Parousia

[JM]

Our goal will now be to see if the pretribulational interpretation of all the verses using "Parousia" hold to the time period they have assigned it, namely, before the Tribulation.

We now list eight of the twelve remaining verses using "Parousia" that could be taken as a secret pretribulational event IF it had been mentioned in any one of them, but it isn't. It isn't mentioned anywhere in the Bible. But there is nothing in these verses that would prevent placing them in the posttribulational "Jewish Parousia" described by Jesus in Matthew 24:

1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his COMING (PAROUSIA).24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Our resurrection is part of the Church's hoped-for salvation that Peter said would be completed at the revelation (apokalupsis = revelation) of Christ (1 Pt. 1:5,13). This verse is, therefore, posttribulational. In the above verses, the order given is first the PAROUSIA followed by the end (vv. 23-24). It does not say first the PAROUSIA followed by the tribulation. The description associated with the end is given in verse 24 and it does not describe the tribulation but the time when jesus will hand all things over to the Father.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his COMING (PAROUSIA)?

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope . . . 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO) in the last time. . . 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the REVELATION (APOKALUPSIS) of Jesus Christ;

There's no hint then of a pretribulational secret coming of Christ. The Lord can come for the Church only once, which ties this verse to posttribulational 1 John 2:28. The hope here refers to the Church's hope of salvation to be received when Christ is revealed (1 Pt. 1:5,13) and this hope is stated in the context of BOTH the PAROUSIA and the APOKALYPSIS of Christ. Becuase the ONE hope is completmentary to both, they are the same posttribulational event.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the COMING (PAROUSIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

The holy ones returning with Christ do not need their hearts strengthened, for they are with Him. It is the Church on earth which is encouraged to "strengthen [their) hearts" in the face of trials so they will be blameless when He comes. This verse also refers to our hope being fulfilled when Jesus is revealed (see 1 Pt. 1:13, apokalupsis). "All his holy ones" are described as "the armies of heaven....following him" in Revelation 19:14.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the COMING (PAROUSIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A blameless Church is gathered to Christ when He comes (Eph. 5:27), which is part of the posttribulational hope of salvation (1 Pt. l:5, 13).

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the Lord draweth nigh.

2 Peter 1: 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and COMING (PAROUSIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

The mention of "power and coming, and majesty" parallels Jesus' own description of His parousia in Matthew 24:29·32: "They will see the Son of Man coming (parousia)...with power and great glory." Here Peter compares the glorious Transfiguration to the appearance of Jesus in glory at His coming (parousia). This visible coming in power and glory complaments the APOKAlypsis when He is revealed to all, believer and unbeliever alike.

2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his COMING (PAROUSIA)? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his COMING (PAROUSIA).

The words "when he appears" place this scenario after the Tribulation; "appears" is used in Matthew 24:29,30: "Immediately after the Tribulation of those days.. the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth shall mourn." Chart:

None of these eight verses indicate anything of a pretribulational "Parousia," leaving our last four verses using this word.

http://www.velocity.net/~edju/Comparo.htm

 

[JM]

The Church is to look for the day when the heavens are dissolved in fervent heat. How can this be pretribulational secret Parousia of the coming of the Lord for His church? Impossible.

Let's take a tally. If the pretribulational secret Parousia had been mentioned it in any one of the eight verses above, the Pretribulational Parousia would possibly be beleivable, but it is not. Then we have our last four verses, which we commented on, and which describe a Parousia that is definitely posttribulational. Two place the Church in a scenerio that is a visible coming (parousia) of Christ, a third depicts the destruction of the evil one by the brightness of His Parousia, and the fourth describes the Church looking for the fiery destruction in "the day of God." These four, along with the posttribulational "Parousia for the Jews" Jesus Himself described in Matthew 24, reveal a Parousia as occurring after the Tribulation and in which the Church on earth is involved. The question is obvious: On what basis did pretribulationists arrive at their pretribulational Parousia? It is not even mentioned where this word is used.

 

[JM]

all the verses using PAROUSIA:

3952. parousia, par-oo-see'-ah; from the pres. part. of G3918; a being near, i.e. advent (often, return; spec. of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by impl.) phys. aspect:--coming, presence.

