Logic operates within certain fixed boundaries. There is a circumstance, not reckoned

in this argument, which alters the case completely, viz., the complete cessation of the

dispensation in which I Cor. xi found its place. We must remember that we are not at

liberty to take a truth revealed at some later period back into an earlier period in matters

of interpretation. To understand the meaning of the words "Till He come," we must

acquaint ourselves with the teaching concerning that coming, which falls within the

boundary line of that particular dispensation. If we read into I Cor. xi teaching that was

not revealed, and which was kept an absolute secret until some years afterwards, we must

expect to reap a harvest of confusion for our pains.

There is a word which runs throughout the Scriptures pertaining to kingdom and

pentecostal times, which will help us in our studies; that word is in the original tongue,

the word parousia, and is translated sometimes "coming," and sometimes "presence." It

occurs 24 times in the New Testament. Seventeen of these occurrences refer to Christ,

and the remaining seven refer to others, Paul, Titus, Timothy, Stephanas, and antichrist

(I Cor. xvi.17; II Cor. 7: 6, 7; x.10; Phil. 1: 26; 2: 12; II Thess. 2: 9). The first

canonical and historical use of the word occurs in Matt. 24:, and if we allow the canon

of interpretation to be true that the first occurrence of any word supplies the key to its

meaning, then most certainly parousia belongs to the kingdom, and not to the mystery.

Let us consider the context of this first occurrence:--

The Apocalypse is the inspired record of the sunteleia of the age, and with it the

parousia is connected. In answer to the question "When," the Lord gives a series of

prophetic utterances commencing with the word "Then" (see Matt. 24: 9, 10, 16, 21,

23, 30, 40, and 25: 1). It must be remembered that the word translated "Then" is a

definite mark of time, "then at that time." In Matt. 24: 21 we read, "Then shall be great

tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever

shall be." These words single out this tribulation from any other, consequently Rev.

7: 14 refers to the same period, "These are they which came out of the tribulation, the

great." This time of Jacob's trouble" will be brought to an end by the second coming of

the Lord. "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so

also shall the parousia be of the Son of man" (Matt. 24: 27).

This coming directly in connection with the false messiahs and false prophets, with

their "great signs and wonders," links the passage with II Thess. 2:, and consequently

with the antichrist. In II Thess. 2: 8, 9 we read:--