The Parousia: The New Testament Doctrine of Christ's Second Coming

by James Stuart Russell, Edward Stevens (Foreword)

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction

570 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1887

Reviews

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't praise this text enough. This was the first work I walked through during my personal introduction to preterism, and Russell's work continues to thrill, every time I revisit it. I do differ with Russell, as I'm a full preterist, and the edition displayed here leads with a forward by Ed Stevens regarding a literal rapture at 70 AD, with which I also disagree. That said, this is still one of the first books I'll hand a friend interested in the subject. The writing is terrifically readable, and Russell's effort, especially through the synoptic gospels, has proven to be one of the greatest eye-openers of my life.

[Jake Litwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacred cows die hard. R.C. Sproul said this book is “one of the most important treatments on Biblical eschatology that is available to the church today.” Russell provides a thorough NT Biblical Theology on the meaning of Parousia (the coming of Christ). I didn’t land on every conclusion he comes to but I give it 5 stars because it is well written with great insights to every book in the NT and there really is no book like it. Without a doubt a book to consult when studying eschatology.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This by far has been the most challenging theological book I have ever read. No other book has caught me as off guard as this one has to the point I have had to contact leadership in my church over issues raised in this book that I have no way of answering as consistently as he has. The author has left me pondering the traditions I have inherited regarding the 2nd coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and final judgment for sure. In due time, I will be looking into the early church fathers on their perspectives on last things.
Much more can be said, but this work certainly broadened my horizon on eschatology and made me more confident in the claims of scripture.

I’ll end with this: the book caused me to go into a depression for a full week. By God’s grace, I snapped out of it. That’s how intense this book was for me.

[Carl Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very first book on Full Preterism I ever read. Though actually Russell was not a true Full Preterist. This is by far one of my favorite out of all the books on preterist eschatology I've read. I love the shear grandeur and beauty in which he writes of this grand historical event long pasted fulfilled. This is a must read for anyone who desires to know and understand eschatology ( The study of final things ) from the eyes of the first century church.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am amazed both by the number of people who have read and reviewed this book on Goodreads, and the high ratings it has received. I found the writing style rather difficult. This cannot be simply because the book was written in the 19th century, as I have also read Thomas Newton’s, Joseph Litch’s, and Moses Stuart’s commentaries on the Apocalypse without the difficulties I encountered with this one. I suppose this commentary is of more historical interest than those others, because it goes a long way towards Full Preterism, maybe being the first to suggest that Jesus actually returned in 70 AD.

However, as Samuel M. Frost points out in Why I Left Full Preterism, we don’t really arrive at Full Preterism until the publication in The Spirit of Prophecy by Max King in 1971 (Why I Left Full Preterism p. 2). Although Russell believes Jesus literally returned in 70 AD, he believes that Satan is currently bound, and that his unbinding and final battle are yet future. He gives three reasons for believing Satan is currently bound: first; the absence of demonic possession that was so evident in the N.T.; second, the near disappearance of idolatry; and third, the abatement of evil in the world compared to the first century. The last is a surprising point but we must remember that this book was written before the world wars of the early 20th century.

Anyone who is interested in various and sundry views of Revelation should at least read part III of this book, the part dealing with Revelation. I found the view that the seven kings represented by the heads of the beast in Revelation 17 were seven procurators of Judea under Claudius and Nero to be unique and fascinating. Russell lists them as:

Cuspius Fadus
Tiberius Alexander
Ventidius Cumanus
Antonius Felix
Portius Festus
Albinus
Gessius Florus

This last figure, Gessius Florus, Russell believes is the land beast of Revelation 13. I found this interesting because I always felt that if the sea beast represents an individual (and clearly it does), then the land beast probably does, too. But critical scholars, while showing intense interest in the identity of the sea beast (most identify it with Nero), generally do not identify the land beast with an individual, preferring to identify it with the pagan system of religion in the Roman Empire. As for me, while I think the land beast may (probably?) represents an individual, we simply do not have enough clues to identify this individual.

Anyone who is interested enough in the interpretation of Revelation to read this book (and judging from the number of people who have read this on Goodreads and rated it highly, there are plenty) should also read Moses Stuart’s commentary on Revelation. Stuart’s commentary is an important predecessor to Russell’s , and Russell refers to it often, sometimes favorably, sometimes unfavorably. Stuart takes an important step towards Full Preterism in seeing the events of the Jewish War culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in chapters 6-11 of Revelation. (Stuart also sees chapters 12-19 as being fulfilled, but in the fall of pagan Rome.)

[Jacob Hudgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr Russell and I have been having quite a conversation. He is a full (or very nearly full) preterist and this book is a systematic study of the NT focusing on the parousia of Jesus.

The strength of his argument is in the analysis of Matthew 24. He argues that Jesus’ predictions are bounded by his insistence that this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. Jesus “came” in judgment by the Roman army’s destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. From Matthew, he proceeds to argue that this event is what all the NT authors refer to when they speak of “that day,” “the coming of the Lord,” etc. Russell is a good student, but his analysis gets weaker as the book goes on, and his treatment of Revelation is the weakest part of the book.

