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neither the earth nor the New Jerusalem, it is "where Christ sits at the right hand of God",
and it is "there" its hope will be realized.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on
earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ Who is our
life shall be made manifest, then shall ye also be made manifest with Him in glory"
(Col. 3: 1-4).
In his earlier epistles, Paul used distinctive words to express the character of the
Second coming of Christ.
Parousia. A word indicating "personal presence" and used in Matt. 24: and in the
epistles of James, Peter and John, as well as in Paul's epistles to the Corinthians and
Thessalonians. This word, however, is never used of the coming of Christ by Paul after
Acts 28:
Apokalupsis, "revelation" or "unveiling". This word is used of the second coming by
Paul in Corinthians and Thessalonians, by Peter, and by John in the Revelation, but it is
never used by Paul of the coming of Christ after Acts 28: In place of these two
words, the apostle uses phaneroo and epiphaneia to express the special aspect of the
coming of the Lord for the Church of the Mystery.
Phaneroo, "to appear", "make manifest" in connexion with hope is used in Col. 3: 4
which we have quoted in full above; and epiphaneia, appearing or manifestation, occurs
as follows:
"The appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Tim. 6: 14).
"At His appearing and kingdom" (II Tim. 4: 1).
"Them also that love His appearing" (II Tim. 4: 8).
"The glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2: 13).
In I Cor. 15: 23, the apostle has said of the resurrection and the second coming
"every man in his own order". This principle underlies what we have endeavoured to
show in the choice of distinctive words, and in the association of different phases of hope
with different callings.
The calling of the Church of the Mystery is unique and its hope must partake of the
same unique character. The sphere of blessing is unique, "in heavenly places", "where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God". The realization of its hope must therefore be
associated with that selfsame sphere of blessing where faith has already placed it. Those
who love His appearing, are those who are looking for that blessed hope, the hope that
will see them manifested with Christ in glory. After this manifestation has been
accomplished, the Lord will descend from heaven, and the hope of the Church of the
Acts period will be realized, they will meet the Lord "in the air", then His feet will stand
upon the Mount of Olives and the hope of the earthly Kingdom will be realized.