Articles compiled by Theologue
Understanding the vocabulary associated with
the Second Coming in the Greek NT is necessary to avoid errors.
Following are articles by Robert Brown, George B. Fletcher, and Sir
Robert Anderson that detail the use of the 3 primary words used
on the Lord's return: Parousia (parousia),
Epiphaneia (epiphaneia) ,
and Apokalupsis (apokalupsis).
Contents:
1.
The Coming
of the Lord – Parousia,
Epiphaneia, Apokalupsis
From the article The Coming of
the Lord – Parousia, Epiphaneia, Apokalupsis by Robert Brown
Can The Parousia (coming in person) be separated from His Epiphaneia (shining upon) or His Apokalupsis (His revelation)?
There are three words specially made use of by the Holy Ghost to describe the personal coming of the Lord. These words are Parousia, Epiphaneia, and Apokalupsis. I purpose to consider every passage where they occur, with a view of showing what the Scriptures say on this subject; premising, at the outset, that positive and absolute statements of the Divine Word must of necessity be received before, and must therefore override, all inferences from other passages which seem to contradict them.
I. Parousia is a word which is derived from para, near
by, and ousa,
being; and invariably means the personal appearance or arrival of
someone.
It occurs twenty-four times in the New Testament. (It was often
used for the
state arrival of a king. Editor).
1. It is applied to persons in the flesh: "I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus" (1 Cor. 16:17). "Nevertheless God...comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not by his coming only" (2 Cor. 7:6, 7). "That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again" (Phil. 1:26). "His letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak" (2 Cor. 10:10). "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence" (Phil. 2:12).
2. It is applied to the personal presence of the Antichrist, when be shall be fully revealed. "And then shall that wicked", or lawless one (ho anomos), "be revealed...whose coming is after the working of Satan" (2 Thess. 2:8, 9).
3. It is applied to our Lord’s own coming. "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers...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" (2 Pet. 3:3, 4). "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God" (2 Pet. 3:12). "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord" (James 5:7). "Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:8). "To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints" (1 Thess. 3:13). "And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5: 23). "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?"(1 Thess. 2:19). "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him" (2 Thess. 2:1). Compare with this last text, Psalm 1:4, 5, "He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me". "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order"—or, in his own proper band (tagmati)—"Christ the first fruits; afterward" (epeita, marking succession in time) "they that are Christ’s at His coming"(1 Cor. 15:23). "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren. . .that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord...shall be caught up together with them" (i.e. "the dead in Christ") "in the clouds, to meet" (eis apanteesin, being the same phrase as is used in Matthew 15:1, 6, and in Acts 28:15, and nowhere else) "the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:13-17). "And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed away from Him" (ap’ Autou. See and compare Revelation 1:7, with 6:15-17; and note the contrast, 1 John 4:16, 17) "at His coming"(1 John 2:28). "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming?"(Matt. 14:3). "For 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" (Matt. 24:27). "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:37). "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:39). "Then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness (Epiphaneia) of His coming"(2 Thess. 2:8). With this compare Antichrist’s coming, verse 9. "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; but were eye witnesses of His majesty", i.e., on the holy mount (2 Pet. 1:16). (See and compare Matt. 17:1-8).
II. Epiphaneia is a word which in derived from epi, upon,
and
phaino, to make light, let shine, throw light upon; and it
means
appearance, manifestation, shining upon; and is used six times only in
the New
Testament.
1. It is applied to Christ at His first coming. "God...hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 1:8-10). Compare John 1:14, "And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth".
2. It is applied to Christ, at His second coming. "I give thee charge...that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Tim. 6:13, 14). "I testify, in the presence of God, and of Jesus Christ, who is to judge the living and the dead, both of His appearing and His kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:1. That this is the true meaning of this passage, see Tregelles). "And then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming" (Parousia). (2 Thess. 2 : 8). "Looking for that blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13, 14). "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing"(2 Tim. 4:8).
III. Apokalupsis is a word which is derived from apo, away from, and kalupto, to hide—the exact opposite of hiding; and it means, uncovering, unveiling, manifestation; and when used of a person, it always denotes his actual appearance. It is used eighteen times in the New Testament.
1. It is applied to spiritual illumination of the mind and heart. "Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began" (Rom. 16:25). "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:12). "How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery" (Eph. 3:3). "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32). "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Rom. 2:5). "Making mention of you my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Eph. 1:16, 17). "Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, I shall not profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation or by knowledge" (1 Cor. 14:6). "Every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, bath a tongue, bath a revelation" (1 Cor. 14:26). "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord" (2 Cor. 12:1). "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7). "And I went up" (i.e. to Jerusalem. See Acts 15:12) "by revelation"(Gal. 2:2).
