It happens that some brothers and sisters wonder whether the Lord has really returned. More than one hundred years have elapsed since the Lord came again and the Church is not yet completely glorified. Some children of God wonder even whether the six thousand years, symbolizing the night of sin, have passed and whether we are at the dawn of the seventh day of a thousand years.

And yet, can we say like the predicted mockers: “Where is the promise of his presence? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4) No! Certainly not! For even men who are children of the night acknowledge that an enormous change took place.

In a French contemporary history book we read, “Inventions and technical progress are hastening their rhythm, revolutionizing the state of existence, creating a new style of life progressively, common to all men, standardizing the various civilizations sprung from history, building a new world … Finally, there is more difference between our generation and that of our grandparents than between the generation of our grandparents and the contemporaries of the Roman empire.“ (Delagrave, page 588) We are children of the day, and we have been enlightened by the Word of God. The world has really changed considerably since our Lord came again.

The Lord is accomplishing in our days a work which the worldly do not believe when we tell it to them. It is written in Acts 13:41:

“For I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no way believe, though a man declare it unto you.”

But, as far as we are concerned, we see this work eye to eye, as Isaiah says:

“Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion” (Isaiah 52:8).

On one occasion, the disciples put this question to Jesus:

“Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy presence, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

The disciples desired to know by what sign they would be able to recognize his presence, after his return, and the end of the age.  They desired to know a single sign, but our Lord quoted several signs in his answer. I am going to examine some of them briefly in stating my position on this subject.

THE “FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT”

Our Lord refers in his prophecy to a servant that he would set over his household and all his possessions on his return. (Matthew 24:45-47) This servant was to be made ruler over the household of faith to give the meat in due season to them, and over all the Lord’s possessions as a steward. I believe that Pastor Russell was this servant. The work that he performed was so great and the teachings he transmitted to us are so consistent with the Holy Scriptures that there is no doubt he was that “servant.“ No one surpassed him in searching Biblical truths and in evidencing the harmony of the Scriptures.

THE WORK OF THE HARVEST

In his prophecy, our Lord mentioned the harvest in verse 31. He said:

“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

This trumpet symbolizes the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet; and the heaven represents the nominal church. According to Revelation 14:14-16, I believe that the harvest takes place in the presence of the Lord.

The harvest is the end of the age, said our Lord; it is a time of separation of the wheat from the tares, of the real Christians from the nominal Christians. It is a time when the tares are bound and then burned. It is also a time of judgment, when the Lord, who has come again, condemns and spews Christendom out of his mouth. After the Lord rejected Christendom, he commanded his disciples to come out of this system called Babylon. (Rev. 18:4)

I believe that the separation of the wheat from the tares has come to an end, and that the tares are bound. In my opinion, we are in a time of sifting, when the wheat is being sifted. The wheat is not yet gathered completely in the heavenly barn and already the tares have begun to be burned. Many nominal Christians, indeed, are leaving the churches and are becoming worldly. They are losing the faith and they are ceasing from claiming that they are real Christians.

Their claims to be Christians are burning, disappearing. (Matt. 13:40-42) Paul teaches us that the Lord is making not only the earth tremble, but also the heaven, the ecclesiastical powers, Christendom, that is to say the tares. (Hebrews 12:26, 27)

THE PRESENT TRIBULATION

While the harvest of this age is not yet finished, we already enter into the tribulation predicted by the Lord:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now.”

This tribulation is coming on the world, as travail upon a woman with child. (1 Thess. 5:3) This time of trouble, also predicted by Daniel, follows the return of the Lord and does not precede it. “At that time shall Michael stand up … and there shall be a time of trouble.”

Someone could say that we are not in a time of trouble, but rather in a time of progress and prosperity. Yes, I concede that we are in a prosperous time, but Daniel explains that the tribulation will come when knowledge increases. In fact, knowledge gives rise to the tribulation, because knowledge enlightens the masses of people about their rights and privileges, and discloses the depths of the sin, causing anger among the nations.

For many years, after the second coming of the Lord, dissatisfaction was not so visible in the world, although the light of knowledge was enlightening the masses more and more. But the elements which were to cause the tribulation were getting ready. Finally a great conflict burst in 1914. It was a worldwide conflict, such as has not been from the beginning of the world. It was the beginning of the tribulation.

In Daniel 2:44, the trouble follows the coming of the Lord. The kingdom is raised up and after that the kingdoms of this world are destroyed. This kingdom represents Christ, head and body. It is not necessary for the members of the Body to be all in heaven, in order for the destruction of the kingdoms of this world to begin. The members on this side of the veil and those beyond the veil constitute the kingdom raised up. If this kingdom is raised up, the King is present, for I believe there can be no kingdom without a king.

THE PRESENT INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE

The increasing of knowledge is a sign to me of the Lord’s presence. Daniel said,

“At that time shall Michael stand up, … many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

Knowledge has not increased gradually throughout the centuries, but it appeared almost suddenly. In 1799, people used chariot and horse like Egyptians did several thousand years ago. Now we travel in supersonic airplanes, and even in spaceships.

