EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT
The key to unraveling the tapestry of misdirected doctrines and translations of the WTS is to find the contributing core factors. The main objective to focus on is the influential components that shaped the theology of Charles Taze Russell.
Charles Taze Russell came into this world on February 16, 1852 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He was born to Joseph L. Russell and Ann Eliza Birney, who were Presbyterians of Scottish-Irish descent. Pastor Russell did not surpass a seventh grade education, or receive any theological training or had any knowledge of biblical Hebrew or Greek.
Charles Russell formed a Bible study group in 1870 which lasted till around 1876. The group was formed to seek out the Biblical truth, and according to Russell, they first constructed crude ideas which later developed into clear understanding of God’s will. But who among these students had Theological training and understood Hebrew or Greek to render these new revelations. Pastor Russell gives no evidence that any of his collogues possessed any Theological training.
According to Russell, it was in January of 1876 that his attention was drawn to the subject of prophetic time. He came across a publication called “The Midnight Cry and The Herald of the Morning,” written and edited by Nelson Barbour. From Barbour’s calculations of Biblical prophecy, Russell was convinced that Jesus returned not in the visible but invisible. Both men met in Philadelphia, in the autumn of 1876, when Barbour presented Russell with his doctrines addressing the return of Jesus Christ. Barbour explained that his time prophecies had passed unfulfilled, and he according to his calculations he could not find any flaw that set 1874 as the year that Jesus Christ would return. Then Barbour received a letter from one of his readers, who by using the Diaglott interpreted Matthew 24:27, 37, 39 to read {presence} instead of {coming}. Thus commenced the thesis that Jesus returned invisibly in 1874, to start the 40 years of harvest that would conclude with Armageddon in 1914. It was Judge Rutherford that changed 1874 to 1914 as the date of Jesus’ invisible return. Below is Matthew 24:27 ,37 , and 39 as they appear in the Emphatic Diaglott.
Matthew 24:27 As lightning comes out form the east, and shines to west so shall be also the presence of the son of the man. {Emphatic Diaglott}
Matthew 24:37 As and the days of the Noah, ever so will be also the presence of the son of the man. {Emphatic Diaglott}
Matthew 24:39 And not they knew, till come the flood and took away all even so will be also the presence of the son of the man. {Emphatic Diaglott}
The original Greek word for presence is parousiva which means presence, coming, and arrival. It does not in any form mean invisible presence, invisible coming, or invisible arrival.
The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon
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Greek Word: ParousivaTransliterated Word: parousia
Book to Display: Matthew
Verse Count: 4
Mt 24:3 | And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? |
Mt 24:27 | For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. |
Mt 24:37 | But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. |
Mt 24:39 | And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. |
Transliterated Version
Matthew 24:3 Kathemenou de autou epi tou Orous ton Elaionproselthon auto hoi mathetai kat idian legontes , " Eipehemin pote tauta estai ? Kai ti to semeion tes sesparousias kai sunteleias tou aionos ?"
Matthew 24:27 Hosper gar he astrape exerchetai apoanatolon kai fainetai heos dusmon , houtos estai heparousia tou Huiou tou Anthropou ,
Matthew 24:37 Hosper gar hai hemerai tou Noe , houtos estai heparousia tou Huiou tou Anthropou .
Matthew 24:39 kaiouk egnosan heos elthen ho kataklusmos kai erenhapantas , houtos estai kai he parousia tou Huiou touAnthropou .
If it was God’s intention for Matthew to convey the idea that Jesus would returned invisible then Matthew would have used the word Aoratos which means invisible. See meaning below and in which verses it was used.
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Greek Word: AjovratoßTransliterated Word: aoratos
Book to Display: Romans
Verse Count: 1
Ro 1:20 | For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: |
Transliterated Version
Romans 1:20 Ta gar aorata autou apo ktiseos kosmou toispoiemasin noumena kathoratai , he te aidios autoudunamis kai theiotes , eis to einai autous anapologetous ,
Greek Word: AjovratoßTransliterated Word: aoratos
Book to Display: Colossians
Verse Count: 2
Col 1:15 | Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: |
Col 1:16 | For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: |