| Christian Life and Doctrine | November 1965 |
The Objective of Our Lord’s Return
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” —Acts 3:19-21
TO THE brethren of the Early Church the return of Christ was anticipated as that feature in God’s great plan of salvation which would solve all the problems of fallen humanity, and mark the fruition of their own blessed hope of living and reigning with Christ in the long-promised messianic kingdom. The truth concerning our Lord’s return was presented on all suitable occasions, and related to the subject involved. We have an example of this in Peter’s well-known sermon on “restitution.”
What is “restitution”? As a word, it means essentially the same thing as the word “restoration.” If a man stole a watch from another he could make restitution by restoring the watch. As Peter used this word in his sermon, the reference is to the restoration of health and life. Peter’s sermon was the outgrowth of the miracle in which a man lame from his birth was restored to health. After the sermon was finished, the religious rulers of Israel were “grieved that they [Peter and John] taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”—Acts 3:1-18; 4:2
The “times of restitution,” Peter declared, had been spoken by the mouth of all God’s holy prophets since the world began. Many and eloquent are the forecasts of the prophets concerning the blessed time in the plan of God when health and life will be vouchsafed to the people. The lame will walk, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the dumb will speak. “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: … and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”—Isa. 35:5-10
Men’s selfish and stony hearts will be exchanged for hearts of flesh, and the divine law will be written in their inward parts. (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 11:19, 20; 36:26, 27) Death will be swallowed up in victory, and tears will be wiped away. (Isa. 25:6-9; Rev. 20:4) The work of restitution will be accomplished by the mediatorial kingdom of Christ; that kingdom which will establish universal and lasting peace; that kingdom which will enlighten the people concerning the will of God, and enforce his will, subduing all enemies of God and of righteousness, and destroying man’s great enemy Death.—I Cor. 15:25,26
Not Then
The apostles, in their limited understanding of God’s plan prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, expected that Jesus would at once begin to fulfill these restitution promises. Their belief in this would be strengthened by the fact that Jesus did heal the sick and raise the dead. They did not then understand that it was necessary for Jesus to die to redeem man from death, giving his life for the life of the world, ere he could commence the actual work of restitution.
Toward the close of Jesus’ earthly ministry the disciples seemed vaguely to understand that he was about to leave them, so they went to him on “the Mount of Olives” and asked concerning the time of his return, and the signs which would accompany it. According to a correct translation of their question, they asked, “What shall be the sign of thy presence, and of the end of the age.” (Matt. 24:3) They had not accepted Jesus as their Messiah because of his physical appearance. There was nothing in the Old Testament Scriptures to indicate the personal appearance of the Messiah. They had recognized Jesus by the signs which accompanied his presence and ministry; they assumed that it would again be so when he returned, and Jesus’ reply to their question indicated that they were correct in their assumption.
Indeed, on this point the disciples were more nearly correct than they realized at that time, for then they did not know that Jesus would not return as a human, but as a divine being, quite invisible to human eyes. They were not prepared to understand this, for as yet they did not realize that Jesus was about to sacrifice his humanity as a substitute for Adam in death, and consequently for all of Adam’s offspring. Since Jesus was to be invisible to human eyes, even as God is invisible, the only way his presence could be recognized was through signs—signs which Jesus indicated to be the peculiar conditions then prevalent in the earth and among his own people.
In response to the apostles’ question, Jesus described a number of signs. One of these is presented in Matthew 24:27. We quote the Emphatic Diaglott translation: “For as the lightning emerges from the east, and shines to the west, so will be the presence of the Son of man.” In Psalm 97:4 we read that God’s “lightnings enlightened the world.” It is evident that Jesus also used lightning as a symbol of enlightenment, even as did the Psalmist, and thus revealed that his second presence would result in a world-wide diffusion of knowledge.
In Daniel 12:4, which is descriptive of conditions in “the time of the end,” we are told that there would be a great increase of knowledge, and that there would be much running to and fro in the earth. It has been given to our generation to witness in large degree the fulfillment of this promise. One means of travel which has come out of this increase of knowledge has been the automobile. It may well be the automobile that is referred to in Nahum 2:3,4, which reads, “The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.”