A list of my objections would be long, but briefly: we essentially have to canonize Josephus. It requires saying a lot more about how the physical destruction of Jerusalem is essential for Jesus’ enthronement than the NT says. Russell denies a bodily resurrection, and Paul would like a word. He rightly uses OT prophetic language to interpret Jesus’ words (“coming” in judgment is not always a literal appearing, see Micah 1), but then fails to use OT prophetic language in other places (how can he miss that the beast of Rev 13 is the picture Daniel uses to describe nation/empires?). He makes a big deal out of the imminence of the parousia, but this has never concerned me, since Jesus said he did not know the day or hour. It’s clear we live in constant anticipation of Jesus’ judgments and the end of all things.

All that said, this was far more interesting than I anticipated. Recommended as an introduction to a lot of the premises of preterism.

[Sean Frazer Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This inquiry into the doctrine of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is a rational showing of how the Parousia occurs in two parts. The first part has already taken place. It did so in AD70 when after Christ's crucifiction, burial, resurrection and ascension God's judgement came upon that generation who rejected Jesus as Messiah. At this time the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and as Jesus told His disciples (See Matthew chapter 24) they razed the Temple to the ground so that not one stone was standing upon another. In the 40 years from the time of Christ's trial and crucifixion until the end of temple worship and sacrifice, those who believed in Jesus as Messiah had spread His Gospel throughout the known world of that time.
The second part is yet to be and that will be the time when Jesus will come to separate his sheep from the goats and there will be a Last Judgement before He restores His Creation to what it was before it was corrupted by self-willed human beings.
This is really a great read with a surprising insight into the purpose of God and the way he redeemed His world

[Tom Riggle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the main book that finally convinced me of full preterism. It is very hard to argue against closely reasoned, scripturally cross-referenced exposition as one finds here. My first reading of this book was filled with angry penciled notes of disagreement, but by the second reading I came away pretty much convinced, although I didn't agree with a few of his conclusions.

Totally recommended.

[izzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great help in understanding the second coming

I had grown up in a dispensationalist family and never received adequate responses to all the indications in the NT about the imminent return of Jesus Christ. I really like the methodical scripture by scripture way the author leads us through the passages referring to the second coming, last days, day of the Lord, etc. Very thorough and well reasoned - enlightening.

[Rich Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! It was deep and thorough. It constantly reminded me of how well read the scholars of the past centuries were.

I gave it 5 stars because I expect to return to it repeatedly each time I study Revelations or the gospels. It outlined a Preterist approach to Revelations in such a thorough manner it helped convince me.

[Craig Lesher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full preterist but very helpful

Russell puts virtually it all in the first century. I disagree with a couple things but his literal fulfillment explains well

[Jerry Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

To buy this on Kindle for .99 cents is a crazy deal! I could hardly put this down and am very happy that this book is part of my collection.

[Nicholas Maulucci · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a boring book. A lot of grasping at straws. I just read it to see why preterists believe what they believe. Did not enjoy.

[Joe Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. A must read for one's eschatological studies.

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a long pause (a few times) while reading this book because I can't get all the way behind full preterism. I started it in the beginning of 2017 and am finishing it at the end of 2020.

This book is really well done. After some time passes I may need to read through it again. This book lays out a ton of truth most people have not been exposed to. The majority of God's Word and Prophecies are fullfilled and were fullfilled in the first century.

I lean more toward post mellinialism right now. There just has to be a future full restoration of all things. Including creation itself. A final Resurrection. Final Judgment.

May God give us eyes to see and ears to hear what His Spirit is speaking to the churches.

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always cautious when it comes to dealing with full preterists and I encourage any reader going through this book to be cautious but the work that the author did here, is next level. You might not agree with the author's conclusion but the body of work presented is worth diving through.

[Theodore Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the study of preterism, this is foundational

This classic is well worth the read. A scholarly work which will assist you in your quest to understand the Scriptures.

[Hugues Gauthier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good

[David Carraway · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me personally, this was both a monumental and a very fascinating read. Never having heard of preterism until recently, it intrigues me greatly that a book of this magnitude dealing with prophecy from a preterist perspective was written in the mid-nineteenth century.

The writers perspectives/conclusions have not changed that much in today's preterist writings and this book is still very relevant for any one interested in studying the preterist interpretation of Scripture.

One thing that confused me was the author's statement about the loosing of Satan at the end of the "1000" year millennium, which the author states must be taken literally, and is therefore still future. Yet he never states how he believes Satan will be defeated at that time.

Seeing how the author argues that every mention of Jesus' "second coming" in the New Testament is speaking of his coming in judgment on Israel in A.D. 70, I suppose we are left to conclude that Satan will finally be cast down by Jesus at some time in the future. However, if the author is correct, and every mention in the New Testament of Jesus' parousia were fulfilled in A.D. 70, then there is no Scripture that deals with when and how Satan will be cast down.

