Appearing and Manifestation
Manifestation?...
In the Appearing and the manifestation, Christ will emerge from the Shekinah glory to be manifested (seen) in the heaven of heavens and it is promised that when He is manifested, then His Church which is His body will be manifested with Him. The members, both living and dead, are there in purpose and potential as their lives are hid with Christ in God and will continue there till their resurrection and manifestation in that place (Col. 3:1-4). Nowhere do we find any of these will be resurrected here on the earth and then have to be transported to heaven for they are seated in Christ Jesus in the heaven of heavens now.
At this time, Christ begins active rule on earth from His throne in heaven.
These are the hopes respectively of the dispensation of promise and also of
the Appearing/Manifestation.
The gathering together (some say rapture) concerns an earth people, who here on the earth expect the coming (Parousia) of the King, immediately after the Great Tribulation. Among those who go out to meet Him at His coming are the five wise virgins; the foolish ones not being ready, miss it.
The manifestation concerns those whose citizenship is in the heavens, who are seated with Christ at the right hand of God. The manifestation is to be in the heaven of the heavens and to the principalities and powers there. Those who take part in it are those who are there, those whose life is hid with Christ in God.
So the gathering together is for earth-dwellers;
and the manifestation is for heaven-dwellers.
The gathering together was not a secret hid in God from ages and generations. This resurrection and the change that is a part of it are revealed from the Book of Genesis and throughout the Scriptures. Hebrews 11:10 clearly tells us that Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. On that day, when the Lord comes to meet them in the air, the dead in Christ will be resurrected and the faithful ones who are alive will live forever, that is, be changed (1 Cor. 15:52).
But the Truth that there would be a people that should have a resurrection in glory and be manifested with Christ the Head was not known to other ages and generations till revealed by the Apostle Paul after Acts 28:28 (see Eph. 3:4-5) .
In the gathering, the believers are caught up (1 Thes. 4:16-17) to the air (not heaven) to meet the Lord as He comes in His 1000 year Parousia, to be present on earth, and rule on the throne of His father David.
When Satan is cast out and his angels with him, then the steadfast Tribulation believers will meet Christ in the air, and they will rule and reign with Him on earth, as their reward for their faithful stand. Scripture says this coming Parousia will be immediately after the Tribulation. All, the guests and the virgins will then return with Him to the earth where a marriage supper will be observed and the King will officially come and be present for 1000 years as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will then rule on the earth from David's throne. At this time of His Parousia, He will have made all His enemies subdued. Scripture says that He must remain in heaven until this was accomplished. He first ruled from His throne in heaven until that time. Then, at His Parousia, He comes in power and Glory to the earth to be officially present, when all has been made ready and restored in restoration, for His official presence/1000 year Parousia.
At one time the people of Israel were invited to a marriage, but they refused the invitation and even killed some of the servants who gave it. But a day is coming, on earth and during the Parousia, when Christ Jesus will officially be present on earth for that supper. These are the nation, a nation born in a day, who will bring forth the fruits of the kingdom, taking the place of those rejected. These are earth-dwellers.
Appearing Day of Christ....p2
THE APPEARING
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
http://www.bibleunderstanding.com/comingandappearing3.htm
The Son of God in Glory....Must rule in heaven till all enemies are subdued..... 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool......with the last enemy death.....
God will judge the quick and the dead.............
It will be a time of resurrections, every man in his own order (1 Corinthians 15:23).
“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass” (Deuteronomy 32:1-2).
It should, also, be noted that throughout the Kingdom of God, He will speak, audibly, from Heaven. His doctrine (principles of governing) shall drop down “as the rain,” and His speech “shall distil as the dew.” The earth’s inhabitants are likened to the tender herb upon whom “the small rain” shall fall. This distilling is like “showers upon the grass.” This is majestic language which describes the gentle effect God’s Words will have upon men all through the Day of Christ. He will not be speaking in wrath, as He will, in the later, Day of The Lord.
I believe that at the time of this Glorious Appearing of Christ and His body in Glory, being made manifest, this is the vision Stephen saw as he saw heavens roll back like a scroll and saw Christ standing and Appearing in Glory.
I believes in Acts 7:55, this is the vision Stephen saw just before he died.
He saw Christ Jesus at the right hand of a God the Father standing, ready To act, to begin to put all the enemies of God to an end.
Acts 7:55
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
This is a Resurrection of those judged to live in the next age, in the flesh on earth, such as Job, who said he would stand on earth in the flesh and behold the Lord's image, (at the Appearance of The Lord) just like the vision Stephan saw in Acts 7. The 12 Apostles will rise at this resurrection to rule in Jerusalem ..Luke 22:30 sit on throne judging 12 tribes of Israel...
( KJV(i) 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, (0n His throne ruling from heaven) ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.) included would be believers in God such as Righteous Abel. Mal 4:5-6 the Elijah sent back before the Day of The Lord...
Matthew 19:28
1. It is a time of the first resurrection for the body which Christ is the head. Also, resurrected would be.... all other believers - Christendom/denominations and other ages and believers in God.
Christendom, for the most part, .....suffers great loss, ashamed, but they themselves are saved, left on earth in flesh....
The Kingdom begins...ruled by God in heaven from his throne of Glory. He must remain their until the time of the restitution of all things......
How long did you say? ........ Long enough for God to level the playing field. We were all born in Satan's world that was already deceived, living as slaves to sin and Satan in bondage. It is an up hill battle to ever learn truth. Many, never ever even hear the name of Jesus Christ before they die. Most of Christendom is in mass confusion as to God's truth, hopelessly in darkness and remaining in Replacement Theology to this very day.
God will crush all enemies before Christ Jesus ever sets foot on the Mount of Olives to rule on earth in the Kingdom. The Kingdom must be made ready for Him.
How on earth will this happen, you might say?
Then, a new dispensation will begin when God intervenes in the affairs of man. It will be an age of the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. “The lofty looks shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, AND THE LORD SHALL BE EXALTED IN THAT DAY …” (Isaiah 2:12). The rule and misrule of man will end.
“O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth” (Psalm 67:4).
History records instance-after-instance where one nation invaded another, occupied its territory, assumed sovereignty over the people, and established its own order in the conquered land. Today, it is done with sophisticated high- tech weaponry: planes, tanks, highly trained troops, and shear “shock and awe.” However, when God invades the earth, it is not going to be done in this manner. He will not send His Son, accompanied by the armies of heaven, to wreak carnage and destruction upon the earth’s inhabitants. It will be done by His Word spoken in heaven and His Spirit invading the earth. By His Spirit, He will invade the earth, occupy every square foot of it, assume sovereignty over it, establish His order upon it, and govern it as it should be governed. When God, thus ........acts, His long display of grace will come to an end, and a dispensation of divine government will begin. The Apostle Paul refers to it as …
THE DAY OF CHRIST
By Tom Ballinger
---------------
The Appearing.....
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
...
Here the verb phaneroo is used twice. And here we find plainly stated the hope of the members of the body of Christ, the church. It means to shine forth, to make manifest. From this verb comes the noun epiphaneia, the appearing or manifestation. Only once is this latter used in the pre-Acts 28 epistles of Paul. And there it is used to describe the parousia, hence the brightness of His presence or coming. On the other hand, bema, the judgment seat, does not appear after Acts 28:28. But is there any judgment for members of the body?
It is for this reason that we write this article. Some folks, not knowing the secret too well, have gotten the idea that members of the body of Christ are so perfect that they cannot sin, hence no need for a judgment.
But if that be so, then why all the warnings, such as beware, let no man beguile you, and the like? This is just another version of the sinless perfection error so common today.
2 Timothy 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. For those who rely on words for their theology, rather than the intent, this verse is a puzzle. But it is clear that at the appearing of Colossians 3:4, some will still be living. Others sleep. And there will be a judgment (of rewards) as in the past dispensation. But this judgment will be where they are resurrected, in heaven, not the clouds.
And the word kingdom has stumped a lot of folks, thinking that the millennial kingdom is all the kingdom there is. Note in Colossians 1:13 members of the body have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. Surely something must be wrong here too. But looking back after the divorce of Israel in Acts 28, in the 31st verse, Paul preaches (proclaims) the kingdom of God. In looking all thru for this expression, we must come to the conclusion that it may mean anything from the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, to all that is under the sovereignty of God, in earth, in heaven, and in the heavenlies.
So do not be surprised if you find that the church of the mystery is also a part of the kingdom of God, and specifically the kingdom of His dear Son.
You would do well to search and see other usages of kingdom in the post-Acts epistles of Paul. You might be surprised. Just look at Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:18. Now you can better appreciate what was being said in Acts 28:31.
Not only do we have the judgment of the quick and the dead in 2 Timothy 4:1, but we have a judgment mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:24. So there is a judgment for us today. And that is where Paul expects to receive the prize of the high calling.
When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
We repeat our text, as it must be remembered and kept in mind as the great hope of the church which is the body of Christ. This is in glory, not here on the earth. It is where Christ sitteth. It is where heavenly beings are.
After this appearing will then be realized the mystery of God's will, that all things in heaven and earth be brought under one Head, even Christ. And these all things are the new creation which includes the church on earth and the powers in the heavenlies (see Ephesians 1:9,10).
The new creation is spoken of again in Colossians 1:16-20 and consists of things on earth (the body of Christ, the church) and things in heaven (thrones, dominions, principalities and powers). They meet there in heavenly places for they have a reconciliation, an introduction to each other for mutual living together in high places. And this after the appearing.
In Colossians 1:2'7 it is evident that the saints then were to know, what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ among you, the hope of glory. Note what the hope of glory, the heavenly places, is. This takes us right to the appearing.
And this all prepares us for the admonition in Titus 2:11-14. We must repeat it in full here for the reader to ponder. Here is practical living with a living hope. Read it slowly and with feeling. Do not miss any words.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Now pick out the skeleton of this quote. Live looking for that blessed hope. What hope? The glorious appearing (epiphaneia). This is not the rapture. This is not the revelation. And this is not Israel's hope. It is the hope of the Gentiles with their heavenly calling.
Where will we be when we really look for that blessed hope? Philippians 3:20 tells us that it will be where our citizenship is, and that is not here on the earth, but in heaven.
There is an inheritance in the holy of holies (Ephesians 1:18). And it is in this most holy place that the household of God is, of which those who are looking will have a part (Ephesians 2:19). Members are made meet to partake of this inheritance in the holy of holies in the light, the Shekinah glow (Colossians 1:12). The inheritance will be awarded after the manifestation. A glorious hope. Not many are interested in it. But it is to be a great event for the Lord, and His....
2.
Paul uses this designation in his Acts and post -Acts epistles:
“Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8).
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5).
“As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus” (2 Corinthians 1:14).
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10).
“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:16).
