Greatly appreciated, therefore, was the Comprehensive Concordance of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, released in , with some 14, word headings and about , entries. Many members of the Brooklyn Bethel family worked industriously at compiling it, proofreading it, and so forth. Certainly, with this provision much time is being saved in locating desired Bible texts.
Today, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is available in its entirety in seven languages, and the Christian Greek Scriptures in one other tongue. Also, work is under way on the Christian Greek Scriptures in four other languages. Why such a low cost? And it may surprise you to know that during as many as fifteen rotary presses of the Watchtower Society in Brooklyn were being used full time to print Bibles.
Coupled with this tremendous production of Bibles has been the publishing of millions of Bible study aids. And, since some persons have doubted the authenticity of the Scriptures, earnest efforts have been made to prove that these are indeed of divine origin.
The sanctity of blood was highlighted in The Watch Tower of December 15, The Watchtower of July 1, , clarified the Christian position on blood.
Among other things, it pointed out that, though blood transfusion dates back to the ancient Egyptians, the earliest reported case was a futile attempt to save the life of Pope Innocent VIII in , an operation that cost the lives of three youths.
Samuel Muscariello was confronted with a test of his integrity on this matter. The doctors prescribed an operation—with blood transfusions, of course—giving him two years at the most to live without the operation and the blood.
Sam walked out on them. This was in the year Besides the Watchtower statement [one that they had particularly noted], the words of [visiting] Brother Sullivan at the prison kept ringing in our ears. On April 18, , the state went to court in Chicago, Illinois, to take a child away from its parents so that doctors might give it a blood transfusion. Six-day-old Cheryl Labrenz was said to have a rare condition in which her red blood cells were being destroyed.
According to the doctors, she would die if she did not receive a blood transfusion. The Labrenz case was but an early chapter in what has become a lengthy narrative. Greetham remembers well what happened to her brother, Dan Morgan. When admitted a fourth time, he still refused to accept blood. Dan was so peaceful and happy. But is death inevitable because a person rejects a blood transfusion?
Certainly not! Consider the case of Gladys Bolton. She was told by her doctor that she had an aneurysm in the main artery leading to her spleen and that the spleen would have to be removed. She agreed to the operation on the condition that no blood transfusions would be administered to her. Before it was possible to remove the spleen, however, the artery ruptured and Sister Bolton lost over 70 percent of her blood. Though doctors and nurses in the operating room were calling for blood, her doctor held to his promise.
She was unconscious for two weeks and in an oxygen tent for three, suffering one complication after another, but the doctor was very attentive and gradually Sister Bolton improved. From all medical history and records you should be dead right now.
No one has ever lost that much blood and lived! We appreciate good doctors and nurses, and all of you have worked hard to keep me alive. Through the years, Jehovah God has graciously made bountiful provision for those who wish to adhere to his law on blood. In this constant flow of spiritual aid must be included the page booklet Blood, Medicine and the Law of God, published in Have you used it to discuss this vital subject with your doctor? This was not the first time The Watchtower had mentioned expulsion of unrepentant sinners from the congregation.
From onward, however, the need to maintain the spiritual cleanliness of the Christian congregation was especially stressed. The passing of years also brought increasing awareness that merciful treatment of repentant ones was essential. Christians do not associate with disfellowshipped persons in a spirit of brotherhood.
Nor do they tolerate wickedness among themselves. But what if disfellowshipped individuals forsake their wrong course? These show that such disfellowshipped persons can be given real encouragement to get reestablished on the road to life.
Playing no small role in keeping the organization clean have been a number of assembly talks. For instance, L. Frank, straight language on morals spelled things out in plain talk. In fact, a very significant step was taken in Speaking at an assembly in Washington, D.
But this would change. Regular publishers and pioneers would be assigned to work in these territories during June, July and August of This met with an enthusiastic response. Similar work in isolated territories has been carried on up to our present time.
This was a new concept in service that opened doors of opportunity to individuals and families who could not take advantage of Gilead School training and enter the formal missionary field. Yet there was a need for more training. Circuit and district servants overseers would have much to do with it, but all appointed servants in the congregations would render aid so that each Kingdom publisher might become a regular door-to- door proclaimer of the good news.
While visiting a congregation, the circuit servant would select experienced house-to-house preachers to work with new and inexperienced ones in the training program. This far-reaching provision for qualifying more Christian witnesses had its start on September 1, , and soon was in full swing. In trying to help others, many improved their own abilities.
