James Stuart Russell Study Archive

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Russell's Parousia

(Revelation 20:5-10 Still Unfulfilled) "We must consequently regard this prediction of the loosing of Satan, and the events that follow, as still future, and therefore unfulfilled." (p. 523)

(Full Preterist Millennium "violent and unnatural") "Some interpreters indeed attempt to get over the difficulty by supposing that the thousand years, being a symbolic number, may represent a period of very short duration, and so bring the whole within the prescribed apocalyptic limits; but this method of interpretation appears to us so violent and unnatural that we cannot hesitate to reject it. " (p. 514)$

 

1. It is evident that this passage is direct prophecy, and not a visionary representation taking place before the eyes of the Seer. It is not introduced by the usual formula in such cases, ‘And I saw,’ but in the style of prophetic prediction.

2. It is evident that the prediction of what is to take place at the close of a thousand years does not come within what we have ventured to call ‘apocalyptic limits.’ These limits, as we are again and again warned in the book itself, are rigidly confined within a very narrow compass; the things shown are ‘shortly to come to pass.’ It would have been an abuse of language to say that the events at the distance of a thousand years were to come to pass shortly; we are therefore compelled to regard this prediction as lying outside the apocalyptic limits altogether.

3. We must consequently regard this prediction of the loosing of Satan, and the events that follow, as still future, and therefore unfulfilled. We know of nothing recorded in history which can be adduced as in any way a probably fulfillment of this prophecy. Westein has hazarded the hypothesis that possibly it may symbolise the Jewish revolt under Barcochebas, in the reign of Hadrian; but the suggestion is too extravagant to be entertained for a moment.

4. There is an evident connection between this prophecy and the vision in Ezekiel concerning Gog and Magog (chaps. xxxviii. xxxix.), which is equally mysterious and obscure. In both the scene of conflict is laid in the same place, the land of Israel; and in both the enemies of God meet with a signal and disastrous overthrow.

5. The result of the whole is, that we must consider the passage which treats of the thousand years, from ver. 5 to ver. 10, as an intercalation or parenthesis. The Seer, having begun to relate the judgment of the dragon, passes in ver. 7 out of the apocalyptic limits to conclude what he had to say respecting the final punishment of ‘the old serpent,’ and the fate that awaited him at the close of a lengthened period called ‘a thousand years.’ This we believe to be the sole instance in the whole book of an excursion into distant futurity; and we are disposed to regard the whole parenthesis as relating to matters still future and unfilfilled. The broken continuity of the narration is joined again at ver. 11, where the Seer resumes the account of what he beheld in vision, introducing it by the familiar formula ‘And I saw.’

PREFACE TO THE BOOK

INTRODUCTORY.

THE LAST WORDS OF OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY.

THE BOOK OF MALACHI
The Interval between Malachi and John the Baptist

PART I.

THE PAROUSIA IN THE GOSPELS.

THE PAROUSIA PREDICTED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST

The Teaching of our Lord Concerning the Parousia in the Synoptical Gospels:-

Prediction of Coming Wrath upon that Generation
Further allusions to the Coming Wrath
Impending fate of the Jewish nation (Parable of the Barren Fig-tree)
The End of the Age, or close of the Jewish dispensation (Parables of Tares and Drag-net)
The Coming of the Son of Man (the Parousia) in the Lifetime of the Apostles
The Parousia to take place within the Lifetime of some of the Disciples
The Coming of the Son of man certain and speedy (Parable of the Importunate Widow)
The Reward of the Disciples in the Coming AEon, i.e. at the Parousia

Prophetic Intimations of the approaching Consummation of the Kingdom of God:-

i. Parable of the Pounds
ii. Lamentation of Jesus over Jerusalem
iii. Parable of the Wicked Husbandman
iv. Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son
v. Woes denounced on the Scribes and Pharisees
vi. Lamentation (second) of Jesus over Jerusalem
vii. The Prophecy on the Mount of Olives

