Not Afraid of the Antichrist Part 8: Biblical Vocabulary for the Second Coming

Thanks for joining us friends on the Line of Fire broadcast as we continue our series on the end times. If you differ with me, don't get angry. If you think I'm wrong, pray for me and let's sort out the word together. You say you're being divisive. All I'm doing is opening up the scriptures and saying let's see which way it goes and doing my best to present different viewpoints fairly and I'll do it for the viewpoints with which I differ as well. Above all though, I want you to be edified, equipped, empowered, strengthened to help you stand strong on the front lines. That's why we're here. So we want solid foundations about the end of the age and we'll talk once we get past prophecy about the second coming, we'll talk about the larger subject of Bible prophecy, what the Bible does say, doesn't say, what's just sensationalism, what's important for us to know, what's reliable, what's just a passing fad. We'll do our best to sort that out together. All right, every week I write several new articles dealing with what's happening in the world around us and we put out several new videos interacting with things happening in the world, taking listener phone calls and things like that and it's a lot to keep track of because it can be three, four articles in a week, five videos in a week. You say how do I keep track of it?

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So thelineoffire.org, click subscribe and you'll also get our monthly digital frontline newsletter. All right, let's look at some of the vocabulary for the second coming. All right, some of the key words in the Greek that are used for the return of Jesus and let's see if different words are used for the rapture and the second coming. Remember, if you are to teach a preacher rapture you need to separate the rapture from the second coming.

If you use the same words it makes no sense. First we have the second coming, then the second coming. First the second coming for the church, Jesus coming for the bride, then the second coming with the church.

It's like well why using the same words if you're talking about two different events. So let's ask the question do the New Testament authors consistently use different words to refer to the rapture of the second coming or did they include them in the same words in which case it would be one event two sides of the same coin rather than two events separated by a period of years. So let's look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and we start with the word parousia. Everyone say it out loud with me parousia it means coming arrival or presence all right it is is not a word about drawing near it is a word about an actual arrival or a literal presence it could even be used by by the presence of some person. I was comforted by the presence of Titus by the parousia of Titus. So let's say you're at the airport and you're waiting for your flight to arrive and they say flight's getting close there was a delay but the flight is near ready to approach okay it hasn't landed yet it hasn't landed when it lands that's the parousia not when it's nearby arriving at the airport it's two minutes out no when it touches down when it lands flight 411 from Detroit has arrived coming into gate b6 yeah so that's the parousia the arrival or the actual presence so 1 Thessalonians 4 15 this is about us being caught up to meet the Lord a famous rapture verse according to the Lord's word we tell you that we who are still alive who are left until the parousia of the Lord will certainly not precede those who've fallen asleep so what are we waiting for the parousia the coming of the Lord the arrival of the Lord now Paul again in the second chapter of second Thessalonians talks about the parousia concerning the parousia of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him would you agree that's a description of what we call a description of what we call the rapture his parousia and we are gathered to him would you agree that that's the same thing that we speak of as the rapture okay concerning the coming the parousia of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him we ask you brothers and sisters not to become easily unsettled or aligned by the teaching allegedly from us whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter asserting that the day of the Lord has already come don't let anyone deceive you in any way for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed the man doomed to destruction so Paul's saying don't let anyone deceive you let's happen secretly or no no don't let anybody deceive you because that day won't come until the antichrist is revealed the rebellion happens and the antichrist is real so the coming of the Lord the parousia that he just spoke about in in the first letter to the thessalonians the parousia are being gathered to him that won't happen Paul says until the rebellion occurs and the man of sin the antichrist is revealed now look at this second thessalonians chapter 2 verse 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his parousia the same word Jesus will destroy the antichrist with his parousia we are waiting for the parousia to be gathered together to him it is one and the same event not a separate rapture and then a second coming but rather one same event will be gathered to him at the parousia at that point he will destroy the antichrist just using the language here Matthew 24 27 for as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west so will be the parousia of the son of man and in context this takes place after the tribulation of those days this is a public event that everybody sees as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west so will be the parousia the coming of the son of man and then this verse which we often associate with the rapture also in Matthew 24 now remember this is Jesus speaking and he's probably teaching in Aramaic could be Hebrew times but likely with his disciples just teaching in Aramaic so whatever word he's using in Aramaic it's going to be the same word each time because we have the same word in Greek so this is Jesus talking to his disciples the same discourse Matthew 24 mark 13 