Should one tend to look with skepticism upon the concept of an alarming apostacy among the Lord's own people, before His return, let him open his eyes and ears. Observe! and Listen!
    When Christian leaders adopt double standards - one set for themselves, and a more stringent one for others - there is a deliberate departure from Biblical principles!
    When a returning missionary attempts to: 1) Lord it over pastors and churches who have faithfully supported him, or 2) Accuses of "heresy" those who reject the doctrinal "accommodations" (compromises) said missionary has made, in an obvious, pragmatic maneuver designed toward broadening the base of his financial support, there is not only hypocrisy; there is outright spiritual TREACHERY!
    When a missionary leaves behind his minor children (expecting some pastor to watch over their spiritual lives) - only to defend their "little darlings" against responsible disciplinary actions by the church whose authority they have flouted and whose Lord they have dishonored, [sometimes even refusing to hear the evidence upon which discipline, or contemplated discipline was based!]; there is something LESS THAN EXEMPLARY, or acceptable, Christian and ministerial

  "Be patient therefore brethren, unto the coming of the Lord .... Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh", (Jas. 5:7-8).
  In an effort to motivate his brethren to holy living, James appeals to the personal return of the Lord as King of the earth. Such a motivating power is still valid for 20th century Christians. Thus, the simple study to follow.
  1. The TERMINOLOGY of His coming. There is but one future coming of the Christ. Biblical teaching concerning that coming is illustrated by the use of three basic Greek words:
    a. "Parousia". The opposite of "absence", this word speaks of the King's coming, in His personal "body presence", to receive the submission, homage and loyal service of His subjects, (Matt. 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thes. 2:19; 2:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thes. 2:1, 8-9; Jas, 5:7-8; 2 Pet. 1:16; 3:4; 1 John 2:28).
    b. "Epiphania". As pertains to the Christ, this word suggests an "appearance", in brilliancy and power, to assume His kingly throne as the Son of David, (2 Thes. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 1:10; 4:1,8; Titus 2:13).
    c. "Apokalupsis". This word depicts "an unveilling, laying bare, manifestation, or revelation". In this case, it is a revelation

of the glory, majesty and sovereign authority of Him to whom the kingdom belongs by inheritance, (1 Cor. 1:7; 2 Thes. 1:7; I Pet. 1:7, 13; 4:13).

  2. The TIME of His coming.

    a. So secret is the time of our Lord's return that it was not known to Him while He walked as a man among men, (Matt. 24:36; Mk. 13:32; Psa. 110:1).
    b. He will come in a time of great apostacy - when many of His own people are deliberately refusing to walk in the way which they know He has appointed, (2 Thes. 2:3a; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5).
    c. It will follow the revelation of the Man of Sin, (2 Thes. 2:3b).
    d. It will be "at the consummation of the [this] age".
      1) In Ephesians 1:21 Paul distinguishes "this age" (Gk. "aion") from "that [age] which is to come".
      2) In Matthew 24:3 Jesus' disciples asked: "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world" (or, "consummation of the age")?

      3) Our Lord Himself used the expression three times in His parable of the Sower, (Matt. 13:39-40, 49) concerning a "harvest" at the end of the age and in connection with His return. He also used it in the Great Commission given to His church, (Matt, 28:20) promising His presence, through the Holy Spirit, until His personal return to initiate the New Age.
    e. Binding Satan, our Lord will cast him into the bottomless pit and initiate this "new millennial] age" wherein He will restore the earth to its Edenic purity and rule, in righteousness, from the re-established throne of His father David, in Jerusalem - while subduing all things to the divine order, (Rev. 20:1-3; Mart. 19:28-30; Acts 3:18-21; Rom. 8:18-23; Joel 3:14-17; Psa. 110:2-3).
    f. His coming will be sudden as lightning; unexpected as a thief in the night, (Mart. 24:27, 37-39; 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).
  3. PREPARATION for His coming.
    a. The very first step in preparing for the Lord's coming must be a yielding of one's heart and 4fe to Him in loving trust and loyal devotion, (Prov. 3:5-6; Isa. 45:22; Num. 21:8-9; 2 Chron. 20:12; Micah 7:7).
    b. There must be a spirit of watchful readiness, (Matt. 24:36-51).
    c. The time that remains must be used to prepare for Christ's coming.
      1) As to character, we must seek after: soberness (1 Pet. 4:7), holiness (1 Thes. 3:13, and blamelessness (1 Thes. 5:23).
      2) Casting off the "works of darkness" we must put on "the armor of light": (Rom. 13:11-12).
    d. We must commit ourselves to such a walk of faith-obedience as He has appointed in a New Testament church - submitting ourselves to one another, in mutual love and