The Prophecy on the Mount examined:-

I. Interrogatory of the Disciples
II. Our Lord's Answer to the Disciples:-

(a) Events which more remotely were to precede the Consummation
(b) Further indications of the approaching doom of Jerusalem
(c) The Disciples warned against False Prophets
(d) Arrival of the 'End,' or the catastrophe of Jerusalem
(e) The Parousia to take place before the passing away of the Existing Generation
(f) Certainty of the Consummation, yet uncertainty of its precise date
(g) Suddenness of the Parousia, and calls to watchfulness
(h) The Disciples warned of the suddenness of the Parousia (Parable of the Master of the House)
(i) The Parousia a time of Judgment alike to the friends and the enemies of Christ (Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins)
(k) The Parousia a time of Judgment (Parable of the Talents)
(l) The Parousia a time of Judgment (Parable of the Sheep and Goats)

Our Lord's declaration before the High Priest
Prediction of the Woes coming on Jerusalem
Prayer of the Penitent Thief
Apostolic Commission, the

THE PAROUSIA IN THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN.

The Parousia and the Resurrection of the Dead
The Resurrection, the Judgment, and the Last Day
The Judgment of this World, and of the Prince of this World
Christ's Return (the Parousia) speedy
St. John to live till the Parousia
Summary of the Teaching of the Gospels respecting the Parousia

APPENDIX TO PART I.

Note A.-On the Double-sense Theory of Interpretation
Note B.-On the Prophetic Element in the Gospels

PART II.

THE PAROUSIA IN THE ACTS AND THE EPISTLES.

IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

The 'going away' and the 'coming again
The Last Days come
The Coming Doom of that Generation
The Parousia and the Restitution of all things
Christ soon to judge the World

THE PAROUSIA IN THE APOSTOLIC EPISTLES.

Introduction

IN THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS:-

Expectation of the Speedy Coming of Christ
The Wrath coming upon the Jewish people
Bearing of the parousia upon the disciples of Christ
Christ to come with all His holy ones
Events accompanying the Parousia
Exhortations to watchfulness in prospect of the Parousia
Prayer that the Thessalonians might survive until the coming of Christ

IN THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS:-

The Parousia a time of judgment to enemies of Christ and of Deliverance to His people
Events which must precede the Parousia

The Apostasy
The Man of Sin

IN THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS:-

Attitude of the Christians of Corinth in relation to the Parousia
Judicial character of the 'Day of the Lord' (I Cor. iii. 13)
Judicial character of the 'Day of the Lord' (I Cor. iv. 5)
Nearness of the approaching Consummation
The End of the Ages already arrived
Events accompanying the Parousia
The Living (saints) changed at the Parousia
The Parousia and the 'Last Trump'
The Apostolic Watchword, 'Maran-atha'

IN THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS:-

Anticipations of 'the End' and 'the Day of the Lord'
The Dead in Christ to be presented along with the living at the Parousia
Expectation of Future Blessedness at the Parousia

IN THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS:-

'The present Evil Age, or AEon'
The two Jerusalems-the Old and the New

IN THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS:-

The Day of Wrath
Eschatology of St. Paul
Nearness of the Coming Salvation
Prospect of Speedy Deliverance

IN THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS:-

Approaching Manifestation of Christ
The Coming Wrath

IN THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS:-

The Economy of the Fulness of the Times
The Day of Redemption
The present Aeon and that which is coming
The 'Ages [Aeons] to come

IN THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS:-

The Day of Christ
Expectation of the Parousia
Nearness of the Parousia

IN THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY:-

Apostasy of the Last Days
Eschatological Table, or Conspectus of Passages relating to the Last Times
Equivalent Phrases referring to the Last Times
Table of Passages relating to the Apostasy of the Last Times
Conclusion- respecting the Apostasy
Timothy and the Parousia
The Apostasy already manifesting itself

IN THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY: -

'That Day'-viz. the parousia-anticipated
The Apostasy of the 'Last Days' imminent

