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The Second Coming Cannot be Imminent at Two Different Periods Separated by 2,000 Years

Below is the first of multiple excerpts of commentary from Parts I and II of The Parousia , the late 19th-century masterpiece on the Second Coming by James Stuart Russell. The initial 31 posts on this blog deal with the Book of Revelation, which is cogently interpreted in Part III of Russell's magnum opus. (For all blog posts, see russellparousia.blogspot.com) "PREFACE [to the 1878 edition] [IMMINENCE OF THE SECOND COMING TO THE CHURCHES OF THE 1st CENTURY] "No attentive reader of the New Testament can fail to be struck with the prominence given by the evangelists and the apostles to the PAROUSIA, or 'coming of the Lord.' That event is the great theme of New Testament prophecy. There is scarcely a single book, from the Gospel of St. Matthew to the Apocalypse of St. John, in which it is not set forth as the glorious promise of God and the blessed hope of the church. It was frequently and solemnly predicted by our Lord; it was incessantly kept before the eyes...
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The Identity of Revelation's "Babylon," part 3 [conclusion]

Below is the 31st of multiple excerpts of commentary on the Book of Revelation from The Parousia , the late 19th-century masterpiece on the Second Coming by James Stuart Russell. In this excerpt, Russell concludes his explanation of why Revelation's "Babylon" represents 1st-century Jerusalem, not Rome. [THE HARLOT CITY] [TRUE MEANING OF 'KINGS OF THE EARTH' APPLIES TO JERUSALEM] "11. Thus interpreted [i.e., that the 'kings of the earth' is equivalent to 'the ruling authorities in the land' of 1st-century Israel], the description of Babylon the great as ‘reigning over the rulers of the land’ becomes perfectly appropriate to Jerusalem. This appears from the language in which both the Scriptures [such as Lamentations 1:1] and other Hebrew writings speak of the authority and pre-eminence enjoyed by that city. ... [JERUSALEM'S APOSTASY EVIDENT IN ITS REJECTION OF THE MESSIAH] "12. It may possibly be felt to be a difficulty that the ...
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The Identity of Revelation's "Babylon," part 2

Below is the 30th of multiple excerpts of commentary on the Book of Revelation from The Parousia , the late 19th-century masterpiece on the Second Coming by James Stuart Russell. In this excerpt, Russell continues his explanation of why Revelation's "Babylon" represents 1st-century Jerusalem, not Rome. [MORE REASONS WHY "BABYLON" SIGNIFIES 1ST-CENTURY JERUSALEM, NOT ROME] [THE HARLOT CITY] "6. In the catastrophe of the fourth vision (that of the seven mystic figures) the judgment of Israel is symbolised by the treading of the wine-press. We are told also that ‘the wine-press was trodden without [outside] the city’ (chap. xiv. 20) [Rev. 14:20 ]. Since the vine of the land represents Israel, as it undoubtedly does [Psalm 80:8], it follows that ‘the city’ outside which the grapes are trodden must be Jerusalem. The only city mentioned in the same chapter is Babylon the great (ver. 8 [Rev. 14:8]), which must therefore represent Jerusalem. It is inconceivabl...
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The Identity of Revelation's "Babylon," part 1

Below is the 29th of multiple excerpts of commentary on the Book of Revelation from  The Parousia,  the late 19th-century masterpiece on the Second Coming by James Stuart Russell.  In this excerpt, Russell begins his explanation of why Revelation's "Babylon" represents 1st-century Jerusalem, not Rome.  The Identity of Revelation's "Babylon," part 1 "The Sixth Vision "THE HARLOT CITY , [Rev.] Chaps. xvii. [17] xviii. [18] xix. [19] xx. [20] " We now approach a part of our investigation in which we are about to make great demands upon the candour and impartiality of the reader, and must ask for a patient and unbiased weighing of the evidence that shall be brought before him. Possibly we may run counter to many prepossessions, but if the seat of judgment be occupied by an impartial love of truth, we do not fear an adverse decision. " It may be convenient at the outset to take a general view of this vision as a whole , occupying as it do...
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