JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

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who moe they? II" I~e de.i,,, of Jehovah', WitnelSe5 thot you

become better acquain ted with them. You may hoye me' Ihem as neighbors, fe llow employ"e. or in (my of Ihe doily offo;" of life. You may hove s .. en them on Ih" .I,eel offering their mag­otine. 10 po .... "by. Or, you may hove ,poken briefly with them 01 your door.

ACluaity, Jehovah', Witn .... ", are intere,ted in you and your wellore. They wonl 10 be your friend. and 10 'ell you more about Ihem.elve., their beliefs, their organization, and how they fe,,1 cboul people and Ihe world in which all of u. live. To oc<:ompli,h this purpose they hove prepared thi, brochure for yov.

In mo.t way. Jehovah'. Witnes,es Ofe like everyone "I, .. , They hove t heir problems-----eco­nomic, phy.ical, emotional. They make mi.toke. at time., for they are not perfect, or in.pired. or infallible. Bu t they try to leorn from their e"peri ­ence. and diligently .tudy the Bible to make needed correction., They hove mode a commit­men t to God, a dedication to do hi. will, and they apply them.elve. to fulfill it. In all their octivitie. they .eeK guidance from God'. Word and hi. holy .piri t,

It i. of vital importance to them that their belief> be based on the Bible and not on mere human .peculotion. or religious creeds. They fe,,) a. did Ihe apo.!le Pou I when he e"pre.sed him.elf under in.piration: "let God be found true, though every man be found a liar." tRo ­mons 3:4, " New World Tron.lotion"·) When it come. to teaching. o ffered as Biblical truth, they strongly endoroe Ihe cour.e followed by the Beroeon. when Ihey heard the apo.tle Paul

• Bible quotation. in this brochure are from thi, tron.lotion, unle" olherwi.e .toted.

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prcgch : "Thcy rccciycd Ihc wgrd wilh Ihe grcgl­esl eggerness gl mind, cgrefully exgmining Ihe Scriplure~ dgily gS tg whelher Ih" ~,, things werc so." (Acts 17,11) Jchgyoh's Witnesses belieye Ihot all religiou~ leochings should be subiecled 10 Ihis te,l 01 agreement with the Scriptures, whether the tcoching is offercd by Ihcm or by lomcone else. They invile you, urge you, to do this in your discunions with them.

From Ihi, il is opporent that Jchoyah's Wil ­neues belien in the Bible as Ihe Word of God. They consider its 66 books to be inspircd and historicolly accurote. What is commonly called the "New Testamenl" they refer to as the Chris· tian Greek Sc:riplu,cl, and the "Old Testament" they call the Hebrew Sc:.ipturel. They rely on both the Greek and the Hebrew Scriplures, and toke them literally except where the exprellionl Or ,ellings obyiously indica te that they are figu­rative or symbolical. They undentond thai many of the prophecies of the Bible hoye been ful ­filled, others grc in the course of lul~lIml!nt, and slil1 others awai t fulfillment.

They believe the Bible is God's word

their name

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Jehovah's Witnelles? Yes, tha i illhe way they refer to tMemlelvcl. 1\ is a descriptive nome, in. dicaling that they bear witnell concerning Jeho­vah, his Godship and his purposes. God, Lord, Creotor- like Presidenl, King, Generat--ore titles and may be applied 10 several diffe rent personages. But "Jehovah" is a personal nome and relers to the Almighty God and Creator of the universe. This is shown 01 Psalm 83:18, according to the "King James Version" of the Bibl,,: "That men may know thgt thou, whose ngme alone is JEHOVAH, arl the most high over all the earth ."

The nome "Jehovah" lor "Yahweh," as the Roman Catholic "Jerusalem Bible" and some modern ICholars prefer) appears 6,961 times in the griginol Hebrew Sc:riplures. Mosl Bibles do not show it as such, bUI substitute "God" or " Lord" for it. Howlver, even in these Bibles 0 person can usually tell where Ihl original He-

brew Scriplur~s use Jehovah, because in those ploces the substituled wo,d, me written in large and small capitals, thus: Gon, LORD. Severol modern translotions do use either the name Je­hovoh Or Yohweh. Hence, Ihe "New World Tronllo tion" read., 01 Isaiah 42,8, "10m Jeho­voh. Thol is my nome."

The Scriplurol occount Ihol Jehovoh', Wil­nene. drow on for Iheir nome is in Ihe 43rd chapter of Isoioh. There the world "ene is viewed as a courlroom dromo: The gods of the notions ore inviled 10 bring forth their wilnesses 10 prove Iheir doimed coses 01 righleoulness, or to hear the witnesses for Jehovoh's ,ide ond ocknowledge Ihe truth. Jehovoh there declares 10 hi, people, "Ye ore my witnesses, soi th Jeho­voh, ond my ,e,von! whom I hove cho,en; thai ye may know and believe me, and understond Ihot I am h"" b",fo,,,, me Ihe,e was no God formed, neither shaillhe'e be oft"" me. I, ev"," I, om Jehovah, and besides me Ihere is no soviour." -Isoioh 43:10, 11, "Ame,ican Siandard Ver­sion."

Jehovah God hod wilnesse. on eorth during Ihe Ihousonds of yeo" befo'e Ch'i'l_ Afte, liSl' ing some of those men 01 foith in Hebrew, chop­ler 11, Heb'ew. 12,1 says, "So, then, becouse we have so greot 0 cloud of witn",,,e, surround· ing us, lei us also put off every weight and the sin thol easily en tangles us, and lei us run wi th endurance Ihe race Ihat is set before us." Jesus said before Pontius Pilote, "For Ihis I have been born, ond for Ihis I have come inlo the world, Ihot I should bear witness 10 Ihe Irulh." He is called "Ihe faithful ood true witness." Wohn 18:37; Revelolion 3,14) Jesus laid hi, disciples: "You will receive power when Ihe holy spiril arrives upon you, and you will be wilnesses of me bolh in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Somorio and to the mosl dislanl part of the eorlh."-Acls 1,8.

Hence, the more Ihon 2,000,000 persons 10-day who are lelling Ihe good news of Jehovah', kingdom by Christ Jesus in more Ihon 200 londs feel Ihat Ihey properly refer 10 Ihem,elves e, lehovah's Witnesses.