With the passing of time, various outlines for suggested three- to eight-minute house-to-house sermons and ten- to fifteen-minute sermons for use on return visits were published by the Watchtower Society in the monthly service instruction bulletin Informant and its successor Kingdom Ministry. Some Witnesses later found it easier or more convenient to use short sermons based on one scripture, such as Isaiah or John To Walter R. Now we have all learned how to give a short sermon at the door, well prepared with a set theme, backed up by two or three pointed scriptures.
We can use many short sermons, all based on important, timely scriptures. Moreover, we are anxious to draw the householder out in the conversation. On Sunday, April 3, , a bold proclamation of judgment was delivered against Christendom, and, in fact, the entire system of false religion. This was done by the simultaneous delivery of a public address by Christian speakers in many languages throughout the earth.
In time, the Watch Tower Society met the great demand for this message in booklet form by publishing 22,, copies in thirty languages. Eager to share in its distribution, thousands of new publishers participated in the field service for the first time during April That month an all-time peak of , Kingdom publishers was reached throughout the world. Not by any means! Many clerics were denying the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.
Others claimed to advocate the Bible, but were teaching God-dishonoring doctrines. The Trinity was among these false teachings. According to John. The booklet was scheduled for special distribution during November Not only did Kingdom proclaimers offer it in their house-to-house work. They mailed each Protestant and Catholic clergyman a copy, along with a covering letter prepared by the Watchtower Society.
Some of them have been unusual in a particular respect. They have been assemblies on the move, with some delegates traveling from place to place, even around the world. What a unifying effect such gatherings have had! Christians in one land may read of the experiences and activities of their fellow believers in other countries. But to meet them and share their company—even when language barriers exist—is truly a rewarding experience.
In but ten weeks thirteen assemblies were held in the United States and abroad, and many delegates journeyed to the various gatherings. These ships actually were floating convention halls because spiritually upbuilding programs were arranged on them daily for the benefit of the passengers. One of the European assembly locations was the Zeppelinwiese in Nuremberg, where , persons gathered. Where was Hitler? In all, delegates took a whirlwind tour around the globe.
Many delegates to the London assembly visited the British Museum. Interesting, too, was a clay liver, used for divination in Babylonian religion. Conventioners who journeyed to Bible lands visited many sites of Biblical significance. At Wat Po in Bangkok, delegates saw a phallic symbol, before which barren women prayed in hopes of having children. Murals seen in Buddhist Wat Sakhet, also in that city, depicted both Nirvana and a hell of torment. It came to be practiced in various languages, and thus a world empire of false religion came into existence.
It shows clearly that a city now in ruins affects the lives of millions today. Underscored is the urgency of abandoning Babylon the Great. Depicted are the warmth and love of true Christians, as displayed at their assemblies around the world. Viewers can see that there is an organization with which one should associate upon getting out of Babylon the Great.
Accordingly, lovers of righteousness are urged to abandon the world empire of false religion and associate with worshipers of Jehovah. By the Watch Tower Society had been using modern-day motion pictures for a decade as visual aids in making disciples. Colorful motion pictures, interspersed with striking color illustrations, helped audiences to visualize principal Bible events and to grasp their significance for our day. Seeing them made me more assured that God will not lie concerning what He has said will occur now and in the future.
However, Angelo C. So, thousands viewed it in their homes. The first of these began to be shown in September Not only would it make them want to disassociate themselves from the world empire of false religion; likely it would also motivate such individuals to share in aiding others to flee from Babylon the Great. These are but examples of slide programs presented by circuit overseers as visual aids toward imparting Scriptural instruction. As delegates listened to it, a startling thing occurred.
Different voices came over the loudspeaker, representing Daniel, the three faithful Hebrews— even angels. There was the sound of music, and the three Hebrews were given a final opportunity to bow to the image of gold set up by Nebuchadnezzar on the Plain of Dura. Firmly, however, they maintained their integrity, refused to bow, and. Here was a new and different way to impart Bible instruction. Assembly audiences felt as though they had been transported to ancient Babylon. A Bible drama, with actors in costume depicting the life and times of that Hebrew prophet of ancient Jerusalem, took place before their very eyes.
The dramatic impact was heightened by sound effects. How this emphasized the trust that worshipers of Jehovah must place in their God! Often these dramatizations have been presented earlier at graduations of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, the students portraying persons of ancient and modern times.
