In the first century Christ Jesus knew what would happen after he was gone. He knew that there would be those who would claim that he had returned when he had not. To help his followers avoid being led astray by false prophets he gave this very clear warning in Matthew 24:23-28.
“ Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, There!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. Look! I have forewarned YOU. Therefore, if people say to YOU, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be. Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The language could not be plainer. Jesus is warning us that false teachers may talk of a "secret" coming, in other words an invisible presence, but he tells us “do not believe it.” He then goes on to say that his presence will be like highly visible, like lightning from one side of the sky to the other. That is something that is not missed. Everyone sees lightning as it arc’s across the sky, not just one or two people. However, knowing that there would be false prophets that would try to mislead his followers, Jesus had recorded additional direct statements about the visibility of his presence. This is recorded just after his ascent to heaven in Acts 1:9-11
“ And after he had said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their vision. And as they were gazing into the sky while he was on his way, also, look! two men in white garments stood alongside them, 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.”
So in this scripture we find a description of Jesus ascending literally, bodily, in full view of His watching, awestruck followers. Two angels appeared and said He would come back "in like manner" as He went up. This certainly makes it seem that Christ's Second Coming will be literal, bodily, and visible to normal human eyes. Whether or not his second coming will or will not be visible is for another research project, either way he reiterates the same warning again about those who say he as returned, when he has not. In the book of Mark. In Chapter 13:21-23 we read:
“ Then, too, if anyone says to YOU, ‘See! Here is the Christ,’ ‘See! There he is,’ do not believe [it]. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the chosen ones. YOU, then, watch out; I have told YOU all things beforehand.
With a clear warning like “watch out; I have told YOU all things beforehand” we need to be SURE if we are going to tell people that Jesus is invisibly present that we know exactly what we are teaching. We would never ever want to be like those Jesus described that are saying he is present when he is not, regardless of how good our intentions are.
What about 1914? Are we teaching that Jesus returned invisibly in 1914? Is that true? There is a massive mountain of evidence that says that Jerusalem was destroyed in 586/7 BCE and NOT in 607 BCE as we have been taught. In addition to overwhelming archeological and historical evidence that disproves 1914, there is other evidence that, to my mind should certainly make anyone think twice before saying Jesus came invisibly in 1914. This evidence is from the highest source in the universe, Jehovah God himself. In the book of Jeremiah, Chapter 25 verse 12, Jehovah speaks specifically about when the 70 years would be over:
“‘And it must occur that when seventy years have been fulfilled I shall call to account against the king of Babylon and against that nation,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘their error, even against the land of the Chal·de′ans, and I will make it desolate wastes to time indefinite.
This clearly states that when the 70 years have been COMPLETED that Jehovah would call the king of Babylon to account. That is pretty clear.
Jehovah used “his servant” Cyrus the Great to overthrow Babylon in 539 B.C.E. There is no question about this date, it is considered a pivotal date in history, agreed to by both the society and historians. The problem is that if you use this date then the calculation for the end of the Gentile times then you do NOT get 1914. For that reason, in contrast with the bible the governing body teaches us that the 70 years ended in 537 BCE, at least 2 years after it was possible for what Jehovah said to be true.
In other words to believe the 1914 chronology you have to disregard a HUGE mountain of evidence from thousands of independent business records, astronomical records and historical records, and what is even worse you have to disregard “the utterance of Jehovah”. Ironically you can disprove 1914 JUST using the societies literature and the dates they give there.
Can we be that sure about 1914? Is it possible that the governing body in teaching that Jesus is invisibly present is guilty of false prophecy? Would they do that? They have in the past.
Starting in 1879 For over 50 years they falsely advertised that Jesus had been invisibly present since 1874. Here is just a small sample of hundreds of times that the society has asserted that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874.
“ Christ came in the character of a Bridegroom in 1874 .... at the beginning of the Gospel harvest." (Watchtower, Oct 1879, p. 4)
“ Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A. D. according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it… (The Battle of Armageddon) 1912 ed., p. 621
“ Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time in the year 1874. Fulfilled prophecy shows beyond a doubt that he did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable.
