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Paul emphasizes that he, personally, had planned repeatedly to visit them, but his way had been blocked by Satan, perhaps through bail conditions (Bruce, 55) or personal circumstances (Marshall, 86). It was not a check by the Spirit, because it worked against the furtherance of the Gospel (see Ac 16:9-10).
Paul rejoices in the fruit of his labours. If the converts held steadfast to the end, his missionary activity would be judged a victory. Timothy’s report confirmed the genuineness of their faith. At the Lord’s coming, they could be presented as trophies.
In contemporary usage “coming” (parousia, v.19) connoted an official state visit with attendant pomp and circumstance. These images prompted its use to denote the Lord’s coming. The idea, however, was derived from the OT.