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More than 2,000,000 Witnesses in over 200 lands

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The modern hislory of Jehovah'. Witn" .. " • • haped up <> linl" mor" I~on 100 years o~. In the early 1870'. an inccnspfl:uous Bible study began in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., which is nOW' a port of Pi'tsburgh. Charles Toze Runell was the prime mower of the group. In July 1879, Ihe first inue of Ihe magazine "Zion'. Walch Tower and Herold of Chri,I's Presence" appeared. 8y 1880 score. of congregotions hod spread from thaI one ,,,,all Bible study iolo nearby state •. In ISBI Zion'. Walch Tower lrocl Society was formed. and in 1884 it wa. incorporated, wilh RuneU as president. The So­ciety's nome was ro'er changed to Walch Towe. Bible and Troe! Society. Many were w;lneuing from haule to hau$(' offering Bible literature. Fifty persons were doing this full time in 1888 --now the number world wide exceeds 100,000.

By 1909 the wor~ hod become international, and the Society's heodql.lcrters was moved to ill pre$ent location in Brooklyn, New York. Printed sermon. were syndicated in newspopers, and by 1913 these were in four language. in 3,000 newspape .. in Ihe United States, Canada and Europe. Booh, booklets and tracts hod been distributed by Ihe hundrws of millions.

In 1912 work began 0' the Photo-Drama of Creation. By motion pidu·es with sound i' cov­ered from eorth's creation to the end of Christ'. I ,ooo-yeor reign. Showings storted in 19'-4, with 3:1,000 seeing it doily. It was a pioneer In motion picture. with sound.

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the year 1914 A erucic) lime was drawing dose. In 1876 the

Bible sludent Charles Tozc Ruucll contributed the article "Gentile Times, When Do They End?" 10 Ihe "Bible E~ominer," published in Brooklyn, New York, which loid On pQgl! 27, October iuvCt, "The seven limes will end in A.D. 1914." The Gentile Time. i. the period Je.vs referred to 01

"the oppoillted limes of Ihe notions." Iluke 21: 241 Not all that wo, expeded to happen in 1914 did happen, but il did mark Ihe end of the ~n­tile Timel cnd W(II (I year of speeial significonce. Many historians and commentators agree that 1914 wOI (I turning point in human history. The following quotes show this,

"The lo.t completely 'normal' year in history WO$ 1913, the year before World War I begon." -Editorial in the "Times.Herold," Washington, D.C., March 13, 1949.

"Ever since 1914. everybody COnlciou! of trends in the warld has be.n deeply troubled by what has seemed like Q fQled ond predelermined march toward ever greater disosler, Many seri­ous people hav .. com .. 10 fe .. 1 Ihol nolhing can be done 10 averl Ih .. plunge loward ruin ." -lI .. rtrQnd Ruuell, New Yark "Tim .. , MagQ­lin .. ," Sept .. mber 27, 1953.

"Th .. whole world really blew up about Warld War land w .. still don'l know why. Before Ihen, men Ihoughl thQt ulopio was in sight. There was peace and prosperity. Then everything blew up. We've been in a .tOI" of ,u'I><',,<I,,<I unionuli"" ever since. ___ More people have bHn killed in th is century than in all of hislory."- Dr. Walker Percy, "American Medical News:' November 21, 1977.

More than 50 yea($ after 1914, Gcrmon otatcsmon Konrad Adenauer wrote: "Se.:urity and quiet have di.oppeared from the lives of men since 1914."_"The West Porker:' Cleve­land. Ohio. January 20. 1966.

The Society's first president, C. T. Russell, died in 1916. and was succeeded the following year by Joseph F. Rutherford, Many changes took place. A companion magazine to "The Watch-

A turning point in human history

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lewer," called Ihe "Gelden Age," wos inlro _ dvced. (Now tolled "Awoke!," wilh 0 cirevlalian of 8,300,000 in 34 longuoge •. ) Door_lo·door witne"ing received greoler emphosis. To dislin­guill, Ihemselves from Ihe denominalion, 01 Chri,le ndom, Ihe.e Chri,lion. e mbraced Ihe nome jehovoh's Wilne"e, in 1931. Thi. nome i. based on Isaiah 43: 1 0-12.

The rodio was used e"lensively in Ihe 1920', and 1930's. By 1933 Ihe Sociely wos using 403 ro dio ,Iolion, 10 broadca.1 Bible 1,..;lure •. laler, the u.c ollhe rodio woo lorgely reploced by in -creased house _lo_hou,e vi,its by Wi tne .. e. wilh porloble phonograph. and recorded Bible lolk<. Home Bible .Iudie, were slorled where Ihere wos irllere,l.

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A signal service to civil liberties

court victories During the 1930'. and 1940', there were

marlY orresl. 01 Witne"e< for doing Ihi, work, and court ca,e, were fovgh t in Ihe interest of preserving freedom of 'peech, pre.s, assembly and worship. In Ihe Uniled Sla te., appeals from lower caurl' re.ulled in tne Wi tnesses' winning 43 ca.e, before the Supreme Court 01 the United Slole,. Similarly, favorable jvdgme nl' have been obtained from high courts in other land,. Con­cerning Ihese court viclorie., Professor C. S. Bro­derl, in his book "These Also Believe," said of Ihe Wi lnesse,: "They have performed a ,ignal service to democrocy by Iheir fight to preserve Iheir civil righI>, lor in Ineir struggle Ihey have done much 10 ,ecure Iho,e righl> for every mi ­nori ly group in America_"

special training programs J. F. RUlherford died in 1942, and was suc­

ceeded in Ihe pre.idency by N. H. Knorr. A concerted program of training began. In 1943 a special training "hool for mi"ionories, called the Walchlower Bible 5<hool of Gilead, wa, estobli.hed. From Ihat time onward groduoles from Ihi, School have bee n .enl 10 166 coun ­I"e. of the earth. New congrega tion, have

sprung up In countries ",here there hod been none, and branches edabli.hed internatianotty now number mare than 90. Recently. <pec,al courses have been establi,hed fa. training can­gr"9ation elders, branch personnel and those enlla9ed futt time (as pioneersl in the witne .. ing wo.k.