These are the six references to “The Day of Christ” in the AKJV. Most Bible expositors, whether they are Acts 2, Mid-Acts, or Acts 28 believers, ignore the Day of Christ. Is it because they can find no place in their theology for it? We believe so.
What most of the Bible “authorities” do is simply state that the day of Christ is really the “Day of the Lord,” under another name, and let it go at that. Shame on them! If the Day of Christ is the Day of the Lord, then, one-plus-one equals one. Let it be said that, “Yes, Christ is the Lord and the Lord is Christ.” But, the Spirit of God designated one period of time as The Day of Christ and another period of time as The Day of the Lord. An honest seeker of truth must endeavor to rightly divide the two days. An open heart and an unbiased approach to the two days will reveal that they are totally different, and they are replete with profound differences.
While some expositors and students of the Bible ignore the Day of Christ, others may “not see it.” But, Abraham saw it and was glad.
The Lord Jesus Christ was rebuking the Pharisees and said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).
The Day of Christ was not a Secret hid in the Heart of God and not made known to men. It was the subject, the theme, and the plot woven throughout the Bible. It just so happens that the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14) will find its rewards and service in the Day of Christ, not the Day of the Lord.
When will every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11)? This speaks of mankind’s submission to Christ in His Day. This will be a universal acknowledgment that Christ Jesus is Lord.
It will be when God speaks and highly exalts the Name of Jesus from heaven. Then, the whole world will hear and understand Who Jesus Christ is and the high esteem which God the Father has for Him. This begins the Day of Christ and His long, benevolent reign over all of mankind.
This takes place while Christ remains in the heavens where His seat of Government is. Paul tells us, in 1Timothy 6:14-15, that at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times (His Day) He shall show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
To say that Christ’s Day is the same as the Lord’s Day is to rob Him of His Day, in our thinking.
It will be the time of His preeminence, of His government, of His justice, and of His righteousness reigning in the affairs of men. He will bring all of His resources to bear as He establishes the divine government. Lincoln, in the “Gettysburg Address,” declared that this government “of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the face of the earth.” But, the Day of Christ will bring an end to a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Here, dawns a Government that gives instead of taking. The Day of Christ sees a Government of Christ, by Christ, and for all mankind.
Whereas, the distinguishing feature of man’s day is death, the distinguishing feature of the Day of Christ will be life. The time of resurrections—“every man in his own order” (1 Corinthians 15:23).
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
It has been declared of Him and His Day, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). “Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high” (Isaiah 52:13).
The Day of Christ is the day when the GLORY of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh will see it together and at the same time (Isaiah 40:5). We who make up His Fullness will be privileged to praise the glory of His grace.
THE DAY OF CHRIST (Continued)
More needs to be said regarding the Day of Christ. For this study, we will only scratch the surface of all the events associated with Christ’s Day. It will be the time when the Kingdom of God is manifested in the earth. Christ Jesus assumes sovereignty over the nations and rules from heaven.
The Day of Christ is the time when there is a divine intervention and another Advent of the Holy Spirit. The first Advent was on the Day of Pentecost and continued throughout the Acts period, and it was limited to those to whom the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was delivered. This Second Advent of the Spirit will be all
3.
Our Hope Today ....
His and our Appearing Manifestation...
In Ephesians we read of the wonderful new hope set before us believers today;
And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Eph 2:1, 4-7
God has declared that we have been quickened (made alive) in Christ, we have been raised together, and seated together in the heavenlies in Christ, exactly the same place where Christ has been raised and seated at the Father’s right hand (see Ephesians 1:19-21). There, where Christ is seated above all of the heavenly rulers and authorities, is our glorious inheritance in front of God’s face. There our blessings are located and there we are the heirs of God. It is not
surprising that Paul brings this wonderful section to a close with these verses; For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph 2:8-9
When will our faith be realized? When will God’s Word regarding us come to pass? When will we be seated there in our wonderful new bodies “fashioned like His glorious body”? What is the timing of our hope?
The answer to this is found in Colossians 3:1-4 which flows wonderfully onwards from Ephesians 2;
If then (or since, if does not always mean doubt) you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. { When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory*****Col 3:1-4
Here we are clearly told that “WHEN” our Lord, The Head is revealed, “THEN” we, the Church which is His Body, will also be revealed “WITH HIM”. That is the timing of our hope; the revealing of our Lord. Here are one or two other versions:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (KJV) Col 3:1-4
And
If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. (RV) Col 3:1-4
These three versions use “revealed” “appear” and “manifested” to translate the Greek word “phaneroo”. Here are some helpful definitions of “phaneroo”: Strong’s.
phaneroo; from G5318; to render apparent (literally or figuratively): - appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).
Word Study (E-Sword).
phaneroo; manifest, visible, conspicuous. To make apparent, manifest, known, show openly.
Dr Strong says that the word “phaneroo” comes from another word, G5318 which is “phaneros”. Phaneros means “shining” and itself comes from a word which means “light, to give light”.
When our Lord appears it is a moment of revelation involving great light, a shining forth. Where is this shining forth; this appearing of our Lord? The location is very clearly identified; it is “where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God”. Our Lord will be seated at God’s right hand when He is manifested. We shall look more closely at this in later chapters but for now we recognize this is not in the air of 1 Thess.4, where the clouds are located.
We can see a contrast in this Colossians passage. Notice, our life is “hidden with Christ in God” and while these things are hidden now, there is a time coming when they will be manifested or revealed. This moment will be a very bright one, a blazing forth as some have described it. It will be a glorious moment when our Lord and Head is manifested, but you and I and the rest of the Church which is His Body will be manifested there, in the heavenly places with Him at that same time.
What will this appearing be like? Imagine you are sitting on a chair on top of a hill which, if there was light, would be clearly visible to the city below. The hill and the city are in darkness but there comes a time when the top of the hill is illuminated with a bright light. Then you, sitting on top of the hill, will be clearly visible to all those in the city below. You have been “manifested”, you have been “revealed”, you have “appeared” to all. In a similar but far more extensive way the Lord will appear to all in a blazing forth of light. He will be manifested at the right hand of the Father. He will be seen by those in the heavenly places and by those on the earth beneath. At that same time we will also be seen in the same place seated together with Christ.
Please consider the following verses as an anticipation of future chapters;
For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. Mat 24:27
And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear (phaino- the same family of words giving phaneroo of Colossians 3) in the heavens. Mat 24:29-30 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious (epiphanes-the same family of words giving phaneroo of Colossians 3) Day of the Lord. Act 2:20
And
Jesus said to him, You said it. I tell you more. From this time you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of the heavens. Mat 26:64 And he (Stephen) said, Behold, I see Heaven opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Act 7:56
And this passage;
And when He had opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind. And the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; Rev 6:12-15
When the Lord is manifested in the heavenly places, the world will be morally, spiritually and physically dark and in that darkened day a light will blaze forth, our Lord shall be visible and “every eye shall see Him”. The heavens will be peeled back and they will see Him sitting on the right hand of God.
This “appearing” of our Lord and Head is far above the clouds and the air of 1 Thess.4. This is before He begins His descent to the earth. In the day; in the moment our Lord is manifested on the right hand of God, we shall be there in our seats manifested with Him. What an honor, what a moment of unimaginable joy. Let each one of us set our affection “where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God”, for there, in front of God’s face we have been raised and seated to “appear with Him”.
That moment of His appearing is when our hope will be realized.
http://www.acts28.net/eAppearing-Free%20Edition.pdf
Therefore I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is going to judge the living and the dead according to His appearance and His kingdom, 2Ti 4:14.
4.
Our real hope not Second Coming
Part I –It’s Time to Fish or Cut Bait: Part II- Roman Treatise & The Parousia: Part III – The Hope of Israel – The Pre-Millennial Kingdom.
Posted in: 2007
By Tom L. Ballinger
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September 19, 2007
PLAINER WORDS …IT’S TIME TO FISH OR CUT BAIT
Part I
“Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (I Kings 18:21).
“How long halt ye between two opinions?” This is an illustration of a Southern expression for “It’s time to fish or cut bait.” In plainer words, it is time for Christians to make a decision between two opinions, “Is the Hope of the Church which is His body” the Parousia [the Coming] of Christ, or is it the Epiphaneia [His Appearing]? How long halt ye between two opinions? Perhaps, today, as when Elijah asked the question, it will be said, “And the people answered not a word.”
The Kingdom of God is a pre-millennial Kingdom. The Millennium is a period of time in which the Lord Jesus Christ is present on the earth for one-thousand-years. This is the one-thousand-year Parousia of Christ. This includes His arrival and His presence upon the earth. He rules and reigns for one-thousand-years. Prior to His Parousia, He will have ruled the heavens and the earth from Heaven’s Throne (Ps. 103:19) but with His Parousia, He will rule the heavens and the earth from the Earth’s Throne in Jerusalem.
Christ will rule and reign over all of the nations from Heaven’s Throne for hundreds of years. Towards the end of the pre-millennial Kingdom of God, He relaxes His restraints of evil, thus allowing some nations to rise in rebellion against His Divine Government. (Psalm Two describes this). This rebellion will be instigated by Satan energizing the “man of sin,” the anti-christ.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God/Heaven announced that the Kingdom was “at hand.” That is to say, during the time Christ “was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God,” confirming the promises made to the fathers of Israel (Rom. 14:8), the long awaited-promised Kingdom was about to make its Epiphaneia [Appearance] upon the world-scene. John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ, both, announced that it was nigh—“at hand.”
Sometime after Acts 28:31, Paul, the prisoner, received the revelation of the Mystery. God made known to him the Holy Secret [the Mystery] which had been hid from ages and generations (Col. 1:26) “which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men” (Eph. 3:5). This new and fresh revelation from God ushered in a new dispensation; thereby, taking the world by surprise. Yes, this event even staggered the living saints with its revelation. What a “bombshell” it was to have it announced that the Jew no longer had any dispensational privileges over the Gentiles. In fact, the truth that Christ was now among the Gentiles and was their “hope of Glory” (Col. 1:27) perplexed many believers who lived through the Acts Period and emerged into the post-Acts Period of the Mystery.
This took “the wind out of the sails” of many believers. Many, in that day, could not accept this new revelation. They were more comfortable with the way things “used to be.” The revelation of the Mystery left no room for their tradition, pomp, privilege, or ceremony. Of course, many didn’t like the fact that Paul claimed this Truth was made known, exclusively, to him by the Lord Jesus Christ.
With all of the above set forth, we now come to a Truth with which most of our brethren are not very comfortable with. They are uncomfortable when faced with the fact that the believer’s primary hope, during the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles, was not that of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The phrase, “the Second Coming,” is not found in the Bible. Christians coined this phrase from the Biblical Greek word, Parousia. Parousia means, according to Thayer, “NT:3952, parousia, (1). presence: 1 Cor 16:17 (2). the presence of one coming, hence, the coming, arrival, advent, 2 Cor 7:6. ”
It is not until Matthew 24:3 that we read of the first mention of the word, “parousia,” in the New Testament.
