Background:
James is probably the oldest of our New Testament books (circa. 45 AD). When he writes about the coming of the Lord is he speaking about the Second Coming or the Rapture of the church? James, as does the apostle Paul, uses the Greek word for "coming" parousia. This word can be used of both the Second Coming and the Rapture. CONTEXT, CONTEXT determines how the word is used. We don't build a doctrine simply on the word itself; context is extremely important.
Free Greek Translation:
Be waiting steadfastly then, until the time of the visitation arrives. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground, waiting patiently concerning it, until he receives the early and late rains. You too, be waiting steadfastly, firmly stabilize your emotions, because the visitation of the Lord has progressively been drawing nearer. … Behold, the Judge, as it were, even now is approaching the door.
James 5:7
BE PATIENT. (makrothumeo) The word is used as an Aorist Imperative and could be translated "You start being patient …" The word means to "be forbearing." A.T. Robertson calls this a Constative Aorist and might be translated "Start right now waiting steadfastly" for the coming of the Lord, for the parousia. The YOU is in reference to the church saints of James' day, therefore, the injunction is still applicable to us now. WE are to be so anticipating the coming of the Lord. Since the rapture is the next event on God's calendar for the church, this could happen at any time, day or night! The rapture then is imminent.
UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD. The until (eos) is a particle used as a temporal conjunction that denotes the end of a period of time. This church age is going to end, but meanwhile, the church saints are to be waiting, anticipating for it to close with the coming of Christ for His own—the rapture! The instruction then is: "Be waiting steadfastly until the time of the visitation of the Lord arrives."
The parousia is actually two Greek words put together: para=to be alongside and ousia which is a participial form of the Greek verb "to be," eimi. Thus: being alongside, coming alongside, the arrival, visitation.
BEHOLD THE FARMER … By using the patience of the farmer who must wait for the rains to come, James makes a parallel concerning the believers who must wait for the paraousia. The rapture could have happened in the life-time of James' readers and they are to wait for it expectantly. The word "wait" is an old Greek verb meaning "to have eager expectation."
God has kept secret the time of the rapture of the church. But this is still to be a great "expectation" because this world is not the home of the child of God. And to go home should be a truth that both inspires and excites, and, causes a proper perspective to be placed on living life.
James 5:8
YOU TOO BE PATIENT. This is the third time James has mentioned patience and the second time he has used the same Aorist Imperative form. Barnes writes:
In due time, as [the farmer] expects the return of the rain, so you may anticipate deliverance from your trials. Let your purposes and your faith be firm and unwavering. Do not become weary and fretful; but bear with constancy all that is laid upon you, until the time of your deliverance shall come.
STRENGTHEN YOUR HEARTS. Strengthen is from the word sterizo that we get the word steroids, with the basic idea "to strengthen." At its root it means "to fix, to make fast, get a firm footing, be firmly set, situated." (Liddell & Scott) In most cases "hearts" (kardia) refers to the emotional state. "Stabilize firmly your emotions" as you hold out and wait eagerly for the coming arrival of the Master!
IS AT HAND. (egizo) This is actually two words put together, en=in and hand. This is a verb here used with the Perfect Active Indicative. It should read: "The coming of the Lord has come right up to the present, and 'is in the hand,' thus certain and sure to take place." (As the figure of speech: A bird in hand) It is getting closer but it has not arrived, it is absolutely certain to take place. It is "in the vicinity, close by." Kiddell & Scott translate this "to be imminent, to bring near, bring up to, to be at the point of, approximate …"
James 5:9b
THE JUDGE IS STANDING AT THE DOOR. Better, "The Judge has taken up a position, been stationed, has come right up to, the door!" Another Perfect Tense indicating that the Judge has arrived at the door but has not entered or knocked! Therefore this is a rapture passage. This arrival is both Imminent and Immediate. Barnes says, "He is, as it were, even now approaching the door."
CONCLUSION. In view of the hope (anticipation) of Christ's soon return, believers should cease the petty conflicts to which James alluded to … God's children should be on guard for Christ's return. In so doing, good behavior and mutual harmony are essential. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
