Our Lord's Parousia and Ephiphania and Apokulupsys

8/14/2019 Our Lord's Parousia and Ephiphania and Apokulupsys

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Our Lords Parousia Epiphania and Apokalupsis

By M.S.Mariadas and Y.R.DinakaranBible Students, M.B.S.A

The main assertion by Pastor Russell is that the three Greek words (parousia, epiphania,and apokalupsis) are used by NT writers as a gradual progression which reveals Jesus returnfrom an invisible phase known only to his saints to a revealing to the world in general(though not visibly). To see if this assertion is true, it should be a very simple matter wheninvestigating the NT writings. Simply put, we should see no interchangeability of these

words. For instance, when speaking of Jesus' revelation to the world, only epiphania andapokalupsis should be used whenever the church is the subject of Jesus' return, only parousiashould be used. Here are some supporting quotes from Pastor Russell:

"These Bible students call our attention to the fact that the Bibledistinctly differentiates between the parousia of Christ and His Epiphania, atHis Second Coming. The word parousia signifies presence, without inany sense of the word indicating that the presence is visible. The wordEpiphania signifies the revealing of one who is already present. These Biblestudents claim that in the end of this Gospel Age Christ will be present,invisible to men, during a period of forty years, doing a work especially in HisChurch--rewarding the faithful, as shown in the parables of the Pounds andthe Talents, and receiving the "wise virgins," as in the parable of our lesson.1

The Scriptures indicate that the Gentile governments will receive from theirown peoples their first notice that their lease of power has expired. Thepeople will take note of the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens. Thejudgments of the Lord will begin to be manifest in the world, and will runcounter to many of their interests.This manifestation of His presence isScripturally called the Epiphania, the shining forth, the revealment, ofthe King of Glory. "He shall be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance onthem that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord JesusChrist." (`2 Thessalonians 1:7- 10`.) As a result, the nations of earth will bebroken to pieces like a potter's vessel.--`Psalm 2:8,9`.2

At what time the Lord's people will be taken beyond the veil the Lord has notfully indicated. But we have the assurance that when He shall appear, bemanifested--when His Epiphania shall occur--we shall be with Him, we shall

1Reprints of Zion's Watchtower, pg. 5523



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be like Him and see Him as He is. He will not begin His great work ofestablishing the Kingdom until the Church shall be with Him.3

Our Lord's and the gathering of the elect, we understand, hasbeen in progress since October, 1874. It will continue until all of the "elect"

shall have been gathered and glorified. In one sense our Lord will continue tobe present as the world's King to the conclusion of the Millennial Age; but his in the sense of secrecy of presence, will terminate when, as theScriptures declare, "He shall be in flaming fire (judgments), taking

vengeance on all who will not obey the Truth," but enlightening andrevivifying all who will hear and, to the extent of their opportunity, obey hismessage. The is to the Church and for the Church only.

The or of the Lord in power and greatglory is not to the Church nor for the Church, but to the world and forthe world. "When he shall thus appear we also shall appear with him in

glory," the Apostle declares. --`Col. 3:4`."4

"Now, in the harvest time, he is present to gather the sleeping ones and tofurther test and perfect "us who are alive and remain." The High Priest isdoing no work outside of the "holy" of the antitypical Tabernacle. Hispresence is unknown to the world. Soon Bridegroom and Bride will beushered into the presence of the Father in eternal glory. The "marriage supperof the Lamb" will be celebrated, and then Bride and Bridegroom, Head andmembers complete in glory, will come forth to bless the world. Thatcrowning day of joy to the Church will be followedby our Lord's and To the world he shall be revealed in

flaming fire of the time of trouble, but nevertheless with power and greatglory, "and all his saints with him.""5

Now let us give the premise of linear use of these words a thorough examination.Identifying our many words as verbs or adverbs may sound silly, but it is helpful inunderstanding why authors choose the words they do. Studying these carefully willgive some insight on why certain words had to be used over others. While it isintended that this treatise shall be presented in the simplest form, it becomesnecessary to refer to certain Greek words used in the New Testament because somuch depends upon the correct understanding of their meanings. The most

important word is "PAROUSIA"(in the Authorized Version of the New Testamentgenerally translated 'coming').





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Dictionary Definitions of Parousia

1. The definitions of this word given in Liddell & Scott's Greek-English Lexicon(abridged) are

A being present, presence

Arrival. Or comingLet it be clearly seen that in these definitions there is no reference to visibility orinvisibilityof presence or arrival.

