By Robert Anderson

      NOTE CHAPTER 6

      THERE are three different words used in the Greek Testament in relation to the Lord's Coming.

      Parousia means primarily "presence" (see 2 Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 2:12), and it is used of any person's arrival (see, e.g., 1 Corinthians 16:17; 2 Corinthians 7:6, 7; etc.). In secular use it applied specially to any state visit. In the following passages it is used of the return of Christ: Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8; James 5:7, 8; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 2:28.

      Apokalupsis ("revelation" or "manifestation") is used of the Advent in 1 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7, 13.

      Epiphaneia ("appearing") occurs in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (brightness); 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13.

      And the verb phaneroo ("to appear or be manifested") is used in Colossians 3:4; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 John 2:28; 3:2.

      The attempt has been made to apportion these words to the several future manifestations of the Lord Jesus Christ. A reference to the passages where they occur will enable the Bible student to judge whether this distinction can be sustained; or whether the words do not rather indicate different phases or aspects of the various "Comings" foretold in Scripture.