The scoffers knew about the parousia; Peter knew of that hoped-for coming, but he

did not understand a great deal of the truth committed to Paul, viz., the dispensation of

the mystery which comes in the "gap" occasioned by the setting aside of Israel, and the

postponement of "the promise of His parousia." In I Cor. 15: 22, 23 we read, "Christ the

firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's in His parousia." In I Thess. 4: the apostle

had revealed the fact that some would be "alive, and remain unto the parousia of the

Lord," which we saw had a connection with Dan. 12: and Israel. Here in I Cor. 15: he

gives further teaching:--

Now "when" this shall take place "then" Isa. 24: and 25: 8, 9 will be fulfilled.

Then "the kingdoms of the world will have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His

Christ." These words are spoken at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. No trumpet is

recorded after this, and so we are justified in speaking of this as the "last trump." If we

have to argue that there may be another, it suggests that something is wrong with our

theology. The effect of the sounding of the seventh trumpet extends to Rev. 20:, where

we have the first resurrection, the resurrection of those who have gone through the great

tribulation, and who share the glory of the millennial reign on earth.

Space will not allow reference to every occurrence of the word parousia, but the

remaining passages will be found to bear out the conclusions we have drawn. So far we

have confined our attention to the Gospel of Matthew, I and II Thessalonians, Peter,

James, I Corinthians and Revelation; in other words, we have avoided the special epistles

of the mystery. If we want to learn in what respect the parousia is connected with the

church of the mystery, we shall have to consider the references to it in the Prison Epistles.

Our space is exceedingly limited for this most important investigation, but we need not

be alarmed, for if we patiently read through Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Timothy,

and Titus, we shall not find a single reference to the parousia of Christ.

We have found the parousia connected with Israel, antichrist, the great tribulation, the

day of the Lord, everything to link it with the kingdom. Surely we need no further

argument to prove that the second coming, as taught, believed, and hoped for before Acts

28:, in I Corinthians, and during the "time of the end," is clearly to be distinguished

from "that blessed hope," which lies before the believer during this present peculiar

dispensation of the mystery. "Till He come" must refer to this parousia coming; this was

the only coming revealed. That coming, like all else connected with the kingdom, has

become in abeyance. It has absolutely nothing to do with the members of the one body.