2. Vines, page 200-201

Parousia - lit., "a presence," para, "with," and ousia, "being" (from eimi, "to be"),denotes both an "arrival" and a consequent "presence with." For instance, in apapyrus letter a lady speaks of the necessity of her parousia in a place in order to

attend to matters relating to her property there. Paul speaks of his parousia inPhilippi, Phil. 2:12 (in contrast to his apousia, "his absence;" see ABSENCE).Other words denote "the arrival" (see eisodos and eleusis, above). Parousia is usedto describe the presence of Christ with His disciples on the Mount of

Transfiguration, 2 Pet. 1:16. When used of the return of Christ, at the Rapture ofthe Church, it signifies, not merely His momentarycomingfor His saints, but Hispresence with them from that moment until His revelation and manifestation tothe world. In some passages the word gives prominence to the beginning of thatperiod, the course of the period being implied, 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 4:15; 5:23; 2

Thess. 2:1; Jas. 5:7,8; 2 Pet. 3:4. In some, the course is prominent, Matt. 24:3,37; 1

Thess. 3:13; 1 John 2:28; in others the conclusion of the period, Matt. 24:27; 2Thess. 2:8.

3.Thayer's, page 490

parousia ... the coming, arrival, advent ... of a return ... the future, visible,return from heaven of Jesus.

4.A Greek-English Lexicon, page 635

Coming, advent as the first stage in presence.... The official term for a visit of a

person of high rank, esp. of kings and emperors visiting a province.

5. Strong's Number G3952 Greek (Parousia)

presence

the coming, arrival, advent

the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the lastjudgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God


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In Phil. 2: 12 where this wordparousiaoccurs, it is used as an opposite of "absence". "Not asin my (Paul's) presence (parousia) only but now much more in my absence (apousia)..."Ofour Lord then we can say similarly: He went away and was absent from this world,He willreturn and will be present; that is to say, He will be no longer absent.

In regard to our Lord's return, "presence" (parousia) pre-supposes that an arrival has takenplace and it is seen from the above definitions that both of these ideas are in the one word"parousia". Sometimes when parousia is used, "presence" may be emphasized but not to theexclusion of the idea of "arrival". Sometimes "arrival" is the intended and primary meaning.Paul was glad of the parousia (i@e., arrival) of certain brethren (I Cor. 16: 17) and he wascomforted by theparousta(arrival) of Titus (2 Cor. 7: 6). They, no doubt, remained with Pauland thus their parousia (arrival) extended to "presence". But nobody would suggest they

were already present unseen and subsequently revealed.

Dictionary Definitions of Epiphania

1. Vines Dictionary

Appear, Appearing:

Eng., "epiphany," lit., "a shining forth," was used of the "appearance" of a god to men, andof an enemy to an army in the field, etc. In the NT it occurs of

the advent of the Savior when the Word became flesh, 2Ti 1:10;

the coming of the Lord Jesus into the air to the meeting with His saints, 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti4:1,8;

the shining forth of the glory of the Lord Jesus "as the lightning cometh forth fromthe east, and is seen even unto the west," Mat 24:27, immediately consequent on theunveiling, apokalupsis, of His Parousia in the air with His saints, 2Th 2:8; Tts 2:13.*[* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, p. 263.]

Notes:o Phanerosis, akin to A, No. 4, "a manifestation," is used in 1Cr 12:7 and 2Cr

4:2.o For phaneros, wrongly translated "may appear," in 1Ti 4:15, AV (RV, "may be

manifest," not mere appearance), See MANIFEST.o Emphanes, akin to A, No. 5, "manifest," is used in Act 10:40 and Rom 10:20.

See MANIFEST, OPENLY.o For adelos, "which appear not," Luk 11:44, See UNCERTAIN.

2. Strongs # G2016:-an appearing, appearance, brightness,


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3.Thayer's,

Greek (epiphaneia) an Appearing, Appearance often used by the Greeks of aglorios manifestation of the gods

Dictionary Definitions of Apokalupsis

1. Lexicon Results for apokalypsis(Strong's G602)

laying bare, making naked

a disclosure of truth, instruction

o concerning things before unknown

o used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn fromview are made visible to all

manifestation, appearance

2. Vines Expository Dictionary Results for apokalupsis

Appear, Appearing:

lit., "an uncovering, unveiling" (apo, "from," kalupto, "to hide, cover"), denotes "arevelation, or appearing" (Eng., apocalypse). It is translated "the appearing" in 1Pe 1:7, AV(RV, "revelation"). See COMING, MANIFESTATION, REVELATION.

