Christs Invisible Presence! When would it begin?
No One will argue that Jehovah hasn't always been, himself, invisibly present with Mankind! Certainly, according to his following words, the Apostle Paul would never argue that:
17"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever." Amen. {1 Timothy 1:17 NIV}
So, Jehovah is invisibly present at all times, but because of his invisibility cannot be seen by the naked eye, being as he is also a Spirit being, dwelling in the Spirit realm. {John 4:24}
It is common knowledge today among Bible Students that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, believe and teach that the Christ was crowned King of God's Kingdom in 1914, and only since that year he has been invisibly present. They will go to great lengths to prove the Christ was invisibly present in that year, by presenting their interpretation of the seven times Prophecy at Daniel 4:16 which they tell us began counting in the year 607 BCE ran for a period of 2,520 years and ended in the year 1914 with the ending of the appointed times of the Nations, and the enthronement in that year of the King of God's Kingdom. To them, now the Christ was invisibly present in Kingdom power.
If by some method that reasoning can be proven wrong, then everything they teach for the year 1914 that they say occured, has not occured at all.
We know that even after Jesus was resurrected from the dead, he had not yet been glorified, as John tells us the case was:
39"By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." {John 7:39NIV}
That had yet to be done at his ascension, by his Father as John shows us:
31 "When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once." {John 13:31,32 NIV} Jesus last prayer to his Father would of course be answered at his ascension. Note the prayer:
5"And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."{John 17:5 NIV}
Don't let this point slip by unnoticed! When Jesus WAS Glorified he was now once again in the presence of the Father. Right there with him, in his glorified position at his Fathers right hand. Something else though had occured at his ascenion. What was that, you may ask? The following:
33"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear." {Acts 2:33 NIV}
Being now exalted to his Fathers right hand, what might his Fathers view of him be at that time? In his Fathers eyes he was already a ruling King. He didn't have to wait until 1914 until he could form that view now did he? He was the one who decreed that his Christ would be the Ruling King, and if anyone knew all of the words he spoke would be fulfilled, he certainly would have. He could call something that was not as though it already were, could he not? The Apostle Paul thought so. Note the words of Paul concerning this" {Isaiah 55:10-11}
17"As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." {Romans 4:17 NIV} Not only in his eyes was his Christ merely invisibly present, he was already a ruling King. Why was it that his Apostle's didn't understand many things prior to his ascension? Luke will answer that for us:
16"At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him."{John 12:16 NIV}
40 "When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 he said to them, "This is what I told you when I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures
."{Luke 24: 40-45 NIV}
"{Luke 24: 40-45 NIV}26For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest,holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;" {Hebrews 7:26 NASB}
What now was the exalted position of the Christ? How highly was he exalted by his Father? The writer Matthew will tell us that:
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." {Matthew 28:18 NIV} The Apostle Paul will take this exaltation even a step further, as we'll learn now: Quite a big step too as you'll see:
18 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." {Ephesians 1:18-22 NIV}
That of course should be quite sufficient to make my point, but there's even more to come, as you'll see:
5 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. {Philippians 2:5-11 NIV}
Paul's words in Ephesians and Philippians say it all, do they not?
Ever since his ascension the Christ has held the highest office anyone could ever imagine! God exalted him to the highest place. From his position at his Fathers right hand, he is above all rule and authority, and every title that can be given, in this present age and that to come, and his Father has placed everything under his feet, and he is the appointed head over the Church. He holds all authority in heaven and on earth, because his Father has decreed that to be the case.
