Parousia

The Greek word "parousia", translated as "coming", is listed in Strong’s Concordance 3952 as "a being near". It conveys the meaning of not just an arrival but the subsequent "being present with" or "being alongside". In Vines Expository Dictionary it is defined as "PRESENCE", para, with, and ousia, being - and denotes both an arrival and a consequent PRESENCE WITH. Wherever the word "coming" (parousia) is found in scripture it must be understood as "presence". It is significant that it is used of a bodily as well as a spiritual presence. The word was applied to Paul in 2 Cor 10:10 to denote his personal presence with the Corinthian church and of Christ on the mount of transfiguration. (2 Pet 1:16-18) If we use this definition the scriptures reflect a better concept of what the "coming" of Jesus Christ really means. Instead of him coming to rapture his people away from the world it has the meaning of him coming to be present with and alongside his people in a period during which his PRESENCE will be felt in a new and powerful way. To say he is coming and going away again violates the very meaning of the word. He is coming and remaining, abiding alongside us. Throughout these notes when the word "parousia" is referred to it will be considered as Christ's "presence" and subsequent "being alongside" and remaining with his people. The word “coming” should be understood as his abiding “Presence”.