In Matthew 24:27, we read,

“For as the lightning (Greek: astrape) cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.”

The bright shining is the shining of the Sun of Justice which is to bring healing in his beams. (Matthew 13:43; Malachi 4:2) As the light of the sun comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so the presence of the Lord will be revealed. At first, only those who are awake recognize this presence (1 Thess. 5:4-6), then all men will become aware of his presence.

This verse also means to me: as the light of the sun rises progressively and shines afterwards in its full radiance, so the light of the sun of justice, the light of truth, symbolizing knowledge, is increasing and will reach its highest degree of brightness when it fills the earth, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)

The knowledge proceeds from the Lord, as it is written:

“His lightnings [those of the Lord] lightened the world.” (Psalm 97:4)

“Out of the throne proceeded lightnings.” (Revelation 4:5)

THE TIMES OF RESTITUTION

In answering his disciples, Jesus did not speak specifically of the restoration of all things. He made mention of it when he answered Peter, who asked him what the disciples would receive for having left everything to follow him. Jesus said:

“Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28)

Jesus refers here to the regeneration of mankind.

It is only after he was raised from the dead that the Lord, through the mouth of John, spoke of a more general restoration, which would include not only the restoration of man, but also the restoration of the social structure. We read in Revelation 21:5:

“And he that sitteth on the throne said, behold, I make all things new.”

The throne is the great white throne on which our Lord is sitting. The Scripture declares that from his face (in his presence) the earth (the present society) and the heaven (the ecclesiastic powers) fled away (disappeared). (Rev. 20:11)

Heaven was to receive or retain Christ until the times of restitution of all things. Peter said,

“Jesus Christ … whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things.“ (Acts 3:21)

This time of renewal requires his presence. We are in this time already, although the very restoration of man has not yet begun.

When God wanted to create Adam, he first of all prepared the garden of Eden. The Lord is doing the same at present. He is making the preparations and changes which will facilitate the future work of man’s restoration. Saint Peter said that all things were to be restored, not only one thing.

The present progress leads to the disappearing of old fashioned institutions and to the establishment of new structures better fitted for our day, but also destined to disappear, because of their imperfection.  Human society is being transformed.  Man, enlightened more and more, thanks to the knowledge spread by the Lord, succeeds in making great progress, but finally he will realize that he can establish nothing perfect and satisfactory, because he is imperfect and sinful.

Moreover, understanding better and better the perfect principles of justice and truth, he will no longer support every imperfect thing and he will overthrow everything he has set up and bring about anarchy in the earth.

For the Lord himself (that is, in person) descended from heaven with the trump of God. This trump of truth and liberty is blaring into all the earth. The whole world is waking to the sound of this trumpet and all the peoples claim liberty and the abolishment of every form of slavery or colonialism. Almost all countries which were dominated by others have gained their independence, and possess the same rights and privileges as their former masters. Those which have not yet obtained their autonomy claim it forcibly.

Even the countries which were considered as independent, but were under the constant pressure of a powerful neighboring country, now have full freedom of action. Thus a certain leveling has been performed, and is still being performed among the nations.  In Isaiah 40:4, we read this symbolic passage:

“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low.”

The Apostle Paul says to us that at the sound of this trumpet, those who died in Christ will rise first. (1 Thess. 4:16) In 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52, the same Apostle declares concerning the members of the Church:

“We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible.”

In these two passages of scripture, it is said that the resurrection of the Church is done at the sound of a trumpet. Therefore, in these two cases, it is the same trumpet. This trumpet corresponds to that of the Jubilee, which symbolizes the times of restitution of all things.

There are two more texts which are full of significance. They are Ephesians 1:10 and Colossians 1:20. First, Ephesians 1:10:

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.”

Now, Colossians 1:20:

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven”

In the fifth volume, on page 424, Brother Russell applies the things in earth to the fallen men and the things in heaven to the fallen angels. Later on, in a sermon delivered in 1910, he said concerning the text of Colossians 1:20:

“The Apostle indicates the great scope of Christ’s work as it shall be eventually, when finished Now, we know very well that the gathering and reconciliation of the things in heaven precede the gathering and reconciliation of the things in earth. In the type, it was the priests that were commissioned to sound the trumpet. They were sounding the trumpet of silver. (Numbers 10:7-10)

In the antitype, it is the royal priesthood that sounds the trumpet, Jesus as a Head and the Church as his Body. If our Lord Jesus has come with the trump of God, it is also the duty of the members of his Body, of the antitypical priests, to sound the trumpet of Truth and proclaim the beginning of the antitypical Jubilee, the times of restitution of all things. At the sound of this trumpet, as we have already seen, the Harvest is to be performed and the elect are gathered together from the four winds. (Matthew 24:31)”

The whole present social structure of the nation is being shaken to the ground and is being transformed. Equality of rights for all the individuals is acknowledged almost everywhere and the increasing knowledge, which is in a way the growing light of the first beams of the Sun of Justice, has considerably changed the physiognomy of the world. Although the knowledge has often been used for selfish purposes, nevertheless it has brought many blessings to the world. The Lord has already made great changes in the world.

