Appearing, Manifestation, and Presence

From: Notes and Comments 4: Volume 4 By: John Nelson Darby

• 5 min. read • grade level: 8

Epiphaneia. Appearing. This word is 'appearance,' not 'revelation' as coming forth from being concealed, though necessarily in nature opposed, but the fact of being seen or visible.

As a verb:

See Luke 1:78, 79⁷⁸Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, ⁷⁹To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78‑79). "The dayspring from on high hath visited us, to 'shine upon' them that sit in darkness."

In Acts 27:20²⁰And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. (Acts 27:20), it has the same sense. The stars did not 'appear'—‘shine,’ Titus 2:11¹¹For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11). "The grace of God... has 'appeared.'"

Titus 3:4⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (Titus 3:4). Kindness and philanthropy 'appeared.'

As a Noun:

2 Tim. 1:10¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10). Grace given before the world, but made manifest (phanerotheisa) by the 'appearing' of Jesus. 2 Thess. 2:8⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8), the 'appearing' of His presence. 1 Tim. 6:14¹⁴That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Timothy 6:14), the 'appearing' of Jesus, which the only Potentate shall show.

2 Tim. 4:1¹I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1). He shall judge the quick, and the dead, at His 'appearing' and His kingdom.

2 Tim. 4:8⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8). A crown for those that love His 'appearing.'

Titus 2:13¹³Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13). Waiting for that blessed hope, and the 'appearing' of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I conclude that it is the fact of His being seen, appearing as the sunshine. Christ has appeared in the world, and He will appear again, i.e., there will be a state of things in which He will not be hid, nor non-existent but to faith, but apparent. But epiphaneia (appearing) is not the act of coming forth as apokalupsis (revelation), but the state of shining forth so as to be visible. That will be true at the instant of His phanerosis (manifestation) and of His apokalupsis, but it will continue to be true after, withal.

Phaneroo. To manifest, or bring to light.

Col. 3:4⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4). When Christ, our life, shall be 'manifested,' we also shall be 'manifested' with Him (now it is 'hidden with Him in God').

1 Peter 5:4⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4). When the chief Shepherd shall be 'manifested,' ye shall receive a crown.

1 John 2:28²⁸And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28). That when He shall be ‘manifested,' we may have confidence.

John 3:2²The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (John 3:2). That which we shall be has not yet been ‘manifested,' but we know that when He shall be ‘manifested,' we shall be like Him.

‘Manifest' is in contrast with being previously hidden though in existence, though known to be so. It is applied to us only when our life is said to be bid with Christ in God.'

Apokalupsis. Revelation.

Luke 17:30³⁰Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:30). So shall it be when the Son of Man is ‘revealed.'

1 Cor. 1:7⁷So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Corinthians 1:7). Awaiting the ‘revelation' of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thess. 1:7⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7). When the Lord Jesus shall be ‘revealed' from heaven, in flaming fire taking vengeance.

1 Peter 1:7⁷That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7). Shall be found to honor and praise at the 'revelation' of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13¹³Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13). The grace brought to you at the 'revelation' of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:13¹³But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:13). That when His glory shall be ‘revealed,' ye may be glad.

Rom. 2:5⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:5). Some read "At the ‘revelation,' and righteous judgment of God."

'Revelation' is rather of one who has title to appear in glory, and does so, to the confusion of those who have not owned the glory. Hence it is applied to judgment or glory. It is applied, as occasion of the general deliverance, to the saints, in Rom. 8:19¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19). It is a matter of display of something glorious. Phaneroo, brings to light, and is applied to sin. That which makes all things manifest ' is light, for all things that can be reproved are made ‘manifest' by the light; see 1 Corinthians 4: 5; Luke 8:17¹⁷For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. (Luke 8:17), and Mark 4:22²²For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. (Mark 4:22).

Parousia. Presence.

This word signifies presence with' in contrast with ' absence,' and the fact of becoming present after having been absent; see 1 Cor. 16:17¹⁷I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. (1 Corinthians 16:17); 2 Cor. 7:6⁶Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; (2 Corinthians 7:6). For the latter, see Phil. 2:12¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12), also 2 Cor. 10:10¹⁰For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. (2 Corinthians 10:10); the former, but more usually in the New Testament, it is the latter. The two cited are the only two cases, that I am aware of, of the former use. As to the coming of Jesus:

Matt. 24:3, 27, 37, 39³And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matthew 24:3)
²⁷For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:27)
³⁷But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37)
³⁹And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:39). The sign of Thy 'presence'—o shall the ‘presence' of the Son of Man be (as lightning)—As the days of Noe, so shall be the 'presence' of the Son of Man—so shall also the 'presence' of the Son of Man be.

1 Cor. 15:23²³But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23). They that are Christ's at His 'presence.'

1 Thess. 2:19¹⁹For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19). Are not ye before our Lord Jesus Christ, at His 'presence.'

1 Thess. 3:13¹³To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the 'presence' of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

1 Thess. 4:15¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15). We which are alive and remain to the 'presence' of the Lord.

1 Thess. 5:23²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Your body, soul and spirit may be preserved blameless in the 'presence' of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thess. 2:1¹Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2 Thessalonians 2:1). Now we beseech you by the 'presence' of our Lord Jesus Christ.

James 5:7⁷Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7). Be patient till the 'presence' of the Lord.

2 Peter 1:16¹⁶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16). Making known to you the power and 'presence' of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:4⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4). Where is the promise of His 'presence'?

2 Peter 3:12¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:12). Looking for and hasting unto the 'presence' of the day of God.

1 John 2:28²⁸And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28). Not be ashamed before Him at His 'presence.'

'Presence' signifies, evidently, His presence in the scene in which our affections, fears, hopes, joys, and sorrows have their place, and may be affected by the fact of His presence or absence. When I say "Here he is," in English, it conveys a person's coming, though literally it affirms the fact of his being present; so parousia. Hence Christ's presence, in the creation, refers to the hopes and affections of the person who speaks of it—in general, His coming into the scene from whence He is now absent. If my soul is in heavenly thoughts, it meets Him there, if in earthly it meets Him there, and it is applied to both.

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