Two different last days
Jesus prophesied two different events or ends, on the Mount of Olives.These two are totally different events.
You have to separate or distinguish these two in Jesus' end time prophecy.
The first comes along with the destruction of Jerusalem because the Jews rejected the God's Christ.
This was a punishment for them.
This was the Jesus' disciples main concern.
They were not able to discern the big picture in God's purpose, until they were anointed with holy spirit at Pentecost in 33CE.
Jesus' disciples just minded that the Christ would restore the physical kingdom at Jerusalem in their age, even though they had heard many times that the Jesus had taught heavenly kingdom and there is long time interval for his coming back with kingly power.
So they didn't have the idea of the end of the Satan's system which destined to happen at the time of Jesus' second coming, when they asked the signs on the Mt. Olive.
Recognize the Messianic prophecy has two primary events.
- Messiah's first coming, or appearance.
- Messiah's second coming, or appearance.
The Messiah's first coming brings the end of the Jewish system of things by means of the destruction of the Jerusalem by Roman armies.
The Messiah's second coming brings the end of the Satan's entire system of things by means of the worldwide catastrophe in the Lord's Day by returned Christ with heavenly armies.
Jesus' disciple's mind was occupied mainly with the Messiah's first coming along with the idea of restoring physical kingdom in Jerusalem when they asked the signs of that event on the Mt. Olive.
They did not imagine that the temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed. They just imagined that Jesus would restore the physical kingdom at this time in Jerusalem. There was no spiritual comprehension of the Christ's heavenly kingdom and Jesus' second coming with great authority on the cloud in remote future which is the one of the main points of the Messianic prophecy.
Mt 24:1-3
24 Departing now, Jesus was on his way from the temple, but his disciples approached to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 In response he said to them: "Do YOU not behold 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."
Mr 13:1-2
13 As he was going out of the temple one of his disciples said to him: "Teacher, see! what sort of stones and what sort of buildings!" 2 However, Jesus said to him: "Do you behold these great buildings? By no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down."
Lu 21:5-7
5 Later, as certain ones were speaking concerning the temple, how it was adorned with fine stones and dedicated things, 6 he said: "As for these things that YOU are beholding, the days will come in which not a stone upon a stone will be left here and not be thrown down." 7 Then they questioned him, saying: "Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur?"
Jesus provided two different events, as an answer to their question about the temple of Jerusalem, one is the destruction of Jerusalem as a punishment or judgment for the unfaithful Jews, the other one is Messiah's second coming, which is the main prophesy in his answer.
The difference between the end of Jewish system and that of Satan's entire system.
Notice the difference between two events.The end of Jewish system
As to the destruction of the Jerusalem, people can know the event beforehand it would happen, because Jesus gave an unmistakable sign of the event.He warned them as follows.
Lu 19:41-44
41 And when he got nearby, he viewed the city and wept over it, 42 saying: "If you, even you, had discerned in this day the things having to do with peace-but now they have been hid from your eyes. 43 Because the days will come upon you when your enemies will build around you a fortification with pointed stakes and will encircle you and distress you from every side, 44 and they will dash you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave a stone upon a stone in you, because you did not discern the time of your being inspected."
Lu 21:20-21
20 "Furthermore, when YOU see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. 21 Then let those in Ju・de'a begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her; 22 because these are days for meting out justice, that all the things written may be fulfilled.
When they see the signs, everyone knows that destruction is near and they can escape from it.
The end of the Satan's system
How will the second coming of Christ occur?Mt 24:36-39, 42
36 'No one knows the day or the hour… not the messengers of the heavens or the Son (just the Father). 37 For, as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man is near. 38 Why, [people] in those days (before the downpour) were feeding themselves and drinking, marrying and being taken in marriage, right up to the day when Noah entered the Chest. 39 they were unaware 'til [the day of] the downpour, and then it swept them all away. That's how it will also be when the Son of Man is near.
42 So, [you should all] stay awake; for, you don't know the day that your Lord will arrive.
Mr 13:32-37
32 "Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father. 33 Keep looking, keep awake, for YOU do not know when the appointed time is. 34 It is like a man traveling abroad that left his house and gave the authority to his slaves, to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to keep on the watch. 35 Therefore keep on the watch, for YOU do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether late in the day or at midnight or at cockcrowing or early in the morning; 36 in order that when he arrives suddenly, he does not find YOU sleeping. 37 But what I say to YOU I say to all, Keep on the watch."
