Part two
Having established that the presence of the Son of man does not take place at the beginning of the epochal period known as the conclusion and the time of the end, as the Watchtower erroneously teaches, it is self-evident that the actual parousia will not begin until the tribulation is cut short. This is provable by Jesus’ illustration of the first leaves of spring heralding the nearness of summer—illustrating Jesus being near at the doors.
Let us now consider what his coming alongside the chosen actually means.
Admittedly, this is not an easy thing to comprehend, let alone explain. It has been made far more complicated by the Watchtower’s false interpretations and the spiritual blindness imposed by the Devil.
Returning to the 14th chapter of John, when Jesus told his confused apostles that he was going away and they could not follow, he further said to them: “I will not leave you bereaved. I am coming to you. In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. In that day you will know that I am in union with my Father and you are in union with me and I am in union with you.” – John 14:18-19
The “little while” of bereavement was ostensibly only three days. On the third day, Jesus arose from the dead, and not only the apostles saw him, but Christ revealed himself to over 500 believers over the course of forty days.
It is most noteworthy that no unbeliever saw the resurrected Son of God—only those who believed Jesus was the Christ before he died were privileged to experience his post-resurrection manifestations. So, Jesus’ words came true: The world—that is, the unbelievers—did not see Jesus after he arose from the dead.
Was that the actual fulfillment, though, of what Jesus stated concerning his “coming to you”? No. For one thing, Jesus said, “You will live,” and yet those to whom Christ appeared after he was risen from the tomb had not even been made alive from the spirit, and all have been sleeping in death for centuries.
Therefore, his “coming to you” has to do with his second coming and parousia. That is when those dead in Christ will live, and the words of Jesus will be fulfilled with those then living: “You will see me.”
In response to Jesus, one of his disciples asked a very insightful question: “Lord, what has happened that you intend to show yourself clearly to us and not to the world?” – John 14:22
Jesus responded, saying: “If anyone loves me, he will observe my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (Vs 23)
Please take note of the logistics in Jesus’ answer. In that same chapter of John, Jesus said there were many dwelling places in the house of his Father and that he was going away to prepare a place for them. Obviously, those dwelling places are in heaven. But in response to the question posed by Judas (not Iscariot), Jesus said he and his Father would “come to him and make our dwelling with him”—meaning while they are in the flesh on earth.
Though the Lord assured his followers he would be with them all the days until the conclusion, have Jesus and Jehovah at any time taken up dwelling within anointed Christians? No. Having Jehovah take up dwelling within a mere human is something no one has experienced, with the exception of Christ. That none of the children of God have experienced this yet should be apparent because the Son of man has not come.
As presented in the previous article, Christ is not yet at the doors. And to emphasize the point, his being near the doors is “when you see all these things.” At that point, if anyone hears his voice and opens the door, Christ will come in and take the evening meal with him.
Stating the obvious, Jesus will not come and make his dwelling with the apostles or anyone else who is sleeping in death. He and his Father will come and dwell with the living—specifically, those who are awake and waiting for the Master to return. How will the chosen know Christ has made his dwelling with them? They will see him. They will speak with him face-to-face. That is what Jesus meant when he said the world would behold me no more—“but you will see me.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe anyone will literally see Jesus. Conversely, the Evangelicals believe everyone will see the Son of man. What is the truth?
The reason Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in a visible parousia is because we know that Jesus is not coming back in the flesh. The assumption is that to be seen by humans, Jesus would have to be in the flesh, because spirits are invisible and cannot manifest themselves without materializing. Is this reasoning based upon what is revealed in the Scriptures? No, it is not.
Before considering encounters humans have had with spirits, consider the simple statements made by the apostles that clearly indicate Christ will appear and be visibly seen. To the Hebrews, Paul wrote the following: “And just as it is reserved for men to die once for all time, but after this to receive a judgment, so also the Christ was offered once for all time to bear the sins of many; and the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin, and he will be seen by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation.” – Hebrews 9:27-28
Was there a first time Jesus appeared? Of course, there was. And, as already discussed, even though he was raised as a spirit, Jesus also appeared after he rose from the dead. And in these appearances, many people saw him with their eyes. So, the first time he appeared, including his post-resurrection manifestations, the Lord was very much visible.
Speaking of his mission in introducing the Messiah, John the Baptizer said of Jesus: “Behind me there comes a man who has advanced in front of me, for he existed before me.’ Even I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing in water was so that he might be made manifest to Israel.” – John 1:30-31 So, when Jesus was baptized, he began his three and a half year ministry and was made manifest to Israel as the promised Christ.
Witnessing to Cornelius and his household, the apostle Peter spoke of another manifestation: “God raised this one up on the third day and allowed him to become manifest, not to all the people, but to witnesses appointed beforehand by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after his rising from the dead.” – Acts 10:40-41
Are we saying that the second time he appears will be in a materialized fleshly body, similar to how he appeared after his resurrection? No. How then will he appear the second time? We do not know, at least that is what the inspired apostle John wrote, saying: “Beloved ones, we are now children of God, but it has not yet been made manifest what we will be. We do know that when he is made manifest we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as that one is pure.” – 1 John 3:2-3
Just because the apostle said we do not know “what he will be” when he is manifest, does not mean Christ will not be visibly revealed “when he is manifest.” Clearly, Christ’s various manifestations before his ascension were visible to human eyes—to believers. In fact, the primary meaning of the Greek word “epiphaneia” means an appearance and even has the connotation of brightness. That is why the King James Version renders 2 Thessalonians 2:8 as “the brightness of his coming.”
