The Witchtower 5/2009

16