We use the figure of the setting of a stage behind the scenes, before the actual rise of the curtain, to illustrate the

difference between those signs of the times which are preparatory to the recommencement of prophetic fulfilment

and the actual resumption by God of the things that pertain to Israel at the time of the end. Had it been our intention

to survey these preparatory signs more fully, what an amount of suggestive lines of teaching we find ready to our

hand. The changes in the climate of Palestine which have been noted of late is one of the necessary preparatory

signs. Another sign of the times is the shrinking of the world: the aeroplane, the wireless, and the television

rendering `splendid isolation' no longer a possibility to any country; and making the world ready for the last great

dictator. The possibility of atomic warfare gives point to the cry `Who is able to make war with him?' (Rev. 13:4).

There have been many conjectures on the part of commentators as to how the `image' of the Beast could be made

visible to all that dwell on the earth, or how this image could `speak', and so appear to demonstrate that resurrection

from the dead had been achieved. The projecting of the `image' of any ruler, and the authentic sound of his voice, is

now not only possible but actual by the use of television. These and other fascinating matters, however, we leave, in

order that we may redeem the time and consider what prophetic statements must be fulfilled before the close of the

dispensation of the mystery.

It will be both useless and unbelieving for any one who has perceived the unique character of the `Mystery' to

take to themselves the prophetic utterances either of the O.T. or of the Gospels and the Revelation. The only valid

prophecies that fall within the sphere of the present dispensation are those found in Paul's epistles written since Acts

28:28. We know, from Ephesians 6:13 that there awaits the believer `the evil day' for which the whole armour of

God has been provided; but for specific prophecies we must turn to the epistles to Timothy, for these are the only

epistles written after Acts 28, that contain prophecies that pertain to the Church today.

The first great prophetic utterance of the apostle after Acts 28 is found in the first epistle to Timothy, chapter 4,

which opens with the words `Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the

faith'. It would be possible, of course, to take up these words and commence the study of this prophetic warning

straight away, but to do so would be to ignore one of the first principles of all Scripture interpretation, namely, the

necessity of viewing any passage in the light of the context. Again, this principle may be interpreted in a very

limited way and lead only to an examination of the verses immediately surrounding the passage, or, it can be

interpreted generously, endeavouring to see every passage of an epistle as related to the epistle as a whole. This, as

the reader well knows, is our habit and we have never regretted the time spent on such an inquiry. It may not be

necessary to set out the structure of this epistle in minute detail, but the following outline surely reveals two things:

the intended relation of the apostasy of the latter times with the `Mystery of Godliness', and the fact that these two

subjects are at the very heart of the epistle.

1 Timothy.

A 1:1,2

`Teach no other doctrine' Hetero didaskaleo (3)

B 1:3-20

`The King, incorruptible, invisible' (17)

`Shipwreck' (19).

C 2:1-7

The salvation of all men (4).

D 2:8 to 3:15-  These things write I (3:14).

E 3:-15,16

The MYSTERY.  Angels.

The APOSTASY. Demons.

The Saviour of all men (10).

D 4:13 to 6:2  These things teach (6:2).

`Teach otherwise' Hetero didaskaleo. (3).

`The King, immortal, unseen' (15,16).

`Drowning' (9).

It would take us too far from our immediate subject either to enter into the controversy that has arisen over the

true reading of 1 Timothy 3:16, or to attempt an exposition of that verse, this has been done with some attempt at