3918. pareimi, par'-i-mee; from G3844 and G1510 (includ. its various forms); to be near, i.e. at hand; neut. pres. part. (sing.) time being, or (plur.) property:--come, X have, be here, + lack, (be here) present.

3844. para, par-ah'; a prim. prep.; prop. near, i.e. (with gen.) from beside (lit. or fig.), (with dat.) at (or in) the vicinity of (obj. or subj.), (with acc.) to the proximity with (local [espec. beyond or opposed to] or causal [on account of]):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give [such things as they], + that [she] had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side . . . by, in the sight of, than, [there-] fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.

1510. eimi, i-mee'; first, pers. sing. pres. indic.; a prol. form of a prim. and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was. See also G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.

SCRIPTURES USING PAROUSIA IN REFERENCE TO THE SECOND COMING

Matthew 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 (PAROUSIA), and of the end of the world?
Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the Son of man be.
1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his COMING (PAROUSIA).24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the COMING (PAROUSIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the COMING (PAROUSIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his COMING (PAROUSIA):
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his COMING (PAROUSIA)?
1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the COMING (PAROUSIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the COMING of the Lord draweth nigh.
2 Peter 1: 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and COMING (PAROUSIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his COMING (PAROUSIA)? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2 Peter 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the COMING (PAROUSIA) of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his COMING (PAROUSIA).

SCRIPTURES USING PAROUSIA NOT IN REFERENCE TO THE SECOND COMING
1 Corinthians 16:17 I am glad of the COMING (PAROUSIA) of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicusfor that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours; therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
2 Corinthians 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the COMING (PAROUSIA) of Titus; 7 And not by his COMING (PAROUSIA) only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
2 Corinthians 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily PRESENCE (PAROUSIA) is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Philippians 1:26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my COMING (PAROUSIA) to you again.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my PRESENCE (PAROUSIA) only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose COMING (PAROUSIA) is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 

[Dee Dee Warren]

I have tapes by Dan Trotter on the PreteristSite where he goes through those verses as well that is helpful.

 

[savedbygrace57]

Parousia :

presence

2) the coming, arrival, advent

a) the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God


This word used to describe the Second Coming of Christ, is uniformly used by Christ and His disciples or Apostles, the gifted men for the Church eph 4:


10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1 cor 12:

28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

So their writings were for the body of Christ, the Church, and not to ethnic groups, though different ethnic groups [all men jew and gentile] comprise the Church, the body of Christ.

So now the word Parousia is the same word used by Christ in what allegedly is limited to the jews also used by His Apostles who definitely we know wrote for The Church, the Body of Christ.

Lets look at Matt 24 at the word vs 3:

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples [apostles] 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?


27For 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.

37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Now mind you , there are those who Teach this coming is limited to the ethnic jews at the end of the Great Tribulation !

Now lets look at the word Parousia as the Apostles used it, those taught by Christ and were gifted men given for the edifying of the Body of Christ, the Church.

Paul 1 cor 15:

23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

1 thess 4:

15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

5:

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

James the Apostle use of the word James 5:

7Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

The Apostle Peter writes 2 pet 1:

16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

3:

4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

The apostle John 1 jn 2:

28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

These are all uniformly speaking of the one and same Coming for the Body of Christ, the Church.

And those teaching a Two part coming, do err from the scripture, for no where does the scripture teach that.

 

[savedbygrace57]

No secret rapture ! -



If the Church was going to be secretly caught away before the second coming or revelation of Jesus Christ, why does paul in 1 cor 1:7 speaks of the coming/revelation of Christ which the church awaits ?

7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

The word coming is the greek word apokalypsis:

laying bare, making naked

2) a disclosure of truth, instruction

a) concerning things before unknown

b) used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all

3) manifestation, appearance


It denotes a revelation, appearing,an unveiling or uncovering.

Its the same word as in 2 thess 1:

7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

Paul did not teach the church to expect a secret rapture, but a coming, a revealing from Heaven..This will be a public manifestation for every eye to see..