luke 21 known as the olivet discourse because Jesus gave it on the mount of olives he's talking about the parousia the coming of the son of man he's saying it's going to be a public event like lightning shining from the east to the west now he says this for as were the days of noah so will be the coming of the son of man now many say no no that's the rapture that when suddenly things just happen like with noah and he's protected during it that that that's the rapture but hang on he's using the same word just a few verses apart for as were the days of noah so will be the parousia of the son of man for as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until the day when noah entered the ark and they were unaware of the until the flood came and swept them all the way so will be the coming of the son of man now can i ask you a question do you think that Jesus instructing his disciples on these important topics in the context of just a few verses would use the same word completely differently would use it first for his public arrival at the end of the age when he comes in flaming fire and then a few verses later use it for a secret event that the world doesn't see wouldn't that be confusing at best if not misleading at worst why can't we say that the word is the same word because it has the same meaning and we are waiting for the second coming at which point we will be caught up to meet him and forever be with the lord so there is a greek there is a greek scholar french greek scholar seslas speak probably mispronouncing his name last name s p i c q and he wants us to know how the word parousia is used in the ancient greek world in fact right after the break i'm going to read you his definition and explanation of parousia i'm paul burnett a board-certified doctor of holistic health i have never met anyone deficient in caffeine or sugar but i have met many people deficient in energy supporting vitamin b12 unlike other oral b12 supplements alfred livy's slow dissolve super b12 is fast acting because the formula is scientifically developed to dissolve under the tongue bypassing the digestive process making it immediately available for use in the body alfred livy's slow dissolve super b12 is also formulated with other natural energy supporting ingredients such as folate ginseng root and other natural ingredients you deserve to live with greater energy and mental clarity and now like millions of others you can with alfred livy's slow dissolve super b12 sold only by your wellness partner tri vita to order alfred libby's b12 for yourself call 1-800-771-5584 or online at triveda.com order today and use promo code brown 25 to receive 25 off your order as a new customer 100 of your order proceeds from your first order will go to support the line of fire radio broadcast call 1-800-771-5584 1-800-771-5584 or online at triveda.com welcome back friends to the line of fire in our end time series with our goal not just to inform you but to infuse you with faith and truth and courage to help you stand strong i want you to see what we are looking forward to i don't believe it's a secret event i believe it's a public event a glorious event the parousia the coming the arrival of king jesus where it says in first thessalonians 4 that we will meet him in the air that greek word for meat is often used when the crowd the entourage would go outside they'd go to the edge of the city or outside the city and here comes the emperor or the great leader that's coming in they would grieve they would go out to meet him and then escort him in his triumphal entry that's what happens with us we go out to meet the lord in the air for the whole world to see he appears the whole world sees him the dead messiah raised we are caught up to meet him in the air it almost sounds beyond fantasy but it's real we're caught up to meet and then we escort him back as he comes and destroys the wicked and establishes his kingdom on the earth talk about a wow moment speak says this in line with these usages the new testament uses parousia for the glorious coming of the lord jesus at the end of time his second coming this return of christ must somehow be filled out with the pomp and magnificence that characterized royal and imperial visits there were great feasts panagiris including speeches of praise gifts games sacrifices dedications statues and buildings were erected coins and medallions were struck sentences were commuted gold crowns were given honors were multiplied glory and joy on the part of the people in response to the prince's active and beneficent presence all this pales in comparison to the coming of the pantocrator almighty but it explains why the new testament uses the term parousia whoa this is a big event this is a massive event much much of the world watched the the coronation of the king in england after the death of queen elizabeth a moment of pomp and ceremony beyond what we're used to in the west and all of that pales in comparison to the glory of his return that's what we're waiting for not something secretly where we'll just be working at our desk and working out in the field and playing ball and suddenly we're out of here but he appears and the whole world sees him and now he's actually going to make his arrival that's the parousia on the earth together with us as we're caught up to meet him in the air and forever be with the lord so the word parousia speaks of his actual arrival not coming near remember first thessalonians 4 another verse to say we're waiting for his parousia that's that's when that's when we're going to be changed that's when we're going to be resurrected at his parousia his parousia is his actual arrival then the word epiphania say it with me epiphania what does that mean appearing so remember according to the teaching of the rapture it's a secret event now in the next broadcast i'm going to explain some of the arguments on behalf of the preacher of rapture i'm giving arguments against it today but i want to make the case for the pre-trib rapture tomorrow explain why it's been so powerful why so many believe it and then explain why i differ with it all right but i want to do my best to be fair to different sides so according to the pre-trib rapture idea we're suddenly