When Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 about the signs that would mark the end of this age, He spoke about His presence coming on the earth. That time is unfolding now, and is the most important event of the age yet: the Lord’s presence, which is to be distinguished from His second coming.

      The word Jesus used for “presence” is the Greek word parousia, which is sometimes inaccurately translated in English as “coming.” A different Greek word, erchómenon, is translated “coming,” and is used in Matthew 24 when speaking of the Lord’s physical second coming. There is an obvious difference between someone being present, and someone coming. Jesus is coming back physically to rule over the earth, but His “presence” and His “coming” are different events. This distinction is obvious in this text (and others) when translated properly. His presence, not His coming, is what the apostles asked Him about in Matthew 24. His coming will need no sign, since it will be seen by the whole world.

      What will His presence be like? The Lord is present with us now, but the presence spoken of here is something much more. The Lord was always present with Israel, but there was a difference when He was manifest to them, such as when His glory filled the temple. It seems that His presence prior to His physical return to the earth will be similar. His manifestation among His people will be apparent to all. He will come to His temple before He comes for it, and His glory and presence with His people will be visible, as foretold in Isaiah 60:1-3:

      “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

      These events obviously take place before His second coming because they happen when darkness is covering the earth. He will arise upon His people in such a way that His glory appears on them.

      A taste of this kind of manifestation took place in the first church in Jerusalem when just the touch of Peter’s “shadow” healed people. The word usually translated “shadow” in regard to this could have been more accurately translated “out-shining,” as if a light, or glory was emanating from Peter. It seems this is what Isaiah 60 says will be on all of God’s people, not just one person.

      With such a spectacular presence of the Lord appearing on His people, we can expect the many petty differences that now separate His people to melt away and the body of Christ to come into the unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17:21. This kind of unity will cause the world to know that Jesus was sent by God, and Jesus prophesied of the great harvest to come at the end of this age. It seems likely, too, that the bride of Christ will purify herself in such a presence of the Lord so as to be “without spot or wrinkle.”

      I’ve been in a couple of meetings when the glory of the Lord physically appeared. It was radically transformative for the people who witnessed them, and it bonded them in a special way I have not seen duplicated, even when witnessing noteworthy miracles. I have been in other meetings during which a spectacular manifestation of the Lord’s presence, although not physically visible, brought transformation. In His presence, His parousia, you really do not have to see Him physically to be deeply impacted. In each of these experiences, such a high level of prophecy was released that everyone knew He was speaking to us, and what He said each time was that these experiences were just a foretaste of what is coming.

      Even though the Lord told us that these were just a foretaste of what was to come, the abiding sense of His presence lasted for weeks. People even quit their jobs and moved here to be in His parousia, His presence that foreshadowed the imminent coming of the Lord.

      Some of them walked away from serious professions and positions to live in the wonderful presence of God among His people. No other experience compares. Later, when His remarkable presence lifted, I heard no complaints from those who had left so much to be there. They said that even just a few weeks of His presence was worth it.

      I still meet people who were in those meetings, and it was a hallmark in their lives. To this day, they are living for the promised fullness of what we experienced. Nothing we can experience in this realm is more wonderful or compelling than the Lord’s parousia, and when it comes, it will prepare us all to live in His glory as He transforms the world into His kingdom and paradise again.

© 2024 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.