Showcase

This 1971 publication of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) was the Watchtower's first attempt to write a full-sized "Bible Dictionary." Previously, they had written the 1953 "Topical Bible" book (which simply listed biblical verses related to the topic), "Make Sure of All Things", and its 1965 revision, "Make Sure of All Things, Hold Fast to What is Fine." The smaller "Make Sure" books are now superseded by the 1989 book, REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES, and the "Aid" itself has been replaced in 1988 by the much larger two-volume set, Insight on the Scriptures, Vol.1 Aaron - Jehoshua and Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2: Jehovah-Zuzim and Index.



Raymond Franz (disfellowshipped former Governing Body member, and nephew of former JW President Frederick Franz) wrote in his book Crisis of Conscience that he was one of the ones who worked on the "Aid," contributing the lengthy article on "Chronology," for example.



It was originally printed in 1,000,000 copies, so was intended for "internal" JW use.



Here are some quotations from the book:



"GEHENNA: ... Therefore, the Biblical evidence concerning Gehenna generally parallels the traditional view presented by rabbinical and other sources. That view is that the Valley of Hinnom was used as a place for the disposal of waste matter from the city of Jerusalem, including the bodies of animals and even of vile criminals not accorded a normal burial due to being thought unworthy of a resurrection." (Pg. 633-634)

"Next Satan is bound for a thousand years. During that thousand years royal judges serve with Christ. In the same context resurrection and the judging of the dead are mentioned. This, then, is an indication of the time when Judgment Day comes. And it is not impossible from a Scriptural standpoint for a thousand-year period to be viewed as a 'day.' ...In describing what will take place during the time of judgment Revelation 20:12 says that the resurrected dead will then be 'judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds.' Those resurrected will not be judged on the basis of the works done in their former life, because the rule at Romans 6:7 says, 'He who has died has been acquitted from his sin." (Pg. 982)

"JESUS' PROMISE TO THE WRONGDOER: ... Jesus' reply was, 'Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.' (Luke 23:39-43) The punctuation shown in the rendering of these words must, of course, depend on the translator's understanding of the sense of Jesus' words. For in the original Greek text no punctuation was employed, punctuation in the modern style not becoming common until about the ninth century C.E." (Pg. 1269)

"Tartarus is, therefore, not the same as the Hebrew 'Sheol' nor the Greek 'Hades,' both of which refer to the common grave of mankind. This is evident from the fact that, while the apostle Peter shows that Jesus Christ preached to these 'spirits in prison,' he also shows that Jesus did so, not during the three days while buried in Hades (Sheol), but AFTER his resurrection out of Hades." (Pg. 1576)