Coming (παρουσία, being present) OF CHRIST, a phrase employed,
(1.) literally, in reference to our Lord's first appearance in the flesh (1Jo 5:20; 2Jo 1:7), or to his future appearance at the last day to fulfill his promises to raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness (Ac 1:11; Ac 3:20-21; 1Th 4:15; 2Ti 4:1; Heb 9:28).
(2.) Metaphorically, Christ is said to come when his Gospel is introduced or preached in any place by his ministers (Joh 15:22; Eph 2:17); when his church or kingdom is visibly or powerfully established in the world (Mt 16:28); when he bestows upon believers the influence of his spirit, and the peculiar tokens of his love (Joh 14:18,23,28); when he executes his judgment on wicked communities who reject or corrupt his Gospel (2Th 2:8); and when his providence calls us away from the world by death, as preparatory to the judgment of the last day (Mt 24:42). The basis of this metaphorical usage in regard to the coming of Christ is the same as in relation to the coming of God; that as he governs the world, every specific act of his providence and authority indicates his presence in a more striking manner to human conception, on the principle that no agent can act where he is not. See ESCHATOLOGY.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More