The New Testament is clear: Jesus is already present, but He is presently hidden from natural sight. An invisible veil divides the visible material world from the unseen realm where He reigns.
Therefore, we do not see Him now with the physical eye, not because He is absent, but because that veil has yet to be lifted.
But the day is coming when it will be lifted and Jesus will appear.
This is precisely the word the New Testament reaches for when describing His return. The Greek is ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) which means appearing, manifestation, or shining forth.
The root carries connotations of something easily visible and radiant, connected to the idea of light and brightness. It’s the same root behind our word epiphany.
In ancient Greek usage, epiphaneia often signified the visible manifestation of a deity. So when the New Testament applies it to Christ’s return, the connotation is both that He will appear and that He is divine.
Again, the Lord Jesus is present, but He’s behind that invisible curtain. But when God dissolves the curtain, Christ will appear and we will see Him with our physical eyes.
The New Testament deploys this word five times to describe His return:
- “Keep the commandment without spot or blame until the epiphaneia (appearing) of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Timothy 6:14
- “The Lord Jesus will overthrow [the lawless one] with the breath of his mouth and destroy [him] by the splendor of his epiphaneia (appearing). 2 Thessalonians 2:8
- “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his epiphaneia (appearing) and his kingdom, I give you this charge…” 2 Timothy 4:1
- “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his epiphaneia (appearing). 2 Timothy 4:8
- “We wait for the blessed hope, the epiphaneia (appearing) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13
Interestingly, this word appears a sixth time in the New Testament to refer to the Lord’s first coming. That is, His incarnation.
- “but it has now been revealed through the epiphaneia (appearing) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:10
Alongside epiphaneia, the NT also uses παρουσία (parousia = His presence or coming) and ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis = His unveiling or revelation).
The words parousia and epiphaneia were used in Hellenistic Greek to describe the ceremonial arrival of rulers and kings, while apokalypsis carries a distinct flavor rooted more in Jewish apocalyptic tradition.
But taken together, they paint a unified picture: the One who is now present-but-hidden will one day be present-and-seen. The veil will drop. The King will appear. That’s the epiphaneia. His appearing.