N_ H. Knarr died in 19n. One of the lost organizationol changes in which he shored be­fore his death was the enlargement of the Gov­erning Body, located at the headquarters in Brooklyn. In 1976 admini,trative responsibilities were divided up and as,igned out to var,ous committees mode up of members of the Govern­ing Body. Its I B currcnt members hove each been devoting their full time to the wilne"ing wo rk for 35 years or more .

printing facilities expand The history of Jehovah's Wit,esses in modern

limcs has becn filled with dramatic evcnls. From the one smolt Bible study in Pennsylvonia back in 1870, the Witnesses by this year 1978 havc grown to over 2,000,000, in more than 200 lands. All ti terotu.e was, ot first. printed by com­mcrcial firms; thcn, in 1920, some tilcraturc by the Witnesses was produced i, rcnted factory buildings. But from 1927 muc. more titeroture began to be turned out in thc cight-.tory foctory building in Brooklyn, New Yore, owned by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Soc.iety of New York, Inc_ This has nOw expand~d into a comple>< of six buildings, and there art other buildings nearby in Brooklyn to house the 1,800 worker. needed to operate the pub'is~ing facilities. In addition to this, a combination iarm and factory housing 600 workcrs is ap<!rat~d nea, Wallkill in upstote New York. 11 handles printing of the "Watchtower" and "Awakel" magazines and produccs foad fat oil 2,400 vciunlary wo'kers; these receive a monthly allowance of $20 each to covcr incidcn tal cxpenses.

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international conventions In 1893 the first maior COllVentton wo. held in

Chicago, IIlinoi., U.S."". II wal attended by 360, Dnd 70 "<!w ones were boptiled. The 1011 big single inlernolionol convention We, held in New York eily in 1958. II vied both the Yankee Sta · dium and the then·e~ilting Polo Ground •. Peak ottend,;mce we. 253,922, new one, bopliled numbered 7,136. Since then intemotionol can · venlian. hove been held o. (I le"cs of olsembhes in mony count,i", •. In 1978 the in lernotionol can­venlia" leries involnd 100 (lilembli",. in lome 45 coun tries.

what do they belie,'e? Jehovoh's Witn"" •• believe in Almighty God,

Jehovah, Creator of th. heavens and the earth. The very uis'enc. of the inlricolely designed wonders in the universe surrounding us reasOn­obly argue. that a supremely intelligent and powerful creolor produced il 011. Just as Ihe work. of men and women refle<:t their qualities, so do Ihosl! of Jehovah God. The Bible 'elll us thot "hil invisible quoliliu Or. dearly seen from the world's crea tion onword, because they ore perceived by Ihe things mode." Also, withoul voice or words, "Ihe heovens ore dedo.in; the glory of God,"-Romons 1 ,20; Psolm 19: 1-4.

EARTH

People do nol mold cloy pots, or mo~e tele­vilion leis and computers, withoul " purpose. The e;:Irln cnd its treations of plant and animgl life gre fgf more mgrvelous. The structure of Ihe human body with its trillions of cells i. beyond gur understanding_ven the brain wilh which we think is incomprehensibly wonderfull II men have a purpose in bringing forth their compOta­tively insignificant inventions, liurely Jehovah Ggd hgd g purpose in his owesgme creotig"sl Proverbs 16:4 soys thai he does: "herything Jehovah has mode for his purpose." • •

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Jehovah mode Ihe egrth lor 0 purpose, os h • staled to the first human poir: "Be fruitful ond become many ond fill the eorth ... have in sub· jed ion the fish of the sea and the flying creatures 01 the heovens and every living creature thai is mov;ng upon the earth." (Genesis 1 :28) Because they become disobedient, this couple foiled to fill the earth with righteous families who would lovingly core for the earth and its plonts and animols . But their failure does not make Jeho­voh's purpose foil. Thousands of years loler it was written: "God, the Former of the earth ... did not create it simply for nothing." He "formed it even to be inhabited." It is not to be destroyed, but "the earth endures for ever." IIsaiah 45,1 B; Ecdesiastes 1 :4; "The New Engli.h Bible") Je ­hovah', purpose for the earth will be realized: "My own counlel wiliitand, and everylhing Ihot is my delight I sholl do."-Isaiah 46:10.

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H"nc", J"hovoh', Wilne"." b<!li"v" Ihel Ih" earth will remain forever, and Ihol all persons, living ond d"od, who will fil in wi lh Jehovah's purpose for a b<!oulified, inhebited earth, moy live on it forev"r. All mankind inh"ril"d imp".­feel ion from Adam and Eve, and, hence, ere sinne ... lRomon, 5,12) The Bible ,,,,II. u., "Th", wog"s sin pays is deolh." "The living are con­sciou. Ihol Ihey will die; but e. for Ih" deod, they 0'" con$Ciou. of nolhing 01 011." "The soul Ihol is sinning- it itself wilf die." (Ramon, 6,23; Eccie,io,t". 9,5; EzekiellB,4, 20) Then how can Ihey live again 10 .hore in Ihe eorlh ly ble .. ing.? Only through Ihe ransom sacrifice of Ch.isl Je'us, for he ",id: "10m the re.urrection end Ihe life. He that " x" "is"s foilh in me, "ven though he diu, will come 10 life." "All Iho,e in the memorial lomb. will hear his voic" and come oul."_John 11,25; 5,28, 29; Molthew 20,28.

How will , hi. come about? II i. explained in " the good news of Ihe kingdom" Ihol Je.u. slorted to proclaim while On eorlh. (Matthew 4,17-23) Bul lodoy Jehovah'. Witnesses ore preaching Ihe "good new," in a very .poxiol way .

• h'" ··gnnd news~· fhey wan. ~Tnll to hear

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When Jesus was on eorlh his disciples come 10 him and asked, "Whol will be Ihe 'ign of your p,,,.ence and of th" conciusion of Ihe system of Ihing'?" He replied Ihot Ihe.e would b<! wo .. involving many nolio ns, fomin"', p",lilenc"s, earthquakes, on increo,ing of lowle .. ne .. , false religious leochers mi,leoding many, his true fol -lowe" b<!ing hated and P""""cuted, and Ihe love of .ighleousness would cool off in many person •. When Ihe.e things weuld . Iorl 10 happen, it would indicate Chrisl'. invisible p.esence and Ihol Ih .. heavenly kingdom would be at hand. Thi. would be news, good news! So Jesus added thes" words as a parI of Ihe .ign, "Thi. good

neWI of Iho kingdom will be preached in all the inhobiled eorlh for a witness 10 oiliho nolions; and Ihen Iho Ind will como." ~ -Mollhew 2.:3-

". In Thomsolv., rl«lnl world happenings 010 bcd, but whal thly .ign'fy, nomely, Chri,t', presence, is good. Therefore, Jesus laid: "As those thing, 110.110 occur, raise you"el~, erecl and lift your heodsup, because your deliveronco i, gelling near." (luke 21 :28) Thesl Ihingl ITorted TO occllr in Ihol widoly heroldod year, 1914! It marked the end of the Gontil" Timn and Th" beginning of Ih" tran.ilion period from hllman rille to Ihe 1,000·year (millenniol) reign of Chrill.

