The Parousia Is Not A Separate Event From The Epiphany Or Apocalypse

Some Study Notes*

APOCALYPSE (Revelation)

I. The Greek Apokalupsis (apokalupsis) is from the verb Apokalupto (apokalupto), meaning to uncover or unveil, hence Revelation.

II. Is used of Christ’s return.

1 Peter 4:13 " . . .when His glory is revealed, ye may be glad. . ."

1:7 ". . . the trial of your faith . . . found unto praise and honour . . . at the appearing of Jesus."

1:13 ". . . hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

The saints are to await the revelation because the Lord Jesus does not bring to them the fullness of grace until that time.

2 Thess. 1:7 " . . . you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels."

The saints who are troubled.in the tribulation will not have heavenly rest until the revelation.

1 Cor. 1:7 ". . . waiting for the revelation of our Lord. . ."

The saints must keep the gifts in operation (presumably on the earth) until the revelation.

III. The verb Apokalupto is used in Luke 17:30 ". . .even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. . ."

Verse 31 ". . . In that day . . ."

Verse 34 ". . . In that night . . . one shall be taken and the other left."

2 Thess. 2:3 " . . . and that man of sin be revealed. . . ."

2:6 ". . . that he might be revealed in his time. . . ."

2:8 ". . . whom the Lord shall . . . destroy with the brightness of His coming."

The Greek of 2 Thess. 2:8 shows that the destruction of Antichrist takes place at the "Parousia" of the Lord Jesus. The appearance of Antichrist must take place before the "Parousia."

Verse 3 shows Antichrist’s coming as "Apokalupto," while verse 9 shows it as "parousia," demonstrating that they are synonymous terms.

IV. Conclusions.

1. The supposed secret rapture, when one is taken and the other left, is found to be at the Apokalupsis, or at the open revelation of the Lord Jesus in Luke 17:30-37.

2. This revelation of the Lord Jesus is after the revelation of Antichrist in 2 Thess. 2:1-8.

3. This Apokalupsis is seen to be the same event as the Parousia, for the latter word is used in 2 Thess. 2:8 to describe the open revelation of the Lord Jesus.

EPIPHANY (Appearance)

I. The Greek Epiphanea (epiphanea) is from the verb Epiphaino, meaning to shine upon, bring to light, become visible, appear, so this means appearance.

II. It is used of Christ’s first appearance, showing that Epiphanea is not limited in usage to the second coming of Christ. 2 Tim. 1:10 "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus."

III. It is used of Christ’s return. 1 Tim. 6:14 ". . . keep this commandment . . . until the appearing of our Lord Jesus."

The saints must keep the commands and be blameless until the appearance of Jesus. 2 Tim. 4:1 "I charge thee, therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." 4:8 ". . . there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:. . . and . . . unto all them also that love His appearing." Titus 2:13 ". . . Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing . . . of Christ." 2 Thess. 2:8 ". . . the Lord shall consume with the brightness of His coming."

IV. The verb Phaino (phaino - to appear) is used in Matt. 24:30 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. . . ." 24:31 "Then He shall send angels and they shall gather together His elect." Col. 3:4 "When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Matt. 24:29, 30 tell when He will appear.

V. Conclusions.

  1. The saints cannot go up previous to the Epiphany.(Titus 2:13 and 1 Tim. 6:14).
  2. The saints are not crowned until the appearance (Epiphany) of the Lord Jesus to set up His kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1, 8; 1 Peter 5:4).
  3. Crowns are for those who love the appearance (Epiphany), not a secret coming (2 Tim. 4:8).
  4. The Sign of the Son of man does not appear till after the tribulation, when the Lord Jesus is seen coming to gather His saints (Matt. 24:39-31; Col. 3:4).

PAROUSIA (Presence, coming)

I. The Greek Parousia (parousia) is from the verb Paremi, meaning to be near, to have come, to be present. The verb is used in Luke 13:1 "There were present at the season some that told of the Galileans." John 11:28 ". . . The Master is come and calleth for thee." Acts 10:21 ". . . Behold I am He Whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?" 1 Cor. 5:3 "For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done. . ."

II. The noun Parousia is defined as

  1. Presence 2 Cor. 10:10 ". . . his bodily presence is weak. . . ." Phil. 2:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. . ."
  2. Coming--presence of anyone, coming, arrival. 2 Cor. 7:6, 7 ". . .God . . .comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not by His coming only, but by the consolation. . . ." 1 Cor. 16:17 "I am glad of the coming of Stephanus. . . ." Phil. 1:26 "That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again."

III. The coming or presence of Jesus

Matt. 24:3 ". . . What shall be the sign of thy coming. . .?" Answered in 24:29-31. 24:27 ". . . so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. . . ." 24:37 ". . . as days of Noe . . . so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." 24:39 ". . . so shall also the coming of the Son of man be . . . ." 1 Thess. 3:13 ". . . at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all His saints." 4:15 ". . . We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep" (cf. . 16, very noisy—not secret). 5:23 ". . . your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 2:1 ". . . We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him." 2:8 ". . . the Lord . . . shall destroy with the brightness of His coming." 2:9(of Antichrist)__". . . whose coming is after the working of Satan." James 5:7 ". . . Be patient unto the coming of the Lord." 5:8 ". . . the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." 2 Peter 3:4 "Where is the promise of His coming?" 3:12 "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God." 1:16 ". . . when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty" (first coming). 1 Cor. 15:23 ". . . afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming." 1 Thess. 2:19 ". . . are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" 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."

IV. Conclusions
* Adapted from an online article, author credited as "KRG".