The word "parousia" is a Greek word essentially meaning "the revealing of" or the "disclosure of" something. In the New Testament case, it is probably all about disclosing Jesus. Sometimes theologians speak of Jesus' "advent." I know I've used the terminology "second advent" in the past, meaning that at some time future Jesus is still expected to come back. But some challenge this "second coming" idea, saying it is nowhere found in the Bible. It's one of those terms like "rapture" which theologians use to describe something they think is in the text, though not specifically stated that way.
I've been thinking lately that the word parousia could be describing an array of possibilities that all relate to one thing. Those who point to a past parousia often call themselves "preterists." They point out that Jesus' Olivet Discourse was about a parousia that occurred in 70AD, 40 years after he stood on the Mount of Olives and said, essentially, that the temple would be demolished. To preterists, that was the moment in time that all Bible prophecy was fulfilled. What that means is that the coming of Jesus (the parousia) happened long ago. And at first that concept leaves a lot of Christians hanging, wondering, "Well, is he coming back future, then?"
Going back to the initial advent of Jesus, that was a parousia. The Son of God was exposed to the world, whether the Jews or the world knew it or believed it or not. In 70AD, when the Jews were dispersed and Jerusalem was trodden by the Gentile Romans, that might be an extension of parousia: God was no longer selectively involved only with the Jews. Post-Jesus, the world was now God's oyster. He had demonstrated a covenant with the human race. He had extended his contract and was no longer only concentrated on announcing Jesus to the Jews.
The rest of history, the age of the church, was a further parousia. The church has struggled to understand, but God was still in the business of disclosure. That disclosure was gradual and painful, but it was still the "revelation of Jesus Christ." I think it was progressive, meaning we haven't yet arrived at a "full" disclosure. We know in part.
So what of the future? Well, I have to assume that parousia is still active. Christ is still being revealed. And that means that he will be further disclosed to the world. Perhaps these mysteries also include a future full disclosure.
Widespread throughout the Christian world is the expectation of a future resurrection of the dead. At that point, it is assumed that "every eye shall see him." He will be disclosed even to those that didn't believe in him. But that's another subject.
I conclude then by positing that parousia is part of the process of God "saving" (fixing, rescuing, making-over) the world. This whole process is ongoing and progressive. It is accomplished through the progressive parousia of who Jesus is. It is more than just being about successive "comings." It is actively happening as we speak.
I would advise all to read the 24th chapter of
ReplyDeleteMatthew, where Jesus (first) speaks of the
Temple, and (next) speaks of His second coming
to Earth (Jesus will return a third time).
He speaks of wars, and of people claiming to
be Christ. So His second subject matter is
about the next time that He will return to
Earth (in the air), and not about the
destruction of the Temple.
Don't confuse people by talking about multiple
past "parousias". When Jesus comes the next
time (at least seven years from now), He will
come with His angels to destroy the anti-
Christ, and take His church to Heaven (the
rapture, or first ressurection).
When he comes the third time (1,000 years
after the rapture), He will return with His
saints, who will judge the world (White Throne
Judgement and second ressurection) and
establish His kingdom in the New Jerusalem.
Read Revelation chapter 20.
Herman Cummings
Ephraim7@aol.com
Thank you for commenting, Herman. Yes, I am very familiar with the dispensational ideas you are talking about. I might say, too, that I am not suggesting multiple "comings," which would definitely be confusing. I'm suggesting that the revelation of Christ is an ongoing dynamic of human history culminating in the final resurrection. What I'm really interested in here, at the moment, is the actual meaning of "parousia." I'm not trying to create some new dogma that says, "This is the way it is: this way or the highway."
ReplyDeleteAll the eschatological arguments might be resolved in understanding this one concept. The thing about the Olivet Discourse is that it set out to answer the question, "When shall all these things be and your parousia?" Jesus then responds to "predict" the razing of the temple and the dispersion of the Jews, which occurred in 70AD. Dispensational theorists seemed to ignore that.
But I'm not agreeing with preterists either. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and always. The eschaton is ongoing. The Messianic truth is being progressively revealed in the world until its ultimate revelation when all humanity (at the resurrection)will know who he is whether they previously knew it or not.