IN THE EPISTLE TO TITUS :-

Anticipation of the Parousia

IN THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS:-

The Last Days already come
The Aeons, Ages, or World-periods
The World to come, or the new order
The End, i.e., of the Age, or AEon
The Promise of the Rest of God
The End of the Ages
Expectation of the Parousia
The Parousia approaching
The Parousia imminent
The Parousia and the Old Testament saints
The great Consummation near
Nearness and finality of the Consummation
Expectation of the Parousia

IN THE EPISTLE OF ST. JAMES:-

The Last Days come
Nearness of the Parousia

IN THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PETER:-

Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time
The approaching Revelation of Jesus Christ
Relation of the Redemption of Christ to the Antediluvian World
Nearness of Judgment and of the End of all things
The good tidings announced to the Dead
The Fiery Trial and the coming Glory
The Time of Judgment arrived
The Glory about to be revealed

IN THE SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. PETER:-

Scoffers in the 'Last Days'
Eschatology of St. Peter
Certainty of the approaching Consummation
Suddenness of the Parousia
Attitude of the Primitive Christians in relation to the Parousia
The New Heavens and New Earth
Nearness of the Parousia a motive to diligence
Believers not to be discouraged on account of the seeming delay of the Parousia
Allusion of St. Peter to St. Paul's teaching concerning the Parousia

IN THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN:-

The World passing away: the last hour come
The Antichrist come, a proof of its being the last hour
Antichrist not a person, but a principle
Marks of the Antichrist
Anticipation of the Parousia

IN THE EPISTLE OF ST. JUDE

APPENDIX TO PART II.

Note A.-The Kingdom of Heaven, or of God
Note B.-On the ' Babylon' of 1 Peter v. 13
Note C.-On the Symbolism of Prophecy, with special reference to the Predictions of the Parousia
Note D.-Dr. Owen on 'the Heavens and the Earth' (2 Pet. iii. 7)
Note E.-Rev. F. D. Maurice on 'the Last Time' (I John ii. 18)

PART III.

THE PAROUSIA IN THE APOCALYPSE.

Interpretation of the Apocalypse
Limitation of Time in the Apocalypse
Date of the Apocalypse
True significance of the Apocalypse
Structure and plan of the Apocalypse
The number Seven in the Apocalypse
The Theme of the Apocalypse
The Prologue

THE FIRST VISION.

THE MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

THE SECOND VISION.

THE SEVEN SEALS

Opening of the First Seal
Opening of the Second Seal
Opening of the Third Seal
Opening of the Fourth Seal
Opening of the Fifth Seal
Opening of the Sixth Seal
Episode of the Sealing of the Servants of God

THE THIRD VISION.

THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

Opening of the Seventh Seal
The First Four Trumpets
The Fifth Trumpet
The Sixth Trumpet

Episode of the Angel and the Book
Measurement of the Temple
Episode of the Two Witnesses

The Seventh Trumpet

THE FOURTH VISION.

THE SEVEN MYSTIC FIGURES

1. The Woman clothed with the Sun
2. The Great Red Dragon
3. The Man Child
4. The First Wild Beast
The Number of the Beast
5. The Second Wild Beast
6. The Lamb on Mount Sion
7. The Son of Man on the Cloud

THE FIFTH VISION.

THE SEVEN VIALS

THE SIXTH VISION.

THE HARLOT CITY

Mystery of the Scarlet Beast
The Seven Kings
The Ten Horns of the Beast
(NOTE ON REVELATION XVII.)
The Fall of Babylon
Judgment of the Beast and his confederate Powers
Judgment of the Dragon
Reign of the Saints and Martyrs
Loosing of Satan after the Thousand Years
Catastrophe of the Sixth Vision

THE SEVENTH VISION.

THE HOLY CITY, OR THE BRIDE

Prologue to the Vision
The Holy City described

THE EPILOGUE

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

APPENDIX TO PART III.