The nation of Israel, symbolized by the fig tree, and the other nations, represented by all the other trees, are coming to life again and are putting out leaves.

It is not difficult to notice that the Gospel age is finishing and the Millennial age is beginning; that the night of ignorance is coming to an end and the day is beginning to break; that the old things are being eliminated and new things are being introduced.

We see that what God declared to Adam and Eve after their transgression is being changed. Only sin and death still rule fully, because the ransom, although furnished, is not yet paid for mankind. The ransom will be paid when the Church is complete. Man works less and less in the sweat of his face; thorns and thistles are more easily extirpated and the pains in giving birth may be lessened.

THE INCREASING OF INIQUITY

“And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

When men no longer believe in God, they lose the fear to do evil. As it is easier to do evil than to do good, and as the fear of God is no longer in men to brake their passions, it results in an increase of iniquity.

Widespread unbelief is to me a sign of Christ’s presence. Jesus said,

“However, when the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

Paul said that in the last days perilous times would come and that men would be corrupted. (2 Timothy 3:1-4) Violence and immorality are gaining ground more and more.

I believe that the main reason for the increase of iniquity is the progressive loosing of fallen angels who are exerting a pernicious influence on human beings. They were responsible for the wickedness which prevailed before the flood, and they are also responsible, to a large extent, for the wickedness of our day. (Luke 17:26)

THE REVIVAL OF ISRAEL

Israel is the first nation to enjoy the blessings of the antitypical Jubilee. In 1878, the double for all their sins came to an end.  Ever since, the favor of God returned to them gradually and the prophecy of Isaiah 40:1, 2 began to be accomplished. The hopes of the Jews revived, their return to the promised land began, and their rebirth as a nation has become a reality.

This national awakening of Israel is spoken of by the Lord in these words:

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near [the Kingdom of God, according to Luke], even at the doors.” (Matthew 24:32, 33)

THE DRYING UP OF THE RIVER EUPHRATES

It is written in Revelation 16:12:

“And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising.”

Babylon represents nominal Christendom. (Revelation 17:5) The waters of the river symbolize the multitude of peoples, of nations and tongues. (Rev. 17:15) Cyrus, whose name means sun, typifies our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sun of Justice. (Isaiah 44:28; Matthew 13:43; Malachi 4:2) The army of Cyrus foreshadows the members of the Church already raised up, the kings of the rising sun.

Our Lord does not destroy Babylon literally as soon as he comes again, but he acts as it is shown in the type. He surrounds her first, diverts the water of the symbolic Euphrates and dries up in this manner what sustained the great city.

Today, peoples alienate their affections from the nominal church. They leave the churches or neglect to attend religious services, and the recruiting of priests is more and more difficult.

Saint Paul says to us in 2 Thessalonians 2:8:

“And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming.” (Revised version)

Let us notice that the Apostle speaks firstly of the destruction by “the breath of his mouth.” The breath of the Lord’s mouth is the Word of God, the Bible, which is spread today by millions of copies and which undermines the very structure of Babylon. Then the overthrowing of the lawless one, of Christendom, will happen, at the time of the manifestation (epiphania) of the coming (parousia) of our Lord, at a late time of his presence, when the way of the kings that come from the sunrising is made ready, that is to say when the Church is entirely resurrected. (Revelation 16:12; 17:14; Isaiah 66:7)

Thus, the Lord, to a large extent, is drying up the Euphrates. He is flashing the light of the Truth; he is spreading the knowledge of his Word; he is revealing the wicked one by laying bare his gross errors; he is enlightening the masses of people, making them more and more able to distinguish the truth from the error.

In the type, it is shown to us that before the destruction of Babylon, the Israelites were called out of this city. They had to flee out of Babylon. (Jeremiah 51:6) It is the same in the antitype; before the literal destruction of mystic Babylon, the spiritual Israelites are called to come out of her, in order to not share in her plagues. (Revelation 18:4)

This coming out of the spiritual Israelites of the midst of Babylon took place in a large measure as soon as the antitypical Euphrates began being dried up, and corresponds to the work of harvest described by our Lord in Matthew 13:30; 24:15-18 and shown to John in Revelation 14:14-16.

The expression “kings that come from the sunrising” gives us to understand that these kings are on the march. It suggests the idea that the members of the Church are also coming as they pass one after another beyond the second veil. When the Euphrates is dried up, the way will be made ready for them to destroy mystic Babylon. They will take part with their Lord in the overthrowing of nominal Christendom. (Revelation 17:14; 16:17-19)

THE PURIFICATION OF THE SONS OF LEVI

Malachi declares:

“But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire … and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver.” (Malachi 3:2, 3)

This passage of the Scriptures reveals two important facts:

1) that those of God’s children who would still be in the flesh at the Lord’s coming would pass through fiery trials for some time,

2) that only those who would do the will of God would abide the day of the Lord’s coming and stand before him. The sons of Levi are the church of the first-borns, the little Flock and the great multitude. This purification is being performed on this side of the veil.

Let us watch and pray that we may stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36) Amen.

– Antoine Papajak, France

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