“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?”
The Companion Bible states, in its note on Matthew 24:3, that “parousia” is a word “which can be traced in the East as a technical expression for the arrival or the visit of a king or emperor, also of other persons in authority, or of troops.”
Christians use the expression, “the Second Coming” of Christ, as the meaning of the Greek word, “Parousia.” The Bible facts do not support the idea that the Parousia of Jesus Christ was the primary hope of the Church of God during the Book of Acts. If it had been, we could certainly have expected that, with the announcement by John the Baptist and Christ Himself, the Kingdom was “at hand,” it would have included the message that the glorious Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ would usher in the Kingdom of God. When the Parousia is finally mentioned, it is done so, “privately.”
The John Darby and C. I. Scofield school of theology brought to the forefront the idea of the pre-millennial Parousia of Christ. Most fundamental Christians bought into this erroneous interpretation in the mid-to-late 1800’s and the early 1900’s.
It is important to point out that, not once, in the Book of Acts is the “Parousia” of Christ mentioned. But, orthodox Bible exegesis makes it to be the principle event hoped for by all Christians in the New Testament writings. THE PAROUSIA WAS NOT THE PRINCIPAL EXPECTATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT! If it was, we would expect it to have a prominent place in the four Gospels, the Book of Acts and the Epistles written during the Acts Period. But, it hardly has no place at all!
Consider the following:
The Gospel of Matthew—has 1071 verses, and Parousia is only mentioned in four verses. Each instance is in Chapter 24. The context of its usage clearly gives the future time-frame for its occurrences. The Parousia is to take place at the “consummation of the (Kingdom) age” (Matt. 24:3). The other three references, Matthew 24:27, 37, and 39, are likewise, intimately associated with the time of the great Tribulation [part of the consummation].
The Gospel of Mark—in the 677 verses, no mention, at all, is made to the Parousia.
The Gospel of Luke—in the 1151 verses of Luke, no mention, whatsoever, is made of the Parousia.
The Gospel of John—in this magnificent book, where Christ is presented as the Son of God, there is a total silence in all of the 879 verses on the subject of the Parousia.
The Acts of the Apostles—in not one verse, of its 1007 verses, can a reference to the Parousia be found! The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the theme of The Acts of the Apostles from beginning to end, makes no mention, whatsoever, that the expectation was the Parousia. If the Second Coming (the Parousia) was to have been the primary hope announced by the ministry of John the Baptist and Christ, as well as, that of the apostles, why was it suppressed and, even, spoken of only in private (Matt. 24:3)?
Pre-millennial dispensationalists have promoted the doctrinal error that the next move God makes is that of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This significant blunder leads many to unscriptural and undispensational distortions concerning the prominence which The Parousia has in God’s prophetic program.
A glaring mistake, concerning the throne of David, is commonly made in the interpretation of the following verse:
“Therefore being a prophet [i.e., David], and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;” (Acts 2:30).
A correct understanding of this verse would be enhanced if we, properly, capitalized the “H” in “his throne.” Failure to mentally supply the capital letter, or failure to actually capitalize it reinforces the distortion. The ingrained error of understanding the pronouns in Acts 2:30 is the root cause of this monumental blunder. We will give the proper explanation, thus, identifying the pronouns.
“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him [David], that of the fruit of his [David’s] loins, according to the flesh, He [God] would raise up Christ to sit on His [God’s] Throne;” (Acts 2:30).
The blunder is to think that “his throne” refers to David’s throne in Jerusalem. This error is prevalent in standard orthodox teaching, as well as, in much of the teaching of those who acknowledge the Dispensational dividing line of Acts 28. The context bears out that the throne in question is God’s Throne, which is in Heaven, not David’s throne on earth. See Acts 2:33-34:
“Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He [Holy Ghost] hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD [Yahweh] said unto my Lord [Christ], Sit Thou [Christ] on My [Yahweh’s] Right Hand …”
You see, the context is that of Christ sitting on God’s Throne—not Christ sitting on David’s throne.
While the Lord Jesus Christ is seated on God’s Throne in the Heavens—that is, “being by the Right Hand of God exalted,” He will speak, and the world will be restored to its pre-flood pristine glory. The “times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord (Jesus Christ)” (Acts 3:19). Christ remains in heaven until the restitution (restoration) of all things is accomplished which God spoke about through the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21). This was the Hope of the Acts Period believers, as well as, all of the Old Testament saints. A single sentence equivalent to the Hope of man is; Christ is to replace Satan—who assumed the dominion which the Creator gave Adam who lost it when he sinned in the Garden. Only our Lord Jesus Christ has the right to the universal dominion which Adam lost. He will take to Himself this Dominion at His Appearing [Epiphaneia] and Kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1).
The magnificent Divine work of the universal regeneration of Acts 3:19-21 is accomplished without Jesus Christ making one move toward leaving heaven. The hope, that is, the glorious expectation of the New Testament believers was the coming of the Kingdom!!! This will be accomplished while Christ remains [i.e., retained] in heaven (Acts 3:21). The Coming (The Parousia) of the Lord Jesus Christ does not establish the Kingdom of God in the earth; it consummates it (Matt. 24:3).
If the Parousia of Jesus Christ was the New Testament hope, why is it not mentioned, except in private, in Matthew, and not at all in Mark, Luke, John, and The Acts of the Apostles?
The honest answer is because the Parousia was not the believer’s hope at that time. After the Kingdom is established in the earth, those who are privileged enough to live during the “Golden Age” of the pre-millennial Kingdom of God will have a legitimate right to anticipate the Coming [Parousia]. A tragic case in the mis-application of Christ’s Parousia results in stealing the hope of another Dispensation and appropriating it to “ourselves.” The hope of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head is clearly delineated in I Timothy 6:14, II Timothy 1:10, 4:1, 4:8, and Titus 2:13. Our hope is that of a higher and more noble calling than that of the Parousia of Jesus Christ.
“How long halt ye between two opinions?” The Parousia or the Epiphaneia?
Friends and Mountaineers, “It is time to fish or cut bait!”
PLAINER WORDS …THE ROMAN TREATISE AND THE PAROUSIA
Part II
The Apostle Paul’s Treatise of the Roman Epistle is the biblical repository for essential New Testament Truths. The New (Covenant) Testament is a covenant between God and Israel. He never made any covenants with the Gentiles. Therefore, as members of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head and, as such, we are strangers from the covenants of promise (Eph. 2:12). Therefore, we are not to look at New Testament Truth to get “our marching orders.” By saying this, we don’t in any way, suggest that we cannot learn and be edified by such Truth. But, we are to distinguish between New Covenant Truth and Truth for today.
The New Testament will be the Jews’ “ticket” into the long-awaited Kingdom of God. Their “ticket” into the Kingdom is not the Coming and Presence, i.e., the Parousia, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their Kingdom “ticket” will be punched when “the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord [Jesus Christ], …Whom the heaven, must receive [or retain] until the times of restitution of all things which was spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began [to wit, from ancient times]” (Acts 3:19 & 21).
In the last issue of Plainer Words Online, “It’s Time to Fish or Cut Bait,” it was pointed out that the 2nd Coming of Christ, to wit, His Parousia, had no prominent place in the first 4,785 verses of the New Testament. In fact, in only four verses was it even mentioned, and each one was in Matthew 24. Each reference occurred within the context of the consummation of the coming Kingdom age.
The Pre-millennial Kingdom of God becomes a reality when the event of 2 Timothy 4:1 occurs.
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at [to wit, by] His appearing and His kingdom;” (2 Tim. 4:1).
The lengthy duration of the Kingdom of God winds-down with a Divine coup de grace—which is highlighted by the Return of Jesus Christ. This event is the consummation of His Reign from Heaven. Christ Jesus administers the coup de grace to the anti-christ and his followers at His Parousia and His Kingdom. This spectacular event brings about the catastrophic destruction of the Satanic, counterfeit Kingdom and the end of the Great Tribulation. Christ’s Arrival from Heaven and His Presence on earth initiates His One-Thousand-Year Parousia on the earth.
If the word, “parousia,” is used only four times in the first five books of the New Testament, we would certainly think that it would be covered in much detail in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. After all, Romans is the most doctrinally profound writing of all of the New Testament writings. (Every advanced student of Scripture understands that the New Testament does not include those epistles by Paul which are referred to as his “Prison Epistles”). As The Companion Bible states, “Romans … contains the A B C of the believers education. Until its lesson is learned, we know and can know nothing. The Holy Spirit has placed it first in Canonical order because it lies at the threshold of all ‘church’ teaching , and if we are wrong here we shall be wrong altogether.”
The book of Romans has an important role in the scope of the New Testament literature. The theological content of this writing is of great importance to the Christian community, both ancient and contemporary. One Commentator has said of Romans, “As the most systematic and complete exposition of the gospel that the NT contains, it has naturally seemed to have a very special place in the Bible.” Paul’s treatise has caught the attention of many commentators over the centuries. There is no syllable of the Greek text of Romans which has gone unscrutinized, no verb unconjugated, no noun undeclined, no extract unexegeted, and no chapter unoutlined. This is the favorite book in the Bible for most “Grace Believers.” One would think that surely a section of verses would be set aside to reveal the widely held view that the “hope of the New Testament Church” is the 2nd Coming (The Parousia).
On the contrary, not one single verse even mentions the Parousia of Christ. Not only that, but the word, itself, does not find a place in all of the Book of Romans. Paul’s New Testament Treatise to the Romans is silent concerning the 2nd Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wow! “How ‘bout them apples?”
The first eight chapters of Romans are almost pure doctrine. They cover all of the important New Testament tenets. They range from the “gospel of God” (Rom. 1:1) to the “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). With all of this said, it must be affirmed that not one word concerning the Parousia of Jesus Christ is mentioned. Is this fact significant? We think it is extremely significant.
The Epistle to the Romans has 16 chapters, 433 verses, and 9,477 words. Yet, it remains loudly silent on the subject of the 2nd Coming (Parousia) of Christ. If Romans is the “threshold of all church teaching,” as stated in the Companion Bible, why wouldn’t this popular doctrine be mentioned in Romans? After all, as most Christians believe, the 2nd Coming of Christ is the hope of the New Testament believers and, most certainly, the hope of the church. Sadly, we must point out that many believers who embrace Mystery Truth think the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head will realize its hope in some fashion associated with the 2nd Coming. To believe the New Testament hope was, and is, the Parousia is to believe error. And, likewise, to believe that the hope of our calling is somehow connected to Christ’s Parousia is, also, error.
