What Is The Parousia?

Last updated on: December 28, 2015 at 9:44 am by Jack Wellman

What Is The Parousia? 2015-12-28T09:44:14-06:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What is the Parousia? What does it mean for believers and unbelievers?

The Meaning of Parousia

The Apostle Paul writes about the coming of Jesus Christ again, the Second Advent, in 1st Thessalonians 4:15-16 where he writes “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” The Greek word Paul uses for the word “coming” is “Parousia” which means “coming, arrival” or “advent” so the word Parousia simply means “coming” in these verses with the coming referring to Jesus Christ’s Second Advent.

What is the Parousia?

We touched on the meaning of the world “Parousia” in 1st Thessalonians 4 but this word can be used for anyone or anything that’s coming as Paul did in 1st Corinthians 16:17-18 where he wrote “I rejoice at the coming (parousia) of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.” Paul and the other authors of the New Testament use this same word as in “the coming of Titus” (2nd Cor 7:6) and where the Apostle John writes “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1st John 2:28) as well as where James writes “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8). Simply put, “Parousia” means “coming” or “a coming” if it is used in the future indicative.

Jesus’ Second Advent

Jesus promised the disciples before going to the cross to die and then returning to the Father that “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18) “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3) so Jesus taught, as well as the other Apostles, that He is coming again…a second time and this is called the Second Advent. It is the hope of every believer. Jesus promised that “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:27) and “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes” (Matt 24:346) however, “the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 24:50-51). That servant would be you or anyone who’s never repented and trusted in Christ. He is coming again but the question is; how many believe it? How many today expect it? Even among Christians, do we really believe it? We had better believe it because Jesus promised it and even the angels proclaimed after Jesus’ ascension into heaven “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Scoffers

In the last days, Peter knew that there would be skeptics and scoffers who would virtually laugh at people who believe in Jesus’ Second coming, so in Peter’s last letter before his death he wrote “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires” (2nd Pet 2:1-3). Even people’s reaction to Jesus’ coming again, they are fulfilling this prophecy by scoffing at this and ridiculing those who believe it. Jude wrote that “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions” (Jude 1:18).

Conclusion

The more people ridicule those who know Jesus is coming again, the they are fulfilling prophecy by denying the Lord’s coming and even His own existence. That will be eternally regretful for them after their death (Heb 9:27; Rev 20:12-15, 21:8). Jesus Himself prophecies that “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming (parousia) of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming (parousia) of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:37-39).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Previous Post

December 27, 2015

What Is The Whore Of Babylon In The Book Of Revelation?

Next Post

December 28, 2015 What Is The Olivet Discourse?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I refused to bow to a high official and sat at the king's gate, sparking a genocidal plot. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Daniel Haman Mordecai Nehemiah