Considering the blessings and benefits of these dramatizations, James W. Repeatedly through the years they have demonstrated this. Plainly, Brother Knorr showed that true Christianity does not pave the way for the rise and growth of atheistic Communism, but hypocritical Christianity does! Communism, which was enthusiastically endorsed by the convention audience of 84, From each assembly such a petition was directed to Nikolai A.
Bulganin, then premier of the U. It asked that imprisoned Witnesses be freed and authorized to organize, and it requested that they be permitted to establish regular relations with their governing body and be allowed to publish and import Bible literature.
Furthermore, the petition proposed a discussion between representatives of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and those of the Russian government. It suggested that a delegation of Witnesses be permitted to proceed to Moscow for this purpose, as well as to visit the various camps where witnesses of Jehovah were interned. The Communists never replied or made any acknowledgment of its receipt. Convention delegates had been urged to be present for the afternoon session, and , were on hand.
They listened attentively as F. Brother Knorr made the motion that the resolution be adopted as read, the motion was seconded, and as he put the question to the vast audience, there was a unanimous roar of Aye!
In time, 72,, tracts containing this resolution were printed for worldwide distribution in fifty-three languages, most of this work being done in December Extensive circulation of this information also resulted when the resolution and its introductory talk were published in The Watchtower of November 1, Was such distribution effective? Indeed it was. They enthusiastically adopted a resolution whereby they proclaimed their recognition of Jehovah as the Eternal Sovereign of the universe and their refusal to give idolatrous worship to the political image, the United Nations, as had the nations, which are being led by invisible wicked spirits to Armageddon.
Also, it was published in The Watchtower of November 15, , in sixty-six languages, giving it worldwide circulation. Hence, by this one comprehensive resolution, hundreds of thousands who had taken no part in adopting those earlier resolutions publicly declared themselves as favoring and supporting the outpouring of the plagues from Jehovah that were prophetically set out in Revelation chapter sixteen. Among other things, it pointed out that the 2,year- long Gentile Times began with the desolation of earthly Jerusalem in B.
It is the good news of that kingdom that they preach world wide. Winds of religious and social change then were blowing throughout the United States.
Also, to them its moral code was out of date. Northern cities were affected too. Some were rocked by riots. He, in turn, saw that they were properly directed. Later that year such vital information was published in The Watchtower. See the issues of November 1 through December 1. We might have found ourselves stuck with the same reasoning that the clergy have who have involved themselves in marches, protests and social issues of the day.
Why, just look at a shelf containing books that have been published by the Watch Tower Society in relatively recent years! And the fulfillment of restoration prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah is viewed from the twentieth-century vantage point in Paradise Restored to Mankind—by Theocracy!
Rich spiritual provisions have been made for old and young alike. Back in , the book From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained was published in simple language and profusely illustrated.
Here is a publication designed for parents to read with their children. It was an aid dealing with basic Bible doctrines. As a basic Bible study aid, it has proved to be a helpful instrument in the hands of Kingdom proclaimers. Thinking back to the district assemblies, C. Right from its introduction, it was apparent that it would have tremendous appeal to all thinking people. During May special efforts were made to get it into the hands of educators, with excellent results.
Another noteworthy innovation came in What could this new development be? The new publication would involve the student at every turn. But there was something more to the surprise that was in store for assembly delegates.
The new Truth book was to be used in a six-month Bible study program. Because of the way this publication involved the student, generally by the time he completed it he would. In , however, the number of those immersed was down to 58, Under the circumstances one might well have asked, Is the work slowing down? Time proved that it was not. During the service year 74, persons were baptized. This was an upswing and it gave renewed reason for optimism. Then came , along with the Truth book and the six-month Bible study program.
The number of publishers started to climb again all over the earth. The listeners began to become doers of the work. Truly Jehovah directed the bringing forth of this small but powerful disciple-making instrument. Did you know that it is now being published in ninety-one languages?
Furthermore, in the six years since it was first released, 74,, copies of it have come off the press. Take The Watchtower as an example. Now, by , the average printing of each issue is some 8,, copies in 79 languages.
During the years since The Watchtower has undergone some changes in name and format. For years, Watchtower covers were printed in black and white. Then, with the issue of January 1, , a new colored cover was introduced. The journal then had larger, but fewer pages than it now contains. Indeed it has! Since its first issue—that of August 22, —Awake! This journal, too, is part of that great flood tide of literature announcing the Kingdom.