The “hope” of the Church which is His Body is irrevocably linked to Christ’s Appearing (Epiphaneia) and His Coming Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1). It is strange how so many folks won’t “touch 2 Timothy 4:1 with a ten-foot pole.” I understand. I avoided it for years. Admittedly, I was spiritually blind to its monumental significance. Yes, “once I was blind, but now I see.” When this event takes place, our faith will give way to sight and the glorious Epiphaneia of the great God will flood the universe. Our “blessed hope” becomes authenticated.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [Epiphaneia] of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13)
It should be noted that we are not told to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for the Coming (Parousia) of Christ. We must not be guilty of mixing the Parousia with the Epiphaneia, or vice versa. If we do, we may lead others astray and will, in that day, stand as ashamed workmen for having wrongly divided the Word of Truth.
The Hope Romans Presents
The Apostle Paul begins the fifth chapter with the following words:
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-2).
He speaks of standing and rejoicing in the HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD. The magnificent display of God’s Glory was visible to the naked eye before the Flood came in Genesis Seven. With the catastrophe of Noah’s Flood, the visible Glory of God was snuffed-out. It will not be seen, again, until the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) takes place. The LORD predicted, once again, that the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD (Num. 14:21).
“And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Ps. 72:18).
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9).
“And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isa. 40:5).
The manifestation, or revealing of God’s Glory will be a key ingredient when the Hope of the Roman believers is realized. This is indicated by Paul in Romans Eight.
Romans 8:18-25
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (This speaks of Kingdom resurrections; “every man in his own order” 1 Cor. 15:23).
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Literally, “into the liberty of the glory of the children of God”).
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (redemption of the body, i.e., resurrection, not that of 1 Cor. 15:51-55, or 1 Thess. 4:16-17 ).
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
These verses speak of the hope of the glory of God being manifested when the “times of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19), and He ushers in the Kingdom of God—not the One-Thousand-Year presence of Christ on the earth.
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:11-12).
The Apostle Paul reiterates an expression used by John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ by writing, “the day is at hand.” Yes, the Kingdom was still “at hand” when Paul wrote Romans.
There was no instruction with the “at hand” message to be prepared for the sudden Parousia of Christ. We should not be guilty of reading into the context of this part of the New Covenant, something which is not there—the Parousia of Jesus Christ.
The Parousia of Christ does not become a major-factor in “Kingdom Truth” until the last days when the Divine restraints of evil are gradually lifted. The Parousia is the event in which all of those who have believed Satan’s lie and partook in his rebellion will be destroyed by Christ’s Coming. Then, He will be Personally Present on the earth for One-Thousand-Years.
December 31, 2007
PLAINER WORDS …THE HOPE OF ISRAEL—THE KINGDOM
Part III
This Plainer Words should be read in the light of two previous studies, “Time to Fish or Cut Bait,” and “The Treatise of Romans and The Parousia.” These two studies presented misunderstood truths concerning the Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ. The AKJV of the Bible translated the Greek word, parousia, as “coming.” In New Testament times, the Greek-speaking-world used the word, parousia, to describe the “arrival and presence” of a dignitary. The arrival and the subsequent presence of a king, or emperor were referred to as a parousia. If, for example, King Croesus of Lydia were to visit another nation, his journey to and his arrival and presence in the other nation would be called the parousia of King Croesus. A parousia was associated with an official visit and presence of an individual of stature. If an ordinary citizen was required, by Law, to be present at a certain proceeding, then, his presence would have been considered a parousia.
Most certainly, the decent of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, His arrival, and His presence in Jerusalem for one-thousand-years would constitute a grand and glorious Parousia. The translators always translated parousia as “coming.” By doing this, it gave rise to a non-biblical phrase adopted by Christendom—the Second Coming of Christ. The English language has no word equivalent to the Greek word, parousia. Therefore, we have no quarrel with the translation.
The arrival and presence of Him as a babe in the manger was no parousia. Nor, was his presence on earth as a twelve-year- old, nor as a teenager, nor even as a grown man, a parousia. His earthly ministry was that of a servant, a person of no outward stature, or reputation. He was even said to have been born of fornication (John 8:41).
“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:7-8).
We said in The Treatise of Romans and The Parousia, “The book of Romans has an important role in the scope of the New Testament literature. The theological content of this writing is of great importance to the Christian community, both ancient and contemporary. One Commentator has said of Romans, ‘As the most systematic and complete exposition of the gospel that the NT contains, it has naturally seemed to have a very special place in the Bible.’” There is absolutely no reference to the 2nd Coming of Christ, to wit, His Parousia, in the beloved book of “Romans.”
Keep this in mind. “The Epistle to the Romans” was Paul’s last epistle written during “The Acts of the Apostles.” This means that he wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews before he penned Romans. If the Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ was the definitive hope of the Acts Period believers, why on earth didn’t Paul mention it in the most authoritative Scripture in all of the New Testament?
The epistles written during “The Acts of the Apostles” were in harmony with the period, itself. The Acts Epistles did not introduce something that was not part of the revelation of its time. Not only that, but a prophetic Truth, like the Parousia of Christ which didn’t have a major impact on the believer’s hope during the Acts time-frame, was not given a great deal of print in the Scriptures of the time.
The Book of Acts opened with a question concerning the primary hope of the Apostles:
“When they [the Apostles] therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
The Kingdom was the “hope of Israel” throughout the Acts period. Notice, the Apostle Paul, as late as Acts 28, mentioned his hope during the Acts Period as that of “the hope of Israel.”
“For this cause therefore have I [Paul] called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20).
It must be concluded that everything preached and written between Acts 1 and Acts 28 carried with it the underlying hope of Israel. Its realization was not dependent on the 2nd Coming, i.e., the Parousia of Christ. The hope of Present Truth, the Appearing, that is, the Epiphaniea, cannot be found in any of the Acts period Scriptures.
Israel’s hope was also expressed by the Apostle Peter in Acts 3, and it was not associated in any way, shape, form, or fashion with the 2nd Coming (Parousia) of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Acts 3:19-21 clearly stated the Apostolic Expectation:
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
Peter’s message, in Acts 3, validated what the Lord Jesus had told the Twelve Apostles in Matthew 19:28:
“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration [palingenesia = re-creation] when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The Throne of His glory will be in heaven. Christ Jesus will rule the earth from His Throne in heaven, while the Twelve sit upon their earthly thrones, during His Kingdom. Jesus Christ and the Twelve will govern for hundreds of years before Christ comes in His Parousia.
“Heaven is My Throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest?” (Acts 7:49). See also, Ps. 11:4, 103:19, and
Isa. 66:1.
The blue-print for the Church of God, which was made up of Jews and Gentiles, was thoroughly spelled out in the Roman Epistle. And, as it has been pointed out, the Parousia of Christ was not to be found as part of the inspiration of the Romans Treatise.
Paul only mentioned it once in sixteen chapters in 1 Corinthians, and that was in
1 Corinthians 15:23. He did not mention it, at all, in any of the thirteen chapters in 2 Corinthians, nor did he mention it in Galatians. He did use the word, Parousia, when referring to the arrival and presence of Christ, four times in 1 Thessalonians. Each time, it was used in the context of the end of the Great Tribulation. In 2 Thessalonians, Paul made reference to the Parousia (i.e, the 2nd Coming) of Christ only twice. Once, it is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, and then, in 2:8.
If the 2nd Coming of Christ was the HOPE of the Apostles, as well as the members of the Church of God during the Acts Period, one would suppose that this event would warrant more than the seven times Paul made reference to it in his Acts Epistles. I would think that the thorough student of Scripture would be curious as to why Paul made reference to it so sparingly. If the 2nd Coming is considered, by today’s Christians, to be the most prominent expectation of believers, why is it only mentioned seven times by the Apostle Paul in his Acts Epistles?
These things are pointed out, not to diminish the importance of the Parousia of our Lord Jesus Christ, but to point out that it is not the next event on God’s Prophetic Clock. Church-going Christians have been taught that Christ could come at any moment, and with His Coming, it would usher in His Millennial Reign which they, also, call the Kingdom. By failing to rightly divide the Word of Truth, they confuse the 1000 year reign with the Pre-Parousia Kingdom of God, believing them to be the same thing.
It is important to point out that, not once, in the Book of Acts is the “Parousia” of Christ mentioned. But, orthodox Bible exegesis makes it out to be the principal event hoped for by all Christians in the New Testament writings. THE PAROUSIA WAS NOT THE PRINCIPAL EXPECTATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT! If it was, we would expect it to have a prominent place in the four Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the Epistles written during the Acts Period. But, it hardly has a place at all!
It should be noted that the Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ is found only sixteen times in all of the twenty-seven books of what is commonly referred to as the New Testament.
Listed, below, is a concordance of the sixteen usages of the word, Parousia, as it is used in reference to the Parousia of Jesus Christ. Each reference of the Parousia is associated with the destruction of the anti-christ, thus, ending the Great Tribulation which is the consummation (sunteleia) of the Kingdom Era.
The Gospel of Matthew – 24:3, 27, 37, 39.
I Corinthians – 15:23.
I Thessalonians – 2:19. 3:13. 4:15. 5:23.
II Thessalonians – 2:1. 2:8.
James – 5:7-8.
2 Peter – 1:16. 3:4.
I John – 2:23.
The 2nd Coming of Christ, to wit, the Parousia of Christ, takes place hundreds of years after the “Hope of Israel” becomes a reality. Therefore, it was not the great expectation of the Apostles, or the Church of God. Note this, carefully, and mark it well. The “Hope of Israel” does not come with the Lord descending, His Voice shouting, angels accompanying, trumpets blasting-forth, and saints ascending as most Christians are saying today. If it does, then it will come with an outward show, and the Lord Jesus’ words will be found to be false.
Of course, all of these things do take place in connection with Him coming in His Parousia. He does not come back to earth to govern because He has been doing so from His Throne in Heaven. He comes back to be Personally Present on earth.
The Apostolic Expectation must be in harmony with the promises made in the Old Testament, and all the more so, since Paul declared in Romans 15:8, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” Among these promises which He will validate is the one found in Psalm 46:6-10 where it is revealed that at a time when the nations are in turmoil, and the governments are shaken, “… He uttered His voice, the earth melted.” Those living during the Kingdom Era will observe this and will, then, be invited to Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” NIV.
This was, in fact, what the Apostles fully expected to take place when their hope materialized, and Christ Jesus began to Reign over the nations. Their hope, as well as the Church of God, was in agreement with the promises of God that He would cause judgment to be heard from heaven (Ps. 76:8); that He would bring forth judgment to the nations (Isa. 42:1); of a time to come when His judgments would be in all the earth
(Ps. 105:7). Matthew set forth the Hope of Israel when he quoted Isaiah in Matthew 12:18-21, closing with the words, “And in His Name shall the Gentiles trust.”
Paul repeated this Truth in Romans 15:12, “And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust.” This will not be connected, at all, with His Parousia.
The unashamed workman can rightly divide the Word of Truth. He does not confuse the Kingdom of God with the 1000 year Parousia of Christ. A true spiritual differentiator is enabled to do so.
Manifestation?...
