What is the parousia? When will it occur? And why do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the presence of Jesus Christ has already begun? These questions will be considered.
Speaking to his disciples in one of his last post-resurrection manifestations, Jesus said: “And Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things”
Christ being with his disciples prior to the conclusion is understood to be a spiritual presence—obviously, invisible. And that ought to raise the question: What will change when the conclusion begins? Will Jesus no longer be with us? Or will his presence be more profound?
On another occasion, Jesus said, “For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.” – Matthew 18:20. Surely, if Jesus is in the midst of a gathering of two or more of his anointed disciples, this too is understood to be an unseen spiritual presence. So, again, if Jesus is always invisibly present in the midst of believers, what is the parousia? Is it no different than Jesus being in our midst?
We are blessed to know that the so-called conclusion of the system is not the end of the world, as some translations put it. Still, rather, it is a limited time period marked by wars, famines, pandemics, and terrifying celestial phenomena—not to mention a potentially world-ending tribulation that will necessitate divine intervention to prevent the extinction of the human race.
Since we have Jesus’ assurance of his oversight and intimate spiritual guardianship all the days until the conclusion, what might we expect during the conclusion? Will it be more of the same? These are not trick questions but things that every Christian should examine in order to make sure of the more important things.
When the humble Son of God came to Jerusalem for the last time, he wept over the city and pronounced the end of the Jewish system, telling them that because they failed to discern the time of their being inspected, the Kingdom of God was going to be taken from them. A short time later, he stunned his apostles as they were speaking admiringly of the Jewish temple, when he said to them: “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, by no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.” – Matthew 24:2
When the disciples had a private audience with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, with the holy city in view, they put the question to him: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” They wanted to know when Jerusalem was going to be destroyed and the temple thrown down.
It is extraordinary that the apostles asked about Christ’s presence, given that there is no record in the gospel of Jesus speaking about his presence before that time. True, it is possible that he spoke of it, given that John concluded his gospel by noting Jesus did many things that were not recorded. We may infer from that he also spoke many things that were not written down. In any case, the holy spirit may have prompted the disciples’ inquiry because Jesus went on to relate many vital details concerning the future presence of the Son of man.
It is unlikely that at the time the apostles attached any special significance to it when they asked for the sign of his parousia. After all, at that point, they were still laboring under the delusion that Jesus was going to restore the kingdom to Israel.
After they observed the Passover and Jesus instituted the annual memorial of his then-impending death, the Lord went on to tell them he was going away and they could not follow him. It seems incredible to us now, but they had no idea where he was going. They did not believe what we now accept as the cornerstone of our faith, namely, that Jesus was going to rise from the dead and return to his original home in heaven.
Even though Jesus told them that he was from the realms above, they evidently did not comprehend how that could have been possible since Jesus was born into a family of humans just like everyone else. (Mary seems to have been very guarded about the details of her pregnancy.) They believed Jesus to be from God based upon his words and miracles, but apparently did not then grasp that he had actually come down from heaven.
The disciples were surely mystified by what Jesus said next: “In the house of my Father are many dwelling places. Otherwise, I would have told you, for I am going my way to prepare a place for you. Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that where I am you also may be. And where I am going, you know the way.” – John 14:2-4
Thomas responded: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
It is understood that to be received home means that those called and chosen would be with Jesus in heaven. However, their reception into the spirit realm will not occur until Jesus comes again. Needless to say, all of Jesus’ original disciples have long since died.
No doubt most Bible readers overlook what Jesus said above. Because most professing Christians believe the ancient Babylonian myth that humans have an immortal soul that survives the death of the body, they imagine that when a person dies, they are immediately transferred to heaven or some other less desirable place.
Many years into the Christian era, the apostle Paul explained that the first resurrection will not take place until Jesus comes again. Paul referred to the Lord descending from heaven with the commanding voice of an archangel, and those who are dead in union with Christ will be resurrected first, then the living will be resurrected during his presence. Obviously, Jesus’ coming again precedes and initiates his presence.
That being indisputably true, how is it that the Watchtower teaches that Jesus has been present since 1914, but he is coming in the future? If he is already present, how and why is he coming yet again?
“THE DUE TIME IS NEAR”
All of Jehovah’s Witnesses are at least somewhat familiar with Jesus’ response to the question posed to him on the Mount of Olives. Among many other things, Christ foretold that nations would rise against nations, there would be food shortages, pandemics, and great earthquakes.