forbearance, as we endeavor to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace, and to encourage one another with the coming of our Lord in constant expectancy, (Eph. 5:21; 1 Cor. 16:14, 22; Phil. 4:5; Eph. 4:1-2; Heb. 10:25).
    e. The best possible preparation for Christ's coming is to constantly "abide in Him", (1 Jn. 2:28) through the maintenance of an acceptable walk in the functioning fellowship of a local, New Testament church, which is "His body", (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12, 27; Eph. 5:30).
    May the Lord grant to each of His people "ears to hear", and hearts to understand, that the order He has established for His people in a New Testament church is NOT optional; it is ESSENTIAL that His people joyfully submit themselves to walk in the way He has appointed. Otherwise, they have no biblical basis for expecting the smile of His approval, or the hearing of His ultimate "Well Done!". - Eugene L. Garner
    Patience is hard, sometimes. Whilst I am climbing the mountains, passing through the wilderness, daring dangers, I feel comparatively quiet, or even glad. But to sit down when the angel tells me to sit, and not to stir till he comes back again; who can do it?
    There are lines of retreat in every great life: when Christ must be driven into Egypt, when the prophet must be banished into solitude, when John the Baptist must be in the desert eating locusts and wild honey, when Saul of Tarsus must be driven off into Arabia -- times when "in patience we must possess our souls".
    But an asylum [or hospital] need not be a tomb; retreat need not be extinction. Make the

[The following letter was recently sent to the Editor of the Rockford Newspapers.]
"Dear Editor:
    A recent news story carried an interesting quotation from Carol Moseley Brawi, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Illinois. In the frenzy of a "liberation" convention, in Chicago, she complained that whoever opposes legalized abortion would reduce women to mere "breeding units". A very interesting thought!
    Can Ms. Braun really believe that all the great women of human history, before the perversion of the U.S. Constitution by humanistic, liberal activists, were "mere breeding units"? Or is this an inadvertent admission that our welfare rolls are loaded with third and fourth generation prostitutes who "breed for profit" - supporting both themselves and a "Mr. Jock" who is too lazy to work? I submit that reasonable people will think twice before choosing one with such a mentality to represent them in Washington!
    Just why does one choose to have an abortion? Is there any possible need where one has not already committed herself to such conduct as makes her a "breeding unit"? Does Ms. Braun imagine that some women suddenly find an unwanted fetus within their wombs without a "breeding experience"? or was she merely talking "liberation nonsense"?
    "But, think of what women will be forced to bear because of rape, incest, deformity and threats to their lives, if they cannot get a legal abortion!" This is the hysterical mob-cry of these humanistic, liberating uplifters. Yet, less than 1% of the million and a half abortions performed annually have the slightest connection with any of these things! Most women

seek abortions because of deliberate, willful, intentional, by-choice indulgence in what, for almost 6,000 years, has been known as sexual immorality - and which most people have called adultery, fornication, or SIN!
    I do not recommend that Christians take to the streets in protest movements. I DO believe we should support candidates who actively seek a return to righteous principles of government. We should offer our support ONLY if they strive to overturn both such "laws" and "judicial impositions" as violate the Christian conscience, the welfare of the nation and the laws of the God under whose protective hand, and by whose blessings, our nation has prospered. Otherwise, our fall is certain; it may be SOON!"
    Thank God for those few godly women who still: respect their husbands, love their children and find great joy as homemakers - the role to which God, in His wisdom and grace, has called them!

    Our God is a God of patience - patience long continued but not everlasting. Swift fly the wings of mercy, slow goes the hand of justice; like the shadow on the sun-dial, ever moving, yet creeping slowly on, with a motion all but imperceptible. Still, let sinners stand in awe. The hand of justice has not stopped, although imperceptibly, it steadily advances, by and by having reached the tenth, eleventh, twelfth hour, the bell strikes. Then, unless you soon flee to Christ, the blow which was so slow to fall shall descend on the head of impenitence with accumulated force. Let it never be forgotten, that although God's patience is lasting, it is not everlasting. -- Guthrie.