Revelation:

"an uncovering" (akin to apokalupto; see above), "is used in the NT of

the drawing away by Christ of the veil of darkness covering the Gentiles, Luk 2:32;cp. Isa 25:7;

'the mystery,' the purpose of God in this age, Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3;

the communication of the knowledge of God to the soul, Eph 1:17;

an expression of the mind of God for the instruction of the church, 1Cr 14:6,26, forthe instruction of the Apostle Paul, 2Cr 12:1,7; Gal 1:12, and for his guidance, Gal

2:2; the Lord Jesus Christ, to the saints at His Parousia, 1Cr 1:7, RV (AV, 'coming'); 1Pe

1:7, RV (AV, 'appearing'),13; 4:13;

the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes to dispense the judgments of God, 2Th 1:7;cp. Rom 2:5;

the saints, to the creation, in association with Christ in His glorious reign, Rom 8:19,RV, 'revealing' (AV, 'manifestation');


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the symbolic forecast of the final judgments of God, Rev 1:1 (hence the Greek title ofthe book, transliterated 'Apocalypse' and translated 'Revelation')." * [* From Noteson Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 228, 229.]See APPEARING, COMING, LIGHTEN, B, Note, MANIFESTATION.

Whenever we find a word comingin the English bible it is understood that it means Parousiain like manner when we come across words like appearing or appearance it means theGreek word certainly must be Epiphania and with Revelation it is from the Greek word

Apokaupsis.

The view has been advocated that these three Greek words relate to different stages orperiods of our lord's Return, thatparousia(presence) takes place first, known only to a few,and that apokatup-sisand epiphaneiaare later stages. Now our reasoning is Do the Greek

words "parousia," "epiphania," and "apokalupsis" represent three different time stages

of the Lord's second presence ORare they all speaking ofone event while using the properGreek words that are dictated by Greek grammatical requirements as used in their sentencestructure by which the thought is given? The understanding which commends itself to us,however, is that all three expressions relate to the Lord's arrival and that in referring to it asone great event, they are used interchangeably according to the particular aspect the inspired

writer has in mind.

To illustrate what has just been asserted, the following Scriptures should be read verycarefullyParallel accounts interchanging the words

Matthew 24:39 and theyknew nothing about what

would happen until theflood came and took themall away. That is how it willbe at theparousia of theSon of Man.

LUKE 17:30 "It will be justlike this on the day the Sonof Man isApokalupto.

Here we have a parallel account of the flood of Noah (Luke also adds the Sodom analogy)that describes the same event using two different words. We can conclude that parousia isequal to apokalupto, the root of apokalupsis.

Parousia Epiphania Apokalusis all relating to on same event

Jas. 5:7 - "Be patient, therefore, brethren unto the coming(parou-sia) of the Lord."

1 Pet. 1:13 - ". . . hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at therevelation (apokdupsis) of Jesus Christ."


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Tit 2: 13. "Looking for ... the glorious appearing(epiphaneia) of ... our SaviourJesus Christ

In each of these references, attention is directed to the one event, the return of our Lord,and particularly as it bears upon the saints cessation from toil and suffering and the

receiving of their reward, notwithstanding that three different words in the original languageare used respecting the one event. To emphasize this point still further, let us note first whatis to take place at the "appearing" of our Lord. In the following texts "appearing" istranslated from epiphaneia: -

1 Tim. 6: 14 - "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable,until the appearing (EPIPHANIA) of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The saints are to be faithful until His appearing.

2 Tim. 4: 1 I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, whoshall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing( Epiphania) and his kingdom;

The quick and the dead shall be judged then.

Tit 2: 13. "Looking for ... the glorious appearing (epiphaneia) of ... our SaviourJesus Christ

The Church is Expecting to participate in this event

2 Tim. 4:8 - "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which theLord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them

that love his appearing (EPIPHANIA)."

The crown of righteousness shall be given to the faithful then.But it has also to noted that the same things transpire at the Parousiaof our Lord.

Now let us see what is to take place when Our Lord is going to be Revealed Inthe following texts "Revealed " is translated fromApokalupsis: -

1 Peter 1:7 - These have come so that your faith--of greater worththan gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be provedgenuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is

revealed (apokalupsis).We are judged worthy at his revelation.

1 Peter 1:13 - Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when

Jesus Christ is revealed (apokalupsis).We receive our reward at Jesus' revelation.


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1 Peter 1:5 - who through faith are shielded by God's power until thecoming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed (Apokalupto) inthe last time.Our salvation occurs at Jesus' revelation.

2 Thessalonians 1:7 - and give relief to you who are troubled, and to usas well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed(apokalupsis) from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.Our relief comes when Jesus is revealed when he comes with his

powerful angels

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;that, when his glory shall be revealed (apokalupsis), ye may be glad also withexceeding joy.

We will be glad and joyful when Jesus revealed with his splendid glory

1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder,and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory thatshall be revealed(apokalupsis):

We will partake in the Glory when Christ is Revealed

1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shalldeclare it, because it shall be revealed (apokalupsis) by fire; and the fire shalltry every man's work of what sort it is.

