THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD, [PAROUSIA (Gr. Παρουσία) GOD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST23:27

   TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD;

    WHOSE KINGDOM SHALL HAVE NO END…"

                                   [Νicean-Constantinopolitan

                                    Creed]

PAROUSIA: The term denotes the future return of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ IN GLORY TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD AND TO BRING TO AN END THE PRESENT WORLD ORDER (Second Coming of the Lord). In primitive or early Christianity, the belief IN THE IMMINENT COMING OF THE LORD WA NOT ONLY WIDELY SPREAD, BUT IT WAS ON THIS BELIEF THAT MANY OF Saint Paul,s ordinances regulating the lives of his Christians were based. This belief has been revived from time to time during the entire history of the Christian Church. But the prevailing Christian Tradition, gradually formed from the 2nd Century onwards), still maintains that Christ attested with certainty A FINAL JUDGMENT which will mark the END OF THE PRESENT ORDER AND INTRODUCE REDEEMED HUMANITY INTO THE LIFE OF RESURRECTION IN HEAVEN; it does NOT CONDONE any speculation as to the exact time and manner of the Coming of the Lord. It is generally believed that in the DAY OF JUDGMENT HUMANITY WILL BE CONFRONTED BY THE RISEN AND GLORIFIED CHRIST, but the belief that He would first reign for a long period on earth (1,000 years) which the heterodox teach is condemned by the Orthodox Church.

Beginning with the time of the Divine Ascension from earth to heaven of the Son of God, has been directed to THE GREATEST FUTURE EVEN OF WORLD HISTORY: HIS SECOND AND GLORIOUS SECOND COMING ON EARTH. Testimony to the reality of this expected Coming was given quite definitely many times by Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, together with a whole series of details regarding it in the divine gospels:

"For the Son of Man will COME IN THE GLORY OF THE FATHER WITH HIS ANGELS,
and then, He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are
some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man COMING IN
HIS KINGDOM" (Matthew 16:27-28).

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon
will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be
shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the
earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF
HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather
together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other"
Matthew 24:29-31).

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He COMES IN
THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH THE HOLY ANGELS" (Mark 8:38).

"Therefore you also be ready, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT
AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT" (Luke 12:40).

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN and receive
you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3).

The Holy Angels declared it at the Lord’s Ascension (Acts 1:11). The Holy Apostles often mention it: The Apostle Jude (vs. 14-15); the Apostle John (1 John 2:28); the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 4:13); and the Holy Apostle Paul many times (1 Corinthians 4:5; I Thessalonians 5:2-6).

The Lord Himself described to His disciples the manner of His Coming in the following way:

It will be sudden and obvious to everyone: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall the Coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:27), First of all, there "shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn" (Matthew 24:40). Thi, according to the universal interpretation of the Holy Fathers of the Church, WILL BE THE SIGN OF THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF THE LORD.

The Lord will come surrounded by innumerable choirs of Angels, in all His glory: "And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). Thus, the SECOND COMING WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST WHEN THE LORD "HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS" (Philippians 2:8).

He will come to "JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Acts 17:31) and to "REWARD EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS" (Matthew 16:27). In this the purpose of His Second Coming into the world is TO BE DISTINGUISHED IN ESSENCE FROM THE PURPOSE OF HIS FIRST COMING, when He came "NOT TO JUDGE THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED" (John 3:17); He came "TO GIVE HIS LIFE (AS) A RANSOM FOR MANY" (Matthew 20:28).

The pertinent question, however, is how many Christians today think, believe and/or prepare themselves spiritually for the Second Coming of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, knowing that it will be the Day of Judgment. In the Divine Liturgy all Orthodox Christians recite the Creed which mentions His anticipated Glorious Second Coming but how many of them actually pay any attention to it? How many Christians pay attention to the Second Coming of our Lord when mentioned in the Holy Scripture?

It is incumbent on all Christians to believe in the Second Coming and take it seriously and prepare for it. When claiming to live a life in Christ is anyone taking into account Judgment Day? It is on this Day that all that we have done will be revealed and will be held accountable for all of our actions and deeds, The Second Coming of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is, on this Day, the Judge and He will decide based on our works where we will be spend eternity. Knowing this fact and the fact that we do not know when He will come again, we cannot postpone anything which pertains to our salvation. Jesus Himself says to all of us, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand."

[Resources: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!:"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in Christ’s Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George