Mt 24:40-42
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; 41 two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned. 42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.
As shown above, no one knows the event of the Christ's coming or arrival beforehand.
It will happen all of the sudden, though there have been given the signs of the nearness of it. And people are not expected to move somewhere to escape the event, rather one will be taken along, the other be abandoned, and they are warned that "Keep on the Watch."
Recall what the Christ will do when He Returns.
Mt 24:31
31 And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.
So be instructed by these obvious differences between two events.
Jesus' disciples got the sense of it after they had received the holy spirit.
Then their main concern became their Lord's Return with great authority to judge the world.
They fearlessly preached this message not the destruction of Jerusalem, all over the then known Roman world with the intent of going further to the extremity of the world until their Lord's Return.
It incurred Satan's anger or rage, Roman empire started brutal persecution against them as foretold by their Master. They were destined to die. Their death brings them to the Lord's Day instantaneously by means of the first resurrection to bruise Satan's head who instigated brutal persecution against them. They kept the warning of their Master in mind for their life time up until their brutal death, "Keep on the Watch."
The destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD by Roman army is just a punishment, or judgment of the unfaithful Jews who reject their chief agent of life.
It was not main message that the first century Christian spread all over the world.
The regional event like destruction of Jerusalem was meaningless to irrelevant people of remote area.
So the murdered Christian from the first century until present days are in the rest mode in death with hope that is assured expectation for the prize or reward in heaven, awaiting that the Lord's Day will begin.
Re 6:11
11 And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled also of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they also had been.
Re 11:18
18 But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth."
The Lord's Coming with kingly power has been far ahead in the time stream or the distant future from the first century.
When He arrives, an accounting for his slaves and a worldwide separation work will begin.
Lu 19:11-12, 15
11 While they were listening to these things he spoke in addition an illustration, because he was near Jerusalem and they were imagining that the kingdom of God was going to display itself instantly. 12 Therefore he said: "A certain man of noble birth traveled to a distant land to secure kingly power for himself and to return.
15 "Eventually when he got back after having secured the kingly power, he commanded to be called to him these slaves to whom he had given the silver money, in order to ascertain what they had gained by business activity.
Mt 25:5-6
5 While the bridegroom was delaying, they all nodded and went to sleep. 6 Right in the middle of the night there arose a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Be on YOUR way out to meet him.'
Mt 25:19
19 "After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
Mt 13:24-30, 37-43
24 Another illustration he set before them, saying: "The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man that sowed fine seed in his field. 25 While men were sleeping, his enemy came and oversowed weeds in among the wheat, and left. 26 When the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the weeds appeared also. 27 So the slaves of the householder came up and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow fine seed in your field? How, then, does it come to have weeds?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy, a man, did this.' They said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go out and collect them?' 29 He said, 'No; that by no chance, while collecting the weeds, YOU uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the harvest season I will tell the reapers, First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up, then go to gathering the wheat into my storehouse.'"
37 In response he said: "The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. 41 The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, 42 and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be. 43 At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him that has ears listen.
Mt 25:31-32
31 "When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. 32 And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Jesus prophesied the end of the Jewish system of things which was imminent to his disciples in Mt 24:3-22 along with the end of the Satan's entire system of things in remote future.
So, Jesus included a clear warning for the imminent destruction of Jerusalem in his prophecy.
Lu 19:41-44
41 And when he got nearby, he viewed the city and wept over it, 42 saying: "If you, even you, had discerned in this day the things having to do with peace-but now they have been hid from your eyes. 43 Because the days will come upon you when your enemies will build around you a fortification with pointed stakes and will encircle you and distress you from every side, 44 and they will dash you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave a stone upon a stone in you, because you did not discern the time of your being inspected."
Lu 21:20-24
20 "Furthermore, when YOU see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. 21 Then let those in Ju・de'a begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her; 22 because these are days for meting out justice, that all the things written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe to the pregnant women and the ones suckling a baby in those days! For there will be great necessity upon the land and wrath on this people; 24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.
In contrast with that, Mt 24:23-51 has to do with the end of the Satan's entire system of things in remote future.
It is said that nobody knows the day of destruction and Jesus' coming.
And physical evacuation is not required for survival.
Rather it is said that angles will be sent to gather the chosen ones from the four winds, then the one will be taken along.
Mt 24:31, 39-42
31 And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.
39 and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the coming of the Son of man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; 41 two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned. 42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.
invisible "presence," The WTS' questionable translation
WTS's wrong translation in Mt 24 confuses us.They translate Parousia as "presence" for their doctrine of the invisible presence.
