Post by ResLight on Apr 8, 2013 14:05:30 GMT -5
Most of the concepts of "the end of the world" as usually depicted are not actually found in the Bible; I believe that we have been in the 'end of the age" since 1874. I believe, as Brother Russell believed, that the time of trouble, the great tribulation, has been with us ever since 1914. Brother Russell was not expecting "the end of word" in 1914. I believe that we are yet in the harvest, which I believe will not be fully ended until after Satan is abyssed, when the sons of God will be revealed. -- Matthew 13:43; Romans 8:19; Colossians 3:14; Revelation 20:3.
See the study:
The Parousia, the Seventh Trumpet and the Harvest
See also:
End of the World in 1914?
When Satan will be finally abyssed, I do not know. Such an event would mean the passing away of the present heavens and earth (Matthew 5:18; 24:34-36; Mark 13:30-32; Luke 16:17; 21:32,33; 2 Peter 3:10), wherein we find evil prevailing (Galatians 1:4; Philippians 2:15), and the full establishment of God's kingdom throughout the earth (the age to come, the new heavens and new earth, God's new creation by regeneration, wherein there will be righteousness -- Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Matthew 19:28; Mark 10:30; Luke 18:30; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 2:7; 6:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-5). This would indeed mean the end of the world in a sense, but I agree with Russell that such does not mean what most people think of when they say "end of the world." Nevertheless, the creating of the new heavens and new earth is not completed until after the end of the millennial age and the time Satan all the wicked will be no more. Only then will all of the earthly phase of new creation be shown as being brought to perfection.
Peter’s words are generally urged to be the foundation for the theory that the world [that is, the literal planet earth] will be destroyed by literal fire at the Second Coming of Christ, when the heavens shall be on fire, and the earth also and the things therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10), a literal interpretation here overlooks the fact that Peter, speaking of the very same time, in Acts 3:19-21, declares that Times of Restitution and blessing – not times of world-burning – will follow the Second Coming of Jesus. It also overlooks the fact that Peter and the other apostles, as well as the Master, frequently used the word fire in a symbolic sense, to represent tribulation. Thus St. Peter, addressing the Church, says: "Don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you." -- 1 Peter 4:12.
Furthermore, the apostle Paul says that the fire of the day shall try the work of every man [referring to the church, the new creation begotten of the holy spirit in this age], of which sort it is. Those who have built with gold, silver, precious stones [the promises of God's Word], shall be fireproof in the day; while those who have built with the wood, hay and stubble of tradition - higher criticism, human evolution, etc., - will find their faith structure amenable to the fire; and they will suffer the loss of faith and have tribulations accordingly. Yet, the apostle explains, such will themselves be saved, but these very fiery trials will destroy their misconceptions. They will be saved because, in spite of their errors, they built their faith upon Christ. — 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
The apostle, however, urged that all should build with gold, silver and precious stones - characteristics which would enable them to pass through the fire of that day unscathed. Similarly, Jesus referred to a testing of faith, by the figure of a flood, telling that those who built upon the sand would suffer loss; but that those who built upon the Rock would be safe. All these Scriptures, however, these references to fiery trials, etc., belong to the end of the Age – not the end of the world. -- Matthew 7:24-27.
Neither the heavens where God's throne is, nor the planet earth with its physical sun, will ever be removed, or burned up; thus it should be evident that Peter was not speaking of such.
Exodus 15:18 WEB
Yahweh shall reign forever and ever.
Psalm 9:7 WEB
Yahweh reigns forever.
Psalm 10:16 WEB
Yahweh is King forever and ever!
Psalm 45:6 WEB
Your throne, God, is forever and ever.
Psalm 78:69 WEB
He built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he has established forever.
Psalm 11:4 WEB
Yahweh is on his throne in heaven.
Psalm 104:5 WEB
He laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved forever.