There are, though, variations in the three gospels that present to us Jesus’ response. The beloved physician Luke added a few details that Mark and Matthew omitted. Of note, Jesus prefaced his prophecy with a warning, saying: “Look out that you are not misled, for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time is near.’ Do not go after them. Furthermore, when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified. For these things must take place first, but the end will not occur immediately.” – Luke 21:8,9
Although Matthew and Mark wrote something very similar, only Luke wrote that some would declare that “the due time is near.” The American Standard Bible words it: “The time is at hand.”
We should make a distinction, though. Later in his monologue, the Lord foretold that many false prophets and false Christs would arise and mislead many during the darkest night of the tribulation. However, Jesus did not say that those who would come on the basis of his name and say “the due time is near” were false Christs—only that they would have a misleading message.
The fact that some will come in the name of Christ, declaring the distinct message that “the due time is near,” means that the misleading message has to do with the parousia.
More than likely, most of Jehovah’s Witnesses are unaware that the founder of the Watchtower believed that the parousia had begun in 1874. When Charles Russell began his prolific writing and preaching campaign, he published a seven-volume series of books called Studies in the Scriptures. The second book, published in 1879, was entitled: The Time Is at Hand.
Although the American Standard Bible was not published until 1901, its wording seems to highlight the undeniable fact that C.T. Russell proclaimed a false parousia. It matters little that those who acquired control of the Watchtower after Russell died in 1916 eventually readjusted things to make 1914 the beginning of an invisible presence of Christ. The fact is, for 40 years, Pastor Russell falsely claimed the parousia had begun, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are still following a variation of Russell’s original message over 140 years after he proclaimed “the time is at hand.”
The key point, though, is that the false message of the imminent due time precedes the authentic coming and parousia of Christ.
“CONCERNING THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD JESUS”
The apostle Paul was inspired to expand upon Jesus’ warning. In the first chapter of Second Thessalonians, Paul wrote, not of the parousia, but of the revelation of Jesus Christ, “when he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder among all those who exercised faith…”
How might the holy ones be glorified in connection with Jesus in that day? It’s a reasonable question. Hold that thought.
Turning the page, in the second chapter, Paul offered a caution similar to Jesus’ warning regarding those who would proclaim “the due time is near.” Paul wrote: “However, brothers, concerning the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be alarmed either by an inspired statement or by a spoken message or by a letter appearing to be from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
First, is there evidence of any gathering of the chosen to Christ? This is an especially pertinent question since in his discussion on the Mount of Olives, Jesus also spoke of the gathering of the chosen ones from the four winds; except, Jesus placed this development as occurring after the tribulation is cut short by divine intervention.
Does the mere fact that there are over 20,000 partakers among Jehovah’s Witnesses presently constitute a gathering together to him? Hardly. Even the Watchtower now admits that the parting of the wise and foolish virgins has not taken place.
It should be pointed out that there are no original copies of any letter that make up the 27 books of the so-called New Testament. And the YHWH does not appear in any extant copy. True, it is unlikely that first-century writers did not use the divine name, especially when quoting from Hebrew texts where the Tetragrammaton appears. Even so, there is no reason to suppose that Paul was quoting a specific passage from the Hebrew Scriptures in the verse above. Paul may well have intended his text to say, “the day of the Lord is here.” He spoke of “the day of the Lord” in 1 Corinthians 5:5.
It shouldn’t even be an issue because in reality, the day of Jehovah and the day of the Lord are the same thing. But not according to the Watchtower. The Watchtower teaches that the Lord’s day began in 1914, but the day of Jehovah is in the future. Actually, though, the Watchtower used to teach that the day of Jehovah began in 1914, along with the great tribulation, but God cut it short. For example, below is an excerpt from a Watchtower published in 1960 (Paragraph six)
Now in this day of Jehovah, the great God of heaven is “doing wondrous things” unsurpassed in all history! It is the day to which David looked forward with joy. It is the day in which prophecy upon prophecy is coming to grand fulfillment. In the modern year of 1914 Jehovah established the everlasting kingdom of heaven in the hands of one greater than David, his Son Jesus Christ.
The point is, there is only one source of authoritative written and verbal messages that has been declaring that the parousia and the Lord’s day are here. That source is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
To place a finer point upon it, Paul said that Christians would be subjected to seemingly inspired statements and even written letters appearing to be from the apostles, saying the Lord’s day is here. In recent years, the Watchtower has taken to referring to the apostles as the first-century governing body. That is not necessarily improper in itself, but given the fact that in his letter to the symbolic Ephesian congregation in the Lord’s day (Revelation 2:2), Jesus spoke of those who falsely claimed to be apostles. It appears that by designating the apostles as a governing body, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses is elevating itself to the status of apostles.
