Watchtower July 15, 2011

34567
JULY 15, 2011
S I M P L I F I E D E N G L I S H E D I T I O N
STUDY ARTICLES:

August 29-September 4 PAGE 4

Will You Follow
Jehovah's Loving Guidance?
SONGS TO BE USED: 26, 3

September 5 -11 PAGE 10

Will You Pay Attention
to Jehovah's Clear Warnings?
SONGS TO BE USED: 65, 52

September 12-18 PAGE 17

What Is God's Rest?
SONGS TO BE USED: 19, 27

September 19-25 PAGE 22

Have You Entered Into God's Rest?
SONGS TO BE USED: 134, 24

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34567
JULY 15, 2011
6
The purpose of this magazine, The Watchtower, is to honor Jehovah God, the Supreme
This publication is not for sale.
It is provided as part of a worldwide
Ruler of the universe. Just as watchtowers in ancient times enabled a person to
Bible educational work supported
observe developments from afar, so this magazine shows us the significance of world
by voluntary donations.
events in the light of Bible prophecies. It comforts people with the good news that
Unless otherwise indicated,
God's Kingdom, which is a real government in heaven, will soon bring an end to
Scripture quotations are from
the modern-language New World
all wickedness and transform the earth into a paradise. It promotes faith in Jesus
Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Christ, who died so that we might gain everlasting life and who is now ruling as
--With References.
King of God's Kingdom. This magazine has been published by Jehovah's Witnesses
"Some Words Explained" are
contextual explanations of words
continuously since 1879 and is nonpolitical. It adheres to the Bible as its authority.
used within an article.
PURPOSE OF STUDY ARTICLES
STUDY ARTICLES 1, 2 PAGES 4-16
Because Jehovah loves us, he gives us the directions that
we need to live forever. He also warns us about dangers that
can make us disobey him. In these two articles, we will learn
about six of these dangers and what we must do to avoid
them.
STUDY ARTICLES 3, 4 PAGES 17-27
The Bible says that after Jehovah created the first humans,
he "rested" on the seventh day. (Hebrews 4:4) The third
article in this magazine will explain why God rested on the
seventh day and why his day of rest is important to us. The
next article will talk about how we can show if we have
entered into Jehovah's rest.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
3
The New Simplified English Watchtower
28
A Legal Victory for Jehovah's People!
The Watchtower (ISSN 0043-1087) is published semimonthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; M. H. Larson, President; G. F. Simonis,
Secretar y-Treasurer; 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483, and by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada, PO Box 4100, Georgetown,
ON L7G 4Y4. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Watchtower, 1000 Red Mills
Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299. 5 2011 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.
Vol. 132, No. 14
Semimonthly
ENGLISH

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3
The New
Simplified English
Watchtower
WEAREhappytointroducethefirst ficultforthemtounderstandTheWatch-
issue of The Watchtower in sim-
tower because English is not their native
plified English. This new edition will
language. Some young ones whose main
be tried for one year, and if it is help-
language is English sometimes find The
ful, it will continue to be printed. It
Watchtower hard to understand. The
will be sent to the congregations at the
simplified English magazine will make
same time as the standard, or regular,
it easier for more of our brothers and sis-
edition.
ters around the world to benefit from the
It is very important that everyone un-
Watchtower Study.
derstands the information that we study
Although this magazine uses sim-
in The Watchtower each week. This is be-
pler English than the standard maga-
cause the Watchtower Study is the main
zine, both magazines will teach the same
way that "the faithful and discreet slave"
truths from the Bible. Both will have the
teaches God's people today. (Matthew
same number of paragraphs, and both
24:45) But why is a simplified Watch-
will have questions, pictures, and re-
tower needed?
view questions. This means that each
Many of our brothers and sisters
person can decide which magazine he
around the world attend English meet-
wants to study and use at the Watchtower
ings but do not always understand the
Study.
kind of English used in The Watchtower.
We are sure that the simplified En-
There are several reasons for this. For
glish magazine will make it easier for
example, English is used in many coun-
many brothers and sisters, including
tries in Africa, Asia, and the South Pa-
young ones, to prepare for the Watch-
cific. Our brothers in those places use
tower Study each week. Jehovah loves
English at meetings and in the preach-
"the whole association of brothers," and
ing work, but they may speak other lan-
we thank him that he is using "the faith-
guages at home. Also, the English that
ful and discreet slave" to give us every-
is spoken in those countries may be
thing we need at the right time.--1 Pe-
different from the English that is used
ter 2:17.
in the standard edition of The Watch-
tower. Some of our brothers and sisters
Governing Body
are refugees in countries where they at-
tend meetings in English. But it is dif-
of Jehovah's Witnesses