Psalm 72:17 WEB
His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
Isaiah 66:1 WEB
Thus says Yahweh, heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool
The Bible teaches that in God’s great Plan He has provided various epochs, or ages, each for the accomplishment of its own special work; for instance, the Jewish Age with its work, and the Gospel Age with its work, to be followed by the Millennial Age and its still different work. The Bible declares that “the earth abideth forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4, King James Version); that "God created it not in vain; He formed it to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45 :18, KJV). The earth has never yet been fully inhabited. There are immense tracts of country still unoccupied, such as the many deserts and polar regions. Many thousands of acres are often often by one person or a corporation. The Divine Plan for the earth has not yet reached consummation. It will require the thousand years of Messiah’s glorious Kingdom Power to bring the world -- the regenerate and perfect the world now condemned in Adam -- so that they will actually live forever. Nevertheless, the world will first be brought into the glorious conditions of Millennial blessings and restitution, of which the scriptures so frequently speak, and which Peter declared God has spoken by the mouth of His holy Prophets. -- Acts 3:21.
So, then, the basis for thinking of "the end of the world" as that phrase is often understood, is purely a misunderstanding, due largely to the fact that our English translation uses the word world where it would more properly have used the word Age, Epoch, or order of things. In a word, the present order of things, of which the Scriptures declare Satan is the prince, or ruler, is not to be perpetual; it is to pass away. A new order of things, under the control of Messiah, the Prince of Light, is to take the place of the present reign of the Prince of Darkness. A reign of righteousness and life is to succeed the present reign of sin and death, according to the apostle Paul. — Romans 5:17, 21.
CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
The Bible everywhere represents that Christ left a Heavenly glory when He came to earth nearly nineteen centuries ago. "The Logos was made flesh and dwelt among us." The Bible explains that the necessity for this humiliation, this leaving the glory and taking a bondman’s form, lay in the fact that God had pronounced a death sentence upon man, which mankind was paying and from which they could not be released unless someone would become their redeemer and meet the penalty for them – a death penalty, not an eternal-torment penalty, of which the Scriptures know nothing.
The Bible nowhere tells that Jesus took the human nature to keep it forever, and to return with it to Heaven, where it would be completely out of order and out of place. The Bible teaches, on the contrary, that "the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial" (1 Corinthians 15:40); and that Jesus was made flesh, a man, defined as a "little lower than the angels", for the purpose "that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 4:9,10); and that after doing this work He would "ascend up where He was before." (John 6:62) Paul assures us that this part of the Divine Program has been carried out. After telling of our Lord’s obedience to the Father’s will in humbling Himself to death, even the death of the cross, he adds, "God hath highly exalted Him" – "far above angels, principalities and powers." — Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:20-23.
The Master declared plainly, "Yet a little while, and the world shall see Me no more"; but He promised that He would be seen by His followers. John declares: "We shall be like him; for we shall see him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) We read: "Every eye shall see Him"; but this, to be in harmony with the other Scriptures, must refer to the eyes of understanding. The Bible declares that eyes of human understanding are blinded now by error and sin, but that shortly all the blind eyes shall be opened. Then all will see Messiah and His Kingdom with the eye of faith, as the Church now sees Jesus, the crown of life, and the things which the natural eye has not seen.
See the study:
The World Will See Me No More
PAROUSIA–PRESENCE;
EPIPHANIA–MANIFESTATION
Our English word coming is used to translate several very different Greek words. One of these is Parousia, which means presence, and is used in referring to (but not exclusive to) the first stage of the Lord’s Second Advent. He will be invisibly present. For a time none but a few watchers realize His Parousia, His presence, while all things earthly will continue as they have been-buying, selling, building, marrying, etc.
See the study:
Christ's Parousia - Presence or Arrival?
Then, later on, will come the Epiphania; that is to say, the revelation, or manifestation, of the present One, and of the sons of God of this present age. This stage, I believe, although it could be said in sense to have already begun, does not provide the revealing of the sons of God to the whole creation until after Satan abyssed. Does this mean that Jesus will then appear in the flesh? I have no reason to think so; he certainly will never appear again in the flesh of the body which gave as sin-offering, but I suppose he could appear in the flesh in a manner as did the angels who appeared in to Abraham. Jesus is "revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) Some have thought that this flaming fire refers to the time of trouble, but I believe that it refers to flaming judgments that take place on the earth during the millennial age, including the time when Satan and wicked are destroyed, bringing all vengeance to an end.
See the study:
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 - Eternal Destruction of the Wicked.
To my understanding, the Bible teaches that Jesus has been present in the world since 1874. In other words, His Second Advent then began. Many Bible Students believe the Bible to teach that this Parousia will continue for a thousand years; but that the Epiphania, or manifestation to the world, was to come in forty years from the time the Presence began in 1874. For this some they believe that the Epiphania began in the year 1914. I do believe that the time of trouble began in 1914, and that the judgement of the world already condemned in Adam began at that time, but I do not believe that the individual judgment of the flaming fire will begin until after Satan is abyssed.
