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Jehovah's Witnesses Second Coming 1914 invisible return doctrine

Introduction and livestream setup

Janet asks Mike to analyze a JW article on Christ's second coming

Matthew 25:31-33 Matthew 25:31-33 Judgment of the nations Throne of glory

JW article's core claim about Matthew 25:31-33

The JW article cites Matthew 25:31-33 as evidence for Christ's second coming

Matthew 24:7-14 Matthew 24:7-14 Proof-texting Composite sign

JW article's proof-texting strategy: the 'composite sign'

JW argument begins with Matthew 24:7-14 as the 'composite sign'

Matthew 24:1-8 Matthew 24:1-8 Temple destruction AD 70

Matthew 24 context: Temple destruction and two distinct questions

Understanding what Jesus is actually answering

Matthew 24:7-14 Matthew 24:7-14 Inter-advent period Church history

Matthew 24:7-14 describes inter-advent period, not end-time

Clarifying what the 'composite sign' actually refers to

Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9 Daniel 11 Matthew 24:15 Abomination of desolation Daniel 9

The abomination of desolation: Matthew 24:15 with Daniel 9, 11, 12

The actual sign that marks the beginning of the end-times

Matthew 24:23-26 Matthew 24:23-26 False Messiahs Visible coming

Matthew 24:23-26: False Christ warnings and the hidden advent claim

Addressing the JW argument that the second coming could be hidden

Matthew 24:27-28 Matthew 24:27-28 Lightning metaphor Visible return

Matthew 24:27-28: Lightning metaphor for visible return

Jesus describes the visibility of his coming

Matthew 24:29-31 Zechariah 12:10 Universal visibility Matthew 24:29-31 Cosmic signs

Matthew 24:29-31: Cosmic signs, universal visibility, gathering of the elect

The actual events accompanying Jesus' return

Matthew 24:30 Clouds of heaven Matthew 24:30 Visibility debate

JW misconception #1: Clouds represent judgment/hiddenness

JW misinterpretation of 'clouds' in Matthew 24:30

Matthew 28:6 Matthew 28:6 Empty tomb Bodily resurrection

Proof text #2: Matthew 28:6 and the empty tomb

Evidence that the tomb was genuinely empty

Matthew 24:34 Matthew 24:34 This generation Referent clarification

Q&A: Matthew 24:34 and 'this generation'

Clarifying the referent of 'generation' in Jesus' statement

Matthew 26:11 Bill Johnson hermeneutics prosperity gospel

Examining 'Jesus-only' theology on its own terms: if we take only Jesus' three-and-a-half years, did he teach full present-tense prosperity? Matthew 26:11 — 'The poor you will always have with you'

Mike tests Bethel's Jesus-only hermeneutic against actual teachings of Jesus

Matthew 6:10 Bill Johnson Matthew 6:10 kingdom of God

Matthew 6:10 ('on earth as it is in heaven') is the central practical scripture of Bethel's theology — they interpret it as God manifesting heaven's conditions on earth right now

Mike identifies and challenges Bethel's key proof text for their present-kingdom expectations

Revelation 6:16-17 Revelation 11:15-18 kingdom of God eschatology Revelation 6:16-17

Revelation 6:16-17 and Revelation 11:15-18 show that the coming of God's kingdom involves wrath and judgment, not just signs and wonders

Mike cites specific Revelation texts to establish what Scripture means by 'the kingdom coming'

Matthew 28:19 Bill Johnson eschatology dominion theology

Q&A — Bethel's eschatology: they hold a dominion theology, believing the church should 'disciple the nations' — meaning transform entire nations, not just individuals

Q&A question from Don Schneider about end-times views

John MacArthur James White John MacArthur RC Sproul James White

Q&A — Recommended teachers for biblical thinking: James White, Michael Brown, RC Sproul, John MacArthur, Leighton Flowers, Greg Koukl

Q&A question from Judah Matthews

Matthew 21:21 James 4 1 John 5:14 prayer faith Matthew 21:21

Q&A — Matthew 21:21 ('if you have faith you can move mountains'): must be interpreted alongside other prayer scriptures — faith, right motives (James 4), and God's will (1 John 5:14)

Q&A question from Judah Matthews

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-21

Matthew 15:10-11: Jesus declares it is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, abolishing food-based defilement categories.

Mike cites Jesus' direct teaching on defilement to undercut the Watchtower's food-law framework.

Matthew 15:10-11 Jesus food law abrogation Matthew 15:10-11

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-07

Public teaching warrants public accountability — Matthew 18's private confrontation model applies to private sins, not to public doctrinal errors published on the internet.

Justifying the public critique of Todd White.

Matthew 18:15 discernment ministry ethics Matthew 18:15

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-07

Q&A: The Bible supports both sides — go out and pray for healing confidently, AND Jesus warned that false healers will claim to have cast out demons and healed in his name while he never knew them.

Viewer question about whether fake healing is condemned in the Bible.

