By Dr. Ed Hindson
World Prophetic Ministry 
Parousia is a Greek word that simply means “coming” or “presence.” It can be used to relate to anyone’s coming or presence to a certain place or to a group of people. It is used to refer to people other than Christ in Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 16:17, 2 Corinthians 7:6, and Philippians 2:12.
However, parousia is most often used in Scripture as a primary association with the return of Christ, both prior to the Tribulation at the Rapture of the Church, and also at His triumphal return at the end of the Tribulation. One must look at the context of the Scripture in question to determine which aspect of His return the term refers to. For example, it relates to the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and to the Second Coming in Matthew 24-25 and Revelation 19-20.
Related Links
What is the Parousia? - GotQuestions.org Contrasts Between the Rapture and the Second Coming - SpiritandTruth.org Parousia - Wikipedia
