Several months ago the CLARION HERALD carried an article on the "Manifestation" of Christ -- dealing with the usage of one of the four basic Greek words translated "coming" in the English New Testament. It was shown in that article that the "apokalupsis" of Jesus was something quite different from the idea of a secret coming to rapture the saints.
    In this article I would like to show that the New Testament usage of the Greek "parousia" cannot honestly be used as a basis for teaching a "rapture" before the glorious coming of Jesus Christ to establish on earth His eternal Kingdom of righteousness.
    It was concerning His "parousia" that the disciples of Jesus asked Him to give a sign, (Matt. 24:3); and He assured them that it would be open and visible; "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the PAROUSIA of the Son of man be", (Matt. 24:27). Paul located the resurrection at the "parousia" of the Lord "with all his saints", (I Cor. 15:23; I Thes. 3:13). At the "parousia" of the Lord He will bring "with him" the disembodied "spirits" of those that "sleep in Jesus", (I Thes. 4:14) --

    In a recent newsletter from Bro. Don Ross comes the report that the Lord is abundantly blessing the labors of His servants on that mission field. He reported that three churches in the Sao Paulo area were planning a joint baptismal service on July 11 -- furnishing transportation (as usual) for all who desired to attend those services.
    Pictured above are the type of busses normally used to accommodate those who desire to attend the baptismal service. Such a service is usually attended by hundreds.
    Though Bro. Ross did not specify how many were to be baptized, I assume, from what he did say, that there was a large number -- probably around 40. He also reports that the Lord is richly blessing the churches in other areas -- saving precious souls, and adding many to their, number by baptism.

Page - 2

    As of this writing no word has yet been received from the Brazilian authorities concerning the visa for Bro. Edgar Potter and his family who are preparing to devote themselves to mission work in that country.
    While waiting, an opportunity has opened up for Bro. Potter to attend the Summer Linguistics Institute -- being conducted by Wycliffe Translators -- at the University of Washington, Seattle. This is an intensive 9-week course in basic language construction, phonetics and cultural anthropology. Though he will NOT "learn the language" in this brief period, he should get a foundation that will enable him to grasp the language more rapidly, and more accurately, than would be possible without it.
    Following completion of this course, it is Bro. Potters intention to visit among the churches on the West Coast before returning to the Mid-West to collect his supplies and, hopefully, leave for the

mission field in November.
    The Mission Transportation Fund established by Landmark Church to accumulate the necessary funds for the Potter's transportation now stands at approximately $65O. We do appreciate what others have contributed to this fund, and hope that enough may be accumulated for their full passage by the time it is needed. Should YOU desire to share in this, your offering may be sent to:

    Or, if you should desire to contribute to his support while in school, specify that your offering is for that purpose and we shall gladly forward it to him.

    "Is your Christianity ancient history? or current event?"

    "And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and His anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost part of the camp", (Num. 11:1). God is always displeased with the complaints made by His children against His wise and loving provision. Yet, far too many have eyes that are keen to observe, and lips that are eloquent to rehearse, whatever is dishonorable, discouraging, disillusioning, or depressing.
    Into the daily lives of all men come some things that vex and annoy -- things that are often painful and burdensome -- but we should not constantly set our minds on them. And we certainly have no right to scatter about these thorns & briars in such a way as to work immeasurable havoc to others. Nothing is more discouraging to young Christians than the constant, repeated complaints of older Christians (?) about unrelieved burdens they have never really "cast on the Lord".
    The Israelites complained about their food, their thirst, and the dangers they faced -- questioning why they ever left the bondage of Egypt for such fare. Because of their faithless murmuring against the Lord, and His appointed leaders, they were made to wander in the wilderness forty long years -- until the murmurers had been consumed therein, (Num. 14:26-38). So, Paul admonished the Corinthians not to murmur "as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer", (I Cor. 10:10). And to his beloved Philippians he wrote: "Do all things without murmurings"

"and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world", (Phil. 2:14-15).
    Is it possible that the secret of much fruitlessness among God's people today may be discovered in their thankless ingratitude for the blessings of God, while they fret because He has not given them the full desire of their hearts -- according to their own schedule? How utterly shameful that one can sometimes be driven to despondency by a brother's joy ! -- when God blesses him with what we think we deserve. Foolish, indeed, is that professed Christian whose unbelieving heart "fretteth against the Lord", (Prov. 19:3).
    "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday", (Psa. 37:4-6). "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength", (Isa. 40:31).
    Let each of us learn to wait on the Lord with patience; but remember that one may wait A LONG TIME without faith or patience. So long as we are of fretful heart --questioning God's love, and fearful of being forgotten -- we need not expect to realize the legitimate desires of our hearts, or to know the fulness of His joy.

    "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrows; it only saps today of its strength."

    Let us ask God to continue His rich blessings on this work -- as also upon the faithful labors of the missionaries in Paraguay, Japan and other places -- that a bountiful harvest of souls may be gathered in the closing days of this Gentile age.
    Bro. Ross has recently returned to Brazil following some 14 months in this country. He may now be reached by writing him:
        Don Ross
        Caixa Postal 526
        01000 Sao Paulo, S.P.
        Brazil.

uniting them with bodies that are raised from the grave to meet them "in the air", (I Thes. 4:17). Living saints remain on the earth UNTO the "parousia", (I Thes. 4:15).
    Paul prayed that his brethren at Thessalonica might be preserved blameless in spirit, soul and body UNTO the "parousia" of the Lord, (I Thes. 5:23). He encouraged those same brethren in view of the "parousia of the Lord, and our gatheringtogether unto Him", (2 Thes. 2:1). And he assured them that the Man of Sin would be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's "parousia", (2 Thes. 2:8).
    James encouraged his brethren to be patient "unto the parousia of the Lord", (Jas. 5:7). Peter used the word to describe the glorified presence of Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration, and again to describe the arrival of the "Day of God", (2 Pet. 1:16; 3:12). And John warned that some might "be ashamed before Him at his PAROUSIA", (I Jn. 2:28).
    Someone has pointed out our need for "an eschatology of FAITH " (joyful acceptance of what God has revealed); "not of imagination" (in which an attempt is made to assimilate every prophetic passage into our pre-conceived notions about "last things").
    If a certain time element can be attached to the "parousia" of our Lord, it certainly CANNOT be that of a "rapture" BEFORE THE TRIBULATION! Any attempt to make it so will be in conflict with the divine order --- supplanting it by carnal reason, designed to vindicate one's holding a questionable view of Biblical Eschatology. E.G.