EATING, DRINKING, PLANTING AND BUILDING
One application of Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 is that this would indicate that the world will at first only see Jesus in the clouds, in the time of trouble. While I am not sure that this is what is meant by these verses, the world does indeed first see the time of trouble before they actually recognize Jesus. This, I believe, also includes most of the great multitude as spoken of in Revelation 7, who wash their robes in the blood of Christ, and who come out of -- survive -- the great tribulation into the age to come. The world in general, however, is totally unaware of the parousia until they are overtaken by the final destruction of Satan's works, as the people were taken away in the floods of Noah. The scriptures do not indicate that any of the world will knowingly recognize Jesus as present during the time of trouble, but they will certainly recognize him as such after Satan is abyssed, and is no longer permitted to deceive them. In the earlier stages of the parousia, however, they are like the people in the days of Noah, who were eating, drinking, planting, building, and without knowledge of what was taking place, until the floods came.
CHANGE A CAUSE FOR REJOICING
This great change from the dominion of Satan to the rule of Christ, I believe, began to manifest itself in 1914 with "time of trouble" phase, and thus the world is suffering as though a woman with child, having spasms of pain related to the giving birth to the new age; this will eventually be a cause for rejoicing to all even as a mother rejoices once the child is born. Although no sufferings are joyous, but rather grievous, nevertheless, when we know that our interests are in the hands of a gracious Savior, who died for us and who is intent upon doing all that can be done for the recovery of our race from sin and death, we may well be glad in realizing that the Plan which Messiah is about to carry out for the blessing and uplifting of mankind from sin and death conditions is part of the original Divine Plan of the Father. And we have all the more joy, confidence and assurance that all things will work together for good to those that love God.
“The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.”
Although the trouble has been much longer than had been supposed, however long it takes, the Bible everywhere tells of the glorious results that will follow, when the shackles of darkness, sin and error shall be broken, and when all the spiritual powers surrounding mankind will be good and helpful, as in contrast with those of the wicked spirits now operating through his ministers and mediums, by dogma of men, as well as by clairvoyant and clairaudient powers, to ensnare, to deceive, to bewilder mankind.
God willing, to eventually be posted at:
rl-bibleinfo.com/?p=1226
See the study:
The Parousia, the Seventh Trumpet and the Harvest
See also:
End of the World in 1914?
When Satan will be finally abyssed, I do not know. Such an event would mean the passing away of the present heavens and earth (Matthew 5:18; 24:34-36; Mark 13:30-32; Luke 16:17; 21:32,33; 2 Peter 3:10), wherein we find evil prevailing (Galatians 1:4; Philippians 2:15), and the full establishment of God's kingdom throughout the earth (the age to come, the new heavens and new earth, God's new creation by regeneration, wherein there will be righteousness -- Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Matthew 19:28; Mark 10:30; Luke 18:30; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 2:7; 6:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-5). This would indeed mean the end of the world in a sense, but I agree with Russell that such does not mean what most people think of when they say "end of the world." Nevertheless, the creating of the new heavens and new earth is not completed until after the end of the millennial age and the time Satan all the wicked will be no more. Only then will all of the earthly phase of new creation be shown as being brought to perfection.
Peter’s words are generally urged to be the foundation for the theory that the world [that is, the literal planet earth] will be destroyed by literal fire at the Second Coming of Christ, when the heavens shall be on fire, and the earth also and the things therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10), a literal interpretation here overlooks the fact that Peter, speaking of the very same time, in Acts 3:19-21, declares that Times of Restitution and blessing – not times of world-burning – will follow the Second Coming of Jesus. It also overlooks the fact that Peter and the other apostles, as well as the Master, frequently used the word fire in a symbolic sense, to represent tribulation. Thus St. Peter, addressing the Church, says: "Don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you." -- 1 Peter 4:12.
