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The Parousia - What is it?

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TL;DR:

The Parousia is a theological concept that comes from the Greek word parousia meaning "coming" or "presence." In the study of Bible prophecy, the term Parousia is used in reference to the Coming of Jesus Christ.

what does the bible say?

The Parousia refers to the coming or presence of Jesus Christ, specifically in the context of Bible prophecy. The New Testament describes two aspects of Christ’s coming: the rapture, where Jesus comes in the clouds to take believers to be with Him, and the second coming, where He returns to earth in victory after the tribulation. The rapture can happen at any moment. Believers will be taken, and then the tribulation will come. Subsequently, the second coming will occur, followed by Christ establishing his reign on earth. These two events have distinct characteristics, and understanding their differences helps clarify biblical prophecy. The Parousia is a key concept in eschatology, requiring careful distinction between the rapture and Christ’s final return.

from the old testament

  • The Parousia is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

  • In some cases, the Parousia is used in reference to the time when Jesus Christ comes to rapture His people to be with Him, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
  • At any moment, Jesus may come again, and the dead in Christ will rise, followed by those alive in Christ (also 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 5:23; James 5:8; 1 John 2:28).
  • In other cases, the Parousia refers to Christ's return at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. Revelation 19:11-21 speaks at length about this event. Jesus will return in victory and defeat His enemies at Armageddon, beginning His reign on David's throne in Jerusalem with His people.

implications for today

The Bible speaks of two different "comings" of Jesus Christ. Some believe Christ will return only once, at the end of the seven-year tribulation. However, a study of the passages that refer to Christ's coming note many differences between the rapture and the second coming of Christ. Most notably, at the rapture Jesus will come on the clouds to take His people to be with Him. This will take place at any moment and before the seven-year tribulation period. At His second coming, Jesus will come down to earth with His people to defeat His enemies and begin His reign in Jerusalem for the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1-7). The following (adapted from www.pre-trib.org/data/pdf/Ice-DifferencesBetweenTheRapt.pdf ) highlights many of these key differences:

RAPTURE

•Translation of all believers

•Translated saints go to heaven

•Earth not judged

•Imminent, any-moment

•Not in the Old Testament

•Believers only

•Before the day of wrath

•No reference to Satan

•Jesus comes in the air

•Jesus claims His bride (the Church)

•Only His own see Jesus

•Tribulation begins

SECOND COMING

•No translation

•Previously translated saints return to earth

•Earth judged and righteousness established

•Follows definite predicted signs, including tribulation

•Predicted often in Old Testament

•All people impacted

•Concluding the day of wrath

•Satan bound

•Jesus comes to the earth

•Jesus comes with His bride (the Church)

•Every eye will see Jesus

•Millennial Kingdom begins

The Parousia is an essential part of the study of biblical prophecy. But any discussion of it should distinguish between the rapture and the return of Christ.

understand

  • The Parousia refers to the coming or presence of Jesus Christ.
  • The rapture and second coming are distinct events in the New Testament.
  • Recognizing the differences between the rapture and second coming is key to understanding prophecy.

reflect

  • How does knowing that the rapture could happen at any moment affect the way you live your daily life?
  • Why is it important for you to understand the difference between the rapture and the second coming of Christ?
  • How can you prepare spiritually for Christ’s return?

engage

  • Why do you think God revealed the rapture and second coming as separate events in the New Testament?
  • How can we encourage one another to remain faithful and watchful as we await Christ’s return?
  • What are some common misunderstandings about the Parousia, and how can we use Scripture to clarify them?

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