Note A.-Reuss on the Number of the Beast
Note B.-Dr. J. M. Macdonald's 'Life and Writings of St. John'
-Bishop Warburton on 'our Lord's Prophecy on the Mount of Olives,' and on 'the Kingdom of Heaven'

AFTERWORD BY RUSSELL

DOLLINGER ON "The Man of Sin"
THE BABYLON OF THE APOCALYPSE
JERUSALEM A SEVEN-HILLED CITY
THE CRUCIAL QUESTION
THE TRUE SOLUTION

 Date: 20 Oct 2005
Time: 19:56:35

Comments:

Thank you so very much for such a great gift to the public, how wonderful! We bought a copy of the book several years ago and cherished it, though it was difficult to read due to small print. But you have made the reading of it a pleasurable experience. We are preparing to use it as a subject study for the youth. I am forever grateful to you for your labor of love. Sincerely, Mildred Garner, Watts OK

Date: 29 Dec 2005
Time: 06:52:03

Comments:

I too add my ovation. I direct interested people to this site often.

I have incorporated the insights of The Parousia's author into my Triocular (three-lens) Paradigm. The three lenses are:

Administrative: All Biblical texts were written by and for men in authority. Thus, Jesus' words apply exclusively to his Apostles.

Anachronistic: All Biblical texts were fulfilled in the time they were written. This "lens" is illustrated in The Parousia.

Abrahamic: All 'Christian' texts were written by and for First Century Jews. Hence "Christianity" is a fiction. There was only a Messianic movement within Judaism. The historic 'de-Semitizing' of the Scriptures does not change this fact.


Thank you again for your contribution to human upliftment.

C.D.

Date: 25 Jun 2006
Time: 11:02:53

Comments:

I have enjoyed the reading of the Parousia. I have not read every section but have come away with a better grasp of the second coming as related here. I do have a question though concerning those who were still alive and then were changed. How are we to understand this in light of the fact that many believers were apparently left behind? Polycarp - a student under John - for one was martyed well after 70AD. We also find that other church fathers of the 1st and 2nd century were alive at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. If Christ did come then and gathered His elect, why were some left behind. Also, it must be asked, what of the innocent children throughout the whole world. Did not Christ want them for His own? Were unborn babies in the wombs of mothers throughout the world removed from the womb at Christ's coming? How would this be answered? Thank you, Allyn Morton www.livebytruth.com

Date: 02 Aug 2006
Time: 07:43:30

Comments:

Thank you very much for sharing this book with me. It certainly clears the air around the present day prophets with their erroneous ideas about the "last days". Neal Griffin

Date: 22 Aug 2006
Time: 11:17:37

Comments:

Is there any clear scriptural evidence that the 2nd Coming of Christ has already taken place? Can we find historical evidence of Christ's Second coming in Josephus or any books of antiquity?

Date: 03 Sep 2006
Time: 18:26:22

Comments:

Well, my journey into preterism is continuing. I have this book and have read bits and pieces of it. I can only read a little at a time; there is just sooooo much to absorb.

Although, I would not call my self a consistent preterist--yet--I will lable my self a partial preterist.

I have a long path to traverse, but I am sooo excited. Please pray for me.

Date: 07 Mar 2009
Time: 07:32:31

Your Comments:

Hello,

The 2006 text "Social Science Commentary on the Letters of Paul" by Malina and Pilch asserts that Paul's letters were 'directly and immediately relevant' to Israelites scattered among the "nations." These authors, like Russell, hold that ethnocentric (American) and anachronistic readings of Paul's letters result in a 'misery-causing misunderstanding' of the Bible. The text vindicates Russell's conclusions and is a worthy read.

Thank you!