Preparation
The prophet identified the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy as the day of the Lord’s “preparation.” We think that this is an important word in connection with our day, for the events taking place around us are in preparation for the ultimate purpose of our Lord’s return—the full establishment of his kingdom. The world-wide diffusion of knowledge leading to the production and use of all the myriad inventions which have so changed the lives of millions in this “time of the end,” is first of all leading to a “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” (Dan. 12:1) At the same time it is preparing the people to receive and to rejoice in the blessings of Messiah’s kingdom. In the kingdom it will not only be secular knowledge that will fill the earth, but also a knowledge of the Lord and of his glory.—Isa. 11:9; 40:5
Household Enlightened
Another sign of the Master’s second presence is presented in Luke 12:37, which reads, “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” Food is used in the Scriptures as a symbol of truth pertaining to God’s will for his people and his plan for the world. Thus in this promise by Jesus we see that one of the things he would do when he returned would be to make known precious truths to his people, referred to as “meat in due season.”—Matt. 24:45
Jesus said “blessed” are those servants who have the opportunity of participating in this feast of truth. In Daniel’s prophecy concerning “the time of the end,” he refers to this blessedness. He wrote, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” (Dan. 12:12) While we will not here present the details, we believe that the time measurement referred to in this prophecy pointed to the year 1874 as the time when the foretold special blessing would come to the Lord’s people, a blessing which Jesus described as resulting from the receiving of “meat in due season” from the returned Lord.
It was at that time that the great feast of truth which we are enjoying so much today began to be dispensed through “that servant” to those who were faithfully watching for, and attendant upon, our Lord’s return. Among the items made clear is the great truth concerning the one true God, in contrast with a trinity of gods; that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, not God himself. And how precious is the knowledge that in addition to the glorious hope of a heavenly reward for the church, God has earthly blessings for all mankind, blessings of restitution foretold by all his prophets.
The Harvest
Matthew 24:31 reads, “And he shall send his angels, … and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” This also is part of Jesus’ reply to his disciples concerning the signs of his second presence. Here Jesus reveals that he would at that time be the Chief Reaper to direct a world-wide gathering of his people, his chosen ones.
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares throws further light on this point. (Matt. 13:24-30,36-43) It also describes a gathering of the Lord’s people at the end of the age who are referred to in the parable as “the children of the kingdom.” We believe that this gathering has been going on since the beginning of our Lord’s second presence. It is accomplished by the dissemination of the precious truths which the returned Lord has continued to serve to his people.
This is another preparatory work for the kingdom in which “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings.” (Mal. 4:2) Explaining what is meant in the parable by the gathering of the “wheat” into the “barn,” Jesus said, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” These will, in effect, be a part of the great Sun of Righteousness which will heal and restore mankind to life during the “times of restitution of all things.” We all look forward to our gathering into the Lord’s “barn,” that exalted heavenly condition in which we will live and reign with Christ a thousand years.—Rev. 20:4,6
Servants Rewarded
In the Parable of the Pounds another feature of the Master’s work at his return is set forth. (Luke 19:12-26) It is the work of reckoning with his servants to whom he had given the “pounds,” and giving them their rewards. This reckoning does not take place in heaven, but on the earth, even as is true with respect to the serving of “meat in due season.” It is a further work of preparation for the kingdom, since the reward given to those who had been faithful in the use of the pounds was the privilege of exercising kingdom authority.
In Matthew 19:28 this exercise of authority is symbolized as sitting upon thrones. We quote: “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” The time when Jesus sits upon the throne of his glory is again mentioned in Matthew 25:31,32. This is the introduction to The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, a parable which also portrays the judgment of the people, and the restoration of the obedient to that which was lost when sin entered the Garden of Eden. It is, in other words, a restitution parable.
The introductory words to this latter parable read, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations.” This coming of the Son of man in his glory is not another coming, but a further aspect of his return and second presence—the restitution aspect of the parable. When this phase of his coming takes place his holy angels, or messengers—those who have followed him into death and have been raised from the dead in the first resurrection—will be with him.