Furthermore, the apostle Paul says that the fire of the day shall try the work of every man [referring to the church, the new creation begotten of the holy spirit in this age], of which sort it is. Those who have built with gold, silver, precious stones [the promises of God's Word], shall be fireproof in the day; while those who have built with the wood, hay and stubble of tradition - higher criticism, human evolution, etc., - will find their faith structure amenable to the fire; and they will suffer the loss of faith and have tribulations accordingly. Yet, the apostle explains, such will themselves be saved, but these very fiery trials will destroy their misconceptions. They will be saved because, in spite of their errors, they built their faith upon Christ. — 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
The apostle, however, urged that all should build with gold, silver and precious stones - characteristics which would enable them to pass through the fire of that day unscathed. Similarly, Jesus referred to a testing of faith, by the figure of a flood, telling that those who built upon the sand would suffer loss; but that those who built upon the Rock would be safe. All these Scriptures, however, these references to fiery trials, etc., belong to the end of the Age – not the end of the world. -- Matthew 7:24-27.
Neither the heavens where God's throne is, nor the planet earth with its physical sun, will ever be removed, or burned up; thus it should be evident that Peter was not speaking of such.
Exodus 15:18 WEB
Yahweh shall reign forever and ever.
Psalm 9:7 WEB
Yahweh reigns forever.
Psalm 10:16 WEB
Yahweh is King forever and ever!
Psalm 45:6 WEB
Your throne, God, is forever and ever.
Psalm 78:69 WEB
He built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he has established forever.
Psalm 11:4 WEB
Yahweh is on his throne in heaven.
Psalm 104:5 WEB
He laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved forever.
Psalm 72:17 WEB
His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
Isaiah 66:1 WEB
Thus says Yahweh, heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool
The Bible teaches that in God’s great Plan He has provided various epochs, or ages, each for the accomplishment of its own special work; for instance, the Jewish Age with its work, and the Gospel Age with its work, to be followed by the Millennial Age and its still different work. The Bible declares that “the earth abideth forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4, King James Version); that "God created it not in vain; He formed it to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45 :18, KJV). The earth has never yet been fully inhabited. There are immense tracts of country still unoccupied, such as the many deserts and polar regions. Many thousands of acres are often often by one person or a corporation. The Divine Plan for the earth has not yet reached consummation. It will require the thousand years of Messiah’s glorious Kingdom Power to bring the world -- the regenerate and perfect the world now condemned in Adam -- so that they will actually live forever. Nevertheless, the world will first be brought into the glorious conditions of Millennial blessings and restitution, of which the scriptures so frequently speak, and which Peter declared God has spoken by the mouth of His holy Prophets. -- Acts 3:21.
So, then, the basis for thinking of "the end of the world" as that phrase is often understood, is purely a misunderstanding, due largely to the fact that our English translation uses the word world where it would more properly have used the word Age, Epoch, or order of things. In a word, the present order of things, of which the Scriptures declare Satan is the prince, or ruler, is not to be perpetual; it is to pass away. A new order of things, under the control of Messiah, the Prince of Light, is to take the place of the present reign of the Prince of Darkness. A reign of righteousness and life is to succeed the present reign of sin and death, according to the apostle Paul. — Romans 5:17, 21.
CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
The Bible everywhere represents that Christ left a Heavenly glory when He came to earth nearly nineteen centuries ago. "The Logos was made flesh and dwelt among us." The Bible explains that the necessity for this humiliation, this leaving the glory and taking a bondman’s form, lay in the fact that God had pronounced a death sentence upon man, which mankind was paying and from which they could not be released unless someone would become their redeemer and meet the penalty for them – a death penalty, not an eternal-torment penalty, of which the Scriptures know nothing.
The Bible nowhere tells that Jesus took the human nature to keep it forever, and to return with it to Heaven, where it would be completely out of order and out of place. The Bible teaches, on the contrary, that "the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial" (1 Corinthians 15:40); and that Jesus was made flesh, a man, defined as a "little lower than the angels", for the purpose "that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 4:9,10); and that after doing this work He would "ascend up where He was before." (John 6:62) Paul assures us that this part of the Divine Program has been carried out. After telling of our Lord’s obedience to the Father’s will in humbling Himself to death, even the death of the cross, he adds, "God hath highly exalted Him" – "far above angels, principalities and powers." — Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:20-23.
