SECOND PERSONAL COMING TO THIS EARTH.
The words used to show what this coming will be are parousia, apokalupsis, and epiphaneia. The first of these words denotes presence. Christ was present at his first advent; he will be at his second. He is now absent, and the Holy Spirit is his representative during this time. John 16:7. This presence, some claim, is invisible to the world, but it is a sufficient reply to this to show (a) that this is not the obvious use of the word (see 1 Cor. 16:17; 2 Cor. 7:6, 7, where the word parousia is used); and (b) the connection where the word is used of Christ's coming absolutely forbids a secret coming, or secret rapture. Let us notice some of these texts. In Matt. 24:3 the disciples ask our Saviour, "What shall be the sign of thy coming [parousia, presence]?" Jesus gives them the signs which would indicate that his coming was near. He implies that there would arise classes who would teach local and secret comings of Christ. Some would say, Christ is here; others would say, He is there. Some would say he is in the secret chamber; some that he was in the desert; but no credence must be given them. His presence [parousia] is not to be revealed in that way. No one knoweth the day or the hour when it will burst upon the world, but when it does occur, it will be "as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall the coming [parousia] of the Son of Man be." Verse 27. Another passage will be sufficient to indicate the manner of this coming. In 1 Thess. 4:15 the apostle speaks of some who will remain "unto the coming [parousia] of the Lord." The next verse gives the manner of that coming: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God." The very opposite idea of a "secret rapture" is revealed in this text. The expression "the Lord himself" shows that he does not come by a representative. It is in his own person. And "the voice of the Archangel," the "shout," and "the trump of God" clearly show that this is not a coming in the stillness of spirit to only a few. "Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him." Rev. 1:7. The word apokalupsis (revelation, manifestation) also applies to his second coming. It is rendered "coming" only once, and that is in 1 Cor. 1:7. It is rendered "revelation" in 2 Thess. 1:7 (see Revised Version); 1 Peter 1:13; and "appearing" in 1 Peter 1:7. At the time when Christ will be revealed in his awful glory, then also will come the "manifestation" (Greek, apokalupsis, Rom. 8:19) of the "sons of God," made like Christ and sharing his glory. 1 John 3:1-3; Phil. 3:21. The word means a complete showing forth. When the Son of God was first upon earth, it was a "coming" to earth, but it was not his "revelation" or "disclosure." His divinity was veiled by humanity. He had no form nor comeliness that men should desire him. Isa. 53:2. He was to many only a prophet, to many more, the son of Joseph and Mary. But he will come again, and that coming will be a revelation of all that his people have believed by faith. He will be the blessed Redeemer, the Life Giver, the King of kings. Every knee shall then bow, and every tongue shall then confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Phil. 2:11. The word epiphaneia, rendered "appearing" and "brightness," refers, when used of Christ, to his appearing, shining forth, or glory, which will be revealed when he comes. See 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 1:10; 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13, where it is rendered "appearing," and in 2 Thess. 2:8, where it is rendered "brightness." "That wicked" will be destroyed "with the brightness [epiphaneia, shining forth] of his coming [parousia, presence]." The word erchomai also refers to the same event as well as to others. That simply denotes his coming, as in Luke 21:27. Parousia applied to the same event as in Matt. 24:27 and 1 Thess. 4:15, shows that this coming will bring the veritable, literal presence of Christ. Epiphaneia shows, as in 2 Thess. 2:8, that that coming, or parousia, is overwhelmingly glorious. This is also taught by Luke 21:27. And apokalupsis shows that all this coming and glory and presence of the Son of God are the revelation of his divine majesty and complete fullness. What the people of God have believed by faith, that glorious coming and presence of Christ will then reveal to all. From the foregoing evidences, therefore, we can come to no other conclusion than this: The Scriptures reveal but one second coming to this earth of our Lord Jesus Christ; that this coming will not be invisible and secret, or spiritual, but personal, literal, visible, with the shout of triumph and the trump of God; and that those events which are spoken of so as to indicate secrecy, or stillness, are shown by a study of the sanctuary and priesthood of Christ to be events which precede the visible coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, that glorious coming being the culminating event of the series. Of this we will have more to say in the future.