But this way of translation does not reconcile with the rest of the scriptures regarding Jesus' second coming. It should rather be translated as "coming" or "arrival" with spectacular display, not invisible presence as the WTS teaches.
The idea of invisible presence is an instrumentality to convince people who experienced a great disappointment for failed prediction of Jesus' coming back in 1874, and 1914.
Consider the following scriptures so as to see the idea of invisible presence is not in harmony with Jesus' coming back with great authority.
Mr 13:24-27 (Mt 24:29-31)
24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling out of heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send forth the angels and will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from earth's extremity to heaven's extremity.
Lu 21:25-28
25 "Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation, 26 while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift YOUR heads up, because YOUR deliverance is getting near."
Re 1:7
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him. Yes, Amen.
Ac 1:11
11 and they said: "Men of Gal'i・lee, why do YOU stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who was received up from YOU into the sky will come thus in the same manner as YOU have beheld him going into the sky."
What manner was it?
It was that Jesus became mighty spirit being when he returned into heaven.
He will return as a mighty spirit being with great authority and with an army of angels to execute judgment upon the Satan's world. It will be the time to gather the chosen ones from the four winds into heaven also.
A year before his death, Jesus showed his three disciples Peter, James, and John what he would look like at his second coming. He was transfigured before them.
Mt 16:20-17:2
20 Then he sternly charged the disciples not to say to anybody that he was the Christ.
21 From that time forward Jesus Christ commenced showing his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the older men and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised up. 22 At this Peter took him aside and commenced rebuking him, saying: "Be kind to yourself, Lord; you will not have this [destiny] at all." 23 But, turning his back, he said to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you think, not God's thoughts, but those of men."
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and continually follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it. 26 For what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man is destined to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will recompense each one according to his behavior. 28 Truly I say to YOU that there are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
17:1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother along and brought them up into a lofty mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became brilliant as the light. (Mr 9:2-3, Lu 9:28)
2Pe 1:16-18 (2001 AEB)
16 Now, what we've told you about the power and appearance of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One, which wasn't some myth that we just made up. Rather, we were eyewitnesses of his magnificence! 17 Why, he was honored and glorified by God (the Father) through a voice that came to him. And it glorified him in an appropriate way, saying, 'This is My son whom I love and of whom I approve!' 18 Yes, we heard these words from heaven itself as we were there with him on the Holy Mountain!
Although they were shown the heavenly nature in this manner, Jesus' disciples were not able to comprehend heavenly things until they were born in spirit.
They also are to be like heavenly being through the first resurrection at the Christ's coming back.
1Co 15:22-23 (2001 AEB)
22 And as all are dying because of Adam, all will be made alive in the Anointed One. 23 but, each one in his own order. [It starts with] the first fruits of the Anointed One, who will be followed by those who belong to the Anointed One when he arrives.
The time of the Christ's return is the time of reward, not inspection.
Jesus' coming in the Lord's Day is a judgment for the sons of the kingdom either with reward or with sword.
The inspection would have been completed by Jesus who said that "I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things" before he comes.
There is no such an invisible presence for the inspection period in the Lord's Day.
Re 11:18
18 But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth."
Re 2:16-17, 23
16 Therefore repent. If you do not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will war with them with the long sword of my mouth.
23 . . . so that all the congregations will know that I am he who searches the kidneys and hearts, and I will give to YOU individually according to YOUR deeds.
17 "'Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: To him that conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white pebble, and upon the pebble a new name written which no one knows except the one receiving it.'
The term "presence" is obscure in meaning.
The term "appearance," or "coming" should be used to understand the significance of the event which means the judgment, the reward, and the deliverance.
Instead of "presence" used by the WTS, 2001 an American English Bible uses "appearance" and King James Version uses "coming," which is better than the WTS' translation.
1Th 3:12-13
12 Moreover, may the Lord cause YOU to increase, yes, make YOU abound, in love to one another and to all, even as we also do to YOU; 13 to the end that he may make YOUR hearts firm, unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the
/ at the appearance of our Lord Jesus with all his Holy Ones. (2001 AEB)
/ at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (KJV)
1Th 4:14-17
14 For if our faith is that Jesus died and rose again, so, too, those who have fallen asleep [in death] through Jesus God will bring with him. 15 For this is what we tell YOU by YHWH's word, that we the living who survive to the
/ at the appearance of the Lord (2001 AEB)
/ the coming of the Lord (KJV)
shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep [in death]; 16 because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. 17 Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall always be with [the] Lord.