Matthew 7:21-23 discernment healing Matthew 7:21-23

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

Preview of next livestream: How long did Jesus expect it would be until his return? Examining parables and Second Coming teachings

Mike closes the main presentation and previews the follow-up topic.

Matthew 24 Mark 13 Second Coming eschatology Matthew 24

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

Q&A: How to deal with people in your church or fellowship making end-times predictions — Matthew 18 process

Question from Bethany Cole Baum on pastoral response.

Matthew 18 Matthew 18 false prophecy church discipline

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

Q&A: Partial and multiple fulfillment of prophecy — the Elijah/John the Baptist example

Question from William Toy about whether Mike sees prophecy as having partial and multiple fulfillment.

John the Baptist Matthew 11:14 Malachi 4:5 prophecy interpretation Elijah John the Baptist

Mike Winger idea 2017-12-27

Tip 1: Look back before you look forward — December as a 'hilltop' for perspective

First of seven tips. Mike uses a journey/landscape metaphor to describe the value of year-end reflection.

Matthew 7:14 spiritual disciplines self-examination perspective

Mike Winger idea 2017-12-27

Matthew 6:33 — 'Seek first the kingdom of God' as the foundation for prioritizing godliness above all else

Biblical grounding for making godliness the top priority in annual evaluation.

Matthew 6:33 godliness priorities Matthew 6:33

Mike Winger idea 2017-12-27

Q&A: Jesus's swords passage — 'have a sword but don't use it' and the principle of Christian self-defense

Live chat question from Ryan White about Luke 22:35-38 and Luke 22:49-51 / John 18:10-11.

Luke 22:36-38 Luke 22:49-51 John 18:10-11 Luke 22:36-38 Luke 22:49-51 John 18:10-11

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Q&A: can someone have saving faith yet commit murder? — Mike argues sin is not binary; Jesus elevated even hatred and lust to the level of murder and adultery

Viewer question about faith, repentance, and serious sin

Matthew 5 repentance sanctification salvation and sin

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Degrees of sin — some sins are worse than others; the Law has different consequences; Jesus said some will suffer greater judgment

Within the Q&A on murder and saving faith

Matthew degrees of sin Mosaic Law judgment

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-21

Q&A — Matthew 18:34 ('delivered to the torturers until he pays all') examined as a tertiary purgatory text

Viewer raises a third passage sometimes used for purgatory — the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:34 Matthew 18:21-35 purgatory Matthew 18:34 Matthew 18:21-35

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-28

Which Gospel was written first — Mike defers to scholarly consensus and warns of the 'house of cards' nature of Gospel dating arguments

Q&A — Cam Spears's question about Gospel authorship dates

Markan priority New Testament Gospel origins Markan priority

Jonah 1:17 Matthew 12:40 Jonah 1:17 Matthew 12:40 Biblical Hebrew - dag

Objection: the Bible incorrectly classifies whales as fish (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40)

Ra claims the Bible is scientifically wrong for calling the creature that swallowed Jonah a fish when whales are not fish

Matthew genealogy Luke genealogy Messianic prophecy Genealogy of Jesus Matthew genealogy

Aaron Ra's list of unmet messianic prophecies — Jesus was not Jewish? He was not of tribe of Judah?

Ra presents a list of six messianic prophecies he claims Jesus failed to fulfill

Matthew 26:23 John 13:26 Matthew 26:23 John 13:26 Last Supper

Q&A: Matthew 26:23 vs. John 13:26 — apparent contradiction at the Last Supper

Viewer question about differences between Matthew 26:23 and John 13:26 in identifying the betrayer

Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:15 Typology Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:15

Hosea 11:1 used in Matthew 2:15 — typological fulfillment vs. direct prophecy

Viewer question: how can Hosea 11:1 ('out of Egypt I called my son') be messianic when it is clearly about Israel in context?

Jesus in the Old Testament Ancient rabbinical interpretation Typology

Ancient rabbinical tradition: entire Old Testament is about the Messiah

Continuing discussion of Matthew's typological use of Hosea

Song of Solomon Psalms Proverbs Sermon on the Mount biblical organization anachronism

Reason 1 refuted: Bible organization is not a valid test for inspiration

The skeptic argues the Bible is a 'hopeless mess' that is not well organized and should be arranged by topic (creation, relationships, parenting, prayer, etc.).

Ezekiel Matthew 24 fulfilled prophecy Ezekiel Matthew 24

Reason 5 affirmed and answered: Fulfilled prophecy is the correct test for biblical inspiration, and the Bible passes it

The skeptic argues that an inspired Bible would contain specific, verifiable prophecies — but calls biblical prophecies 'feeble in the extreme.'

Genesis 1 Isaiah 53 Song of Solomon Genesis 1 Isaiah 53 Song of Solomon

Reason 7 (the 'half reason') addressed: The Bible does contain beautiful poetry; the Judges 19 example is a misrepresentation

The skeptic argues the Bible lacks beautiful, heart-rending poetry and cites Judges 19 (the Levite's concubine) as a counterexample of ugliness.