Saints Glorified
Many are the promises assuring the footstep followers of the Master that in the resurrection they share his heavenly glory, and will reign with him to judge and bless the world. Jesus said to his apostles and those who believed on him through them, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go … I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2,3) This harmonizes with I Thessalonians 4:16,17, which we quote: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
There is much symbolic language in this prophecy. Meeting the Lord “in the air” is part of it. This signifies meeting him in the spiritual realm. We wish to call special attention to the fact that according to this prophecy all those throughout the age who proved worthy are caught up in the first resurrection essentially at the time of our Lord’s return. They thus receive their reward. These do not need “meat in due season” upon which to feast and grow spiritually. They are now complete in him in heavenly glory. There is no need to reckon with these, for they have already demonstrated their zeal for the Lord and for his work.
And Paul adds, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them.” It is those who are “alive and remain” after the Lord returns to whom the “meat in due season” is served. These are eventually exalted to be together with the Lord; that is, after they have made their calling and election sure. The Greek word here translated “together” is used again by Paul in the next chapter, where, in exhorting a close walk with the Master, he says, “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”
A Mystery
In Paul’s masterful presentation of the doctrine of the resurrection he refers again to those who are “alive” when the Lord returns, and who “remain” in the flesh until they have proved their worthiness of living and reigning with him. In his letter to the Thessalonians he associates the coming of the Master with the “trump of God,” and in his message to the Corinthian brethren he also mentions this “trump.” We quote: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; 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 trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”—I Cor. 15:50-55
The “mystery” Paul here refers to is the fact that at the sounding of the last symbolic trump, when the Lord returns and those who sleep in him are raised, those who remain, and are later changed, will not need to sleep in death as did all the saints throughout the age. The kingdom is then in the process of being established, and an important part of the work of establishing the messianic kingdom is the resurrection and exaltation of those who will live and reign with Christ, for, as Paul declares, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” “Flesh and blood” could not inherit the kingdom at the beginning of the age, nor can flesh and blood inherit the kingdom now. All must be “changed,” and when they are, then shall be brought to fulfillment all those wonderful promises of restitution, which will mean that death will be swallowed up in victory.—Isa. 25:8
This transition period at the close of the age, when the old world of Satan is passing away, and when the kingdom is being prepared which will govern the new world, is again referred to in Revelation 14:13-19. This follows the return of the Master, and we read, “Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.”—vs. 13
This was not true of the saints throughout the age, but it is true now. The following verses describe a work of harvest, supervised by One who sits “upon a cloud,” which is evidently our returned Lord. This One “like unto the Son of man” has both a sickle and a golden crown, indicating that he returned to be the Chief Reaper in the harvest which is the end of the age, and also, as King, to establish his kingdom. This harvest work includes the harvest of “the vine of the earth” in the great time of trouble.
This twofold harvest work is portrayed in The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares as the harvesting of the wheat, and the gathering into bundles and burning of the tares. As we have noted, it is not until the wheat are gathered into the “barn” that the “children of the kingdom” “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” How beautifully all these various prophecies harmonize as they set forth the progressive work of the returned Lord.
“These Kings”
Daniel 2:31-44 presents a prophecy pertaining to the kingdoms of this world, and the Lord’s kingdom, which is very revealing. Again, we must be brief, but we understand that the ten toes of the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream illustrate the divisions of the old Roman Empire as they existed up to 1914. We understand that it was then the due time in the plan of God for the destruction of those kingdoms to begin, and that this work of destruction would continue until all the selfish institutions of men would be demolished, and Messiah’s kingdom fully established.
It is this that is referred to in verse 44, which reads, “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” We have witnessed the beginning of the breaking to pieces, but this work is to continue until all the kingdoms of this world are completely consumed.
In this prophecy it is “the God of heaven” who sets up the messianic kingdom, but he uses Jesus, the returned Lord, to accomplish this. When Jesus was raised from the dead he announced that all power had been given to him in heaven and in earth. (Matt. 28:18) He has used this power throughout the age in caring for his followers. He is using it still in this way, feeding his people with “meat in due season.” He is using it to conduct the harvest, which is the end of the age. And since he is pictured as having a crown on his head at the time of his return, we can conclude that he is using his power in this day of preparation for the overthrow of Satan’s empire.