Thot Ihere was to be a Iron,ition period is indicaled by Ihl I100h Psalm, verses land 2, and Rovolotian 12:7-12. Thoro it i, ,hawn thai Chrisl would ,i' 01 God'. righl hand in h"ovon IInlil the lime for his second coming. Then war in hooven would rOlul1 in Soton's being tO,t 10 earth, woe on earth, and Chri., waliid rul" in tho midll 01 his enemies for a period nol uceed· ing one generolion. The complele end of wicked· ness wOlild comi by means of a "greol I.ibulo· tion," culminoling in Iho war 01 Hor-Magedon and followed by Chrill" 1,000-yeor reign 01 poace.-Malthew 24:21, 33, 34; Revelation 16: 1.-16.

"Bill know Ihi.," Ihe Bible says, "thaI in Iho lasl days crilicol timos hard to deal wilh will be here. For mon will be love., of Ihemselves, lovers of money, lOll-assuming, hOllghty, blasphemers, dilOb.dienl to porenTI, IInlhonkflll, disloyol, having no noilirol aRedion, no' open to any ogreomont, .Iondere." witholll self·conlrot, fierce, wilholll love of goodnoss, betrayetl, headstrong, puRed lip wilh pride, lovers 01 plea· III'es rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devOlion bllt proving fot,e 10 ils powo.; ond from th.,e Ilirn away:' (2 Timolhy 3:1.5) Now, .omo may argue thai thele things havi happened before in hllman history.

However, as the hillarian. and cammlnto· tOrJ lay, there hal nevor bun a lime on eorlh like Iho ono e~plrienced from 1914 onward.

" Criticol times hard 10 deal with"

BUT "Your deliYelonc. is getting near"

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The woel hove been for more exlensive Ihon ever before, Moreover, as 10 ol~er feoturel of Chrilt's "Iign" of Ih, losl dOyl, t~ese focts should be consilkred, The eorlh-wide proc lomo· lion of Chr;II', pruence and kingdom hal been of a mognitud. unprecOl'den led in ~isloty. Per­seculion for preaching hal never eqlKllOl'd Ihol .ililOl'd upan Jehovah', Wilneuu, Many ~un. drOl'dI of Ihem w .. e r~«uled in Hiller'. concen _ Irol ion campi. To th;i day Ihey ore under bon in mony counl,;", and in other. Ih.y are or· relied, impri.oned, lorlu red and killed. Thi. il all parI of Ihe "Iign" Jesus gave.

AI farelald 01 Revelolion 11, lB, 'The nol.on. have become wrothful' ogo;nst Jehovoh's foilh, ful wilnellll, and thil indicolel Ihol J.hOVClh'l "own wrolh" will be exprelled Clgoinll thOle nolionl. Thil some scriplure 10yi Ihol God will "bring 10 ruin Ihose ruining the eorth," N .... before hal Ihere been a time in human hislory when Ihe eorlh'. copacily for suSloining life hOI been threOlened. How •••• , now it is differ.nll Many scientilts ho.e warned thot if mon con· linues 10 poltute Ihe eOrlh, il will become un· inhobitobl •. Bul J.hovoh "formed it even 10 be inhobi led," and he wilt gel rid of Ihe polluterl be lore Ihey complete Iheir ruin of the eorlh, _hoioh 45,18.·

earthly blessings under the kingdom The thoughl of personl li.;ng on eorl" 01 .ub­

jecrs of God'i kingdom moy seem slronge 10 many Bible believen who think of olithoM soved os being in heo.en. The Bible IhoWI thaI only a limiled number go to heoven, ond that Ihole who will Ii., farev .. on earlh will be a great c'owd of unlimiled number. IRevelotion 14 ,1-5; 7,9; Psolm 37.1 1, 29) That God's kingdom under Chr;l t will roll t~e earth and reign over ;, illhow" by 0 prophecy in Ihe Bible book of Doniel.

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Christ', kingdom i, tnere repre,ented c. a stone ~~t Irom Jehovah', mountain-like sOver­eignly. II ,I'ike, and deslroys on image that repre",nh powerful notions 01 earth, and "Ihe ,lone I~ol struck Ihe image . . . become a lorge mou nta:n and Ii lied Ihe whole earth." The proph· ecy conlinue" "In Ihe days of those kings Ihe God 01 heaven will sel up a kingdom that will never b~ brought to ruin. And the kingdom il.elf will not be poued on to any other people. It will crulh and pul on end to all these kingdoms, and it it,elf will ,land to limes indelinite."- Doniel 2,34, 35, 44.

ft i, Ihil kingdom and Ihe Scripturally IUp' ported hope 01 everlosling Iile on a clear.ed and beoutified earth that Jehovah', WitnelSu wilh to lell you about. Hundred. of thoulond. now Jiving and many, many million, now in their groves will have opportunity to dwell therein loreyer. Then, under the 1,OOO·yeor reign 01 Chri., Jesus, Jehovah', original purpose for <re­aling Ihe eorlh and pulling the /irsl human pair On il will be realized. Thil earthly paradise will never become boring. JUII os Adom WOE onigned work in Ihe Garden of Eden, .0 humonkind will hove ch~lIenging project. in coring lor the eorlh and Ihe plonl ond onimollile on it. They ",,011 long en;oy the work of their liondl."---Gene.i. 2: 15; I.oioh 65,22, "Revi.ed Stondord Version."

Mon~ scriptures could be presenled to show the conditions that will elli.t when the prayer Ihol Je.u. loughl u. i. on.wered: "LeI your kingdom come. Lei your will toke place, as in heaven, olso upon eOrlh." (Matthew 6,10) However, lellhis one suffce for nOw, "I heard a loud voice Itom Ihe Ihrone soy: 'Look! The ient of God is wilh mankind, and he will reside with Ihem. and they will be hi. people •. And God him.elf will be with them. A,d he will wipe oul eyery lear from their eyes, and deolh will be nO more, neilher will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things hoye paned away.' And Ihe one seated on Ihe throne .oid, 'Lookll om making all things new.' AI.o, he says, 'Write, because these word. ore faithful and true.' "-Revelation 21, 3-5.