All true watchers are familiar with these facts as set forth in the Scriptures and explained in the interpretation by the Lord's special servant. The Watchtower, November 1, 1922, pp.332-337
Notice how this Christ’s appearance in 1874 is asserted as an indisputable fact. Then they say that all true watchers are familiar with these facts, implying that if you don’t agree you are not truly watching bible prophecy.
The next quote basically is saying if you don’t believe that Jesus has been present since 1874 you are not a “truly consecrated child of God’.
“ Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874. " (Watchtower, Jan. 1,1924, p. 5)
“ The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D. This proof is specifically [spelled] out in the booklet entitled Our Lord's Return. (Prophecy p.65-66 1926)
Even as late as 1930 they continued to falsely teach that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874.
“ … from the beginning of the Lord’s presence in 1874 the Devil used the Papal system as the chief opposing instrument of God’s kingdom …" Watchtower 1930 p.275
It was not until 1943 that they officially decided that Jesus presence had started in 1914. So for over 50 years they falsely claimed that Christ had returned when he had not. In addition this means that it was years AFTER Jesus actual return before they realized it.
“ In the year 1943 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society published the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free." This moved forward the end of six thousand years of man's existence into the decade of the 1970's. Naturally this did away with the year 1874 C.E. as the date of return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of his invisible presence or parousia. Page 324 of the above book positively says: "The King's presence or parousia began in 1914."" God's Kingdom on a Thousand Years Has Approached p.209
After reviewing just a small sample of the dozens and dozens of times they insisted that Christ had been invisibly present in 1874, I think it is good review Matthew 24:23-28 one more time:
“ Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, There!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. Look! I have forewarned YOU. Therefore, if people say to YOU, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it . For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be. Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
And Mark 13:21 once again:
“ Then, too, if anyone says to YOU, ‘See! Here is the Christ,’ ‘See! There he is,’ do not believe [it]. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the chosen ones. YOU, then, watch out; I have told YOU all things beforehand
Jesus Christ here clearly warns his followers “do not believe it” when someone falsely claims he is present. He goes on to identify them as “false Christs” and false prophets. What do those terms mean? According to the insight book the word prophet refers to someone who is a spokesman for God.
“ Although the etymology of the Hebrew term for a prophet (na·vi'′) is uncertain, the use of this distinctive term shows that true prophets were no ordinary announcers but were spokesmen for God, ‘men of God’ with inspired messages. (1Ki 12:22; 2Ki 4:9; 23:17) They stood in God’s “intimate group,” and he revealed his “confidential matter” to them. (it-2 p. 694 Prophet)
From the very first issue of the Watchtower the Watchtower society has certainly claimed to fit that definition of prophet. What about Christ? What did that mean to the organization in the early 1900‘s According to Rutherford (who we believe was the faithful slave of his time) the word Christ meant anointed:
“ The word Christ signifies anointed. Anointing means designation to official position in God’s arrangement. The Christ is the instrument or channel for the blessing of mankind. The Christ is composed of Jesus the great and mighty head, and 144,000 members.” – The Harp of God, 1921, p 187
So, in short they definitely do fit at least part of the definition. Not only that, but you catch the last part of that quote! Rutherford here is saying that The Christ is not just Jesus but Jesus AND the 144,000. Kind of like a composite Christ with him as part of it. Not too much ego on his part.
This is in harmony what he wrote in Millions Now Living will Never Die where he directly says that “the great Messiah” is made up of Jesus and his glorified church.
“ Messiah’s kingdom once established, Jesus and his glorified church constituting the
great Messiah, shall minister the blessing to the people they have so long desired and hoped for and prayed might come” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 88)
Is this really how a faithful and wise servant would talk? Is this humble. To say that he and his followers are on the same level as Christ . . . . and at the same time falsely teaching that Christ had returned when he had not. Is that being faithful and discreet or is it more like someone who is a false Christ (anointed) and a false prophet (spokesman for god)?