2. It is the title of the last book in the Bible. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants the things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John" (Rev. 1:1).
3. It is applied to the second coming of the Lord. "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless" (rather, "uncharged", anengkleetous: for they were not blameless. See 1 Cor. 11:17) "in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:7, 8). "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:7). "Wherefore, gird up the loins of you mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:13). "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you...but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1 Pet. 4:13). "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed"(literally, at the apocalypse, en tee Apokalupsei) "from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God" (2 Thess. 1:6-8).
4. It is applied to the resurrection of the saints themselves at the second coming of the Lord. "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God". (See the whole passage, Rom. 8:18-23). Hence we are told that "when Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested", phanerothee, "then shall we also be manifested with Him in glory" (Col. 3:4) for "we know that when He shall be manifested", phanerothee, "we shall he like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). Now, when Christ was "transfigured" on the holy mount, after the manner of His "power and coming" (Parousia),"His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light" (Matt. 17:2). So likewise "shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43)—"as the sun when he goeth forth in his might" (Judges 5:31). "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith Jehovah of hosts" (Mal. 4:3). While of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself at this period, it is said, that "a fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth". (See also in confirmation, Zech. 14:4, 5; Micah 1:3-5).
Not Distinct as to Time
IV. Now these Scriptures prove to a demonstration that the Parousia, Epiphaneia, and Apokalupsis of our Lord Jesus Christ, at His second coming, are not distinct as to time; but that His Parousia, or personal advent, necessarily produces His Epiphaneia; and it is this which constitutes His Apokalupsis.
This is moreover shown from the statements that while the saints are said to be "gathered", (2 Thess. 2:1) "raised" from the dead (1 Cor. 15:23) and "presented blameless" (1 Thess. 5:23) at the Parousia; they are urged, nevertheless, to "keep the commandment unrebukeable" until the Epiphaneia (1 Tim 6:13, 14) and to "look out" for that as their "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13, 14); while they are also told to "wait" for the Apokalupsis, when they are to be pronounced "uncharged", (1 Cor. 1:7-9) when "the trial of their faith" should be "found unto praise and honour and glory" (1 Pet. 1:7) when "grace is to be brought unto them" (1 Pet. 1:13) when they would "be glad also with exceeding joy" (1 Pet. 4:13); and when only they would fully "rest" (2 Thess. 1:7).
This is further confirmed by the statement, that "the man of sin" is to be destroyed "with the Epiphaneia of" Christ’s "Parousia"(2 Thess. 2:8); and that this will not take place until His Apokalupsis. (2 Thess. 1:7).
They Dispose of the Secret Rapture
V. They completely dispose of the supposed secret rapture theory. For while we are told that the saints shall be raised at Christ’s Parousia (1 Cor. 10 : 23); we are likewise told that "as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the Parousia of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:27).
Moreover, as we are informed that "the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God", and that this will take place at His Parousia (1 Thess. 4:15-17); and that His voice shall then "shake not the earth only, but also heaven" (Heb. 12:26): for "He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me", etc. (Ps. 1:4, 5); and that "Jehovah shall roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth" (Jer. 25:30);and "when He shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west" (Hos. 11:10); "and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him, and all the tribes of the land" (i.e., of Israel, pasai ai phulai tees gees) "shall wail at Him," ep’ Autou, "Even so, Amen" (Rev. 1: 7) how is it possible that there could be any such thing as a secret rapture of the saints from the earth?
They Disprove Pre-Tribulation Teaching
VI. They prove likewise that the saints are not to be raised before "the great tribulation".
For they show that the saints are to be raised at Christ’s Parousia; and that this Parousia will not take place until Antichrist has come to the end of his career; for they tell us that he is to be destroyed "with the Epiphaneia"of this. "Parousia"(2 Thess. 2:8), and that the saints only then "rest", when Christ Himself is thus revealed, i.e. at His Apokalupsis (2 Thess. 1:7); when only they assume His likeness, and are "manifested" with Him in glory (Col. 3:4; John 3:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:17).