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wn~'s • hey lise to .... n i •••• "011 •

Chrislians ore commanded 10 "moke disciples of people of all the nolions," bullhis doe! not neOn thot they ore 10 use pressure or convert olh ... " by fon:e. le,u,' commislion was to "Iell good news 10 the mel'k ones," to "bind up the brokenhearted," to "comfor' all the mourning ones." (Matthew 28;19; Isaiah 61,1. 2; Luke 4, 18, 19) Jehovah's Witnesses seek 10 do this by declaring the "good news" 'ro'l1 the 8ible. Like the prophet Ezekiel of old, 1ehovoh'.\ Witnesse, lodoy try to ~nd those who "or. sighing and grooning over 011 the detestable things that ore being done."-Elekiel 9,4.

The bell . known way they use 10 find IhQle who are distressed by present conditions i, by going from house to houle. nus they make a positive eflorl 10 reach Ihe public, jusl as Jesus did when "he wenl journeying from city to city end from villoge 10 .illoge, preoching and de­cloring the good news of Ihe ~ingdom of God_" His early di5Ciples did li~ewi$e. [luke 8,]; 9,] -6; 10,1-9) Today, where it is p<mible, Jehovoh', Wiln" .. ". end"",v", 10 c(lil (II .. o~h home ... v .. ,nl I mel a year, seeking to COnverSe wilh the house· ~older for a few minules on some local or world lopic of interest or concern. A scripture or two may be offered for consideration, and if in leresl i •• hown by Ihe householder the Wilnen may arrange 10 call back 01 a canvenienl lime for furlhe, discu"ion. Bibles and literalure explain· ing Ihe Bible are mode a.oiloble, and, if Ihe householder desires, a home Bible sludy is can· dueled wi thoul any charge. During 1978 on ,.erolle of more Ihon one and a quarter million eible sludies were so conducted regulorly Inroughoul the world.

Anolher way in which Ihe "good neWI of the kingdom" is told to othe" il tnrough meetings held 01 local Kingdom Halls. Th~ Witnesses con­civet meetingl there weekly. l>Ie meeting il 0

public lecture on 0 subject of current in terest.

18

Another i. a study of some Biblical theme or prophecy, Ulinglhe "Watchtower" magazine as soyrce maleriaL A third meeting i. a school for training Witnesses 10 be beller proclaime'l of Ihe "good newl," and a fourlh i, devoted 10 di •• cussinglh. wilnening wo.k in Ihe locoll ... ilory. Also, o ... ce a week Wilnesses ossembl. in privot. hamil, in small groyps, fOf Bibl. studies.

All lhe'e meeling' are open to Ihe public. No colledio .... are .v.r 10k ..... Such "...Iingl a re benerociol for oiL Th. Bible says, "W. oughl 10 see ~aw lOch of '" may best OrOull alhers to love and active goodn.ss, nOI staying away from au. meeti ... gl, 01 lome do, bul 'Olh.r .ncourog· i ... g one anal her, aillhe more because you see Ihe Day drawing neo •. " Priwele study end .esearch or. necenary, bUI """' ... g wilh othe .. i. stimu· lating: "As iro ... lharpe ... 1 iran, so on. man sharp. ens Ihe wils of onOlher."-Hebrews 10:24, 25; Proverbs 27,17, "The N.w E ... glish Bibl •. "

• III

Kingdom Holl., p(O,~,ol in dni,n, 0 •• plo, •• for Bibl. di«ullion

The Wilnessu 01$0 moke good use of open ­ings for lolking oboul Ihe "good news" 0$ Ihey come in contocl with other people in their doily live,. II may be a few words e~chong\!d with a neighbor, or with a fellow traveler on a bus or plane; a longer lalk with 0 friend or relative; 0

discussion with (I fellow worker during lunch hour. Much of Ihe witnessing thot Jesus did when he wa~ on earth was of this kind-os he wolked along the seashore, or .01 on 0 hill.ide, or while eating 01 sameone's home, Or (It a wedding, or on 0 r .• hing boot on the Seo of Golil ... H. taught in the ,ynagogues and at the temple in Jerusolem. Wherever he was, he found opportu­nities to tolk about God', kingdom. Jehovah'l Witnesses endeavor to follow in his footsteps in this regard olso.- 1 Peter 2:21.

20

preaching by example None of these woy. of leliinO you the "good

news" would be meaningful to you if Ih" one telling yo" did not apply Ihe leochings to him­self. To soy one thing and do onolhe, i, hypoc­rilY, and religious hypocrisy h(ls turned millions owoy from Ihe Bible. The Bible i. not rightly blamed. The scribe. and Pharisees hod Ihe He­brew Scriptures, but Jesus denounced them oS hypocrite •. He spoke of their reeding from the low of Mo.es, then odded to hi. disciples: "All Ih .. things they 'ell you, do on:! ob.erv", but do nol do o«o,ding 10 their deed., for they s"y but do not perform." (Matthew 23:3) A Chri,'ion', being on example of right I,virg says mo,e thon 1'101,10 of sermonizing. This was pointed oul to Chri.tion wive. who hod unbelieving hu.bends: " They may be won without 0 word through the conduct of their wive., becou ... of hoving been eyewi tne .. e. of your eho.te conduct."- I Peter 3:1, 2.

Therefore, Jehovoh', Witne,.". try to recom­mend the "good news" to o·he" in this woy olso, by being exemplory in n,e Christion con_ duct thot they recommend to olhers. They try to 'do unto othe" o. they would hove other. do unto them: (Motthew 7: 12) ney try to be this woy with 011 men, not ju,t with fellow Witne • ."s o r friend. or neighbors Or ,elolives. Being im­perfect, they do not olwoy, .ucceed 100 percent. But il is the de.ire of their heorl. to do good unto 011 persons, nol only in tellin;) them the good news of the kingdom, but olso in extending 0

helping hond whenever po"ible.- Jome, 2: 14-17.

