Christ's Second Coming
by Rich Deem

Introduction

Jehovah's Witnesses claim that Jesus came "in Spirit" in 1914 and established His kingdom in heaven. The reason for this claim is that they prophesized that Jesus would return in 1914 and Armageddon would happen. Neither prediction came true, but to save face, they claim that Jesus came in Spirit at that time. The Bible indicates that God's kingdom is already established in heaven. It also indicates that there would be no secret second coming of Jesus. In fact, the return of Jesus Christ will be accompanied by some rather spectacular physical signs. The third problem is that the Jehovah's Witnesses are specifically breaking the command of Christ regarding the celebration of the Lord's Supper (communion).

God's kingdom has already been established in heaven:

Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

The signs of His coming:

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31)

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. (Mark 13:24-27)

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mark 14:62)

For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. (Luke 17:24)

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. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11)

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

Why do they still celebrate communion?

Every year, Jehovah's Witnesses gather to celebrate the Lord's death. During this time, the 144,000 (those that are left) take communion. The problem is that the scriptures command that this be done only until Jesus returns to earth. Since they claim that He came in 1914, they should have stopped taking communion at that time. Maybe even they do not believe that Jesus came in 1914?

and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

Conclusion

The idea that Jesus Christ came to Earth "spiritually" in 1914 and established His kingdom in heaven is not supported by the scriptures, which state that God's kingdom has already been established in heaven. In addition, the scriptures describe Christ's second coming as a rather spectacular physical event.

http://www.godandscience.org/cults/2ndcoming.html
Last Modified October 25, 2012

Evidence for God from Science: Christian Apologetics