The Master declared plainly, "Yet a little while, and the world shall see Me no more"; but He promised that He would be seen by His followers. John declares: "We shall be like him; for we shall see him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) We read: "Every eye shall see Him"; but this, to be in harmony with the other Scriptures, must refer to the eyes of understanding. The Bible declares that eyes of human understanding are blinded now by error and sin, but that shortly all the blind eyes shall be opened. Then all will see Messiah and His Kingdom with the eye of faith, as the Church now sees Jesus, the crown of life, and the things which the natural eye has not seen.
See the study:
The World Will See Me No More
PAROUSIA–PRESENCE;
EPIPHANIA–MANIFESTATION
Our English word coming is used to translate several very different Greek words. One of these is Parousia, which means presence, and is used in referring to (but not exclusive to) the first stage of the Lord’s Second Advent. He will be invisibly present. For a time none but a few watchers realize His Parousia, His presence, while all things earthly will continue as they have been-buying, selling, building, marrying, etc.
See the study:
Christ's Parousia - Presence or Arrival?
Then, later on, will come the Epiphania; that is to say, the revelation, or manifestation, of the present One, and of the sons of God of this present age. This stage, I believe, although it could be said in sense to have already begun, does not provide the revealing of the sons of God to the whole creation until after Satan abyssed. Does this mean that Jesus will then appear in the flesh? I have no reason to think so; he certainly will never appear again in the flesh of the body which gave as sin-offering, but I suppose he could appear in the flesh in a manner as did the angels who appeared in to Abraham. Jesus is "revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) Some have thought that this flaming fire refers to the time of trouble, but I believe that it refers to flaming judgments that take place on the earth during the millennial age, including the time when Satan and wicked are destroyed, bringing all vengeance to an end.
See the study:
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 - Eternal Destruction of the Wicked.
To my understanding, the Bible teaches that Jesus has been present in the world since 1874. In other words, His Second Advent then began. Many Bible Students believe the Bible to teach that this Parousia will continue for a thousand years; but that the Epiphania, or manifestation to the world, was to come in forty years from the time the Presence began in 1874. For this some they believe that the Epiphania began in the year 1914. I do believe that the time of trouble began in 1914, and that the judgement of the world already condemned in Adam began at that time, but I do not believe that the individual judgment of the flaming fire will begin until after Satan is abyssed.
EATING, DRINKING, PLANTING AND BUILDING
One application of Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 is that this would indicate that the world will at first only see Jesus in the clouds, in the time of trouble. While I am not sure that this is what is meant by these verses, the world does indeed first see the time of trouble before they actually recognize Jesus. This, I believe, also includes most of the great multitude as spoken of in Revelation 7, who wash their robes in the blood of Christ, and who come out of -- survive -- the great tribulation into the age to come. The world in general, however, is totally unaware of the parousia until they are overtaken by the final destruction of Satan's works, as the people were taken away in the floods of Noah. The scriptures do not indicate that any of the world will knowingly recognize Jesus as present during the time of trouble, but they will certainly recognize him as such after Satan is abyssed, and is no longer permitted to deceive them. In the earlier stages of the parousia, however, they are like the people in the days of Noah, who were eating, drinking, planting, building, and without knowledge of what was taking place, until the floods came.
CHANGE A CAUSE FOR REJOICING
This great change from the dominion of Satan to the rule of Christ, I believe, began to manifest itself in 1914 with "time of trouble" phase, and thus the world is suffering as though a woman with child, having spasms of pain related to the giving birth to the new age; this will eventually be a cause for rejoicing to all even as a mother rejoices once the child is born. Although no sufferings are joyous, but rather grievous, nevertheless, when we know that our interests are in the hands of a gracious Savior, who died for us and who is intent upon doing all that can be done for the recovery of our race from sin and death, we may well be glad in realizing that the Plan which Messiah is about to carry out for the blessing and uplifting of mankind from sin and death conditions is part of the original Divine Plan of the Father. And we have all the more joy, confidence and assurance that all things will work together for good to those that love God.
“The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.”
Although the trouble has been much longer than had been supposed, however long it takes, the Bible everywhere tells of the glorious results that will follow, when the shackles of darkness, sin and error shall be broken, and when all the spiritual powers surrounding mankind will be good and helpful, as in contrast with those of the wicked spirits now operating through his ministers and mediums, by dogma of men, as well as by clairvoyant and clairaudient powers, to ensnare, to deceive, to bewilder mankind.
God willing, to eventually be posted at:
rl-bibleinfo.com/?p=1226