That situation has prevailed ever since his ascension in the first Century, right up until today, and will continue on forever. The words of the Psalmist apply quite nicely at this point:
1"The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." 2The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,"Rule in the midst of Your enemies." {Psalm 110:1,2 NASB}
No one has known it! Very probably no one will accept it, but Jesus has been ruling in the midst of his enemies ever since his ascension in the first Century; all he awaits now, is the command from his Father, when the strong septer is stretched forth from Zion, and the Father will tell Jesus, to, "Go subuing in the midst of your enemies." That will be at Armageddon, which was to come like a thief in the night. It could never have come like a Thief in the Night, if Jesus was known to be invisibly present in 1914, already crowned King of God's Kingdom. {Revelation 3:3;16:15} {2 Peter 3:10} {1 Thessalonians 5:2}
Just as the Father has been invisibly present for Centuries now, so, to, now the Christ, seated beside his Father since the first Century; he too has been invisibly present from the first Century onward. What does all of this show? It shows that Daniel's Prophecy concerning the Seven Times, was not talking about the appointed times of the Nations. The count of time the Governing Body has calculated to begin in 607 BCE is correct. The length of of time they say as to being 2,520 years is correct. Ending in 1914 is correct. What they believe the significance of the ending those times to be is incorrect. They did not end the appointed times of the Nations. Those times are still running now.
They did not signify the War in heaven had been fought with satan and his demons cast down and the Woe that would cause for the earth had begun. As I have shown they did not signify the Invisible presence of Christ; as I have shown, he's been there all along, but 'God's Spirit Directed Organization' as they claim to be, wasn't able to see it. They did not see that World 1 was not the fulfillment of Matthew 24:7 - Everything they believe and teach for that year is in seriously flawed. They cannot, or, more probably, will not, see that it is.
When Jesus was glorified in the presence of his Father, his invisible presence began, and unless they can find a way to count those times of Daniel, as to have taken place 2,520 years before the ascension of the Christ, there in for a whole pile of trouble, because I already know that cannot be done.
From here it's merely a matter of logical reasoning. We know that Jehovah is always present among mankind even though he cannot be seen with the literal eye. We know too, he is the King of eternity, the invisible God, as Paul told us. We have learned that his Father had seated him [Jesus] at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, that he was exalted above the heavens as Paul said:
26"For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; {Hebrews 7:26 NASB} That Jesus held all authority in heaven and on earth, no one was equal to him in station, only his Father was above him in power and authority; Jesus was second in command, at his Fathers right hand. Now, his Father is invisible and yet present at all times; now Jesus too is invisible in the position at his Fathers right hand, yet like his Father is, he too is present now at all times. What we must consider now is at what point in time did Jesus gain this exalted position, where he had gained all this rule that was above all rule and authority? Above every title that can be given, by being exalted above the heavens? It was when he ascended in the first Century wasn't it?
Common sense now tells us Jesus has been invisibly present ever since the first Century, when he ascended back to his Fathers right hand and given all of that ruling power and authority by his Father. When he was exalted above the heavens.
How can we back that up by scripture, for that is what we must do, in order to prove true what I'm saying? An easy matter:
1"The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne."{Revelation 3:21 ESV} Notice first. Jesus is seated on his Fathers Throne!
9"And they sing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open its seals; because thou hast been slain, and hast redeemed to God, by thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, 10 and made them to our God kings and priests; and they shall reign over the earth." {Revelation 5:9,10 DT}
6 "Blessed and holy he who has part in the first resurrection: over these the second death has no power; but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." {Revelation 20:6 DT}
Notice the point being drawn out here. Those that are allowed to be seated with the Christ on his Throne must be conquerers, just as Jesus conquered. When they are admitted to that position they become King Priests to rule with him for the thousand years. So, as soon as they take their poition on the throne with Jesus, they are now all Kings. Jesus took his position beside his Father on his Throne at his ascension in the first Century. That is when Jesus became King of God's Kingdom. Why so long a wait? The Psalmist will explain that:
1"The LORD {JEHOVAH} says to my Lord {JESUS} "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." 2The LORD {JEHOVAH} will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion saying,"Rule in the midst of Your enemies."{Psalm 110:1,2 NASB}
This is what Jesus has been waiting for ever since his ascension. The time when his Father makes his enemies a footstool for his feet and issues the command to him to "Go! "Rule in the midst of your enemies."When Jesus hears that command the long wait will be over. He will at that time become an active ruling King of God's Kingdom.
So, the Governing Body of Jehovah's witnesses claim that Jesus invisible presence came in the year 1914 is about as rediculous as it can get, and clearly shows to any astute observer, they are no more 'Jehovah's Spirit Directed Organization' any more than satan the devil is.