Certainly, the messaging of the Watchtower, whether spoken or written in the form of magazines and books, is presented as inspired truth from messengers of God, and the core message of those who presume to be apostles is that the parousia and the Lord’s day have begun—exactly as Paul foretold.
“KNOW THAT HE IS NEAR AT THE DOORS”
Up to this point, we have established that both Jesus and Paul warned against those who falsely proclaim that the parousia’s due time has arrived, and that the Watchtower has been the sole source of this messaging since its inception.
Returning to the apostles’ question regarding when these things will be and what will be the sign of your presence? There is another error we must dispel. Does the sign of the conclusion also signal that the parousia has begun? The answer is no—it does not. Even if World War I was the beginning of the conclusion of the system, the presence of Christ would not have begun then. How do we know?
Jesus gave us a simple illustration. He said, “Now learn this illustration from the fig tree: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors.” – Matthew 24:32-33
It has been over a century since World War One ended, and have we seen “all these things” Christ foretold? No. Have we seen the great tribulation? Of course not. That being the case, we ought to honestly consider the question: Have we seen any of the things Jesus foretold? Did you personally witness the First World War? Were you affected by the deadly Spanish Flu pandemic? And do not deceive yourself, Jesus did not say the good news would be preached during the conclusion. In Mark’s account, Jesus said the good news must be preached first. First, before what? Before anointed Christians are thrown from the synagogue and made to stand before governors and kings. And that most certainly has not been fulfilled.
If all of these things are a prelude to Jesus being near at the doors, what does his being near at the doors mean? Jehovah’s Witnesses ought to have a special appreciation for this since they knock on many doors in search of interested persons. Jesus uses that as an illustration. But an illustration of what?
At Revelation 3:20, Jesus said: “Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and take the evening meal with him and he with me.”
Imagine Jesus literally knocking on your door, and you open it to him and invite him in, and you share a meal. What does that signify? Is this personal visitation by the Lord of heaven and earth fulfilled when anointed persons merely partake of the emblems at the Kingdom Hall on Memorial night? No. It is something much more profound.
In the 12th chapter of Luke, Jesus was speaking to his little flock, and he exhorted them to be ready for his coming to them. Specifically, he said: “Be dressed and ready and have your lamps burning, and you should be like men waiting for their master to return from the marriage, so when he comes and knocks, they may at once open to him.” (Vs 35)
Jesus used the same illustration as in Revelation, but he explained what it meant. Going on, Jesus said: “Happy are those slaves whom the master, on coming, finds watching! Truly I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come alongside and minister to them. And if he comes in the second watch, even if in the third, and finds them ready, happy are they! But know this, if the householder had known at what hour the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also, keep ready, because at an hour that you do not think likely, the Son of man is coming.” – Luke 12:37-40
You will recall that after the original evening meal, Jesus took off his outer garments, wrapped a towel around his waist, and began to wash the feet of the apostles as if he were their servant. But notice that in the illustration, he “will come alongside and minister to them.”
It should not be necessary for me to explain to Jehovah’s Witnesses that the Greek word parousia means to be alongside another. The Watchtower has explained it well. Charles Russell knew the distinction between his coming and his presence.
Although Jesus did not use the word “parousia” in this illustration, the fact that the New World Translation says he “will come alongside” is significant. It certainly signifies something much more than his being with his followers prior to his coming.
Surely, this illustration will not be fulfilled when the chosen are in heaven. They will not need anyone to minister to them when they are immortal spirits. Since even the Watchtower does not believe the master has already returned at an hour you do not think likely, his coming and knocking and coming alongside to minister is still future.
Coupled with the fact that we have not seen all these things that prove the Lord is near at the doors, and his knocking on the door of those who have been called into his Kingdom has not occurred, his entry into the homes of those who open to him and his coming alongside to minister to them and take the evening meal symbolizes his presence among them. The fact that Jesus said he would make them recline at the table and in Revelation he said he would take the evening meal with them, signifies the consummation of the new covenant which Jesus inaugurated at the original evening meal.
And did not the apostle Paul explain that by taking the emblematic bread and wine, we keep proclaiming the death of the Lord until he comes? His coming, then, concludes the new covenant by sealing the last ones of the 144,000. That is what is symbolized by his coming alongside them at the evening meal.
If you have considered all of the facts presented, and you are honest in your reasoning, you must conclude that the presence of the Son of man has not taken place.
Furthermore, all honest reasoning persons will at least acknowledge that Charles Taze Russell proclaimed a false parousia. Since it was he who devised the doctrine of an invisible parousia, we will next consider the falsity of the invisible presence doctrine that underpins the Watchtower Society.
End of part one