Jesus is revealed by fire at his coming

1 Cor.1:5-7 "That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in allknowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed to you; so that ye comebehind in no gift, waiting for the coming (APOKALUPSIS) of our Lord JesusChrist."

The Church is waiting for the coming i.e. for the apokalupsis of Christ(this is the only verse were coming is translated as apokalupsis)

Epiphania Parallel Parousia

2 Thes 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shallconsume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness(EPIPHANIA) of his coming(PARAOUSIA)


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Among other words used of the Lord's Return isphaneroo(STRONGS #G5319) whichmeans to appear or to make manifest.

1 Pet. 5:4 - "When the chief Shepherd shall appear (phaneroo) ye shall receive acrown of glory."

Col. 3:4 - "When Christ shall appear (phaneroo) then shall ye also appear with Him.

Its use in conjunction with parousia in. I Jno. 2: 28 shows that He appears to all Hispeople at His arrival (in the same way that they will appear with Him as in Col. 3: 4). That

when He shall appear (phaneroo) we may not be ashamed before Him at His coming(parousia)."

In a similar way apokalupsis and epiphancia parallel parousia, and each interprets the other.Believers are to be Paul's hope and crown of rejoicing in Christ's parousia(1Thes. 2:19); tolook for rest and release in the apokatupsis(2 Thes. 1: 7); to receive a crown at His epiphaneia(2Tim. 4: 8) at the time when He appears (phaneroo) (I Pet. 5: 4). They are looking for the

parousia(2 Pet. 3:12), the epiphaneia(Tit. 2:13), and waiting for the apokalupsis(ICor. 1:7) ofour Lord Jesus Christ. Epiphaneia is associated with parousia in2 Thes. 2:8, phemeroo withparousia inI Jno. 2:28, and apokatupsis with parousia in Matt. 24:27 and Luke 17:30 as can beseen by a comparison of these two parallel accounts.

Thus we see that these words are but kindred terms to describe one and the samegreat future event. For His glorious revelation, for His shining forth, for His divinemanifestation, for the arrival of the King, we still hope and wait and pray

It would seem unreasonable that the Apostle Paul ,Peter, John and Matthew would use

words that are said to represent different stages of time of the Lord's second presence whenthey were instructing and admonishing different members of the church to watch for theLord to return at which time they are to be taken up together with him. The "parousia" issaid by some to be the first stage in time (which occurred in 1874 - now more than 133 yearsin the past) and it is to be followed next by the "epiphania," and later by the "apokalupsis"stage. If this was so and the Lord was to return at the "first stage" - Parousia and raises firstthe members of his church "who are dead in Christ" (1 Thes.4:16), THEN:

Why would the Apostle Paul tell Timothy to keep the commandment spotless until the"epiphania," the second stage, of our Lord Jesus Christ's second presence, if those who "aredead in Christ" are raised to be with the Lord when he returns at the "parousia," the first

stage ?

Why would the Apostle Paul tell the Corinthians to be enriched in knowledge and utteranceso that they will be furnished as they wait for the "apokalupsis," the third phase of Jesus'second presence, when he tells Timothy to do so until the "epiphania," the second stage ofhis second presence ?


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Why would the Apostle Paul tell the Thessalonians to keep their hearts blamelessunto the "parousia," the first stage of Jesus second presence, when he tells Timothy to keepthe commandment spotless until the "epiphania," the second stage of his second presence ?

Why would the Apostle Paul tell the Colossians that when the Lord appears (phaino)

then they will appear (phanio - the second stage of Jesus' second presence) with him in glory,if they are to be raised and glorified at the "parousia," the first stage of his second presence ?

Why would the Apostle Paul tell Titus that we should live soberly, righteously, andGodly in this present world while looking for the "epiphania," the second stage of the Lord'ssecond presence, if they are to be raised and glorified at the "parousia," the first stage of hissecond presence?

Explanation: These scriptures would contradict one another if they are interpreted to referto three different stages of time, but they do agree with each other from the viewpoint of

being interchangeable when looked at as being ONE EVENT that would occur at the sametime. It would seem reasonable then that different Greek words were used to satisfy thesentence structure of the grammatical requirements by and in which the thought waspresented and to express different shades of meaning in respect to the ONE EVENT.

Summary of the Greek Words

As we can easily see, the words are used interchangeably depending on thegrammatical structure of the sentence. To make a case for a progressive revealing of

Jesus' invisible presence is barely implicit in nature and has too many inconsistenciesto hold as a necessary doctrinal stance. Before Proceeding further to predict different

dates of our Lords second advent , the above logical, factual and reasonablequestions must be answered in full by wanting to make sense the "progressiverevealing of Jesus' invisible presence:"

Our Lord's Parousia and Ephiphania and Apokulupsys

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