21

In Ih.i, own lomily lilo, OS woll as in 'OnlO'" ... ith orho, pooplo, tho Wiln ..... oin,o,oly t.., to do tho thi"'ll' t .... t they ad.o,elo loot .....

It'"~IC. itoal vallie of • II.· .... good news~" •

ht YOIII" .00l11l1ll1ll'.~· In this modern world we often heor the opin ­

ion exprened, "The principle. of Chri.tianity Ore iust nol practicol. They iv.1 will not work in !a­day'. comptex lociely." Howe, er, in a reported CO"vflr5otion between the Hindu leader Mahatma Gondhi and Ihe former Briti,h Viceroy of Indio, Lord Irwin, " very djfferent ."ntiment was ex­pressed. lord Irwin c.ked Gandhi whot he Ihought would solve the problems between Great Britoin and Indio. Gandhi picked up a Bible ond opened il to the fi ft h chopler of Mollhew and .aid: "When your country and mine .holl '01'" together on the teachings laid down by Ch,i,t in Ihi. Sermon on Ihe Mount, we . holl hove solved the problem. not only of our countries but those of the whole world."

Thct .ermon s~oks of seeking spirituality, being mild-tempered, peocecble, merciful, 0 lover of righteou.nen.1t condemn. not only mur_ der but being wrothful with other!; not iust cdultery but lustful thoughts oS well. It speak. cgoin. t irresponsible divorce cction. that break up homes and victimize children. It tells us: 'love even those who dislike you, give to the needy, .top iudging others unmercifully, treat other! a. you would like to be treated: All these cdvice., if applied, would yield tremendous benefit •. The more pe .. ons in your community who practice th ..... , the bootl.r you, community b.co ..... ol

Jehovah', Witneue. c'e on influence in thi. direction. The Bible teaches them to respect marrioge. Their children are trained in righ t principles. The importance of the family i • • t ressed. United familie. cre a boon ta your Com­.... unity, even to your nolion. History i. filled with uamplu of world powers crumbling when fom ­ily ties weokened and immoral ity increosed. The more individuals and familie. thot Jehovah's

23

Witnenel ;nnYence to liye by 'hr;!I;on principlel, rhe lell delinqYencr and immorality and crime you w;1I have in you r corrmunityl

One of rhe big problems plogying commu· nities and notion, i, racial pnojydi,e. In COlliros l. rhe ope)!tle Peter said, "I perClive rhol God ;1 not portiol, bYI in eye...,. notion the man that fears him and work. righ t.OUln," il occeptobl' to him." And Paul wrote: "Ther. ;, neither Jew nOr G ... k, the re il neith.r slaY. nor freemon, th .... 1 n.ilh.r mole flor femol.; for you are all on. pertOn ;fI union with Chrilt JeIYI." {Adl 10, 34, 3.:51 Gololiofll 3,28) Jehoyoh'l Wiln .... ' oc· cept thi •. All roce, ofld colorl I; ve ond work togeth.r 01 Iheir world headquorters, at the bronchn, and in the conllregotions.

In Africa cerloin Iribes cOflnol mix together withoul dashes. Howeo." ifl Ollemblie' of Jeho· ooh', Wilne .. e. Ihere, people 110m mony differ· en t tribe, ea r and .Ieep and wOflhip logether in compl.le harmony and "'arm fellowship. Goy· efflment officials are omond whofl they see th is. An exam pl. of Ihe unifying effect of Iru. Chri,· tiani ly Was comrr'l<!nted en by Ih. New York "Am.terdom News" of Aygull 2, 19.:58. The comm.nt wo. inspired by observiflg Ihe inter · nOTional onembly of the Witne .. e. pr.viously menl;oned-the one in New York cily where a • ., a quarter of a million ollornbled.

" Everywhe .... NegrOfls, whites and Ori­..,tclll, from all statiofls ifl lif. ond 011 pam of the world, mingled io~oully and fr .. ly .... The woflhiping Witnes~ from 120 londs hoye lived and won.hiped togethe. peocefuHy, "'owing Americans how ""';Iy it can bit dOrM .... The os-5Cl'mbly il a shining e~omple of how peo_ ple can work and lin together."

Many may lOY that t~e principle. of Chris· lioni ty are not practical lor thi s modern world. Howeyer. what el.e hal 'Harked, or will work? Chrillion principles can be of feol value if ap· plied to your community 'ow, and they will be Ihe OOSil for Ufliting all 'n~tionl, 'ribe. and pea· pie,' OKIrlh wide under the rule of God's kingdom o.er monkind.-Re.elotiQtl 7,9, 10.

24

All races and colors work together

Christianity is practical. What else has worked?

_ht-i." WOI"ldwid .. OI"gallizatioll :md wm"k

There o,e ,,"ve,ol links used in directing t~ .. work of witnessing in th .. more thon 200 land, whe . .. it i. being dOlle. Th .. ove,oll direction come. from th .. Governing Body 01 Ih" world h"odquorle" in Brooklyn, New York. From th",e ,epre'enlotive, ore , ent oul eoeh yeor to 15 Or more "zone," to confer with the bronch ,ep.e ,,,nIOI;ye. in eoeh zone. In Ihe branch office, the, .. Ore bronch committ .... , 01 from th, .. " To .even me mbers to ave ., .... th .. work in Ih" londs under their juri,diction. Mony of the branches hove focilitie. for printing. some operOling hi gh· .peed rotory p""''''. The country or or .. " served by eoen bronch i, divided into di, triel., and Ihe di,trich, in turn, ore divided into ,;"vils. Each circuit ha. in il abauT 20 cangregaTian,. A d i,­!rid over,eer pre.ide. al 0 "cin;uiT o«embly" lor Ihe,e congregol ion< Twice a year, a ' he vi.its the circuits in hi. di.lricl in rolalion . The'e i, a circuit oYe"ee" and he vi.i!> each cong,e· galion in hi, circuit u.ually Iwice a year, o .. i,l · ing the Wi tnesse , in orgonizing and doing Ihe preaching work in the te"itory o"igned to that congregaTion.