Moreover, it is expressly stated elsewhere (Matt. 24:29-31). that the Parousia is not to take place until after, although it be "immediately after", that "tribulation"; while it is likewise stated that the martyrs under Antichrist (i.e. in the great "tribulation") are to be partakers of . "the first resurrection" (Rev. 7:13-17; 20:4-6); and that this resurrection is to take place at Christ’s Parousia!(1 Cor. 15:23). Now, as there are only two resurrections (1 Cor. 15:23, 24; John 5:25-29; Acts 24:15; Rev. 20:4, 5), it is manifest that the saints are not to be raised before "the great tribulation"—a truth which is further confirmed by Daniel 7:21, 22, and 25, which tells us that Antichrist "made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom"; and by Matthew 13:30, 39-41, where our Lord tells us that the tares and the wheat are "both" to "grow together until the harvest": and that "in the time of harvest" He "will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into My barn"—a statement which is afterwards explained by "the harvest" being described as "the end of the age", when "the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend", or, all the stumbling blocks, "and them which do", or work, "iniquity". Moreover the Lord promises His disciples that He will be with them "unto the end of the age"(Matt. 28:20), clearly showing that His disciples will not be raised up until then. What "the harvest" itself will be we learn from such passages as Revelation 24:14-16, and Joel 3, which really describe the destruction of the Antichristian hosts at the second coming of the Lord.
Some Practical Conclusions
VII.
What then are the practical
conclusions that we should draw from these things? Those which our
blessed Lord
Himself sets before us, when He foretells us of them. "Watch therefore,
for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. . . .Therefore be ye
ready: for
in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh" (Mat. 24:42,
44).
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity"; "...and then
shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with
power and
great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up,
and
lift up your heads; for your redemption" (i.e. "the redemption of
appropriation", "the redemption of the body", the resurrection,
Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:14; 4:30); "draweth nigh" And take heed to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and se that day come upon you
unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell", literally, "are
seated", katheemenous, i.e. settled down, "on the face of the
whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand
before
the Son of Man" (Luke 21:25-36). "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as
ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58):
"Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will
make
manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man
have
praise of God" (1 Cor. 4:5), "to Whom be glory for ever and ever,
Amen" (Heb. 13:21).
2. Eleven
Reasons Why PAROUSIA,
APOKALUPSIS, and EPIPHANEIA
are Kindred
Terms to Describe One Great Future Event!
From the article Will A Secret
Rapture
Precede The Second Coming Of Christ? by George B. Fletcher
8. Works of faith shall be rewarded at the "appearing (apokalupsis) of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7), but our age-to-come brethren say the rewards will be awarded at the parousia!
9. Grace is to be brought to the believer at the "revelation (apokalupsis) of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1;13). What would be the significance of this, if ruptured saints had received it at the parousia several years before?
10. Christ will recompense
tribulation to the troublers of His people, and rest to those who are
troubled.
When? Not at the parousia, but at the revelation (apokalupsis) of
Christ with
His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on the wicked (2
Thess
1:6-10). Rest for His people, and vengeance upon the ungodly take place
at the
same time at the one and only Second Coming of Christ!
11. The climax of the argument, however, on this point is reached in 2 Thessalonians 2:8: "And then shall the wicked (the man of sin) be revealed, whom the Lord shall destroy with the (epiphaneia tees parousias auto) brightness of his coming." Here both words are applied to one action. epiphaneia being rendered "brightness:" and parousia, "coming." This passage proves first, that the parousia and epiphaneia are simultaneous: and, second, that the career of "the man of sin" ends (instead of begins) at the parousia, when the saints are delivered, and does not extend to a subsequent epiphaneia, as the secret rapture theorists teach.
3.
The Lord's
Coming In Greek Words
From Appendix 3, Forgotten Truths,
by Sir
Robert Anderson
NOTE: There are three
different words used in the Greek Testament in relation to the Lord’s
Coming.
Parousia - parousia
means primarily “presence” (see 2 Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 2:12),
and it is used of any person’s arrival (see, e .g ., Corinthians 16:17;
2 Corinthians 7:6,7; etc.). In secular use it applied specially to any
state visit. In the following passages it is used of the return of
Christ: Matthew 24:3,27,37,39; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Thessalonians 2:19;
3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1,8; James 5:7,8; 2 Peter 1:16; 1
John 2:28.
Apokalupsis - apokalupsis
(“revelation” or “manifestation”) is used of the Advent in 1
Corinthians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7,13.
Epiphaneia - epiphaneia
(“appearing”) occurs in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (brightness); 1 Timothy
6:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13.
And the verb phaneroo - phaneroo (“to appear or be manifested”) is used
in Colossians 3:4; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 John 2:28; 3:2.
The
attempt has been made to apportion these words to the several future
manifestations of the Lord Jesus Christ. A reference to the passages
where they occur will enable the Bible student to judge whether this
distinction can be sustained; or whether the words do not rather
indicate different phases or aspects of the various “Comings” foretold
in Scripture.