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4
Will You Follow
Jehovah's Loving Guidance?
THEME
SCRIPTURE
IMAGINE this: You comes from something that is not real.
need to travel some-
We need to learn what these dangers are
where, but you need help
and how Jehovah helps us to avoid them.
"Every false path I have
because you are not sure
One Bible writer knew about these dan-
hated."--PSALM 119:128.
of the way. You have a
gers and said: "Every false path I have
friend who knows how to
hated." (Psalm 119:128) He hated every-
get there. You trust him,
thing that could make him disobey Je-
so you ask for his help. He gives you the
hovah. Do you feel that way? Let us
directions you need, and he also gives
talk about how we can be determined
you some advice to help you avoid dan-
to avoid every "false path."
gers on the way. For example, he warns
you that on the road there is a sign that
DO NOT FOLLOW
is not clear. A lot of people followed it
"AFTER THE CROWD"
and got lost. Will you be happy to get
3 Imagine that you are on a long jour-
his warning and pay attention to it? In
ney and suddenly do not know which
a way, we are on a journey. Our journey
is the right way to go. You see that many
is a journey to everlasting life. Jehovah
choose to go a certain way. It would be so
is our friend, and he gives us the direc-
easy to follow them. But it is dangerous
tions we need to live forever. And he also
to go a certain way just because many
warns us about dangers that can cause
other people go that way. Maybe they
us to disobey him.--Deuteronomy 5:32;
are not going where you want to go. Or
Isaiah 30:21.
maybe they are lost just like you. This ex-
2 In this article and in the next one,
ample helps us to understand the prin-
we will talk about some of these dan-
ciple, or lesson, that Jehovah wanted to
gers. Remember that our friend, Jeho-
teach the Israelites in one of the laws
vah God, warns us about them because
he gave them. Jehovah spoke to those
he loves us. He wants us to live forever.
who were judges and witnesses in a legal
It makes him sad when people make
case. He warned them of the danger of
bad decisions and stop serving him.
following after the crowd and of making
(Ezekiel 33:11) In this article, we will
bad decisions only to please other peo-
talk about three dangers. The first dan-
ple. (Read Exodus 23:2.) It is very easy
ger comes from other people. The sec-
for imperfect humans to do that. But the
ond comes from inside of us. The third
principle "you must not follow after the
1, 2. (a) When you ask a friend for direc-
3. (a) On a journey, why could it be danger-
tions, what warning are you happy to receive,
ous just to follow other people when we do not
and why? (b) What does Jehovah warn us
know which is the right way to go? (b) What
about, and why?
important principle do we find at Exodus 23:2?

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5
Do you ever
want to
follow after
the crowd?
crowd" was not only for judges and wit-
not follow Jehovah's direction to enter
nesses in a legal case.
the Promised Land. What did Joshua
4 We could be in danger of following
and Caleb do in that difficult situation?
after the crowd in almost any situation
--Numbers 13:25-33.
in life. These situations can happen sud-
5 Joshua and Caleb did not follow af-
denly, and it can be very difficult not
ter the crowd. Although the Israelites
to do what other people do. For exam-
did not want to hear the truth, those
ple, think about what happened to Josh-
two men were not afraid to tell it. They
ua and Caleb. These two Israelites went
did what was right, even when the Is-
to spy out the Promised Land with ten
raelites wanted to kill them! What gave
other men. When they came back, the
them this courage? Their faith in Jeho-
ten men said things about the Prom-
vah. When someone has strong faith in
ised Land that made the other Israelites
Jehovah, he believes what Jehovah God
afraid. For example, they said that the
says and not what humans with false
people there were giants from the fam-
ideas say. When Joshua and Caleb lat-
ily of the Nephilim. (Genesis 6:4) This
er talked about their faith in Jehovah,
was impossible because all the Nephi-
they told everyone that he always does
lim died in the Flood of Noah's time
what he promises. (Read Joshua 14:6, 8;
hundreds of years earlier, and they did
23:2, 14.) Joshua and Caleb loved their
not have any children. But the Israelites
God and trusted in him. They did not
believed what those ten men said be-
want to do anything that could make Je-
cause their faith was weak. When some-
hovah sad just to please other people. So
one has weak faith, he stops trusting
they did not follow after the crowd, and
in God and he begins to believe false
they are a very good example for us to-
ideas of humans. Soon, most of the Is-
day.--Numbers 14:1-10.
raelites started to think that they should
6 Do you sometimes want to follow
after the crowd? Most people do not
4, 5. When were Joshua and Caleb in danger
of following after the crowd? What helped
6. In what situations are we in danger of
them to have courage?
following after the crowd?

