1 Corinthians 1:7

God had blessed the Corinthians greatly with spiritual gifts. Note that Paul praised his readers for their gifts but not their behavior. Ancient orators typically praised their audiences for both. [Note: Keener, p. 22.] But Paul could not do that. The revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ to His saints at the Rapture would be God’s greatest gift to them. The early Christians awaited His return eagerly. This reference to the Rapture is one of many indications that the apostles taught the imminent (i.e., any moment) return of the Lord for His own (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Philippians 3:20; Philippians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12; Titus 2:13; James 5:7-9; 1 John 2:28; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:17; Revelation 22:20). [Note: See Wayne A. Brindle, "Biblical Evidence for the Imminence of the Rapture," Bibliotheca Sacra 158:630 (April-June 2001):146-48.]

"Three words are prominently employed in connection with the return of the Lord: (1) Parousia, also used by Paul of the coming of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:17), of Titus (2 Corinthians 7:6-7), and of his own coming to Philippi (Philippians 1:26). The word means personal presence, and is used of the return of the Lord as that event relates to the blessing of Christians (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) and to the destruction of the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:8). (2) Apokalupsis, employed here, and meaning unveiling, revelation. This word emphasizes the visibility of the Lord’s return. It is used of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:13), of the sons of God in connection with the Lord’s return (Romans 8:19), and of the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:8), and always implies perceptibility. And (3) epiphaneia, translated ’brightness’ (2 Thessalonians 2:8) or ’manifestation’ in some other versions. It means an appearing, and is used of both advents (first advent, 2 Timothy 1:10; second advent, 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:8; Ti. 1 Corinthians 2:13)." [Note: The New Scofield Reference Bible, p. 1233.]