In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you, 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:4-6)
Jehovah’s Witnesses understand Jesus’ statements about future wars, earthquakes and food shortages as being the sign of his invisible presence. But what if that’s not what Jesus meant? What if Jesus actually meant the very opposite?
Notice that in answering his disciple’s question, the first thing Jesus says is “Look out that nobody misleads you”. Why? Is it not clear that, since their question had to do with when will his presence in kingdom power would occur, that Jesus was most concerned about safeguarding them against being misled about exactly when that time would come. Jesus’ subsequent words must be read with this thought in mind, as indeed the context confirms.
Jesus next tells them that people would come on the basis of his name saying they are the Christ (anointed) and would mislead many, which fits the context. But then he makes mention of the food shortages, wars and earthquakes. How could that fit into the context of them being misled? Think of human nature. When some great natural or man-made upheaval occurs, what thought tends to come into the minds of many? “It’s the end of the world!” History furnishes many examples of this.[1]
It is apparent that Jesus made mention of wars, earthquakes and food shortages, not as something to look for as a sign of his presence, but rather to indicate the very opposite, that these future upheavals, which are inevitable, are not the sign to look for. In proof of this note his words at the end of verse 6:
“see that YOU are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet.”
In effect Jesus seems to be saying:
‘Major upheavals are going to happen. You’re going to hear of wars and reports of wars – but don’t let them frighten you. These things will inevitably occur in the future but don’t mislead yourself or let others mislead you into thinking they mean the end is here or near. Nations will fight each other and there will be earthquakes in one place after another and food shortages. But this is only the start of a tumultuous time for mankind.’
It is interesting to note that Luke’s account gives one added bit of information:
He said: “Look out that you are not misled, for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time is near.’ Do not go after them. (Luke 21:8)
If the wars, food shortages and earthquakes really were a sign indicating that the end was near, then wouldn’t persons have legitimate reasons to make such a claim? So why does Jesus instruct his disciples not to go after any persons making the claim that the due time has approached? It only makes sense if he was in fact implying that there is no basis for making such a claim; that they should not see the wars, food shortages and earthquakes as being the sign of his parousia.
Just what is Christ’s parousia? The Watchtower society teaches that Christ’s parousia is an extended period of time beginning in 1914 when he is invisibly present and ruling mainly over the Christian congregation which consists of only Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is different from his coming to execute judgement which is yet future. However, note how the word parousia is used in other texts:
First of all know this, that in the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires 4 and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning.” (2 Peter 3:3, 4)
“as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt in the intense heat!” (2Pe 3:12)
Be patient then, brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until the early rain and the late rain arrive. 8 You too exercise patience; make your hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close. (James 5:7, 8)
However, brothers, concerning the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you 2 not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be alarmed either by an inspired statement or by a spoken message or by a letter appearing to be from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here. (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2)
“Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence. 9 But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders” (2Th 2:8, 9)
In all of these verses, the word presence is a translation of the Greek word parousia. It is evident in these scriptures that the parousia is associated with his final coming to execute the wicked, the gathering of Christians to heaven and the revealing of the man of lawlessness. It is even associated with the day of Jehovah.
Notice also that in the disciples question they asked “what will be the sign (singular) of your parousia. Jesus begins by telling them what not to look for. Then look carefully at what he says in verse 30:
Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)
Clearly it is the “sign of the Son of Man” not the wars, food shortages and earthquakes that Jesus wanted them to keep on the watch for.
This is how leading Bible commentators usually understand Jesus’ words:
Professor Carl F. Keil: Jesus’ answer starts from the second question, concerning the signs that might have reference to the parusia, to warn the disciples not to be mislead by such events. (Commentar uber das Evangelium des Matthaus, Leipzig 1877, page 458.)
Dr. B. -C. Butler: Matthew xxiv. 5-14 gives a straightforward anticipation of the whole of future history (in reference to the question about the consummation of the age), warning the disciples that secular catastrophes must not be taken as signs of the imminent end of history. (The Originality of St. Matthew, 195 1 , page 80.)
It is of great interest to note that this is exactly the way the first president of the Watch Tower Society, Charles Taze Russell, understood Matthew 24:6-8.
“The “Sign” of the Last Days-When?
Thus briefly did our Lord summarize secular history and teach the disciples not to expect very soon his second coming and glorious kingdom. And how aptly: surely the world’s history is just this, an account of wars, intrigues, famines and pestilences-little else. (Studies in the Scriptures (Vol. 4, 1916 edition, page 566)
It is to be regretted that, although C.T. Russell believed that these words of Jesus applied to the disciples, neither he nor the Watch Tower Society believed that this applied to themselves. As if to say Jesus warned his disciples not to pay attention to all the wars, food shortages, famines and pestilences in history until a certain point in time when they would be an indication of the nearness of the end. Such reasoning has resulted in allowing themselves to be misled in the very way Jesus had warned against in the introduction to his discourse.
Hence, the entire preaching campaign of Jehovah’s Witnesses that the wars and reports of wars beginning in 1914 are evidence of Christ’s presence in heaven, and are a signal that the due time is near for him to destroy all governments and rule the world is not the good news Jesus instructed his disciples to preach but an altered version that he warned about.
(Galatians 1:8, 9) However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond the good news we declared to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, I now say again, Whoever is declaring to you as good news something beyond what you accepted, let him be accursed.
The Watchtower society desperately tries to excuse it’s course of past failed predictions in an attempt to convince its members that it is humbly doing God’s will, helping others to keep awake. But they cannot escape being in the very same class as all others throughout history since the first century that have presumptuously tried to predict the end of the world.
But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled. (2 Timothy 3:13)
[1] See Awake! June 22, 1995 pgs. 3-6; Awake March 22, 1993 pgs. 3-4