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6
THE WATCHTOWER JULY 15, 2011
SOME WORDS
respect Jehovah. They
ple should not expect someone else to
EXPLAINED
think that what he says
make decisions for them and give them
about right and wrong is
a list of movies, books, and Internet sites
Nephilim
foolish. They have their
to avoid. If we followed a list, we would
(Genesis 6:4):
own ideas about what is
need new lists all the time. (1 Corinthi-
The children from
right and what is wrong
ans 7:31) But the most important reason
wicked angels and
and try to make us believe
why we do not expect others to make our
women
these false ideas. For ex-
decisions for us is that we want to use
Perceptive powers
ample, they say that there
the ability that Jehovah gave us to make
(Hebrews 5:14):
is nothing wrong with
decisions. Jehovah wants us to think
The ability to think
television programs, mov-
carefully about what the Bible says, pray
carefully about things
ies, and computer games
for his guidance, and then make deci-
and then choose
that show sexual immo-
sions that please him.--Ephesians 5:10.
between right and
rality, violence, and spirit-
8 When we make decisions that agree
wrong
ism. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
with the Bible, some people will not like
How do you decide what
it. For example, it is very difficult for
Unrealities
(1 Samuel 12:21):
you and your family will
our young people in school because oth-
Things that people
do to enjoy yourselves?
ers are always trying to make them do
believe can help them
Do you decide that some-
what everyone else is doing. (1 Peter 4:4)
but that cannot really
thing is right or wrong be-
But many of our young people do not fol-
make them happy
cause of what other peo-
low after the crowd. It is beautiful to see
and safe
ple say and do? If this is
Christians young and old show faith as
how you make decisions,
Joshua and Caleb did.
you are following after the
crowd.
DO NOT FOLLOW
"YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR EYES"
7 Jehovah gave us a precious gift to
help us make decisions. It is the abil-
9 The second danger we will talk
ity to think carefully about things and
about comes from inside of us. Imagine
then choose between right and wrong.
this: You are on a journey to a certain
The Bible calls this gift our "percep-
place, and you have a map to help you
tive powers" and says that we need to
get there. What will happen if you de-
train them "through use." (Hebrews 5:
cide not to use the map but just choose
14) We cannot train our perceptive pow-
every road that you think has a beauti-
ers if we only do what other people do
ful view? You will never get where you
or if we expect others to tell us what
want to go. This example helps us to
to do. For many things, we need to
understand another principle that Jeho-
use our conscience and make our own
vah wanted to teach the Israelites. It is
decisions. For example, Jehovah's peo-
in another law that he gave them. We
can read about it at Numbers 15:37-39.
7, 8. (a) How do we train our "perceptive
powers"? Why is this training better than just
9. (a) When you are on a journey, why can it
following a list of rules? (b) Why are you hap-
be dangerous to choose a road just because
py to see the good example of many young
you like it? (b) Why was the law at Numbers
Christians?
15:37-39 important for the Israelites?