    Jesus said: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me", (Matt. 26:24). It should be noted that he does not ask the denial of anything TO self, but the denial of SELF! This involves "the flesh", or the "old man" with all his hearty appetite. No provision is to be made for him. He is to be crucified - nailed to the cross.
    "The cross" here involves whatever discipline the Lord has chosen for our making. With each of us it is different. He knows our weakness and our strength, but seeks to develop the love and loyalty of our hearts. He wants our whole-hearted love and service.
    To truly "follow Jesus" involves a willing and joyful walk in the way He has commanded. Nor does He require of us anything that He has not already faced. Best of all, so long as the attitude of our hearts is right toward Him, He will be with us. When trials come, he faithfully and lovingly upholds us with His powerful hand. So, take courage, Pilgrim!

    How often have we sung: "Jesus I my cross have taken" without giving much thought to what we were singing. The young lady who wrote that song of commitment did not compose it in an easy chair. For Christ's sake she had been driven from her father's house. With a pen dipped in her own blood, she tearfully poured out the pathos of a

broken, but yielded heart, that risked all, in total commitment, upon the faithfulness of her dear Saviour.


    He who truly takes up his cross to follow Jesus will suffer no loss, but will be greatly enriched by the fellowship and bounty of his dear Lord, (Mk. 10:28). The person who,

rejecting his appointed cross, attempts to "save his life", will surely lose it - to stand as a pauper in the coming age, (Lk. 9:23-24). Our very bodies are to be presented to God as a "living sacrifice"; not conformed to this world, hut transformed, through the renewing of our minds, that we may discern the good, acceptable and perfect will of God, (Rom. 12:1-2). We are called to follow our Lord, even though it may involve a time of suffering! (I Pet. 2:21-24). But, we know that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory that awaits the faithful servant in the age to come! (Rom. 8:16-18).
    "Follow, I would follow Thee, Dear Lord! Follow every passing day!" E.G.

PATIENCE …… Continued from Page 3
best of your leisure. You want to be at the front, instead of that you have been banished to the rear. It is for a wise purpose! Gather strength, let the brain sleep, yield yourself to the spirit of the quietness of God, and after what appears to be wasted time or unprofitable waiting, there shall come an inspiration into thy soul that shall make thee strong and fearless, and the banished one shall become the center of nations. -- Parker.

    "Do not be afraid to spend yourself. Do not hesitate to risk yourself. Do not shrink from treading on principle. It will carry you, as a bridge, over the deepest and darkest chasm that exists. Trust truth, and purity, and integrity, and benevolence. Give yourself to them. Throw yourself impetuously, enthusiastically, into them. And do not wait to see if anybody sees you. Do not care what anybody says. Be unconscious so far as men are concerned. Be boldly true and truly bold".

SHADES ..... Continued from Page 1
conduct involved! Nor will the assumption that "all judgment is past for the child of God" make one any less guilty of SIN in such matters; sin that demands REPENTANCE if one is to face His coming Lord without shame! But, how exceedingly difficult it sometimes seems, simply to say: "Brother, I have done you wrong! I am sorry! Will you forgive me?"
    When one pastor, or missionary, attempts to undermine another by sowing discord among his flock, it would be well if he could hear the inquiry of his Master: "Xxxxx, Xxxxxr, Why persecutest thou me?" When a Baptist pastor is so eager to impress others with the number of members

"enlisted" that he will encourage the reception, without repentance and restitution, of people who have been disciplined by a sister-church; am I not observing "Shades of Apostacy?"
    When pastors, or any other members of Christ's body, take a firm stand for the maintenance of church discipline - only to object, back down, or attempt to cushion the blow when it involves a close friend or relative; surely someone is knowingly, willingly and deliberately turning aside from the order established by our Lord for the health and very survival of His body! Can this be regarded as anything LESS THAN APOSTACY?
    When church members abandon the House of God except for "one service on Sunday", are not the "Shades of Apostacy" deepening?
    Again and again New Testament writers warned of a "falling away" among the people of God prior to our Lord's return. Because iniquity abounds the love of many is permitted to "wax cold", (Matt. 24:12); but, that does not make one of us any less guilty if we catch that kind of cold! Nor does it lessen the blow of loveless treachery against Him who died that we might live; and lives, that, through the power of His risen life, we might triumph over sin, the world, the flesh and the devil!
    Let us all lay hold on that divine sufficiency which, with our consent, will enable us to BE TRUE in these perilous times!"
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear....forgive and heal", (2 (Chron. 7:14).