be `for

ever with the Lord'.  The so -called `vagueness' is entirely in

with the character of the Mystery.  If you believe that you have any

part or

lot in the church of the One Body I cannot do more or better than

you to pray the prayer of Ephesians 1:15 -23.

A -- I appreciate the fact that the word parousia, which is translated

`coming' many times in the New Testament, is confined to the earlier epistles

of Paul, James, Peter, 1 John and Matthew, but I feel that there is a great

deal of teaching to be gathered by noticing the different titles of the Lord

that are associated with it.

B -- You think that possibly the titles will indicate that the parousia

coming may be the hope of the One Body as well?

A -- I do rather, for you will remember that in 1 Thessalonians 4 we do

not read `the Son of Man shall descend from heaven with a shout', but `the

B -- Your suggestion is a valuable one, but whether your deductions are

true must await investigation.  Let us turn up the passages and see what we

can learn.

A -- Let us start at Matthew 24.  The occurrences are in verses

27,30,37 and 39, and the title used is `the Son of Man'.  The next reference

is 1 Corinthians 15:23.  There the title is `Christ the firstfruits'.  There

are four occurrences in 1 Thessalonians, viz. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; and 5:23.

Here the titles are `our Lord Jesus Christ' and `the Lord'.  In 2

Thessalonians 2:1 and 8 we have the same two titles again.  James 5:7,8 give

us the one title, `the Lord', 2 Peter 1:16 `the Lord Jesus Christ', and 3:4,

looking back to verse 2, `the Lord and Saviour'.

1 John 2:28 reads `His coming', and I cannot really see with what title the

pronoun is connected.

B -- That is quite a commendable analysis of the subject.  Shall we see

what these titles teach us?  I suppose you have no difficulty in fixing the

Scriptural association of the title `Son of Man'?

A -- As far as I have gone with the subject it appears that Daniel

7:13,14 is the scene at the back of this title.

B -- Yes, let us read the verses:

`I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came

with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they

brought Him near before Him.  And there was given Him dominion, and

glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should

serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not

pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed'.

Soon after uttering the prophecy of Matthew 24 the Lord, standing

before the council, said:

`Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of

power, and coming in the clouds of heaven' (Matt. 26:64).