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THE WATCHTOWER JULY 15, 2011
7
(Read.) Many people today do not un-
they might start to think and act like
derstand the reasons for the law about
them.--Proverbs 13:20.
fringes and blue threads. Do you un-
11 Today, it is even easier for our heart
derstand why this law was important?
to desire what we see with our eyes. We
One reason is that it made God's peo-
live in a world that makes it easy for us
ple different from all the other nations
to follow wrong desires. So in what sit-
around them. And if they really want-
uation could the principle at Numbers
ed to please Jehovah, they had to be dif-
15:39 help us? We could be in danger
ferent from the other nations. (Leviticus
of following our heart and eyes in the
18:24, 25) But there was another reason
way we dress. People around us dress in
for this law. Let us talk about this reason
a way that shows that they want others
and learn more about the second dan-
to have immoral thoughts. We see peo-
ger that could make us disobey Jehovah.
ple dress that way in school, in the work-
10 When Jehovah gave that law to his
place, and in the area where we live. Be-
people, he gave them this reason for it:
cause we see this all the time, our desire
"You must not go about following your
to look like them could become stron-
hearts and your eyes." Jehovah said this
ger. Then we might start to dress more
because he knows humans very well.
like them and less like a Christian.--Ro-
Why is it
mans 12:1, 2.
He knows that it is easy for our heart,
dangerous
the person we are inside, to desire the
11. When could we be in danger of following
to follow your
things we see with our eyes. Because Je-
our heart and eyes?
heart and eyes?
hovah knows that our
heart is dangerous and
can make us do wrong
things, he warns us: "The
heart is more treacherous
than anything else and is
desperate. Who can know
it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) That is
why Jehovah told the Is-
raelites not to follow their
hearts and their eyes. He
knew that when the Is-
raelites looked at the na-
tions that did not wor-
ship Jehovah, they might
want to be like them.
They might want to
look like them, and then
10. How did Jehovah show
that he knows humans very
well?

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8
THE WATCHTOWER JULY 15, 2011
12 It is very important to control our
nothing thing" to others if we do things
desires. We need to stop our eyes from
that make them have wrong desires.
looking at what is bad. The example of
Sometimes the way we dress can do this.
the faithful man Job can help us. He
That is why we want to obey what the
said that he made an agreement with his
Bible says. It says that we should wear
eyes. He was determined never to look
"well-arranged" clothing "with modes-
in a romantic way at a woman who was
ty." (1 Timothy 2:9) If we dress "with
not his wife. (Job 31:1) King David made
modesty," we do not think only of what
a similar decision. He said: "I shall not
we like. We respect what others think.
set in front of my eyes any good-for-
We want to please others more than we
nothing thing." (Psalm 101:3) Like Da-
want to please ourselves. (Romans 15:
vid, we must decide not to look at any
1, 2) There are many thousands of young
"good-for-nothing thing." A "good-for-
people in the Christian congregation
nothing thing" is anything that can end
who are excellent examples in the way
our friendship with Jehovah. It includes
they dress. It makes us so happy to see
anything we look at that could put a
that they do not follow their hearts and
wrong desire in our heart and then make
their eyes. They choose to please Jeho-
us do what is wrong.
vah in everything they do.
13 We can even become a "good-for-
DO NOT FOLLOW "UNREALITIES"
12, 13. (a) What should we do if we some-
14 Imagine now that on your journey,
times desire to look at what is bad? (b) What
Are you following
does the Bible say we should do so that others
you travel through a big desert. At one
"unrealities"?
will not have wrong desires?
point, you think you see water. But
it is not really water. Noth-
ing is there! What can hap-
pen if you leave the road to
get what you think is water?
You can get lost and die in
the desert. In the same way,
Jehovah knows how danger-
ous it is to trust in something
that is not real. At one time,
he had to warn the Israelites
about this danger. All the na-
tions around them had a hu-
man king, so the Israelites
also wanted one. That desire
was a serious sin because
it showed that they did not
want Jehovah to be their
14. What warning about
"unrealities" did Samuel give?

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THE WATCHTOWER JULY 15, 2011
9
King. In the end, Jehovah allowed them
lems. But how much can
WHAT DO
to have a human king, but he sent his
such things help people
YOU THINK?
prophet Samuel to give them a warning.
when they get sick, or
Samuel warned the Israelites about the
How can you use
when the economy is bad,
danger of following "unrealities," that
the principles in
or when there is a natu-
is, the danger of trusting something
these scriptures?
ral disaster? How can
that could not really help them.--Read
these things help them
Exodus 23:2
1 Samuel 12:21.
when they feel that their

