What is "parusia"

Parusia \Pa*ru"si*a\ (p[.a]*r[udd]"zh[i^]*[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr. paroysi`a presence, fr. parei^nai to be present; para` beside + e'i^nai to be.] (Rhet.) A figure of speech by which the present tense is used instead of the past or the future, as in the animated narration of past, or in the prediction of future, events.

n. (context rhetoric English) A figure of speech by which the present tense is used instead of the past or the future, as in the animated narration of past events or the prediction of future ones.