Letters to the Church

Paul continued his discussion about Christ’s arrival by addressing what will occur on the Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. The Apostle Paul discusses the “ arrival ” or ‘ Parousia ’ of Jesus and the Day of the Lord in chapters 4 and 5 of  1 Thessalonians . In Chapter 4, he declares that both dead and living Christians will be gathered to meet the Lord as he descends from Heaven. In Chapter 5, Paul links that and related events to “ the Day of the Lord ,” and he explains how that day will affect the godly and the ungodly.

The arrival of Jesus will mean vindication and rest for the righteous, but everlasting loss for the wicked - 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10. The “ revelation ” of Jesus from heaven will result in the vindication and reward of the faithful but the loss and punishment of those who reject the Gospel, including men and women who abandon and betray the true faith. Christ’s return will result in “ just judgment ” for the righteous and the unrighteous.

The saints will be gathered and assembled before Jesus on the Last Day, while the wicked will be collected for judgment and cast from his presence . On the Last Day, both the righteous and the unrighteous will be assembled before Jesus, the former for vindication and salvation, and the latter for judgment and punishment. This time of judgment is linked to Christ’s “ arrival ” when he will resurrect the dead and terminate the “ Last Enemy, Death .”

The arrival of Jesus will mean the resurrection of the dead, the commencement of the New Creation, and the final judgment . Several Greek terms are applied by the New Testament to the return of Jesus, including ‘ Parousia ’ (“arrival”), ‘ erchomai ’ (“coming”), ‘ apokalupsis ’ (“revelation”), and ‘ epiphaneia ’ (“appearance”). Regardless of which one is used, it is always singular in number, it always refers to only one future “arrival,” “appearance,” “revelation,” or “coming.”

At the revelation of Jesus from Heaven, the saints will experience glory, but the wicked will receive everlasting destruction . Paul describes the believers of Corinth as those who are “ eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus ,” and he connects this event to “ the Day of the Lord .” In his letters, Paul refers to Christ's return as the ' Parousia ' (“ arrival ”), the ' erchomai ' (“ coming ”), and the ' epiphaneia ' (“ manifestation ”) of Jesus, as well as his “ revelation ” or ' apocalypsis .'