just gone but the wording the vocabulary of the new testament speaks of something very public not secret at all so epiphania is appearing second timothy four eight henceforth paul writes there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing what are we longing for what are we looking forward to what are we crying out for his appearing that's what we're looking forward to not a secret event but the appearing of jesus it is at his appearing that we are raptured up caught up to meet him paul writes first timothy six fourteen first timothy six fourteen he urges rich believers quote to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our lord jesus christ he doesn't say until the rapture but hold on to this until the appearing of the lord jesus first corinthians chapter one verse seven first corinthians chapter one verse seven we're going to introduce another word and there are more verses for epiphania but you get the feeling the parisia we're waiting for his parisia his arrival on the earth we're waiting for his epiphania his appearing and we are waiting for his apocalypses say it with me apocalypses that is his epiphania appearing apocalypses revealing the the book of revelation that's the apocalypse that's the greek word there it is the revealing so what are we waiting for we're waiting for the lord's arrival for his appearing for his revealing that's when we're caught up to meet him and again it's for the whole world to see so first corinthians chapter one verse seven paul writes to the believers that you are not lacking in any gift awaiting eagerly the revelation of our lord jesus christ we are not waiting for a secret rapture we are waiting for him to be revealed when you're revealed everyone can see it it's been hidden now it's revealed your true identity is revealed first peter chapter one verse seven and again i could give you multiplied verses for each of these topics first peter chapter one verse seven peter encourages his readers so that the genuineness of your faith more valuable than gold which parishes though refined by fire may result in praise glory and honor at the revelation of jesus christ got that so we're going to read it again paul encourages his reader so that the genuineness of your faith more valuable than gold which perishes though refined by fire may result in praise glory and honor when at the revelation of jesus at the revelation of jesus so i i want you to just change your thinking with me for a moment just to picture this instead of something secret hidden when we're suddenly taken out of here think of a public event think of the trumpet blast the whole world hears the last trumpet whole world hears the last trumpet literally the whole world hears it the whole world sees there he is in glory in power in majesty an unspeakable splendor with awesome power i mean you think of revelation one in the vision of jesus there and can only imagine when he appears for the whole world to see him those who hated him those who mocked him those who said he wasn't real those who said he never existed those who say he never rose from the dead those who said he wasn't the divine son of god those who ridiculed him and ridiculed his followers and persecuted his followers to death and to this day mock us as believers and to this day around the world persecute to death followers of jesus think of it he appears the trumpet blast with the shout of the archangel the loud command the whole world sees him as the lightning shines from east to west somehow the entire world at once is able to see him and what happens next boom in front of the whole world we are caught up to meet him the dead in christ said everyone's gonna see it the dead come out of their graves and we rise up in new bodies resurrected believers us instantly changed in a moment of time with that last trumpet and we're caught up to meet him and now we escort him back in triumph talk about the triumph of the church talk about god making his point you know i've often said it's going to be a bad day for the anti-semites when the one who appears in glory is a glorified jew he is the lion of the tribe of judah think of the believers who've been persecuted the believers in prison they in front of everyone will be caught up and glorified and that we meet him in the air and now descend and look at this picture second thessalonians chapter 1 verse 5 this is what it's going to look like verses 5 through 10 all this is evidence that god's judgment is right and as a result you will be kind of worthy of the kingdom of god for which you are suffering god is just he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you when when will we receive relief he'll give relief to you who are troubled and to us as well when this will happen when the lord jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels he will punish those who do not know god and do not obey the gospel of our lord jesus they will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed this includes you because you believed our testimony to you so notice the day he comes in flaming fire is the day he will be glorified in us and and the day he will be marveled at by us it's better than hollywood could ever script it it's better than every any sci-fi writer could ever imagine it it's what scripture says and it is so glorious it is so wonderful it is so comforting and it brings vindication to the gospel and our service to the lord before the entire world and it gives us confidence today when we reject it hate it we know that day is going to come and because of that we mourn and grieve for those who attack us and persecute us we bless those who curse us and we pray for them because we know on that day he's going to set everything right for the whole universe to see oh may it happen may it happen in our lifetimes friends this is dr michael brown thanks so much for tuning in just a reminder that we are listener supported if we have been a blessing to you if you're being enriched in the word and prayer in your own walk with god through this broadcast then stand with us so that we can reach many many more and bless many many more together friends we're making a difference so go to the line of fire.org the line of fire.org and click donate