The local congregation with i" Kingdom Holl i, thc center for lelling the "good new," in your community. The Oreos under eoch congregotion are mapped out in .moll territorie,. The,e are a"igned to individual Wilne"e. who endeavor 10 visi t and ,peak with the people in eoch home therein. Each congregation, consisting of from a few t o ,orne 200 Wilne .. "" ha. elder< a<signed to loo k ofler Yoriou. dutie •. The individual pro­claimer of Ihe "good new<" i, th .. vital one in the organization o f J"hovoh'. Witne"e<. Every one of the Witne, ... " whethe' se,ving 01 th e world headquarters, or bronche ., or in congr .. • gotion., doe, this Aeld work of pe"onally telling oThe ' . about God'. kingdom.

25

Repor!s of !hi, aC!IYI!y ul!imalely reach !he world heodquor!en, and on annual "Yearbook" is compiled and published. Also, a char! ;s pub­lished eac~ year in !he January 1 illue of "The Wo!c~!ower." Theie Iwo publications offer de · toiled reports of eoc~ year's accomplishments in bearing witness to Jehoyoh and his kingdom under eh rist Jesus. The " 1979 Yearbook" repOrts that for 1978 mare than 2,000,000 Witnesses, from 42,255 congregations, spent in excel! of 307,000,000 hours proclaiming the "good news." During the 1978 se",ice year, 95,052 new ones were baptized. literature placed to­toled into the hundreds of millions of copies .

• 11I.·sHolis ohell ask.·" by interested persons

If God illoY., why dotl he penn i! widedllftl?

26

Certain questions come up more often than others. A few of such are considered here.

God does permit wickedness, and millions On earth willfully make a practice of it. for in­Itonce, they declare wars, drop bomb. on chil­dren, scorch the earth, cause famines. Millions Imoke and get lung cancer, practice adultery and get venereal disease, use alcohol to ucel! and get cirrhosis of the liyer, and so an. Such persons do not truly wanl all wickedness stopped. They only wanl the penalties for it elim­inated. When they reap what they have .own, they cry aut, "Why me?" And they blame God, 01 Proverbs 19:3 layl: "A man's own folly wrecks his life, and then he bears a grudge against the lord." ("The New Engli.h Bible") And if God stopped their evildoin" they would protest their lass of freedom to do itl

Jehovah's main reO.on for permitting eyil is to answer Satan's challenge. SQlon the Deyil said that God CQuid nol put men on eQrlh

who would be true to Hi" under tesl. Uob 1: 6 · 12; 2: 1·1 01 Jehovoh 01 OWl Solan to remoin to hove opportunity to prove his chollenge. (Compare Exodus 9:16.1 Soton continues to bring woes now, to turn men ogainst God, os he tries to prove hi5 challenge. (Revelotion 12: 121 However, Job kepi integrity. Jesus did. True Christions do now.-Job 27:S; 31 :6; Motthew 4:1-11; I Peter 1:6, 7.

NOI occording to the Bible. It SeemS 100 good to be lrue only because man kind hos known Ihe bod for so mony cenluri~ Jehovoh created Ihe eorlh ond told monkind 10 fill il wilh righ teous men and women who wculd Care for ils plont and animal life and preserve its beauty inslead of destroying il. ISee poges 12 and 17.1 Rothe r thon that promis.ed paradise being lao good to be '",e, Ihe present sorrowful slate is too bad 10 continue. Parodise will reploce il.

Foith in Ihese promise, is nol a nwtler of credulity. "Failh follows Ihe thing heard." By studying God's Word, its wiodom becomes opporen! end foith grows.- Reman. 10: 17; He­brewsll,l.

Biblical archoeology confirms much of the Bible's hi.toricol occurocy. True "ienee harmo­nize. with the Bible. The following foci. Were in the Bible long before they were discovered by .ecular .cholo .. : Ihe order of stoges through which the earth possed in its development, Ihot the earth is round, that it hangs in spoce on nothing ond thot birds mi<lrate.--Gene,i, chop. I; Isaiah 40:22; Job 26:7; Jeremioh 8:7.

The inspiration of the eible is shown by ful· filled prophe<:ies. Doniel fcrelold in advance Ihe rise and the fall of world powel$, ond Ihe lime when the Messiah would come and be put to deolh. IDoniel chaps. 2 ond 8; 9 :24-2n Todey s,ill other prophecies are being fulfilled, iden­tifying Ihe ... as the "lost days." (Motthew chap.

I would like 10 believe in an earth­ly parodise where people live for­ever, but isn't that too good 10 be ._,

How can I answer people who scoff and say that the Bible is a myth and is un5Cientifk?

27

24; 2 Timotby 3:1 -51 Sucb foreknowledge i. not within man'. power. (hoioh 41,23) For more confi.motion, .ee the Wotch Tower books "I . Ihe Bible Reolly Ibe Word of God?" and "Did Mon Get He.e by Evolu-ion or by Creation?"

• You musl .tudy the Bible and medilote on it, at the some time Dsking fo r God's .pi.il to direct you. (Proverbs 15:28; Luke 11 :9-13) "If anyone of you i. locking in wisdom," Ihe Bible soys, "leI him keep on Dsking God, for he give. gen_ erously fa all and w ithon .eprooching; C1nd il will be given him_" Womes 1 :5) A lso, there a .. ' Bible sludy aids wo.th consulling_ Usually help f.om olhers is nee-ded, <n when Philip studied with Ihe Ethiopian_ (Act. 8:26-351 Jehovah'. Wilne .. es condud Bible >ludi", f.ee of charge with inte.ested persons in Ihei. homes. Feel free to request tbis .ervice.

• There was opposition to Jesus' p.eoching, and

he soid that his followers elsa would be opposed. When some were impre .. ed with Jesus' teach­ing, religiou. opposers retorted: "You have nol been mislKl also, have you? Nol one of the rulers or of the Pharisees has put faith in him, has he?" Uohn 7:46-4B, 15:201 Many who advise you not to study with the Wilne .. es o .e either uninformKl or prejudiced_ Study with the Wilne .. es and see for )'ourself whelher your Bible understanding increa,es (W not.- Matthew 7:17-20.

• In doing Ihis they follow Jesus' example. He

went to the Jew •. The Jews hod thei. Own reli­gion, but in many way. it hod turned a way from the Wo.d of God. (Matthew 15:1 -9) All nalions have religions 01 some kind, whe the r so-called Christian Or non-Christian. II is vita ll y important for persons 10 hold belie" Ihot con· form 10 God's own Wo.d, and Ihe efforts of Ihe

28

How can I be-come able to a nswer questions on tt,. Bible?

Why do ma ny owose Jehovah's Witnesses one! !till me not to stvdy with them?