In the Appearing and the manifestation, Christ will emerge from the Shekinah glory to be manifested (seen) in the heaven of heavens and it is promised that when He is manifested, then His Church which is His body will be manifested with Him. The members, both living and dead, are there in purpose and potential as their lives are hid with Christ in God and will continue there till their resurrection and manifestation in that place (Col. 3:1-4). Nowhere do we find any of these will be resurrected here on the earth and then have to be transported to heaven for they are seated in Christ Jesus in the heaven of heavens now.
At this time, Christ begins active rule on earth from His throne in heaven.
These are the hopes respectively of the dispensation of promise and also of
the Appearing/Manifestation.
The gathering together (some say rapture) concerns an earth people, who here on the earth expect the coming (Parousia) of the King, immediately after the Great Tribulation. Among those who go out to meet Him at His coming are the five wise virgins; the foolish ones not being ready, miss it.
The manifestation concerns those whose citizenship is in the heavens, who are seated with Christ at the right hand of God. The manifestation is to be in the heaven of the heavens and to the principalities and powers there. Those who take part in it are those who are there, those whose life is hid with Christ in God.
So the gathering together is for earth-dwellers;
and the manifestation is for heaven-dwellers.
The gathering together was not a secret hid in God from ages and generations. This resurrection and the change that is a part of it are revealed from the Book of Genesis and throughout the Scriptures. Hebrews 11:10 clearly tells us that Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. On that day, when the Lord comes to meet them in the air, the dead in Christ will be resurrected and the faithful ones who are alive will live forever, that is, be changed (1 Cor. 15:52).
But the Truth that there would be a people that should have a resurrection in glory and be manifested with Christ the Head was not known to other ages and generations till revealed by the Apostle Paul after Acts 28:28 (see Eph. 3:4-5) .
In the gathering, the believers are caught up (1 Thes. 4:16-17) to the air (not heaven) to meet the Lord as He comes in His 1000 year Parousia, to be present on earth, and rule on the throne of His father David.
When Satan is cast out and his angels with him, then the steadfast Tribulation believers will meet Christ in the air, and they will rule and reign with Him on earth, as their reward for their faithful stand. Scripture says this coming Parousia will be immediately after the Tribulation. All, the guests and the virgins will then return with Him to the earth where a marriage supper will be observed and the King will officially come and be present for 1000 years as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will then rule on the earth from David's throne. At this time of His Parousia, He will have made all His enemies subdued. Scripture says that He must remain in heaven until this was accomplished. He first ruled from His throne in heaven until that time. Then, at His Parousia, He comes in power and Glory to the earth to be officially present, when all has been made ready and restored in restoration, for His official presence/1000 year Parousia.
At one time the people of Israel were invited to a marriage, but they refused the invitation and even killed some of the servants who gave it. But a day is coming, on earth and during the Parousia, when Christ Jesus will officially be present on earth for that supper. These are the nation, a nation born in a day, who will bring forth the fruits of the kingdom, taking the place of those rejected. These are earth-dwellers.
Appearing Day of Christ....p2
THE APPEARING
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
http://www.bibleunderstanding.com/comingandappearing3.htm
The Son of God in Glory....Must rule in heaven till all enemies are subdued..... 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool......with the last enemy death.....
God will judge the quick and the dead.............
It will be a time of resurrections, every man in his own order (1 Corinthians 15:23).
“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass” (Deuteronomy 32:1-2).
It should, also, be noted that throughout the Kingdom of God, He will speak, audibly, from Heaven. His doctrine (principles of governing) shall drop down “as the rain,” and His speech “shall distil as the dew.” The earth’s inhabitants are likened to the tender herb upon whom “the small rain” shall fall. This distilling is like “showers upon the grass.” This is majestic language which describes the gentle effect God’s Words will have upon men all through the Day of Christ. He will not be speaking in wrath, as He will, in the later, Day of The Lord.
I believe that at the time of this Glorious Appearing of Christ and His body in Glory, being made manifest, this is the vision Stephen saw as he saw heavens roll back like a scroll and saw Christ standing and Appearing in Glory.
I believes in Acts 7:55, this is the vision Stephen saw just before he died.
He saw Christ Jesus at the right hand of a God the Father standing, ready To act, to begin to put all the enemies of God to an end.
Acts 7:55
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
This is a Resurrection of those judged to live in the next age, in the flesh on earth, such as Job, who said he would stand on earth in the flesh and behold the Lord's image, (at the Appearance of The Lord) just like the vision Stephan saw in Acts 7. The 12 Apostles will rise at this resurrection to rule in Jerusalem ..Luke 22:30 sit on throne judging 12 tribes of Israel...
( KJV(i) 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, (0n His throne ruling from heaven) ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.) included would be believers in God such as Righteous Abel. Mal 4:5-6 the Elijah sent back before the Day of The Lord...
Matthew 19:28
1. It is a time of the first resurrection for the body which Christ is the head. Also, resurrected would be.... all other believers - Christendom/denominations and other ages and believers in God.
Christendom, for the most part, .....suffers great loss, ashamed, but they themselves are saved, left on earth in flesh....
The Kingdom begins...ruled by God in heaven from his throne of Glory. He must remain their until the time of the restitution of all things......
How long did you say? ........ Long enough for God to level the playing field. We were all born in Satan's world that was already deceived, living as slaves to sin and Satan in bondage. It is an up hill battle to ever learn truth. Many, never ever even hear the name of Jesus Christ before they die. Most of Christendom is in mass confusion as to God's truth, hopelessly in darkness and remaining in Replacement Theology to this very day.
God will crush all enemies before Christ Jesus ever sets foot on the Mount of Olives to rule on earth in the Kingdom. The Kingdom must be made ready for Him.
How on earth will this happen, you might say?
Then, a new dispensation will begin when God intervenes in the affairs of man. It will be an age of the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. “The lofty looks shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, AND THE LORD SHALL BE EXALTED IN THAT DAY …” (Isaiah 2:12). The rule and misrule of man will end.
“O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth” (Psalm 67:4).
History records instance-after-instance where one nation invaded another, occupied its territory, assumed sovereignty over the people, and established its own order in the conquered land. Today, it is done with sophisticated high- tech weaponry: planes, tanks, highly trained troops, and shear “shock and awe.” However, when God invades the earth, it is not going to be done in this manner. He will not send His Son, accompanied by the armies of heaven, to wreak carnage and destruction upon the earth’s inhabitants. It will be done by His Word spoken in heaven and His Spirit invading the earth. By His Spirit, He will invade the earth, occupy every square foot of it, assume sovereignty over it, establish His order upon it, and govern it as it should be governed. When God, thus ........acts, His long display of grace will come to an end, and a dispensation of divine government will begin. The Apostle Paul refers to it as …
THE DAY OF CHRIST
By Tom Ballinger
---------------
The Appearing.....
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
...
Here the verb phaneroo is used twice. And here we find plainly stated the hope of the members of the body of Christ, the church. It means to shine forth, to make manifest. From this verb comes the noun epiphaneia, the appearing or manifestation. Only once is this latter used in the pre-Acts 28 epistles of Paul. And there it is used to describe the parousia, hence the brightness of His presence or coming. On the other hand, bema, the judgment seat, does not appear after Acts 28:28. But is there any judgment for members of the body?
It is for this reason that we write this article. Some folks, not knowing the secret too well, have gotten the idea that members of the body of Christ are so perfect that they cannot sin, hence no need for a judgment.
But if that be so, then why all the warnings, such as beware, let no man beguile you, and the like? This is just another version of the sinless perfection error so common today.
2 Timothy 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. For those who rely on words for their theology, rather than the intent, this verse is a puzzle. But it is clear that at the appearing of Colossians 3:4, some will still be living. Others sleep. And there will be a judgment (of rewards) as in the past dispensation. But this judgment will be where they are resurrected, in heaven, not the clouds.
And the word kingdom has stumped a lot of folks, thinking that the millennial kingdom is all the kingdom there is. Note in Colossians 1:13 members of the body have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. Surely something must be wrong here too. But looking back after the divorce of Israel in Acts 28, in the 31st verse, Paul preaches (proclaims) the kingdom of God. In looking all thru for this expression, we must come to the conclusion that it may mean anything from the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, to all that is under the sovereignty of God, in earth, in heaven, and in the heavenlies.
So do not be surprised if you find that the church of the mystery is also a part of the kingdom of God, and specifically the kingdom of His dear Son.
You would do well to search and see other usages of kingdom in the post-Acts epistles of Paul. You might be surprised. Just look at Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:18. Now you can better appreciate what was being said in Acts 28:31.
Not only do we have the judgment of the quick and the dead in 2 Timothy 4:1, but we have a judgment mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:24. So there is a judgment for us today. And that is where Paul expects to receive the prize of the high calling.
When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
We repeat our text, as it must be remembered and kept in mind as the great hope of the church which is the body of Christ. This is in glory, not here on the earth. It is where Christ sitteth. It is where heavenly beings are.
After this appearing will then be realized the mystery of God's will, that all things in heaven and earth be brought under one Head, even Christ. And these all things are the new creation which includes the church on earth and the powers in the heavenlies (see Ephesians 1:9,10).
The new creation is spoken of again in Colossians 1:16-20 and consists of things on earth (the body of Christ, the church) and things in heaven (thrones, dominions, principalities and powers). They meet there in heavenly places for they have a reconciliation, an introduction to each other for mutual living together in high places. And this after the appearing.
In Colossians 1:2'7 it is evident that the saints then were to know, what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ among you, the hope of glory. Note what the hope of glory, the heavenly places, is. This takes us right to the appearing.
And this all prepares us for the admonition in Titus 2:11-14. We must repeat it in full here for the reader to ponder. Here is practical living with a living hope. Read it slowly and with feeling. Do not miss any words.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Now pick out the skeleton of this quote. Live looking for that blessed hope. What hope? The glorious appearing (epiphaneia). This is not the rapture. This is not the revelation. And this is not Israel's hope. It is the hope of the Gentiles with their heavenly calling.
Where will we be when we really look for that blessed hope? Philippians 3:20 tells us that it will be where our citizenship is, and that is not here on the earth, but in heaven.
There is an inheritance in the holy of holies (Ephesians 1:18). And it is in this most holy place that the household of God is, of which those who are looking will have a part (Ephesians 2:19). Members are made meet to partake of this inheritance in the holy of holies in the light, the Shekinah glow (Colossians 1:12). The inheritance will be awarded after the manifestation. A glorious hope. Not many are interested in it. But it is to be a great event for the Lord, and His....
2.
Paul uses this designation in his Acts and post -Acts epistles:
“Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8).
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5).
“As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus” (2 Corinthians 1:14).
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10).
“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:16).
These are the six references to “The Day of Christ” in the AKJV. Most Bible expositors, whether they are Acts 2, Mid-Acts, or Acts 28 believers, ignore the Day of Christ. Is it because they can find no place in their theology for it? We believe so.
