We hear many references to Jesus’ Comings. In particular, we hear reference to the Second Coming (the Parousia) of Jesus Christ, as if parousia is defined AS Jesus’ Final Coming.
We will learn that the word parousia is not limited to the final return of Jesus. One of the assumptions is that there are only two comings of Jesus. We will test this and find it is a false assumption. If we do a quick search, within the Bible, for the words Second AND coming, we will find no mention of it.
So how many comings (parousia) are there? Commonly, there are two comings of Christ in the New Testament taught by most teachers.
However, there are much more than two – there are six! Jesus will return at the end of this age and hand the kingdom back to the Father.
What Does Coming in the Greek Language Mean?
Erchomai- to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively): — accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, x light, x next, pass, resort, be set.
MATTHEW 26:64 JESUS SAID TO HIM, “IT IS AS YOU SAID. NEVERTHELESS, I SAY TO YOU, HEREAFTER YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE POWER AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
This word is used 599 times in the New Testament and used for many different comings, not only of Jesus.
The second word for coming in Greek is Parousia, which is more specific; being near, advent (often, return; especially, of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect: — coming, presence.
Parousia refers to a conquering army general coming into the capital city.
Parousia is used 24 times in the New Testament of different comings (advents), not just the Second Coming of Christ.
Erroneous Teaching Around the Final Coming of Jesus
Error #1. Parousia Ony Refers to Jesus Final Return. As we look through the different times of parousia, we will find that parousia does not only refer to the final return of Jesus. A growing number of theologians and teachers describe the Futurist view as biblically naive and inaccurate, and dangerous to the kingdom of God.
Error #2. The Final Parousia of Jesus Christ Occurred in 70AD Preterists believe that Jesus Second Parousia, the resurrection of the dead, and Judgment Day have all occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem.
Parousia: Used for Ordinary People. Contrary to what some people say, parousia is not only referring to His Second coming. Like erchomai, parousia describes ‘coming’ in a very usual way:
Friendship.
1 CORINTHIANS 16:17 I AM GLAD ABOUT THE PAROUSIA OF STEPHANAS, FORTUNATUS, AND ACHAICUS, FOR WHAT WAS LACKING ON YOUR PART THEY SUPPLIED.
Ministerial Support. 2 CORINTHIANS 7:5-6 FOR INDEED, WHEN WE CAME TO MACEDONIA, OUR BODIES HAD NO REST, BUT WE WERE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE. OUTSIDE WERE CONFLICTS; INSIDE WERE FEARS. NEVERTHELESS, GOD, WHO COMFORTS THE DOWNCAST, COMFORTED US BY THE PAROUSIA OF TITUS,
Paul’s Presence Amongst Believers. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:10 “FOR HIS LETTERS,” THEY SAY, “ARE WEIGHTY AND POWERFUL, BUT HIS BODILY PAROUSIA IS WEAK, AND HIS SPEECH CONTEMPTIBLE.”
The “Parousia” of the Lawless One.
2 THESSALONIANS 2:8-9 AND THEN THE LAWLESS ONE WILL BE REVEALED, WHOM THE LORD WILL CONSUME WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH AND DESTROY WITH THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS COMING. THE COMING OF THE LAWLESS ONE IS ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF SATAN, WITH ALL POWER, SIGNS, AND LYING WONDERS,
So we see that parousia was a common word NOT SPECIFIC to the Physical appearance of Jesus at the end of the age.
Jesus’ Comings
Now that we have determined that neither parousia nor erchomai is specific to the return of Jesus at the end of the age, we can look at the different times Jesus came.
His Virgin Birth.
All faithful theologians agree that the first coming of Jesus as the Son of God was at His birth in a manger.
Jesus’s first coming occurred during Herod’s reign.
The Commencement of His Ministry.
The next coming of Jesus was when He started His earthly three and a half year ministry in 27AD.
ACTS 13:23-24 FROM THIS MAN’S SEED, ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE, GOD RAISED UP FOR ISRAEL A SAVIOR—JESUS— AFTER JOHN HAD FIRST PREACHED, BEFORE HIS COMING, THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
His Coming at the Transfiguration.
Here Peter is referring to Jesus, glorious transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13).