It is this that is referred to in Revelation 11:17,18, where we are told that the Lord takes unto himself his great power and reigns. Then the nations become angry, and the Lord’s wrath is upon them. This period in his plan is called the day of his wrath. It is called the day of Jehovah because, though Christ, with royal title and power, is present as Jehovah’s representative, taking charge of all the affairs during this day of trouble, it is more as the general of Jehovah, subduing all things, than as The Prince of Peace, blessing all.
Doubtless the resurrected saints on the other side of the veil are participating in this work. Indeed, there are scriptures which clearly indicate that before the kingdoms of this world are completely destroyed and consumed, all the Lord’s true followers will be with him in glory, and thus all will have an opportunity to participate in this work. “This honor have all his saints,” the Psalmist wrote. (Ps. 149:7-9) Again, in Revelation 2:26,27 we read, “He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” (Ps. 2:8,9) None but the overcomers will have this honor.
Divine Intervention
This harmonizes with what Jesus said concerning the “great tribulation” which would be one of the signs of his second presence. (Matt. 24:21,22) He said that this tribulation would be so severe that unless it was shortened all flesh would be destroyed. This tribulation is permitted by Jehovah as a means of destroying the selfish institutions of earth, governmental and otherwise, but Jesus assured us that it would be cut short before the human race was destroyed.
The divine intervention which will bring about the end of the great tribulation will be accomplished by God’s “elect,” or chosen ones. Jesus, primarily, is God’s elect One, but associated with him will be all his true followers, those who have overcome and thus have proved worthy to share his rulership in the heavenly phase of his kingdom. These are also God’s “elect.” (I Pet. 1:2) Not any of these will be with Jesus in the rulership of his kingdom until they have made their calling and election sure. And under the leadership of their Head, their first work in the kingdom will be to carry out the divine command to halt the time of trouble, and to dash the remnants of the nations to pieces like a potter’s vessel.—Ps. 2:9; 46:10
These will then be sitting with Jesus on the throne of his glory. Together with him they will initiate the work of judgment outlined in The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. (Matt. 25:31-46) This day of judgment, ushered in when the Son of man comes in his glory, and his holy messengers with him, will also be the period which ultimately will lead to the complete restoration of man to that which was lost. Then the Lord will say to the obedient ones, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”—vs. 34
The Apostle Peter indicated that the day of judgment would be a thousand years in length. (II Pet. 3:7,8) In the 20th chapter of Revelation we are assured that those who are faithful unto death will live and reign with Christ a thousand years, and in this chapter we also have the work of judgment portrayed. The dead, small and great, stand before God, the books of divine revelation are opened, and Satan, who then will be bound, will not be permitted to deceive the people as to the meaning of the things contained in the books. Then the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea, and those who conform their lives to that knowledge will be restored to human perfection and live forever.
Thus we see that the great objective of our Lord’s return is to “judge the world in righteousness,” and to restore to human perfection those who in that time of judgment prove worthy of life which was made available for them through his death. (Ps. 9:8; Isa. 26:9; Acts 17:31) This work of redemption was the principal feature of the divine plan accomplished at our Lord’s first advent, but other things were accomplished there also. So now, in the days of his second presence, preparatory features of the plan are accomplished prior to the full establishment of the kingdom, when the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh, as it was poured upon the Lord’s servants and handmaidens at the beginning of the age.
We rejoice to see so many of the signs of the Master’s presence, and we lift up our heads with courage, knowing that our own deliverance into the kingdom is drawing near. And this enables us also to rejoice for the poor sin-sick world, because we know that soon the “Sun of Righteousness” shall arise, and we will have the privilege of “shining forth” with him for the healing and restoration of all the willing and obedient of humanity. We rejoice to realize that with the thousand years’ work of the kingdom finished and all enemies subdued, including death, God’s will shall be done in earth as it is in heaven. Let us continue to pray for this glorious consummation of the divine plan!