What most of the Bible “authorities” do is simply state that the day of Christ is really the “Day of the Lord,” under another name, and let it go at that. Shame on them! If the Day of Christ is the Day of the Lord, then, one-plus-one equals one. Let it be said that, “Yes, Christ is the Lord and the Lord is Christ.” But, the Spirit of God designated one period of time as The Day of Christ and another period of time as The Day of the Lord. An honest seeker of truth must endeavor to rightly divide the two days. An open heart and an unbiased approach to the two days will reveal that they are totally different, and they are replete with profound differences.
While some expositors and students of the Bible ignore the Day of Christ, others may “not see it.” But, Abraham saw it and was glad.
The Lord Jesus Christ was rebuking the Pharisees and said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).
The Day of Christ was not a Secret hid in the Heart of God and not made known to men. It was the subject, the theme, and the plot woven throughout the Bible. It just so happens that the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14) will find its rewards and service in the Day of Christ, not the Day of the Lord.
When will every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11)? This speaks of mankind’s submission to Christ in His Day. This will be a universal acknowledgment that Christ Jesus is Lord.
It will be when God speaks and highly exalts the Name of Jesus from heaven. Then, the whole world will hear and understand Who Jesus Christ is and the high esteem which God the Father has for Him. This begins the Day of Christ and His long, benevolent reign over all of mankind.
This takes place while Christ remains in the heavens where His seat of Government is. Paul tells us, in 1Timothy 6:14-15, that at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times (His Day) He shall show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
To say that Christ’s Day is the same as the Lord’s Day is to rob Him of His Day, in our thinking.
It will be the time of His preeminence, of His government, of His justice, and of His righteousness reigning in the affairs of men. He will bring all of His resources to bear as He establishes the divine government. Lincoln, in the “Gettysburg Address,” declared that this government “of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the face of the earth.” But, the Day of Christ will bring an end to a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Here, dawns a Government that gives instead of taking. The Day of Christ sees a Government of Christ, by Christ, and for all mankind.
Whereas, the distinguishing feature of man’s day is death, the distinguishing feature of the Day of Christ will be life. The time of resurrections—“every man in his own order” (1 Corinthians 15:23).
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
It has been declared of Him and His Day, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). “Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high” (Isaiah 52:13).
The Day of Christ is the day when the GLORY of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh will see it together and at the same time (Isaiah 40:5). We who make up His Fullness will be privileged to praise the glory of His grace.
THE DAY OF CHRIST (Continued)
More needs to be said regarding the Day of Christ. For this study, we will only scratch the surface of all the events associated with Christ’s Day. It will be the time when the Kingdom of God is manifested in the earth. Christ Jesus assumes sovereignty over the nations and rules from heaven.
The Day of Christ is the time when there is a divine intervention and another Advent of the Holy Spirit. The first Advent was on the Day of Pentecost and continued throughout the Acts period, and it was limited to those to whom the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was delivered. This Second Advent of the Spirit will be all
3.
Our Hope Today ....
His and our Appearing Manifestation...
In Ephesians we read of the wonderful new hope set before us believers today;
And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Eph 2:1, 4-7
God has declared that we have been quickened (made alive) in Christ, we have been raised together, and seated together in the heavenlies in Christ, exactly the same place where Christ has been raised and seated at the Father’s right hand (see Ephesians 1:19-21). There, where Christ is seated above all of the heavenly rulers and authorities, is our glorious inheritance in front of God’s face. There our blessings are located and there we are the heirs of God. It is not
surprising that Paul brings this wonderful section to a close with these verses; For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph 2:8-9
When will our faith be realized? When will God’s Word regarding us come to pass? When will we be seated there in our wonderful new bodies “fashioned like His glorious body”? What is the timing of our hope?
The answer to this is found in Colossians 3:1-4 which flows wonderfully onwards from Ephesians 2;
If then (or since, if does not always mean doubt) you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. { When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory*****Col 3:1-4
Here we are clearly told that “WHEN” our Lord, The Head is revealed, “THEN” we, the Church which is His Body, will also be revealed “WITH HIM”. That is the timing of our hope; the revealing of our Lord. Here are one or two other versions:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (KJV) Col 3:1-4
And
If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. (RV) Col 3:1-4
These three versions use “revealed” “appear” and “manifested” to translate the Greek word “phaneroo”. Here are some helpful definitions of “phaneroo”: Strong’s.
phaneroo; from G5318; to render apparent (literally or figuratively): - appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).
Word Study (E-Sword).
phaneroo; manifest, visible, conspicuous. To make apparent, manifest, known, show openly.
Dr Strong says that the word “phaneroo” comes from another word, G5318 which is “phaneros”. Phaneros means “shining” and itself comes from a word which means “light, to give light”.
When our Lord appears it is a moment of revelation involving great light, a shining forth. Where is this shining forth; this appearing of our Lord? The location is very clearly identified; it is “where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God”. Our Lord will be seated at God’s right hand when He is manifested. We shall look more closely at this in later chapters but for now we recognize this is not in the air of 1 Thess.4, where the clouds are located.
We can see a contrast in this Colossians passage. Notice, our life is “hidden with Christ in God” and while these things are hidden now, there is a time coming when they will be manifested or revealed. This moment will be a very bright one, a blazing forth as some have described it. It will be a glorious moment when our Lord and Head is manifested, but you and I and the rest of the Church which is His Body will be manifested there, in the heavenly places with Him at that same time.
What will this appearing be like? Imagine you are sitting on a chair on top of a hill which, if there was light, would be clearly visible to the city below. The hill and the city are in darkness but there comes a time when the top of the hill is illuminated with a bright light. Then you, sitting on top of the hill, will be clearly visible to all those in the city below. You have been “manifested”, you have been “revealed”, you have “appeared” to all. In a similar but far more extensive way the Lord will appear to all in a blazing forth of light. He will be manifested at the right hand of the Father. He will be seen by those in the heavenly places and by those on the earth beneath. At that same time we will also be seen in the same place seated together with Christ.
Please consider the following verses as an anticipation of future chapters;
For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. Mat 24:27
And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear (phaino- the same family of words giving phaneroo of Colossians 3) in the heavens. Mat 24:29-30 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious (epiphanes-the same family of words giving phaneroo of Colossians 3) Day of the Lord. Act 2:20
And
Jesus said to him, You said it. I tell you more. From this time you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of the heavens. Mat 26:64 And he (Stephen) said, Behold, I see Heaven opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Act 7:56
And this passage;
And when He had opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind. And the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; Rev 6:12-15
When the Lord is manifested in the heavenly places, the world will be morally, spiritually and physically dark and in that darkened day a light will blaze forth, our Lord shall be visible and “every eye shall see Him”. The heavens will be peeled back and they will see Him sitting on the right hand of God.
This “appearing” of our Lord and Head is far above the clouds and the air of 1 Thess.4. This is before He begins His descent to the earth. In the day; in the moment our Lord is manifested on the right hand of God, we shall be there in our seats manifested with Him. What an honor, what a moment of unimaginable joy. Let each one of us set our affection “where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God”, for there, in front of God’s face we have been raised and seated to “appear with Him”.
That moment of His appearing is when our hope will be realized.
http://www.acts28.net/eAppearing-Free%20Edition.pdf
Therefore I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is going to judge the living and the dead according to His appearance and His kingdom, 2Ti 4:14.
4.
Our real hope not Second Coming
Part I –It’s Time to Fish or Cut Bait: Part II- Roman Treatise & The Parousia: Part III – The Hope of Israel – The Pre-Millennial Kingdom.
Posted in: 2007
By Tom L. Ballinger
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September 19, 2007
PLAINER WORDS …IT’S TIME TO FISH OR CUT BAIT
Part I
“Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (I Kings 18:21).
“How long halt ye between two opinions?” This is an illustration of a Southern expression for “It’s time to fish or cut bait.” In plainer words, it is time for Christians to make a decision between two opinions, “Is the Hope of the Church which is His body” the Parousia [the Coming] of Christ, or is it the Epiphaneia [His Appearing]? How long halt ye between two opinions? Perhaps, today, as when Elijah asked the question, it will be said, “And the people answered not a word.”
The Kingdom of God is a pre-millennial Kingdom. The Millennium is a period of time in which the Lord Jesus Christ is present on the earth for one-thousand-years. This is the one-thousand-year Parousia of Christ. This includes His arrival and His presence upon the earth. He rules and reigns for one-thousand-years. Prior to His Parousia, He will have ruled the heavens and the earth from Heaven’s Throne (Ps. 103:19) but with His Parousia, He will rule the heavens and the earth from the Earth’s Throne in Jerusalem.
Christ will rule and reign over all of the nations from Heaven’s Throne for hundreds of years. Towards the end of the pre-millennial Kingdom of God, He relaxes His restraints of evil, thus allowing some nations to rise in rebellion against His Divine Government. (Psalm Two describes this). This rebellion will be instigated by Satan energizing the “man of sin,” the anti-christ.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God/Heaven announced that the Kingdom was “at hand.” That is to say, during the time Christ “was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God,” confirming the promises made to the fathers of Israel (Rom. 14:8), the long awaited-promised Kingdom was about to make its Epiphaneia [Appearance] upon the world-scene. John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ, both, announced that it was nigh—“at hand.”
Sometime after Acts 28:31, Paul, the prisoner, received the revelation of the Mystery. God made known to him the Holy Secret [the Mystery] which had been hid from ages and generations (Col. 1:26) “which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men” (Eph. 3:5). This new and fresh revelation from God ushered in a new dispensation; thereby, taking the world by surprise. Yes, this event even staggered the living saints with its revelation. What a “bombshell” it was to have it announced that the Jew no longer had any dispensational privileges over the Gentiles. In fact, the truth that Christ was now among the Gentiles and was their “hope of Glory” (Col. 1:27) perplexed many believers who lived through the Acts Period and emerged into the post-Acts Period of the Mystery.
This took “the wind out of the sails” of many believers. Many, in that day, could not accept this new revelation. They were more comfortable with the way things “used to be.” The revelation of the Mystery left no room for their tradition, pomp, privilege, or ceremony. Of course, many didn’t like the fact that Paul claimed this Truth was made known, exclusively, to him by the Lord Jesus Christ.
With all of the above set forth, we now come to a Truth with which most of our brethren are not very comfortable with. They are uncomfortable when faced with the fact that the believer’s primary hope, during the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles, was not that of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The phrase, “the Second Coming,” is not found in the Bible. Christians coined this phrase from the Biblical Greek word, Parousia. Parousia means, according to Thayer, “NT:3952, parousia, (1). presence: 1 Cor 16:17 (2). the presence of one coming, hence, the coming, arrival, advent, 2 Cor 7:6. ”
It is not until Matthew 24:3 that we read of the first mention of the word, “parousia,” in the New Testament.
