Mr G is a JW they believe more in the concept of presence of christ rather than a second coming which they trace back to the early last century. --------- Not quite.We believe his (invisible) presence will precede his coming to render judgement. On Jesus final night alive on earth he told his 11 faithful remaining apostles;(John 14:19) "A little longer and the world will behold me no more, but YOU will behold me, because I live and YOU will live". Jesus was to be resurrected as a spirit person ie invisible to human eyes;(1 Peter 3:18)"Why, even Christ died once for all time concerning sins, a righteous [person] for unrighteous ones, that he might lead YOU to God, he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit". Hence his disciples question involved a "sign" of his presence Matthew 24:3. The sign given involved momentous events that manifested his presence to discerning ones. God's justice requires that the significance of these events be explained before Christ,s coming to judge mankind;Matthew 24:14) "And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come". However Jesus foretold few would pay heed;(Matthew 24:37-39)"For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38?For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; 39?and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be".
In fact many will even scoff;2 Peter 3:3-7) "For YOU know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires 4?and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep [in death], all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.” 5?For, according to their wish, this fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens from of old and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; 6?and by those [means] the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. 7?But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men".