2 PETER 1:16-18 FOR WE DID NOT FOLLOW CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES WHEN WE MADE KNOWN TO YOU THE POWER AND PAROUSIA OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BUT WERE EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY. FOR HE RECEIVED FROM GOD THE FATHER HONOR AND GLORY WHEN SUCH A VOICE CAME TO HIM FROM THE EXCELLENT GLORY: “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” AND WE HEARD THIS VOICE WHICH CAME FROM HEAVEN WHEN WE WERE WITH HIM ON THE HOLY MOUNTAIN.
Peter wrote this as he was on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter died in 64AD; therefore, like the writings of John, the epistle dates before the destruction of Jerusalem. This is important because Peter refers to being in the last days, which ended in 70AD.
2 PETER 3:3 KNOWING THIS FIRST: THAT SCOFFERS WILL COME IN THE LAST DAYS, WALKING ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN LUSTS,
Jesus’ Coming for His Enthronement. Where thrones (Dan 7 v10ff) were set in place for His ascension and enthronement after His resurrection in AD30
DANIEL 7:13 “I WAS WATCHING IN THE NIGHT VISIONS, AND BEHOLD, ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN, COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN! HE CAME TO THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, AND THEY BROUGHT HIM NEAR BEFORE HIM.
Jesus Parousia in Judgment on Israel in 70AD. Jesus said He would return on the clouds of glory within one generation of His prophecy.
MATTHEW 24:27-28 FOR AS THE LIGHTNING COMES FROM THE EAST AND FLASHES TO THE WEST, SO ALSO WILL THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE. FOR WHEREVER THE CARCASS IS, THERE THE EAGLES WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER.
To say that this scripture refers to a future event is saying Jesus is a false prophet. He is linking it to the surrounding of the armies around Jerusalem in 67AD and 70AD. The eagle refers to the Roman armies.
LUKE 21:20 “BUT WHEN YOU SEE JERUSALEM SURROUNDED BY ARMIES, THEN KNOW THAT ITS DESOLATION IS NEAR.
Jesus Returns in the Future.
1 THESSALONIANS 3:13 SO THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS BEFORE OUR GOD AND FATHER AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL HIS SAINTS.
Here are some other references to His final coming in the future. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:26 FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DEATH TILL HE COMES.
There are many other references to the future return of Jesus, including 1 Cor. 11:26; 15:23–24; 1 Thes. 4:14–17; 2 Thes. 1:7–8; 2 Tim. 4:1; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28
We need to be careful not to assume that what we have understood about the coming of Jesus is correct. We do know He is coming again.
Three Historians Account of Jesus’ Coming in 66 AD.
Jesus appeared over Jerusalem during Passover, three and a half years before its destruction in September 70AD.
Josephus The Wars of the Jews
ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH OF ARTEMISIUS [JYAR], A CERTAIN PRODIGIOUS AND INCREDIBLE PHENOMENON APPEARED; I SUPPOSE THE ACCOUNT OF IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A FABLE, WERE IT NOT RELATED BY THOSE THAT SAW IT, AND WERE NOT THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED IT OF SO CONSIDERABLE A NATURE AS TO DESERVE SUCH SIGNALS; FOR, BEFORE SUNSETTING, CHARIOTS AND TROOPS OF SOLDIERS IN THEIR ARMOR WERE SEEN RUNNING ABOUT AMONG THE CLOUDS, AND SURROUNDING OF CITIES B. Tacitus. TACITUS THE HISTORIES 5.13 “IN THE SKY APPEARED A VISION OF ARMIES IN CONFLICT, OF GLITTERING ARMOUR.”
Pseudo-Hegesippus.
“A CERTAIN FIGURE APPEARED OF TREMENDOUS SIZE, WHICH MANY SAW, JUST AS THE BOOKS OF THE JEWS HAVE DISCLOSED, AND BEFORE THE SETTING OF THE SUN THERE WERE SUDDENLY SEEN IN THE CLOUDS CHARIOTS IN THE CLOUDS AND ARMED BATTLE ARRAYS BY WHICH THE CITIES OF ALL IUDAEA AND ITS TERRITORIES WERE INVADED.”
Jesus has come five times.
Jesus is yet to return for His final return.
Parousia is not limited to the Second Coming.
Jesus came on the clouds with His armies over Jerusalem as He prophesied He would within one generation, seen by Caiaphas as He promised.