Why, from the through the service years 2,,, copies of Awake! It may surprise you to know that from through the service year the Watchtower Society has printed ,, bound books at its headquarters and by means of other printeries throughout the earth. It was back in that the Society moved into its modern fireproof structure of reinforced concrete at Adams Street in Brooklyn, New York. Thus property adjacent to the original plant was purchased, evacuated and then demolished. Excavation for the new factory began on December 6, , and construction commenced in January When completed, this nine-story concrete addition almost doubled the factory floor space.
One the Kingdom Ministry Schools was also conducted there for a number of years, up till May 4, Some years earlier, in , the Society had printed 17,, copies of The Watchtower and Consolation now Awake! During , however, the total was 57,, copies. By spring of , therefore, excavation for a new factory began and in this thirteen-story plant was completed.
In the Society purchased a nine-story factory on an adjoining city block, and this has been used almost exclusively for storage. So in , on a block adjoining its other plants, construction began on another large factory. That eleven-story structure, dedicated on January 31, , added , square feet of floor space to the Watchtower factory complex. Late in the rate of expansion increased dramatically.
Barber recalls watching some of the construction of the Squibb complex years ago. So, lo and behold, it had come to pass! Hence, in a twelve-story addition to the home was completed. But the headquarters staff continued to increase. So, on December 8, , there began the demolition of the old buildings on the site of a proposed Bethel annex, a building on Columbia Heights in Brooklyn. Construction on it began in , and before long the twelve-story Bethel addition was completed.
On hand were members of the Bethel family and brothers who had worked on the structure, making a total of persons. The headquarters staff itself had grown from in to in The fronts of three old structures were allowed to remain and a seven-story home was wrapped around behind these and tied into them.
This new building at Columbia Heights was dedicated on May 2, Additionally, seventy students of Gilead School then lived at headquarters, bringing the total to 1, To help to accommodate so many people, the Society leased three floors of the nearby Towers Hotel. So the size of the farm was reduced. The original farm of acres was acquired there in , becoming known as Watchtower Farm.
A fine residence building was completed there in , and other construction followed. In time another farm was acquired nearby. Today the two Watchtower Farms cover 1, acres. Moreover, among the numerous structures on farm No. Factory No. In factory No.
Six rotary presses are already in operation there, making a total of ten presses in the two factories. When completed, these plants will provide about , square feet of floor space.
By October , over regular and temporary workers were serving at the Watchtower Farms. Expansion has been the watchword throughout the earth. And, from until now they have increased the number of their large rotary presses earth wide from nine to sixty-four.
Certainly, printing facilities are available to meet the growing demand for Bible literature. Why has all this expansion around the globe been undertaken? It is because those. Is that your objective too? Members of the headquarters staff share such desires. That is why they have been working diligently to produce Bible literature. Their combined efforts during the service year made it possible to produce, in the United States alone, ,, copies of The Watchtower and Awake!
To whom must the credit go for all this theocratic expansion? This is not the result of mere human planning and earnest effort. The credit must go to Jehovah God, who makes things grow. He is the One who has prospered the efforts of his people in preaching the good news of the Kingdom. Octogenarian Edith R. That was truly a mere handful. Incidentally, that is where I first met Brother Macmillan. I cannot describe my feelings as I sat there, in Boston, sixty-eight years later and gazed upon that great crowd of Witnesses surrounding me.
As in the earlier days, when so few in number, the same holy spirit, zeal and love for Jehovah filled our hearts. These exalted the name Jehovah and provided education regarding obedience to the divine principles for which that name stands. Among other things, information was presented concerning further theocratic alignment of the modern-day Christian congregation.
But before we consider the organizational developments brought to the fore at the district assemblies, we do well to take a look at the past. First, let us go back some three decades. The theme of those discourses emphasized the importance of the business to be transacted at the annual meeting that year.
Because of the developments on that occasion. Upon its becoming effective, membership would be limited to not more than men, all chosen on the basis of their active service to God. Jehovah is supreme, and his government or organization is strictly theocratic. If counted from June 1, , the 2, days extended to October 8, Or, if reckoned from June 15, , they ended on October 22, Especially important were portions of the program that dealt with the governing arrangement of the early Christian congregation.
Brought to light was the need for some modern-day adjustments. Acts ; 1 Tim. It was therefore deemed fitting to have a different chairman of the body of elders serve each year where there is more than one elder in a congregation.
