The Christian Scriptures make a clear distinction between the three phases of Christ’s Second Coming by using a different Greek word in each instance. First phase, the 'Parousía' is translated Presence throughout the New Testament. On being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, he answered them: “The Kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness; nor will people say, ‘See here!’ or, ‘There!’ For look! the Kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21)
In reference to the event that would mark the End of the Gentile Times, Brother Russell wrote: "'The Earth Abideth Forever' Christ will not return to Earth as a Man - Present Year Believed to Mark Great Change of Dispensation, but World May not discern Immediate Difference." The Bible Students Monthly, January, 1914.
Since Christ will not return to Earth as a Man, Brother Russell wrote: "Our Lord, in describing His Second Presence, clearly indicated that it would be unnoticed by the world until the cataclysm of trouble should come. Thus He likened the earlier days of His presence to that period before the Flood, when the world, unconscious of the impending catastrophe, continued to build, eat and drink as usual, and knew not. So, says the Master, it will be in the end of this Age. Eating, drinking, building, planting and marrying will proceed as usual; and the world will not know that they are in the PRESENCE of the Son of Man."
"For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be." (Matthew 24:27) The Presence of the Son of of Man began in 1914. "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress." (Matthew 24:7-8)
This brings us to the second phase of Christ's Advent. The Epipháneia, which is translated “manifestation,” meaning coming to light or coming into view. It specifically has to do with bringing the lawless one to nothing, the second death of everlasting destruction. There's scriptural evidence that points that this manifestation phase could be revealed starting with the revelation of the man of lawlessness (aka) false religion and then on a more Grand Scale with the separation work of the sheep and goats to come as the Great Crowd appears!
In 1918, Jesus Christ inspected the Temple and then granted authority to the Faithful and Discreet Slave to gather the things in heaven and on earth beginning in 1919. However, those who are not found faithful would be bundled up by the angels to be pitched into the fire for everlasting destruction as they die the second death. We read, "The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be." (Matthew 13:41-42) Can you see with your mind's eye how things are coming about through a process?
Notice the timing. "Likewise, just as it occurred in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building." (Luke 17:28) As dawn was breaking, the angels became urgent with Lot, saying: “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here with you, so that you will not be swept away in the error of the city!” (Genesis 19:15) "Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him;" (1 John 2:15) We are deep into the night of Satan's System of things, it would be wise to get your house in order before the dawn strikes "...because at an hour that you do not think likely, the Son of man is coming." (Luke 12:40)
Brother Russell also mentions that this time of trouble could last a certain amount of time as in the time of Noah. Then he mentions, "Then, later on, will come the Epiphania; that is to say, the revelation, or manifestation, of the present One. This will not be a manifestation in the flesh, but in a great Time of Trouble, symbolically represented as fire, as when we read, "He shall be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance." -- 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10. "The lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence." (2 Thessalonians 2:8) "It will be the same on that day when the Son of man is revealed."(Luke 17:30)
WTS Quote: "The third word, apokálypsis, which is translated “revelation,” means a disclosure, taking off the covering, or uncovering. When this word is used it indicates that a clear and unobstructed view is meant, and in connection with Christ’s second presence it refers to the time his manifestation is turned into an unmistakable revelation at Armageddon and even the unwilling are forced to recognize his presence." End of WTS Quote.
The Great Tribulation. What is it?