“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?”
The Companion Bible states, in its note on Matthew 24:3, that “parousia” is a word “which can be traced in the East as a technical expression for the arrival or the visit of a king or emperor, also of other persons in authority, or of troops.”
Christians use the expression, “the Second Coming” of Christ, as the meaning of the Greek word, “Parousia.” The Bible facts do not support the idea that the Parousia of Jesus Christ was the primary hope of the Church of God during the Book of Acts. If it had been, we could certainly have expected that, with the announcement by John the Baptist and Christ Himself, the Kingdom was “at hand,” it would have included the message that the glorious Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ would usher in the Kingdom of God. When the Parousia is finally mentioned, it is done so, “privately.”
The John Darby and C. I. Scofield school of theology brought to the forefront the idea of the pre-millennial Parousia of Christ. Most fundamental Christians bought into this erroneous interpretation in the mid-to-late 1800’s and the early 1900’s.
It is important to point out that, not once, in the Book of Acts is the “Parousia” of Christ mentioned. But, orthodox Bible exegesis makes it to be the principle event hoped for by all Christians in the New Testament writings. THE PAROUSIA WAS NOT THE PRINCIPAL EXPECTATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT! If it was, we would expect it to have a prominent place in the four Gospels, the Book of Acts and the Epistles written during the Acts Period. But, it hardly has no place at all!
Consider the following:
The Gospel of Matthew—has 1071 verses, and Parousia is only mentioned in four verses. Each instance is in Chapter 24. The context of its usage clearly gives the future time-frame for its occurrences. The Parousia is to take place at the “consummation of the (Kingdom) age” (Matt. 24:3). The other three references, Matthew 24:27, 37, and 39, are likewise, intimately associated with the time of the great Tribulation [part of the consummation].
The Gospel of Mark—in the 677 verses, no mention, at all, is made to the Parousia.
The Gospel of Luke—in the 1151 verses of Luke, no mention, whatsoever, is made of the Parousia.
The Gospel of John—in this magnificent book, where Christ is presented as the Son of God, there is a total silence in all of the 879 verses on the subject of the Parousia.
The Acts of the Apostles—in not one verse, of its 1007 verses, can a reference to the Parousia be found! The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the theme of The Acts of the Apostles from beginning to end, makes no mention, whatsoever, that the expectation was the Parousia. If the Second Coming (the Parousia) was to have been the primary hope announced by the ministry of John the Baptist and Christ, as well as, that of the apostles, why was it suppressed and, even, spoken of only in private (Matt. 24:3)?
Pre-millennial dispensationalists have promoted the doctrinal error that the next move God makes is that of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This significant blunder leads many to unscriptural and undispensational distortions concerning the prominence which The Parousia has in God’s prophetic program.
A glaring mistake, concerning the throne of David, is commonly made in the interpretation of the following verse:
“Therefore being a prophet [i.e., David], and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;” (Acts 2:30).
A correct understanding of this verse would be enhanced if we, properly, capitalized the “H” in “his throne.” Failure to mentally supply the capital letter, or failure to actually capitalize it reinforces the distortion. The ingrained error of understanding the pronouns in Acts 2:30 is the root cause of this monumental blunder. We will give the proper explanation, thus, identifying the pronouns.
“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him [David], that of the fruit of his [David’s] loins, according to the flesh, He [God] would raise up Christ to sit on His [God’s] Throne;” (Acts 2:30).
The blunder is to think that “his throne” refers to David’s throne in Jerusalem. This error is prevalent in standard orthodox teaching, as well as, in much of the teaching of those who acknowledge the Dispensational dividing line of Acts 28. The context bears out that the throne in question is God’s Throne, which is in Heaven, not David’s throne on earth. See Acts 2:33-34:
“Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He [Holy Ghost] hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD [Yahweh] said unto my Lord [Christ], Sit Thou [Christ] on My [Yahweh’s] Right Hand …”
You see, the context is that of Christ sitting on God’s Throne—not Christ sitting on David’s throne.
While the Lord Jesus Christ is seated on God’s Throne in the Heavens—that is, “being by the Right Hand of God exalted,” He will speak, and the world will be restored to its pre-flood pristine glory. The “times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord (Jesus Christ)” (Acts 3:19). Christ remains in heaven until the restitution (restoration) of all things is accomplished which God spoke about through the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21). This was the Hope of the Acts Period believers, as well as, all of the Old Testament saints. A single sentence equivalent to the Hope of man is; Christ is to replace Satan—who assumed the dominion which the Creator gave Adam who lost it when he sinned in the Garden. Only our Lord Jesus Christ has the right to the universal dominion which Adam lost. He will take to Himself this Dominion at His Appearing [Epiphaneia] and Kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1).
The magnificent Divine work of the universal regeneration of Acts 3:19-21 is accomplished without Jesus Christ making one move toward leaving heaven. The hope, that is, the glorious expectation of the New Testament believers was the coming of the Kingdom!!! This will be accomplished while Christ remains [i.e., retained] in heaven (Acts 3:21). The Coming (The Parousia) of the Lord Jesus Christ does not establish the Kingdom of God in the earth; it consummates it (Matt. 24:3).
If the Parousia of Jesus Christ was the New Testament hope, why is it not mentioned, except in private, in Matthew, and not at all in Mark, Luke, John, and The Acts of the Apostles?
The honest answer is because the Parousia was not the believer’s hope at that time. After the Kingdom is established in the earth, those who are privileged enough to live during the “Golden Age” of the pre-millennial Kingdom of God will have a legitimate right to anticipate the Coming [Parousia]. A tragic case in the mis-application of Christ’s Parousia results in stealing the hope of another Dispensation and appropriating it to “ourselves.” The hope of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head is clearly delineated in I Timothy 6:14, II Timothy 1:10, 4:1, 4:8, and Titus 2:13. Our hope is that of a higher and more noble calling than that of the Parousia of Jesus Christ.
“How long halt ye between two opinions?” The Parousia or the Epiphaneia?
Friends and Mountaineers, “It is time to fish or cut bait!”
PLAINER WORDS …THE ROMAN TREATISE AND THE PAROUSIA
Part II
The Apostle Paul’s Treatise of the Roman Epistle is the biblical repository for essential New Testament Truths. The New (Covenant) Testament is a covenant between God and Israel. He never made any covenants with the Gentiles. Therefore, as members of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head and, as such, we are strangers from the covenants of promise (Eph. 2:12). Therefore, we are not to look at New Testament Truth to get “our marching orders.” By saying this, we don’t in any way, suggest that we cannot learn and be edified by such Truth. But, we are to distinguish between New Covenant Truth and Truth for today.
The New Testament will be the Jews’ “ticket” into the long-awaited Kingdom of God. Their “ticket” into the Kingdom is not the Coming and Presence, i.e., the Parousia, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their Kingdom “ticket” will be punched when “the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord [Jesus Christ], …Whom the heaven, must receive [or retain] until the times of restitution of all things which was spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began [to wit, from ancient times]” (Acts 3:19 & 21).
In the last issue of Plainer Words Online, “It’s Time to Fish or Cut Bait,” it was pointed out that the 2nd Coming of Christ, to wit, His Parousia, had no prominent place in the first 4,785 verses of the New Testament. In fact, in only four verses was it even mentioned, and each one was in Matthew 24. Each reference occurred within the context of the consummation of the coming Kingdom age.
The Pre-millennial Kingdom of God becomes a reality when the event of 2 Timothy 4:1 occurs.
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at [to wit, by] His appearing and His kingdom;” (2 Tim. 4:1).
The lengthy duration of the Kingdom of God winds-down with a Divine coup de grace—which is highlighted by the Return of Jesus Christ. This event is the consummation of His Reign from Heaven. Christ Jesus administers the coup de grace to the anti-christ and his followers at His Parousia and His Kingdom. This spectacular event brings about the catastrophic destruction of the Satanic, counterfeit Kingdom and the end of the Great Tribulation. Christ’s Arrival from Heaven and His Presence on earth initiates His One-Thousand-Year Parousia on the earth.
If the word, “parousia,” is used only four times in the first five books of the New Testament, we would certainly think that it would be covered in much detail in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. After all, Romans is the most doctrinally profound writing of all of the New Testament writings. (Every advanced student of Scripture understands that the New Testament does not include those epistles by Paul which are referred to as his “Prison Epistles”). As The Companion Bible states, “Romans … contains the A B C of the believers education. Until its lesson is learned, we know and can know nothing. The Holy Spirit has placed it first in Canonical order because it lies at the threshold of all ‘church’ teaching , and if we are wrong here we shall be wrong altogether.”
The book of Romans has an important role in the scope of the New Testament literature. The theological content of this writing is of great importance to the Christian community, both ancient and contemporary. One Commentator has said of Romans, “As the most systematic and complete exposition of the gospel that the NT contains, it has naturally seemed to have a very special place in the Bible.” Paul’s treatise has caught the attention of many commentators over the centuries. There is no syllable of the Greek text of Romans which has gone unscrutinized, no verb unconjugated, no noun undeclined, no extract unexegeted, and no chapter unoutlined. This is the favorite book in the Bible for most “Grace Believers.” One would think that surely a section of verses would be set aside to reveal the widely held view that the “hope of the New Testament Church” is the 2nd Coming (The Parousia).
On the contrary, not one single verse even mentions the Parousia of Christ. Not only that, but the word, itself, does not find a place in all of the Book of Romans. Paul’s New Testament Treatise to the Romans is silent concerning the 2nd Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wow! “How ‘bout them apples?”
The first eight chapters of Romans are almost pure doctrine. They cover all of the important New Testament tenets. They range from the “gospel of God” (Rom. 1:1) to the “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). With all of this said, it must be affirmed that not one word concerning the Parousia of Jesus Christ is mentioned. Is this fact significant? We think it is extremely significant.
The Epistle to the Romans has 16 chapters, 433 verses, and 9,477 words. Yet, it remains loudly silent on the subject of the 2nd Coming (Parousia) of Christ. If Romans is the “threshold of all church teaching,” as stated in the Companion Bible, why wouldn’t this popular doctrine be mentioned in Romans? After all, as most Christians believe, the 2nd Coming of Christ is the hope of the New Testament believers and, most certainly, the hope of the church. Sadly, we must point out that many believers who embrace Mystery Truth think the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head will realize its hope in some fashion associated with the 2nd Coming. To believe the New Testament hope was, and is, the Parousia is to believe error. And, likewise, to believe that the hope of our calling is somehow connected to Christ’s Parousia is, also, error.
