Questionable Scriptures

What is the Parousia? Regarding the "Last Days," or the "Lord's Day" the Greek word "Parousia" used in only Matthew's account.

What is the Parousia?

Mt 24:3
3 While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence (Parousias) and of the conclusion of the system of things?"

The idea of Christ's presence prior to his coming can not be found in the Bible.
It is based on the misinterpretation of Greek word "Parousia."

Mt 24:3
3 While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence (Parousias) and of the conclusion of the system of things?"

Mr 13:4
>4 "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are destined to come to a conclusion?"

Lu21:7
7 Then they questioned him, saying: "Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur?"

Mark and Luke seem to quote them as simply asking him what the signs would be when the Temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed.

The Greek word "Parousia," probably wasn't the word that Jesus' Apostles actually used, since they likely spoke the common language of the Jews at the time, Aramaic, not Greek (for more information, see the Wikipedia link, 'Aramaic New Testament').

The reason the Words of Matthew 24:3 is suspicious.

1. Why would they have asked about Jesus being PRESENT before he would ARRIVE (as some teach that they asked)? Since Jesus had never mentioned such a concept, where would they have gotten that idea?
2. It would have been an unusual thing for Jesus' Apostles to ask him about a second coming, since all the Gospel accounts indicate that they didn't expect him to leave at all, but to 'restore the Kingdom to IsraEl' (see Acts 1:6).
3. Since Jesus hadn't mentioned that he would be involved in the destruction of the Temple, why would the Apostles have tied his description of its destruction to his presence or second coming?

Ac 1:6
6 When, now, they had assembled, they went asking him: "Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?" (The disciples mind was on the imminent taking over the rulership of the nation of Israel, not Jesus' second coming in the remote future. This Jesus' second coming was still the remotest idea for them at that moment.)

As you can see, the question just doesn't fit into the circumstances; so it is likely a spurious addition!

Immediately after (gr. eutheos de)

Mt 24:29
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Mr 13:24
24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

Lu 21:25
25 "Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation,

Here again, we see difference between Matthew and the other two, Mark and Luke.
The word "immediately" seems to be inserted intentionally.

Two different prophecies provided by Jesus.

There is two different prophecies in Jesus answer to his disciples about the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem.

The one is about the destruction of the Jerusalem which is the imminent interest of Jesus' disciples which is written in the verses 3 to 28 of Matthew, the verses 3 to 23 of Mark, and the verses 5 to 24 of Luke.

The other is about the destruction of the entire Satan's world in the remote future by returned Christ with heavenly army as written in Matthew after the verse 29, Mark after the verse 24, and Luke after the verse 25.

The prophecy about the destruction of the Jerusalem in the imminent future.

Mt 24:3-28
3 While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?"

4 And in answer Jesus said to them: "Look out that nobody misleads YOU; 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. 6 YOU are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that YOU are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet.

7 "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress.

9 "Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. 10 Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; 12 and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. 13 But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.

15 "Therefore, when YOU catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, (let the reader use discernment,) 16 then let those in Ju·de′a begin fleeing to the mountains. 17 Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house; 18 and let the man in the field not return to the house to pick up his outer garment. 19 Woe to the pregnant women and those suckling a baby in those days! 20 Keep praying that YOUR flight may not occur in wintertime, nor on the sabbath day; 21 for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.

23 "Then if anyone says to YOU, 'Look! Here is the Christ,' or, 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 Look! I have forewarned YOU. 26 Therefore, if people say to YOU, 'Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out; 'Look! He is in the inner chambers,' do not believe it. 27 For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

Mr 13:3-23
3 And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives with the temple in view, Peter and James and John and Andrew began to ask him privately: 4 "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are destined to come to a conclusion?" 5 So Jesus started to say to them: "Look out that nobody misleads YOU. 6 Many will come on the basis of my name, saying, 'I am he,' and will mislead many. 7 Moreover, when YOU hear of wars and reports of wars, do not be terrified; [these things] must take place, but the end is not yet.

8 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, there will be earthquakes in one place after another, there will be food shortages. These are a beginning of pangs of distress.

9 "As for YOU, look out for yourselves; people will deliver YOU up to local courts, and YOU will be beaten in synagogues and be put on the stand before governors and kings for my sake, for a witness to them. 10 Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first. 11 But when they are leading YOU along to deliver YOU up, do not be anxious beforehand about what to speak; but whatever is given YOU in that hour, speak this, for YOU are not the ones speaking, but the holy spirit is. 12 Furthermore, brother will deliver brother over to death, and a father a child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death; 13 and YOU will be objects of hatred by all people on account of my name. But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.

14 "However, when YOU catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing where it ought not (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Ju·de′a begin fleeing to the mountains. 15 Let the man on the housetop not come down, nor go inside to take anything out of his house; 16 and let the man in the field not return to the things behind to pick up his outer garment. 17 Woe to the pregnant women and those suckling a baby in those days! 18 Keep praying that it may not occur in wintertime; 19 for those days will be [days of] a tribulation such as has not occurred from [the] beginning of the creation which God created until that time, and will not occur again. 20 In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days, no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen ones whom he has chosen he has cut short the days.

21 "Then, too, if anyone says to YOU, 'See! Here is the Christ,' 'See! There he is,' do not believe [it]. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the chosen ones. 23 YOU, then, watch out; I have told YOU all things beforehand.

Lu 21:5-24
5 Later, as certain ones were speaking concerning the temple, how it was adorned with fine stones and dedicated things, 6 he said: "As for these things that YOU are beholding, the days will come in which not a stone upon a stone will be left here and not be thrown down." 7 Then they questioned him, saying: "Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur?" 8 He said: "Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The due time has approached.' Do not go after them. 9 Furthermore, when YOU hear of wars and disorders, do not be terrified. For these things must occur first, but the end does not [occur] immediately."

10 Then he went on to say to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs.

12 "But before all these things people will lay their hands upon YOU and persecute YOU, delivering YOU up to the synagogues and prisons, YOU being haled before kings and governors for the sake of my name. 13 It will turn out to YOU for a witness. 14 Therefore settle it in YOUR hearts not to rehearse beforehand how to make YOUR defense, 15 for I will give YOU a mouth and wisdom, which all YOUR opposers together will not be able to resist or dispute. 16 Moreover, YOU will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of YOU to death; 17 and YOU will be objects of hatred by all people because of my name. 18 And yet not a hair of YOUR heads will by any means perish. 19 By endurance on YOUR part YOU will acquire YOUR souls.

20 "Furthermore, when YOU see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. 21 Then let those in Ju·de′a begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her; 22 because these are days for meting out justice, that all the things written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe to the pregnant women and the ones suckling a baby in those days! For there will be great necessity upon the land and wrath on this people; 24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.


The above section is talking about the destruction of the Jerusalem in 70 CE.

The prophecy about he Christ's second coming in the remote future.

Mt 24:29-
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity. - to be continued

Mr 13:24-
24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling out of heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send forth the angels and will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from earth's extremity to heaven's extremity. - to be continued

Lu 21:25-
25 “Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation, 26 while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift YOUR heads up, because YOUR deliverance is getting near.” - to be continued

The above section is talking about the "Lord's Day" in remote future.

Read more here.
https://2001.bible/commentaries/Presence