Why do the Witnesses ca ll on pet"$DnS who hcJv. thei r own .... ligion?

Do Witnesses believe Ihal their religion is the only righl one?

Do they believe lhell they o re the only ones who will be 5CrI&d?

What finonciol contributions ore expected of those o!tending meel­ings of Jehovah's Witnesses?

.n'

Witne"e. 10 o .. i.t them in doing this con.lilule a showing of neighbor love.

• Anyone who is serious aboul his religion .hould Ihink Ihol it is Ihe righl one. Olherwise, why would he or .he be involved in il? Chri, · lions are odmoni,hed: "Make .ure of alilhing.; hold fa.1 10 whal is fine." (1 The .. alonion. 5, 21) A person should make .u .... Ihot hi, beliefs can be supported by Ihe Scriplures, for Ihere is only one Irue fai lh. Ephe'ians 4,5 confirms Ihis, menlianing "one Lard, one faith, one bopli.m." Jesus did nol agree wilh Ihe modern, relaxed view Ihol Ihere are many roods, many .... ligians, all leading to solvolion. In,leod, he .aid, "Nor· row is Ihe gale and cromped Ihe road leading of! into life, and few are Ihe ones finding il." Jehovah's Witnesses believe Ihol they have found il. Otherwise, Ihey would look for on· other relig ion.--Moflhew 7:14.

• No. Many millions Ihat have lived in cenlurie.

po.1 and who were nol Jehovah'. Wilne .. es will come bock in a resurrection and have on opporlunity for life. Mony now living moy yet lake a .Iand fa. Irulh and righleou,ness before the "great I.ibulotion," and Ihey will gain sol· valion. Moreaver, Jesu. said Ihal We ,hould nol be judging one another. We look allhe oulword appearance; God loob 01 the heorl. He See, accurately, judge. mercifully. He has commifled judgmenl inlo Je.u.' hand., nol ours.-Mollhew 7,1 · 5; 24,21.

• Regard ing money contribulion., Ihe opo.tle

Poul ,aid, "LeI each One do jusl os he has reo .olved in hi, hearl, nol g.udgingly 0. under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Co.inlhian, 9 ,7) At the Kingdom Hall. and convenlion audiloriums of Jehovah's Wilne,ses nO COlieclion. ore eve. laken. Boxes are placed

29

If I * ome 0". of Jehovoh', Witnft5eS, would I be u peded to preach al they do?

30

.0 thot it i. conv~ni~nt for ony who wi.h to con­tribute to do '0. No one know. whot oth~ .. gin. Some gre oble to giv~ more thon others; .om~ mgy not be gble to give anything. Jesu. showed the right view when he comm~nt~d on the Ireg.ury box gt tho t~mple in JeruJalem and tho.e contributing: it is one's obility to give gnd the .pirit of giving that count, not the gmount of money.--tuke 21,1-4.

When one becomes filled with th~ knowl­edge of the promised egrthly parodise under Christ', kingdom, one wont! to shore it with others. You will too. It is good newsl-Ach 5, -41 , -4 2.

Doing th is is an importont woy of showing that you ore g disciple 01 Jesus Chri,t. In the Bible Jesus is called "the fgithlul ond true wit­nen." When on earth he preoched, saying, "The kingdom of the heovens hos drawn near," ond he sent out his disciples to do the some. (Reve­lotion 3,1 4i Motthew -4,17; I Q,n later, Jelu. commanded his followers: "Go therefore and make d isciples of people of all the notions, ... teaching them." He also foretold that, be­fore the end, "this good news of the kingdom will be pread-led in all the inhabited "'orlh for a witnn. 10 gil the nalions."-Motthew 28, 19, 20; 24:,...

There gre many Wgys of declaring this good news. Conv~rsgtion with friends and gcqugint_ oncn often open. the way to do so. Some do il by wri lina 1 .. " .. " nr hy It<ina Ih .. 1~I~rhon~. Others mail literature contg;ning materiol that they th ink gn ocqugintgnco would be npeciglly interes ted in. Out of a desire to min no one, Witnesses go from door to door with the mel­sag •. You moy wish 10 oCtompany one of them.

The Bible contoin, thi, worm invitotion, "The spirit and the bride keep on saying, 'Cornel' And let onyono hearing 'oy, 'Com",I' And let a nyone thirsting come; let onyone that wishe. toke life's woler free." (Revelation 22, I n Telling others gbout the pgrodise egrlh gnd ih bl~uingl

is to be done willingly, o~t of 0 heorl filled with o desire to shore this good news.

We ore sure that you ha,"" other questions about Jehovah's Witne .. es and their beliefs. Pe rhops some of them are controveniol in nolure. We would like 10 onswe. them. Spau is limited in this brochure; $0 we invi:e you to ask them of Witnesses locally, ei the. 01 their Kingdom Holl meetings o. when they ",sit you in your home. Or, you moy send your queslions 10 Walch Tower Society, 01 the branch office neo.e.t 10 you; see the list below.

31

OUR INVITATION TO YOU W. Itave enjoyKIlalking 10 you through the

pagel of Ihi$ broelture. We hope that you hove 'njoy.d learning more obovt Jet.o~ah·. WIt-1IMSe5. PIecne accept OUI' /n,hotloll 10 .wI uti

at our Joeol Kingdom Hall. s.. how our meetings are cGnducted. See how _ endta,or 10 s.hore with GIlt ... lhe good news of a paradise earth und-tr Chri,,', kinpm.

God has ptamised it. "Th.,. ani new heaven. and a n_ IOrth thai _ are owoiting occon:fing to hil ptamise, and in these rigtIf.ovsnHl ill to dwell." (2 Peter 3,13) Nine_n c:enturifl hove possed. Th. waiting period opp aod-oel its end. Wo,lG _dilion •• ignify this. n. .. fulfillment of Jesus' promise draws neo" ...... theM thingl stort t:> «tv,. tais. you",,,",. erect and lift your he-ods up, because your delivemnce i. glltiing neer.'·_ Luk. 21,28.

"AI you behold the doy drawing near," the opedle Paul said, "consider 0ftI' anotfler 10 in. cit. te lav. ond fi". works, not fvnaking the gQlh .. ring of ourselves togelher." (Heb_, 10, 204, 25) Our invitation 10 you is, Heed Pour. ad· vi« by assembling wilh u~