I normally don't critique the binding of a book, especially when it was sent to me free of charge other than the cost of shipping; however, it disappoints me greatly that a book of this size has been published as a paperback. Near about the last 100 pages of my book have come out. I hope someday a hardback edition will be published which I believe will better help preserve this great work of exegesis for future generations to read, study and enjoy.

[Matthew Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the seminal works explaining the end times views of preterism, this 19th century work is a must read if you wish to understand the inner workings of preterism (which means 'past fulfillment') and how it relates to the Second Coming of Christ.

J. Stuart Russell is exhaustive in his hermeneutics and is faithful to the context of the Scriptures themselves, always keeping this question in the forefront: was this written for us, or for that generation? When Jesus said "this generation shall not pass, until all these things be fulfilled," was He speaking about some future generation, or rather to His audience? The context and the Greek in the chapter indicate it was to His present audience.

In short, this book postulates that the lion's share of prophecies in the prophets and foretold by Jesus came to pass at either His life, or in His coming at the Destruction of Jerusalem. Many church historians bear witness to Jerusalem's destruction as equivalent to "heaven and earth passing away." Russell insinuates that the Kingdom could not fully reign until every vestige of the Old Covenant, including the Temple, was destroyed, therefore ushering in a "new heaven and a new earth."

Although I don't agree with everything Russell says here, it has opened my eyes to many more spiritual realities than it otherwise might have. It has led down many more paths that have been equally fascinating, as I always try to challenge what I believe and what is always taught by Scripture and sound reason. For that reason alone, everyone must read this book, and forget Left Behind, for no one gets left behind in the Kingdom of God!

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Men have come to look upon the apocalypse as an unintelligible enigma, only meant to puzzle and bewilder. . . .”

The Parousia is an excellent book. As the above quote suggests, eschatology is generally considered confusing, however, this book makes perfect sense of it. This is no airy, hastily compiled collection of essays, nay, this work is rich in scholarly references, it is steeped in logical thought, and best of all, the hermeneutics are splendid. Russel approaches the entirety of the New Testament's content concerning eschatology (no mean task!) with a careful mind. It is stressed again and again that if we are to understand the letters and speeches about the second coming, we must understand the relevancy they had to the original audience. With this manner of interpretation in mind, formerly perplexing matters like who the antichrist really is, the number 666, and the dual fulfillment of prophesies, are made clear.

In short, Russel does an admirable job of explaining the “end times” verses in the New Testament. This book is not exactly an easy read; it is necessary to pay close attention, for each point builds on the last. But, most important, keep in mind Russel's admonition to the reader: “we are about to make great demands on 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. . . . "

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the bottomless pit I don't want to fall into. Russell makes perfect sense of Paul's urgent tone regarding The Day of the Lord, but it comes at a steep cost. We have to interpret the resurrection as having happened in A.D. 70, at the destruction of the Jewish Temple. I'm impressed by the preterist approach to the near-time passages in Scripture. I'm not impressed with their attempts to reimagine the resurrection as something "spiritual" or merely symbolic.

Russell puts it like this, "We are placed therefore in this dilemma,
1. Either the apostle was guided by the Spirit of God, and the events which he predicted came to pass; or,
2. The apostle was mistaken in his belief, and these things never took place."

Not every commentator I've read buys this (eg, Gordon Fee, FF Bruce). Stay tuned. I'll tell you how I make sense of it.

[David Clarke]

This is an important book for any who wishes to understand the Christian or biblical teaching of the end of the Jewish age.
The disciples of Jesus asked him when would he come with his kingdom and what would be the sign of the end of the world (age) he than told them that those in that generation would see it. This book show clearly that that event or parousia took place at 70 AD and so there is no future end of the world event to come. It shows that the book of Revelation was written like all other new testament books before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This is contrary to a lot of so called scholars.

[Jeroen Koornstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

How great is this book!
I'm stunned that a man is able to write so profound a book without the digital opportunities we have today.
His job is wonderful. In a sincere way he deals with 'every' verse in the NT that is about the coming of the Lord. Explaining different views on the subject, he thoroughly refute falls interpretations, and brings light on truths which become clear as the book unfolds.
I still have questions, but I have been extremely blessed with this art of Bible study on the subject of the parousia.

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book regarding preterism was written from a supposed full/consistent/hyper preterist point of view, but in some places he really resembles a partial preterist, especially in his view of the millenium. Russell and Chilton are two people who have dramatically help popularize the preterist vantage and provided a sound exegesis of the book of Revelation. Interesting read!

[Eric C 1965 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wordy but thorough, convincing enough to change my mind to at least a partial preterist position. The chapter on "The Apocalypse" was the best commentary on the book of the Revelation I've ever read. Every Christian should read this book. Next up, N.T. Wright's "Surprised by Hope" to try to understand what wasn't explained about the church age (our time).

[airrunkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the most impressive works of apocalyptic/eschatological exegesis available.

[gfguildjr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serious inquires only! Not for those set in stone.