What is the connection of Parousia to the Assumption of Mary and Ascension of Jesus?
Well, I don’t believe in the assumption of Mary, I’m not Catholic. But the Parousia is connected to the Ascension in that it happened 40 years later. It modeled the High Priest going into the Holy of Holies, and coming out again to show that the sacrifice was accepted by God. Jesus’ return (in AD70) showed that! I am a preterist believer though, most Christians are still looking for a future return. But ‘parousia’ means ‘presence,’ and that’s exactly what God brought to us by returning. If we are still waiting for a future return, we don’t have the assurance that Christ’s sacrifice was accepted by God yet. I really don’t think God would leave us wondering for thousands of years… 40 was long enough for the first century believers! GL on your report.