Date: 30 Dec 2009
Time: 01:27:25

Your Comments:

I am blown away! It brings so much more meaning to the Revelations when systematically disecting it with the perspective of relevance towards the readers living at the time it was written. I have been taken on a journey the last 12 months by Yahuweh Himself and this is another truth that has been opened to me on my journey to "worship Him in spirit and truth".
The fact that Yahuweh loved His children so much that He provided not only His son, Yahushua, as a sacrifice, but that He provided so much comfort through the writings of the apostles about what was to come just makes me want to honor and love Him even more. For me this book has opened my eyes to the bigger picture and has caused my faith to become stronger.
I have been so brainwashed by those who have gone before me that it was hard to wipe the lenses of my paradigm. I believe that this "thing" inside of me that has allowed me to break free of all that I had previously known in a fresh pursuit of truth can only be originated from the creator Himself. The more I learn and then align myself with the more isolated I become.
We as people are no different as any before us in the sense of loving our traditions and loving to be apart of the in crowd.
Father Yahuweh, through your son Yahuwshua, have mercy on us...have mercy on me.
Just for the record, I am not a Preterist, nor a "sacred namer", nor any other label that people want to put me under. I am a believer in Yahuwshua who came in the flesh and a man who is seeking to be a follower who worships in spirit and truth. It has been a most shattering and humbling experience. The more I learn the more that the trembling and shaking increases in regards to working out my own salvation.
Yahuweh bless all you truth seekers through His Glorious and Beautiful son Yahuwshua!
 

Date: 15 Jan 2010
Time: 03:51:29

Your Comments:

The Parousia will occur in the years comprising the beginning or advent of the 7th millenium.
 

Date: 23 Jan 2010
Time: 08:06:59

Your Comments:

Nice history lesson but you've left out dozens of passages that can't be explained by your theory. You failed to relate John to Daniel, didn’t explain the mark of the beast, what about the three horns that were plucked up by the roots (Daniel)? The two horned (lamb) beast is supposed to represent Jesus yet no roman emperor ever did.
If we look back in history we will see that this explanation was first proposed by the catholic clergy at the Council of Trent. At that time the Pope was trying to counter the claims of Martin Luther that the Catholic Church was the beast from the sea and he sent a group of bishops and cardinals to the city of Trent to come up with an explanation that would get the church off the hook. After 4 years they came up with this theory but it was rejected by the Pope as being too unbelievable. So they went back to the drawing board and after another 18 tears they came up with a new theory that rather than being in the past (which is too easy to prove to be false) they decided that everything was to happen way in the future so the apostate church (whore of Babylon) did not yet exist, so the church could not be blamed.
That theory lasted quite a while but now, at least according to my Catholic bible, they are back to the NERO thing. In fact the Catholic church now claims that Jesus has returned to reign for a millennium in the guise of the Pope - he is Christ on earth. Of course this would mean that the great white throne judgement occurred 1000 years ago but they say the 1000 years is just a symbol for a very long time.
And speaking of time, it seems that your entire theory is based on the words “in a short time.” Well, time is not linear for God so a day is as a thousand years so 2000 years is as 2 days to the lord - a very short time - symbolically.
Or perhaps John still believed, as all the apostles did, that Christ would return in their lifetime. Perhaps he simply misspoke.
And out of revelation we know that man will rule the earth for the first 6000 years after the fall of Adam, then the lord will rule for the 7th millennium. A quick look at the Jewish calendar will tell you that we are approaching the end of the first 6000 years, so the end time could never have been around the time of Christ.
Plus Jesus himself gave the start of the end time as the return of Israel to a nation (1948) for the generation that would be alive when he returns. Since 1948 over 30 OT prophesies have also come true. And remember that Jesus said the end time war would be so terrible that if he did not return to stop it there would be no flesh left alive on earth. And at that time all the dead in Christ would be resurrected. This did not happen at the destruction of Jerusalem. In terms of history and compared to WW2 for example, that war was no more than a minor skirmish.
I say come on give us all a break, if the book of revelation was just a small history lesson (it all took place before John wrote it) then why is it even in the bible? You are saying that it all means absolutely nothing to modern Christians so why should we even bother reading it, let alone try to understand it?
And think about this - if you are right, then John already knew what had happened more than 20 years before the revelation, so he really didn’t need Jesus to tell him any of it. Why would he prophesy about the past? That wouldn’t even be prophetic.
I’m afraid your explanation makes the revelation of Jesus Christ a worthless dissertation of Roman history, not worthy of its place in the Holy Bible. Shame on you!