As we know, though, the Greek word “parousia” has been mistranslated as “coming.” Paul was really speaking of the manifestation of Christ’s presence in doing away with the man of lawlessness. But if his presence is invisible, what about the bright and shining appearance, or manifestation of his presence? If his glorious appearance is, in fact, invisible, words are meaningless.
Incredibly, the last time the Watchtower mentioned the word “epiphaneia” was in 1962! And the May 1st Watchtower discussing the coming of Christ, stated the following:
What coming is here referred to? Not Christ’s presence or parousia, which began in 1914, nor the manifestation of his presence, the epiphaneia, which began in 1918 with Jehovah coming to the temple with the messenger of the covenant, but to his coming at Armageddon, his apokalypsis, his revealing, to which Jesus also referred when he said: “Look! I am coming as a thief.
Although the teachers of Jehovah’s Witnesses have quietly walked away from the absurd notion that the manifestation of Jesus Christ took place in 1918, they have yet to discover that parousia, epiphaneia, and apokalypsis are interchangeable terms. This can be easily discerned simply by comparing all of the passages where these various terms appear. I have provided searchers with a convenient reference in the chapter called The Parousia.
But since Jesus is not returning in the flesh and humans cannot see spirits, how will he become manifest so that the chosen “see him just as he is”?
“AS THEY ENTERED INTO THE CLOUD”
One of the most extraordinary things in Jesus’ ministry is what is called the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John climbed a high mountain with Jesus. It was night, and the three apostles were weighed down with sleep. Suddenly, Jesus’ face changed. It became radiant like the sun. His outer garments became glisteningly white. Two men appeared—Moses and Elijah, and they began conversing with Jesus. As the three astonished disciples were coming to their senses, a brilliant cloud formed overhead.
Matthew, Mark and Luke all relate the Transfiguration phantasm and the appearance of the cloud. However, only Luke provided this additional detail: “But as he was saying these things, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them. As they entered into the cloud, they became afraid. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying: ‘This is my Son, the one who has been chosen. Listen to him.’” – Luke 9:34-35
What is the significance of the three apostles becoming enveloped in a brilliantly glowing cloud and hearing the voice of Jehovah? The cloud symbolized the presence of God, and the fact that they entered into the cloud meant they came into union with God and Christ.
When Solomon inaugurated the temple, a cloud formed in the holy compartment and filled the temple so that the priests were driven out. The cloud represented God’s presence.
What is the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing in the vision, conversing with Christ? Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets. And both men saw Jehovah, at least to the extent that a mere mortal of flesh and blood can come into proximity with the Almighty. In the 24th chapter of Exodus, Moses and Aaron, the priest, and 70 elders of the people saw God too: “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was what seemed like a sapphire pavement, and it was as pure as the heavens themselves. He did not harm the distinguished men of Israel, and they saw a vision of the true God and ate and drank.”
The occasion of the vision was that the Law covenant had just been instituted. Animals were sacrificed at the foot of Mount Sinai, and Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on the people. This foreshadows the new covenant made possible by the blood of Christ. It was immediately after the covenant was ratified that the 70 men saw God in vision and ate and drank. Their eating and drinking was not a merry-making feast. It was a solemn communion with God. They were sharing a meal with Jehovah. And is not that what Jesus said, that he would enter into the dwelling of those who open the door, and they will share the evening meal?
This communion with God took place at the foot of the mountain of meeting. Then Moses ascended, alone. The account says: “Then Moses went up the mountain while the cloud was covering it. Jehovah’s glory remained on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. To the Israelites who were watching, the appearance of Jehovah’s glory was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop. Moses then entered into the cloud and went up the mountain. And Moses stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.” – Exodus 24:15-18
Moses’s entering into the cloud on the seventh day prefigures the Son of man coming on the clouds, as depicted in Daniel, to commence the great Sabbath of God. The fact that Moses entered the cloud is analogous to the apostles entering the cloud. From a distance, the mountain was aflame with fire while Moses entered into God’s presence.
We have the testimony of Peter, who was on the mountain and saw Christ transformed into the glory he will possess in his parousia. And like Moses, Peter, James, and John entered into the brilliant cloud that formed on the mountain, and they heard the voice of God. The apostle explained that this transcendent vision was a foregleam of the coming of the Kingdom and the presence of Christ.
As if anticipating the Watchtower’s invisible parousia hoax, Peter explained the significance of the vision: “No, it was not by following artfully contrived false stories that we made known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather, we were eyewitnesses of his magnificence. For he received from God the Father honor and glory when words such as these were conveyed to him by the magnificent glory: “This is my Son, my beloved, whom I myself have approved.” Yes, these words we heard coming from heaven while we were with him in the holy mountain.”
Although it was a vision, the apostles were not dreaming. Jesus was actually on the mountain. So were Peter, James, and John, and they actually heard the voice of God from within the cloud. The fact that the apostle said they were eyewitnesses confirms that the parousia will be visible, at least to those who are called and chosen. It is as if they will enter the cloud, indicating that no one outside the cloud will be able to see into the cloud. Hence, the world will not behold Jesus when he comes in the cloud. But the chosen will see him as he is.
End of part two