If anyone is wondering with what event the seven time prophecy actually landed on, let me now show you what that was, and it wasn't the end of the appointed times of the Nations at all, as you'll see:
1 "Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the gony of giving birth." {Revelation 12:1,2 NLT}
It landed on the Birth of the Kingdom! Or I should say, Jehovah's Heavenly Woman was only now showing her early labor pains, but they had just only begun, as Jesus will explain what those labor pains pictured:
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" 4 Jesus told them, "Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world." {Matthew 24:3-7NLT}
Notice first in time were Wars and Rumors of Wars, Jesus said don't panic, that had to happen, but the end was not yet - Don't make the mistake the Governing Body makes, They believe that World War 1&2 were the fullfillment of Matthew 24:7 with 'Nation against Nation and Kingdom agaianst Kingdom'- Although it looked it was, it really wasn't! That was to come very close to the end, fulfilling Daniels Prophecy at Daniel 12:1 the time of World peril that would lead right into Armageddon.
Ever since 1914 we have had Wars and rumors of Wars, even now Wars are going on all around our World in various Countries, but the end is still not yet. These Wars were merely the beginning of labor pains, and were mentioned first in time, with much more to come, as Jesus told us:
"But all this is only
the first of the birth pains, with more to come." {Matthew 24:8 NLT}
The Governing Body will tell us that the Tribulation Jesus Spoke about and the time of World peril Daniel spoke about were the same tribulations, but they were not. Remember this, the tribulation Jesus foretold had to be 'cut short' to save the lives of the chosen ones, and it will be, because they are all with him at Armageddon, while Daniels time of World peril is in progress. But Daniels World Peril will lead to the fulfillment of Jeremiah's Prophecy when a great storm sweeps this earth, when the entire empire of false Religions falls, and Jehovah involves himself. It will be then that Matthew 24:7 is fulfilled along with Exekiels Prophecy when the Sword of every Man is turned against his own Brother, and all Hell breaks loose on this earth. Daniels time of World Peril is not cut short, it's allowed to run the full course and abruptly halted by Armageddon. {Revelation 16:13-16; 17:14} {Matthew 24:22} {Daniel 12:1} {Jeremiah 25:31-37} {Ezekiel 38:21-23}
More substantiating proof that Jesus was not invisibly present as crowned King in 1914 as the Governing Body views his invisible presence also will show that they shouldn't even be looking for him to be invisibly present; they should only be looking for his coming, as a thief upon all mankind when they least expect him.
Do what Jesus here tells you to do! Notice the Fig Tree!
29 Then he gave them this illustration: "Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. 30 When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way,when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near." {Luke 21:29-31 NLT}
28 "Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place." {Mark 13:28-30 NLT}
So, when the Heavenly Womans labor pains became so severe, when all the things Jesus foretold were in evidence, his return would be near, at the doors, but even then not here quite yet.
Now we know, he's been invisibly present ever since his ascension, so he had to be talking about his final arival in Kingdom Power established as the reigning King of God's Kingdom. This, according to the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society in their Publication, "You can live forever in paradise on earth," has already occured. On Page 141 Paragraph 21 we read: "This means that Jesus Christ began to rule as King of God's heavenly Government in 1914." Think about now what Jesus had told us about the Fig Tree or all the other Trees, using that illustration Jesus was telling us, as in late summer we see all the Trees in bloom, so too with the composite sign he gave of his coming; when the entire sign was in evidence, he would be NEAR AT THE DOORS but even then not quite here. It would be right on top of us, no doubt, but as yet, even then, he was not crowned King. So neither was he invisibly present, as they view he was present, in invisibility, nor had he yet arrived in Kingdom Power. The Reasonings of the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society are so seriously flawed, it's almost laughable.
How far along is that Heavenly Womans Pregnancy right at this very moment, in time? When will the model prayer be answered? "Let your Kigdom Come!" "At a Time you think it not to be it, the Son of Man is Coming." "At a time you do not think likely."
Let the Governing Body continue to believe, the Christs invisible presence came in 1914, but since he's already been present since the first Century, we do not look for any invisible presence, we look for his COMING, as we should be doing, as the Governing Body should be doing.Wannabe