1Th 5:23-24
23 May the very God of peace sanctify YOU completely. And sound in every respect may the spirit and soul and body of YOU [brothers] be preserved in a blameless manner at the
/ when our Lord Jesus the Anointed One arrives; (2001 AEB)
/ the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)
24 He who is calling YOU is faithful, and he will also do it.
2Th 2:1-2
1 However, brothers, respecting the
/ the appearance of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One (2001 AEB)
/ the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (KJV)
and our being gathered together to him, we request of YOU 2 not to be quickly shaken from YOUR reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of YHWH is here.
2Th 2:6-8
6 And so now YOU know the thing that acts as a restraint, with a view to his being revealed in his own due time. 7 True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work; but only till he who is right now acting as a restraint gets to be out of the way. 8 Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his
/ when the Lord Jesus arrives. (2001 AEB)
/ with the brightness of his coming. (KJV)
Jas 5:7-8
7 Exercise patience, therefore, brothers, until the
/ until the Lord arrives. (2001 AEB)
/ the coming of the Lord. (KJV)
Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until he gets the early rain and the late rain. 8 YOU too exercise patience; make YOUR hearts firm, because the
/ the appearance of the Lord is near. (2001 AEB)
/ the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (KJV)
(Christian are to endure until Christ's appearance for relief.)
2Pe 3:11-13
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought YOU to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, 12 awaiting and keeping close in mind the
/ the appearance of the Day of the Lord (2001 AEB)
/ the coming of the day of God (KJV)
, through which [the] heavens being on fire will be dissolved and [the] elements being intensely hot will melt! 13 But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.
(Christian are not awaiting for the invisible presence, but manifestation of the Lord's Day with unmistakable signs and portents)
1Joh 2:27-29
27 And as for YOU, the anointing that YOU received from him remains in YOU, and YOU do not need anyone to be teaching YOU; but, as the anointing from him is teaching YOU about all things, and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught YOU, remain in union with him. 28 So now, little children, remain in union with him, that when he is made manifest we may have freeness of speech and not be shamed away from him at his
/ when he appears. (2001 AEB)
/ when he shall appear. (KJV)
29 If YOU know that he is righteous, YOU gain the knowledge that everyone who practices righteousness has been born from him.
(Christians' main concern is to meet the returned Lord. The invisible presence for the inspection does not have any meaning, since Jesus has been always with his disciples since the first century as shown at Mt 28:20.)
WTS's faulty illusion of invisible presence
Christ's invisible presence begun in 1914 and last for a generation, during which the faithful discreet slave would be given a reward.The term and idea of presence has to be replaced with "coming," or "appearance."
And the coming of Christ has not occurred yet. We are still awaiting for the appearance of our Lord. The time of the reward is still in the future. So all Christian has to keep on the watch for the Master's arrival. By so doing one can prove that he is faithful and discreet.
Then the returned Master will appoint him over all his belongings by sharing his kingly authority with such like ones.
Mt 24:44-47
44 On this account YOU too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.
45 "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings.
Re 2:26-27
26 And to him that conquers and observes my deeds down to the end I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he shall shepherd the people with an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels, the same as I have received from my Father,
Re 3:21
21 To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, even as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
No one has received this reward yet.
So the WTS's teaching is a faulty illusion, or an intentional lie.
By their convenient teaching, they have begun to illegitimately rule as king already.
1Co 4:8-13
8 YOU men already have YOUR fill, do YOU? YOU are rich already, are YOU? YOU have begun ruling as kings without us, have YOU? And I wish indeed that YOU had begun ruling as kings, that we also might rule with YOU as kings. 9 For it seems to me that God has put us the apostles last on exhibition as men appointed to death, because we have become a theatrical spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools because of Christ, but YOU are discreet in Christ; we are weak, but YOU are strong; YOU are in good repute, but we are in dishonor. 11 Down to this very hour we continue to hunger and also to thirst and to be scantily clothed and to be knocked about and to be homeless 12 and to toil, working with our own hands. When being reviled, we bless; when being persecuted, we bear up; 13 when being defamed, we entreat; we have become as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now.
The governing body of the multi-million corporation can not be the true sons of the kingdom. They are the illegitimate rulers of pseudo theocracy. Their lifestyle is not in harmony with the scriptures like cited above.
No comments:
Post a Comment