15 Maybe the Israelites thought that
Numbers 15:37-39
life has no purpose? Can
they could trust a human king more
these things answer the
1 Samuel 12:21
than they could trust Jehovah. If this is
important questions they
Psalm 119:128
what they thought, they were following
have about life? Do things
"unrealities." Because they believed one
help people when death
unreality, it was easy to start believing
is near? If we trust mon-
many other "unrealities" that come from
ey and things, we will be disappointed.
Satan. For example, a human king could
Money and things cannot give us what
make them worship idols. People who
we need to be happy, and they cannot
worship idols think that they can trust
keep us safe from sickness and death.
in these gods made of wood or stone be-
They are "unrealities." (Proverbs 23:4, 5)
cause they can see and touch these gods.
They do not trust in the invisible God,
But Jehovah is not an unreality! He is the
Jehovah, who created all things. But the
true God. So it is only when we have a
apostle Paul said that idols are "noth-
strong friendship with Jehovah that we
ing." (1 Corinthians 8:4) Idols cannot
can really be happy and safe. Only Je-
see, hear, speak, or do anything. So it is
hovah can help us with all our problems.
foolish to worship idols just because we
We are so happy to be his friends. We
can see them and touch them. Idols can-
never want to leave him and follow "un-
not help anybody. They are "unrealities,"
realities."
and those who trust in them "will be-
17 We are happy that Jehovah is our
come just like them."--Psalm 115:4-8.
friend and that he guides us on our jour-
16 Satan is very clever, and he still
ney to everlasting life. If we continue to
makes people follow "unrealities" to-
pay attention to his warnings, we can
day. For example, he makes many be-
live forever. In this article, we learned
lieve that if they have money, a good job,
about three dangers that make many
and nice things, they will be happy and
people go the wrong way: the crowd,
safe. They think that they can trust these
our own hearts, and "unrealities." In the
things to help them solve all their prob-
next article, we will learn about three
more warnings that Jehovah gives us to
15. In what ways did the Israelites follow
"unrealities"?
help us hate and avoid every "false
16. (a) How does Satan make people follow
path."--Psalm 119:128.
"unrealities" today? (b) Why can we say that
compared with Jehovah, money and things are
17. What will you do about the warnings in
"unrealities"?
this article?

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10
Will You Pay Attention
to Jehovah's Clear Warnings?
THEME
SCRIPTURE
WHEN you are trav- DO NOT FOLLOW
eling on a road, a
"FALSE TEACHERS"
sign that points in the
3 Imagine that on your journey, you go
"This is the way.
wrong direction can make
through a desert and you get thirsty. In
Walk in it, you people."
you go the wrong way.
the distance, you see a well. You think
--ISAIAH 30:21.
This may be dangerous.
that you will find water in it, so you
Imagine that a friend
walk toward it. But when you get to the
warns you that an evil
well, there is no water. You are very dis-
man changed a sign on the road because
appointed! We can say that the truth is
he wants people to get lost. You would
like water and that false teachers are like
certainly pay attention to your friend's
wells with no water. People who think
warning.
that these teachers have the truth will be
2 The Bible talks about two roads. One
disappointed. Through the apostles Paul
leads to destruction and one leads to
and Peter, Jehovah warns us about false
everlasting life. It says that many are on
teachers. (Read Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Peter
the road to destruction. Satan has de-
2:1-3.) Who are these false teachers? The
ceived them like that evil man. He is
words of Paul and Peter tell us where
determined to deceive us too. (Revela-
false teachers come from and how they
tion 12:9) All the dangers that we talked
fool people.
about in the last article are things that
4 Paul said to the elders of the con-
Satan uses to make us disobey Jehovah
gregation in Ephesus: "From among you
and leave the road to everlasting life.
yourselves men will rise and speak twist-
(Matthew 7:13, 14) But we also learned
ed things." And Peter wrote in a let-
that our friend, Jehovah God, warns us
ter to several congregations: "There
about Satan's tricks. We will now talk
will also be false teachers among you."
about three more things that Satan uses
So false teachers may come from in-
to fool us and how the Bible helps us to
side the congregation. These false teach-
avoid them. When we read the Bible, we
ers are apostates.1 (See footnote.) What
can imagine that Jehovah is walking be-
do they want? Paul said that when
hind us and that he is saying: "This is
they leave Jehovah's organization, they
the way. Walk in it, you people." (Isaiah
want "to draw away the disciples after
30:21) As we study these clear warnings,
1 Apostasy is a rebellion against true worship
we will become more determined to do
and an abandoning of it.
what Jehovah says.
3, 4. (a) Why are false teachers like wells
1, 2. What is Satan determined to do, and
with no water? (b) Where do false teachers
how does the Bible help us?
come from, and what do they want to do?

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