THE TIME OF THE PAROUSIA (PRESENCE).

It will doubtless surprise many (especially those in the nominal or professing church, many of whom are the Lord’s true children, consecrated, howbeit merely “babes in Christ” lacking any true development in the knowledge and graces of our Lord due to a lack of proper food, i.e., truth) to learn that there is much Scripture proof that we are already in the time of the presence (parousia) of the Son of Man, – that we are already living “in the days of the Son of Man.” At first some will be inclined to say,

“Where is the promise of his (parousia) presence, while all things continue as they were from the beginning?“

Peter foretold that some would thus question, being surprised at the information that we are living in the days of the Son of Man, while there is as yet no outward manifestation of his presence, but the affairs of the world continue in their ordinary channels. (2 Pet 3:4.) The answer to the question is, as we have already pointed out, our Lord’s own declaration that in the days of his presence the world would be eating, drinking, planting and building, and know not.

THAT in itself, viz.,

“that they will KNOW NOT” is…

“the promise of his presence” while “all things continue as they were.” Could it be more explicit? A totally different question, however, is –

WHAT ARE THE PROOFS OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE?

This is a reasonable inquiry. We would not be justified in believing upon any slight evidence that the Lord is present; even though we know in advance that he is a spirit being, whose presence would be invisible without a miracle; – and even though we know in advance, from the parables, that he will be present, but invisible, in the harvest time of this age, in the time of reckoning with his servants preparatory to their glorification. We have a right to expect clear, reasonable ground for faith, before accepting any matter which implies so much.

We are not, however, to ask or to expect evidences to natural sight: if we are of the Watchers, who have “the eyes of their understanding” opened to see the wonderful things (prophecies fulfilled) in the divine Word (the Holy scriptures), no, these eyes of our understanding must also be the eyes of our faith. Hence, the true Watchers are to expect reasonable, satisfactory evidence for faith, and not ocular demonstrations of an invisible parousia (prescience) as evidenced by or through the light of our “lamps”.

As the Apostle states, “We Walk by faith, NOT BY SIGHT.” – Eph 1:18; 2 Cor 5:7.

To our understanding there are strong proofs that our Lord’s parousia began in the Autumn of 1874. We have seen nothing with our natural eyes; only with the eyes of the understanding, only in the light of “the more-sure word of prophecy,” do we know this, which we sincerely believe and affirm, and which is important news to all who claim to be Watchers.

The fact that any Watcher (anyone claiming to be awake) have remained in ignorance of this important event for now more than (150 years) would seem of itself to be an indication that he had not been properly awake to the use of his privileges and opportunities – that he had not been sufficiently watchful of the sure word of prophecy (had not properly “trim” his lamp, searched the scriptures) to which he was instructed that he should take heed; and that therefore he had been left at least partially ignorant of the important things transpiring throughout the world during these years. To this extent, many of the Lord’s people have been with the world and are similarly ignorant; and yet we may reasonably assume that the Lord did not expect all of his watching servants to discern the matter at the same instant of time. True, those who saw early have had special blessing for the longer time; but, as we saw above, the preparation for the knowledge of the time (of our Lord’s presence) lies largely in the right attitude of heart in its humility and possession of the various graces of the spirit of Christ.

Lest we should get a misapprehension respecting this matter of the discerning the Lord’s parousia, we do well to take heed to the Parable of The Ten Virgins, which evidently was given to throw special light upon this point. That parable shows a false announcement of the arrival of the Bridegroom in A. D. 1844 (The Miller Movement), which brought to the subject considerable reproach, but which, nevertheless, was of great advantage, as stirring up the “virgin” class (the pure, the consecrated) to a fresh trimming of the lamp of truth – investigating the sure word of prophecy.

The parable shows, also, that the “virgins” in general fell asleep; yet, nevertheless, in due time all would be reawakened by the prophetic knocking, and the knocking of the signs of the times, which would indicate the bridegroom’s presence. And the parable shows that the result will depend upon how much oil (the holy spirit) the “virgins” (as individuals) may have in their vessels (in their own hearts), as well as in their lamps (the Scriptures).

Applying this parable, then, we may reasonably suppose that some of the Lord’s true people have temporarily fallen asleep on this subject of his second coming: and that the sleeping ones will include some who have his spirit in their hearts, and who will be fully ready to welcome the Master when they shall awake; and whose lamps will be duly trimmed and burning and ready to enable them to discern the signs of his parousia, when once their attention is brought to the subject.

In harmony with this we find that many who now get awake on this subject, come into the clear light of present truth much more rapidly than did some in the past: doubtless partly because present truth can now be presented to them through the printed page more concretely than ever before (and in our day even more so through the internet, viz., blogs, websites, forums and etc.). It is in the interest of this true “virgin” class that we now write: we have no desire to awaken the worldly (or those of the worldly or nominal church); this knocking of the prophecies announcing the parousia is not for them; – besides, the worldly are so sound asleep that it will require the terrific crashing of present institutions, and the earthquake shakings of social revolution to awaken them thoroughly to a realization of the presence of the great Judge – Immanuel.

The true Watchers, on the contrary, if they slumber at all, sleep lightly, being on the qui vive of expectancy and hope for the long-waited-for Bridegroom. We would merely whisper in the ears of this class the one word, “Parousia!” assured that all true Watchers (and the Lord alone knows them that are his) will be aroused by that word, and trim their lamps (diligently search the scriptures thoroughly) on the subject.

Many professed Christians are aways quick to say they are “awake” this should prove whether this be true or not. The second advent of our Lord would be of prime interest to such.

Is the question asked, –

What portions of the sure word of prophecy indicate that the presence of our Lord began in the Autumn of 1874?

We answer that there are several lines of prophecy which interlace and corroborate each other in this testimony; but, as might be expected, since the entire matter was to be hidden from the world, and “none of the wicked,” but only the “wise” were to understand (Dan 12:10), and these wise only to understand when the due time would come, – it must be evident to all that these prophecies, while clear and forcible and positive, are nevertheless somewhat under cover.

In our next few post we give a brief look at some of these prophecies, leaving it for the true Watchers to seek that they may find; to knock if they would have the door of divine revelation opened to them; to use the keys which God has provided, if they are interested in penetrating into “the deep things” of the divine Word, now due to be understood; to eat of the meat of present truth, “things new and old,” if they hunger and thirst after righteousness and true knowledge.