Having a proper understanding of parousia can greatly alter the thought of the manner and object of the Second Advent of Christ. Our Lord was preparing the disciples to recognize that a length of time was going to intervene between his first and second advents, and that they should be watchful for all that would transpire.
Indeed, "parousia" involves both an arrival and a subsequent presence......seeing someone familiar at a gathering, you know he is
present, but you did not see him
arrive. Christ's "presence" also involves his 'arrival, but he gave a composite sign to alert his disciples that he was 'present'. These were important world events that his disciples could readily observe and know that he had arrived.....If it needed this visible "sign", then it wasn't going to be discernible any other way.
What did he tell them to look for...?
"As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your parousia and of the end of the age?”
Mistranslating "parousia" as "coming" gives a false impression, because there is Jesus "presence" indicated by the "sign" he gave, and these events had to occur like a fingerprint in time to indicate that Jesus was present and actively directing his disciples in the work that he commanded to be done in this "time of the end".
"As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
So the time of Christ's presence would be marked by warfare....but not just any warfare.....this is unprecedented warfare, the likes of which had never happened in the history of the world. 1914 saw such a war break out at a time when war seemed least expected....it was
the First World War which created food shortages, and it was followed by the Spanish Flu epidemic that claimed more lives than the war did. Luke mentions "pestilences" in his account (Luke 21:10-11) Great earthquakes are still occurring taking a huge toll in human lives.
There was to be a preaching work undertaken at this time, proclaimed throughout the whole world, but not by those who have no idea what "the good news of the Kingdom" actually is. Christendom makes excuses not to engage in the assignment. How was it conducted in the first century....the Bible tells us in Matthew 10:11-14 and in Acts 20:20.
Only when the sign was complete, would Jesus then manifest as judge of all living, and bring an end to satan's rule on this earth. (Heb 2:14)
This means that our Lord would be present, and there would be many who would not know it. How can this be? Wouldn’t every Christian recognize the Lord? No. Some Christians are either not watching and therefore, do know not what “time” it is, or they are looking for the wrong thing. Jesus said, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.” John 14:19 (NKJV) How do we harmonize this with Revelation 1:7 (NKJV), “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him (see Zechariah 12:10). And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him”?
When Jesus manifests as judge at the end of these days, he will already have been separating the "sheep from the goats", observing how people respond to the preaching of the Kingdom.....a work that Jesus' disciples were commanded to undertake. (Matthew 28:19 -20)
Christ's genuine disciples are not waiting for his return, because they know that he is already here....just as he promised....guiding and directing them in these troubled times. They would be hated and persecuted for doing what Christ commanded. (John 15:18-21)
Revelation 1:7 is not talking about our literal eyes. It means the world will recognize Christ’s presence by the establishment of His righteous kingdom on Earth. (Zechariah 14:3.) All will be resurrected. (John 5:28-29) Additionally, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9 NKJV) Mankind will be restored to perfect health. (Isaiah 35:4-10)
This is what all true Christians can observe with their spiritual vision, but the Kingdom is not established on the earth, it is a heavenly kingdom that will rule over earthly subjects. (Rev 21:2-4)
The judgment period in which we live will mean salvation for those alive who follow Jesus' footsteps closely (the sheep) and who obey his command to preach about the Kingdom in all the world, as he and his disciples had done in a limited way in the first century. But for the "goats", there is no salvation....they will be cast into the lake of fire, reserved for satan and his hordes. (Matthew 25:41)
Eventually, every eye shall discern Him and know that the Lord is present!
Yes, at the end, all will know who has judged them, and will know their fate. It will come as a complete shock to those who were confident about their beliefs, but they will find out the hard way that Christ "never knew" them. (Matt 7:21-23)