Another line of evidence is the book release from the 1968 District Assembly's.
Attendees were told something really BIG was going to happen. It did. It was the release of the book "The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life." It was a very small book and not at all like the typical book released at conventions. It was topically arranged and designed specifically as a teaching book for our Bible studies.
Not that much later an even bigger bombshell was dropped. Publishers were told in no uncertain terms that if our Bible studies had not progressed into going to meetings and going in field service within 6 months after the study was started we were to drop them. What was the reason? "The time is too short for dilly-dallying around." This was unprecedented in WT history.
*** yb 95 p. 225 Mexico ***
The TruthThatLeadstoEternalLife, the book called ‘the blue bomb’ at that time, was published in 1968, and we were encouraged to study it with people in six months. But not everyone took that long. In one case the study was conducted in less than two weeks.
*** g88 9/22 p. 20 The Greater Challenge, the Greater Thrill! ***
It was all part of a special campaign—a six-month free home Bible study course using a little blue book entitled The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life.
*** w78 2/1 p. 10 In Our Portuguese Hamlet — God’s Word Exerts Power ***
We will never forget the excitement when my daughter-in-law, Argentina, came back from Lisbon in October 1969, with the book TheTruthThat Leads to Eternal Life. She was told that whoever accepted this book was entitled to a six-month free study course in the Bible.
*** w69 5/15 p. 320 Announcements ***
Jehovah’s witnesses are keenly interested in helping all persons who wish to get more faith. To do this, they offer a free home Bible-study course of six months, using as an aid for such Bible discussion the book TheTruth That Leads to Eternal Life. They will be using this book during the month of May in their house-to-house ministry
*** w69 5/15 p. 312 Have You Been Studying for Six Months? ***
In view of the short time left in which to do their work, Jehovah’s witnesses do not continue to study the Bible with any who fail to respond to its urgent message within six months. The nearness of this system’s end compels them to use their time in the most effective way possible. So they feel obligated to spend their time calling on someone else who might respond by attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall and by speaking to others about the Bible truths learned. Thus it may be that if you have not as yet responded by even becoming a regular attender at some of the congregation meetings, the one who is studying the Bible with you may cancel that study arrangement in order to give his time to someone else. This arrangement is not meant to be harsh, but the urgency of the times in which we live demands it.
*** w69 6/1 p. 346 They Are Acting on What They Are Learning ***
“SIX months! What if the end of this system comes in three?” This is what a father of four small children in Florida seriously asked when Jehovah’s witnesses told him about their free six-month home Bible-study course. This man’s wife had obtained from them the book TheTruthThat Leads to Eternal Life. Both he and his wife had been up late each night examining its contents.
*** w68 11/1 p. 671 What Did You Get Out of Your “Good News” Assembly? ***
In conclusion it was noted that the big work for 1969 will be with the new book, The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. The speaker said: “The time is short. It is important for us to conduct Bible studies to help people flee from Babylon the Great and for us to do personal study. Do not let it be crowded out of your life. The convention has illustrated how you should walk. Be of good courage and press on, making the days ahead days of praise to Jehovah’s name. In the words of Jesus, ‘Raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near.’”