The “hope” of the Church which is His Body is irrevocably linked to Christ’s Appearing (Epiphaneia) and His Coming Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1). It is strange how so many folks won’t “touch 2 Timothy 4:1 with a ten-foot pole.” I understand. I avoided it for years. Admittedly, I was spiritually blind to its monumental significance. Yes, “once I was blind, but now I see.” When this event takes place, our faith will give way to sight and the glorious Epiphaneia of the great God will flood the universe. Our “blessed hope” becomes authenticated.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [Epiphaneia] of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13)
It should be noted that we are not told to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for the Coming (Parousia) of Christ. We must not be guilty of mixing the Parousia with the Epiphaneia, or vice versa. If we do, we may lead others astray and will, in that day, stand as ashamed workmen for having wrongly divided the Word of Truth.
The Hope Romans Presents
The Apostle Paul begins the fifth chapter with the following words:
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-2).
He speaks of standing and rejoicing in the HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD. The magnificent display of God’s Glory was visible to the naked eye before the Flood came in Genesis Seven. With the catastrophe of Noah’s Flood, the visible Glory of God was snuffed-out. It will not be seen, again, until the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) takes place. The LORD predicted, once again, that the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD (Num. 14:21).
“And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Ps. 72:18).
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9).
“And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isa. 40:5).
The manifestation, or revealing of God’s Glory will be a key ingredient when the Hope of the Roman believers is realized. This is indicated by Paul in Romans Eight.
Romans 8:18-25
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (This speaks of Kingdom resurrections; “every man in his own order” 1 Cor. 15:23).
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Literally, “into the liberty of the glory of the children of God”).
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (redemption of the body, i.e., resurrection, not that of 1 Cor. 15:51-55, or 1 Thess. 4:16-17 ).
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
These verses speak of the hope of the glory of God being manifested when the “times of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19), and He ushers in the Kingdom of God—not the One-Thousand-Year presence of Christ on the earth.
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:11-12).
The Apostle Paul reiterates an expression used by John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ by writing, “the day is at hand.” Yes, the Kingdom was still “at hand” when Paul wrote Romans.
There was no instruction with the “at hand” message to be prepared for the sudden Parousia of Christ. We should not be guilty of reading into the context of this part of the New Covenant, something which is not there—the Parousia of Jesus Christ.
The Parousia of Christ does not become a major-factor in “Kingdom Truth” until the last days when the Divine restraints of evil are gradually lifted. The Parousia is the event in which all of those who have believed Satan’s lie and partook in his rebellion will be destroyed by Christ’s Coming. Then, He will be Personally Present on the earth for One-Thousand-Years.
December 31, 2007
PLAINER WORDS …THE HOPE OF ISRAEL—THE KINGDOM
Part III
This Plainer Words should be read in the light of two previous studies, “Time to Fish or Cut Bait,” and “The Treatise of Romans and The Parousia.” These two studies presented misunderstood truths concerning the Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ. The AKJV of the Bible translated the Greek word, parousia, as “coming.” In New Testament times, the Greek-speaking-world used the word, parousia, to describe the “arrival and presence” of a dignitary. The arrival and the subsequent presence of a king, or emperor were referred to as a parousia. If, for example, King Croesus of Lydia were to visit another nation, his journey to and his arrival and presence in the other nation would be called the parousia of King Croesus. A parousia was associated with an official visit and presence of an individual of stature. If an ordinary citizen was required, by Law, to be present at a certain proceeding, then, his presence would have been considered a parousia.
Most certainly, the decent of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, His arrival, and His presence in Jerusalem for one-thousand-years would constitute a grand and glorious Parousia. The translators always translated parousia as “coming.” By doing this, it gave rise to a non-biblical phrase adopted by Christendom—the Second Coming of Christ. The English language has no word equivalent to the Greek word, parousia. Therefore, we have no quarrel with the translation.
The arrival and presence of Him as a babe in the manger was no parousia. Nor, was his presence on earth as a twelve-year- old, nor as a teenager, nor even as a grown man, a parousia. His earthly ministry was that of a servant, a person of no outward stature, or reputation. He was even said to have been born of fornication (John 8:41).
“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:7-8).
We said in The Treatise of Romans and The Parousia, “The book of Romans has an important role in the scope of the New Testament literature. The theological content of this writing is of great importance to the Christian community, both ancient and contemporary. One Commentator has said of Romans, ‘As the most systematic and complete exposition of the gospel that the NT contains, it has naturally seemed to have a very special place in the Bible.’” There is absolutely no reference to the 2nd Coming of Christ, to wit, His Parousia, in the beloved book of “Romans.”
Keep this in mind. “The Epistle to the Romans” was Paul’s last epistle written during “The Acts of the Apostles.” This means that he wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews before he penned Romans. If the Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ was the definitive hope of the Acts Period believers, why on earth didn’t Paul mention it in the most authoritative Scripture in all of the New Testament?
The epistles written during “The Acts of the Apostles” were in harmony with the period, itself. The Acts Epistles did not introduce something that was not part of the revelation of its time. Not only that, but a prophetic Truth, like the Parousia of Christ which didn’t have a major impact on the believer’s hope during the Acts time-frame, was not given a great deal of print in the Scriptures of the time.
The Book of Acts opened with a question concerning the primary hope of the Apostles:
“When they [the Apostles] therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
The Kingdom was the “hope of Israel” throughout the Acts period. Notice, the Apostle Paul, as late as Acts 28, mentioned his hope during the Acts Period as that of “the hope of Israel.”
“For this cause therefore have I [Paul] called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20).
It must be concluded that everything preached and written between Acts 1 and Acts 28 carried with it the underlying hope of Israel. Its realization was not dependent on the 2nd Coming, i.e., the Parousia of Christ. The hope of Present Truth, the Appearing, that is, the Epiphaniea, cannot be found in any of the Acts period Scriptures.
Israel’s hope was also expressed by the Apostle Peter in Acts 3, and it was not associated in any way, shape, form, or fashion with the 2nd Coming (Parousia) of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Acts 3:19-21 clearly stated the Apostolic Expectation:
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
Peter’s message, in Acts 3, validated what the Lord Jesus had told the Twelve Apostles in Matthew 19:28:
“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration [palingenesia = re-creation] when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The Throne of His glory will be in heaven. Christ Jesus will rule the earth from His Throne in heaven, while the Twelve sit upon their earthly thrones, during His Kingdom. Jesus Christ and the Twelve will govern for hundreds of years before Christ comes in His Parousia.
“Heaven is My Throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest?” (Acts 7:49). See also, Ps. 11:4, 103:19, and
Isa. 66:1.
The blue-print for the Church of God, which was made up of Jews and Gentiles, was thoroughly spelled out in the Roman Epistle. And, as it has been pointed out, the Parousia of Christ was not to be found as part of the inspiration of the Romans Treatise.
Paul only mentioned it once in sixteen chapters in 1 Corinthians, and that was in
1 Corinthians 15:23. He did not mention it, at all, in any of the thirteen chapters in 2 Corinthians, nor did he mention it in Galatians. He did use the word, Parousia, when referring to the arrival and presence of Christ, four times in 1 Thessalonians. Each time, it was used in the context of the end of the Great Tribulation. In 2 Thessalonians, Paul made reference to the Parousia (i.e, the 2nd Coming) of Christ only twice. Once, it is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, and then, in 2:8.
If the 2nd Coming of Christ was the HOPE of the Apostles, as well as the members of the Church of God during the Acts Period, one would suppose that this event would warrant more than the seven times Paul made reference to it in his Acts Epistles. I would think that the thorough student of Scripture would be curious as to why Paul made reference to it so sparingly. If the 2nd Coming is considered, by today’s Christians, to be the most prominent expectation of believers, why is it only mentioned seven times by the Apostle Paul in his Acts Epistles?
These things are pointed out, not to diminish the importance of the Parousia of our Lord Jesus Christ, but to point out that it is not the next event on God’s Prophetic Clock. Church-going Christians have been taught that Christ could come at any moment, and with His Coming, it would usher in His Millennial Reign which they, also, call the Kingdom. By failing to rightly divide the Word of Truth, they confuse the 1000 year reign with the Pre-Parousia Kingdom of God, believing them to be the same thing.
It is important to point out that, not once, in the Book of Acts is the “Parousia” of Christ mentioned. But, orthodox Bible exegesis makes it out to be the principal event hoped for by all Christians in the New Testament writings. THE PAROUSIA WAS NOT THE PRINCIPAL EXPECTATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT! If it was, we would expect it to have a prominent place in the four Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the Epistles written during the Acts Period. But, it hardly has a place at all!
It should be noted that the Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ is found only sixteen times in all of the twenty-seven books of what is commonly referred to as the New Testament.
Listed, below, is a concordance of the sixteen usages of the word, Parousia, as it is used in reference to the Parousia of Jesus Christ. Each reference of the Parousia is associated with the destruction of the anti-christ, thus, ending the Great Tribulation which is the consummation (sunteleia) of the Kingdom Era.
The Gospel of Matthew – 24:3, 27, 37, 39.
I Corinthians – 15:23.
I Thessalonians – 2:19. 3:13. 4:15. 5:23.
II Thessalonians – 2:1. 2:8.
James – 5:7-8.
2 Peter – 1:16. 3:4.
I John – 2:23.
The 2nd Coming of Christ, to wit, the Parousia of Christ, takes place hundreds of years after the “Hope of Israel” becomes a reality. Therefore, it was not the great expectation of the Apostles, or the Church of God. Note this, carefully, and mark it well. The “Hope of Israel” does not come with the Lord descending, His Voice shouting, angels accompanying, trumpets blasting-forth, and saints ascending as most Christians are saying today. If it does, then it will come with an outward show, and the Lord Jesus’ words will be found to be false.
Of course, all of these things do take place in connection with Him coming in His Parousia. He does not come back to earth to govern because He has been doing so from His Throne in Heaven. He comes back to be Personally Present on earth.
The Apostolic Expectation must be in harmony with the promises made in the Old Testament, and all the more so, since Paul declared in Romans 15:8, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” Among these promises which He will validate is the one found in Psalm 46:6-10 where it is revealed that at a time when the nations are in turmoil, and the governments are shaken, “… He uttered His voice, the earth melted.” Those living during the Kingdom Era will observe this and will, then, be invited to Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” NIV.
This was, in fact, what the Apostles fully expected to take place when their hope materialized, and Christ Jesus began to Reign over the nations. Their hope, as well as the Church of God, was in agreement with the promises of God that He would cause judgment to be heard from heaven (Ps. 76:8); that He would bring forth judgment to the nations (Isa. 42:1); of a time to come when His judgments would be in all the earth
(Ps. 105:7). Matthew set forth the Hope of Israel when he quoted Isaiah in Matthew 12:18-21, closing with the words, “And in His Name shall the Gentiles trust.”
Paul repeated this Truth in Romans 15:12, “And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust.” This will not be connected, at all, with His Parousia.
The unashamed workman can rightly divide the Word of Truth. He does not confuse the Kingdom of God with the 1000 year Parousia of Christ. A true spiritual differentiator is enabled to do so.
[11] The 27th edition of the Nestle-Aland text was edited by eminent scholars 