In First Thessalonians 2:19, the apostle Paul writes concerning the coming of Christ. He uses the Greek word parousia. It is a special word that refers to a person of royalty, such as a king arriving and present for a visit to a city. A delegation of city leaders would go out to meet him, and give him an escort into their city. The apostle uses this word for Christ coming to meet believers (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
The coming of Christ will be a time of victory over Satan, who has been the arch-enemy of the church for centuries. Satan has worked through others to hinder the church from spreading the gospel. He has persecuted the church and motivated others to martyr believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul was threatened and persecuted.
The coming of Christ will be a crown of rejoicing. The original word for crown refers to a wreath. It was a word which described the victor of a foot race being crowned as the winner. So the apostle describes believers as the victors at the coming of Christ. They have been faithful running the race, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
When the apostle Paul considered the coming of Christ, he concluded with these words: For you are our glory and joy (1 Thess. 2:20). The church of the redeemed will experience glory in the presence of Christ. For believers it will be a time of great joy full of glory.
