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epiphaneia, the sudden appearance of an enemy. Parkhurst points out that the Greek
writers particularly apply this word to the appearance of some deity in splendour. In later
Greek, the papyri show that it is used in the sense of manifestation, or any conspicuous
intervention on the part of higher powers.
It only occurs twice in the Septuagint (II Sam. 7: 23 and Amos 5: 22) but often in
the Apocrypha (Maccabees 2) where it is used of God's supernatural appearances in aid
of His people. Some English versions translate it as `advent', but this word, through the
Latin, with its meaning of `coming', does not convey the real sense and therefore must be
rejected. Moreover, if translated thus it is apt to be used as synonymous with the word
parousia (also translated `coming'), which it is not.
To sum up, epiphaneia, when connected with a person, means their sudden
appearance, manifestation, or coming into view, after being hidden.
Let us now note the occurrences of this word in the NT. The Apostle Paul is the only
writer who is inspired to use it, and with one exception, all the occurrences are in the
epistles written after Acts 28::
"That wicked one . . . . . whom the Lord . . . . . shall destroy with the brightness of His
parousia (coming)" (II Thess. 2: 8).
"Thou keep . . . . . until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Tim. 6: 14).
"By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Tim. 1: 10).
"At His appearing and His Kingdom" (II Tim. 4: 1).
"To them who have loved His appearing" (II Tim. 4: 8).
"The appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2: 13).
It will be noted that the one occurrence before Acts 28:, namely II Thess. 2: 8, is
not parallel with its usage afterwards. There it does not stand alone describing the hope
of the church, but is used to add detail to the parousia of Christ (Matt. 24: 29, 30),
Whose overwhelming and revealed power will destroy the man of sin. In the later
occurrences it stands alone, bringing before us a new aspect of hope for the church
which is His Body. Up to the end of the Acts, the hope of Israel has been dominant
(Acts 3: 19-26; 26: 6, 7; 28: 20) and coloured the hope of the church of that
period.
Now that Israel, the nation, has been laid aside in unbelief and hardness of heart, and
the Mystery revealed concerning God's purpose to bless some of His redeemed children
in the heavenly places where Christ is seated, a new aspect of hope is stressed and
epiphaneia, standing by itself, is used by the Holy Spirit to describe the consummation of
salvation for this church.
The word `appearing' suggests that, in some way, the glory of Christ is now hidden.
This is also brought forward in Col. 3: 2-4:
". . . . . Seek those things which are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of
God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth; for ye died, and your
life has been hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested,
then also you with Him will be manifested in glory."