According to that letter of December 1, , all baptized men of the congregation twenty years old and upward were considered. See Ezra When members of the congregation committee and other qualified brothers met together, prayer was said.
A few had to disqualify themselves. This arrangement has brought out an honesty and humility that would have been impossible except for this forward step in understanding of Bible principles of organization. Finally, after an analysis of qualifications possessed by brothers in the congregations, recommendations were submitted to the governing body. After August 1, , the congregations began to receive letters appointing overseers and ministerial servants.
At these gatherings divine rulership commanded paramount attention. One of the significant assembly releases was the new page book Organization for Kingdom-preaching and Disciple-making.
Among other things, it outlined the improvements being made in the structure of the Christian congregation. The Organization book and the assembly program combined well to point out the practical aspects of such reorganization and to demonstrate how these would work out.
However, the new Organization book and various assembly program features highlighted the importance of congregational recognition of divine rulership. Today Brother Knorr is home at Bethel, but he is not at the head of the table. Instead, F. But the arrangement went farther than this. So it was that F. Franz became the chairman of the governing body for one year as of October 1, Appropriately, the governing body set the example in putting into effect the new organizational arrangement.
The first shifting of responsibilities began in September , and by October 1 the arrangement of things in most congregations had been adjusted. In many cases, the former assistant congregation servant became the presiding overseer, the previous congregation servant became the Theocratic Ministry School overseer, and so forth.
Each year the elders in a congregation would rotate to various positions, and they would work together as a body, having in mind the spiritual welfare of the congregation and the need to cooperate with one another in shepherding the flock of God allotted to them. Many are the benefits of the new congregational arrangement.
For instance, Edgar C. From late June to January they held a globe- encircling international convention that plainly showed that they anxiously await divine victory. Usually, only daytime sessions were held, enabling delegates to return to their lodging places early and eliminating travel after dark in areas where this might be inadvisable.
Evening hours were often spent reviewing assembly highlights. Only those siding with Jesus Christ, the King of kings, will be spared. They alone will be witnesses of the divine victory and will join in the celebration that follows it. In all, at these gatherings , met to enjoy the rich spiritual blessings provided by Jehovah for his people.
World wide, conventions were held, at which 81, persons were baptized and there was a total attendance of 2,, What a cause to express gratitude to the Divine Victor! Months in advance The Watchtower had said that the program would focus considerable attention on the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work.
Ten days— September 21 through 30—would be set aside for distribution of these tracts, the speaker pointed out. They would be handed to the people personally in house-to-house work, copies being left under the doors if no one was at home.
The Watch Tower Society would send tracts to every congregation on the basis of for each publisher. It was desired that every dwelling receive a copy; so free distribution of millions was certain. On December 22 through 31, , they again engaged in mass distribution of Kingdom News.
This time it was No. Why, during September , in the United States except Alaska and Hawaii , Kingdom publishers participated in this work. And reports indicate that they distributed 43,, copies of Kingdom News No. In December the amazing total of , shared in distribution of Kingdom News No. And in May there were , workers in the field service! Experiences show that Kingdom News distribution really has spurred the work of disciple- making.
For instance, two publishers left a copy with a gentleman and went their way, only to be hailed by him later. Upon returning to his home, they met his wife, who had found the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life in a trash can. She had not been able to sleep because she realized that things it said were being fulfilled. This led to a Bible study. The woman began attending Christian meetings regularly and progressed to the point that she participated in later Kingdom News distribution and was planning to be baptized.
Soon both of them were studying the Bible with the Witness who had placed the tract. They cut their hair, stopped smoking and using narcotics and made rapid spiritual progress. Just three months after receiving a copy of Kingdom News, they were engaging in field service, placing the next issue with others.
Both were baptized in December , and shortly thereafter were enjoying temporary pioneer work. Please see your browser settings for this feature. EMBED for wordpress. Want more? Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! Knorr , League of Nations , United Nations , anti-catholicism. Knorr at a convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. Noting statements by leaders of the Allied countries regarding the creation of the United Nations as a successor to the defunct League of Nations, Knorr predicts "that the religious organization with headquarters at Vatican City, will ride and exercise guiding influence over the League beast.
Man-made peace under religion's 'blessing' will be very short-lived, and political kings and rulers will not long enjoy it. There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write a review. Community Collections.
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