THE EPIPHANY

The next event to take place in God's prophetic scheme of things is the "appearing" of the Lord Jesus

 Christ. For two-thousand years Christ has been veiled, or as Paul says, "hid in God" (Co1.3:3). The

 world sees no evidence of Him. During the Dispensation of Grace He has not audibly spoken. His

voice has not been heard. He has not been active in righting wrongs. He has not been ruling and reigning

 in the earth. He has not been ruling in the kingdom of men and nor establishing thrones or throwing them

down. Rulers, governors, presidents, tyrants, kings, and dictators are the results of the actions of men,

 not of God.

The present age in which we live is marked by Divine silence. The Lord, today, speaks only through His

 written Word. He is dispensing grace, not judgement; grace not wrath; grace not government. We have

 His written Word, It is to instruct, enlighten, correct and equip men of God (2 Tim.3:15). We are told to

 try or test the things that differ (P1n1.1:10) in the Word. Said another way, we are to rightly divide the

Word of Truth (2 Tim.2:15). Some Truths are for today. Some are Truths from the past, and some are

 for the future. All Truth is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine.

 But if Truth. is not "rightly divided" the result is diminished appreciation for the Word of God. That is why

there is so little appreciation for the Scripture today. That is why we have dead churches, spiritual pygmies

and babes in Christ who cannot bear the "strong meat of the Word." Only those who are weaned from

the milk and are pulled from the breast can learn and understand doctrine. "Whom shall he teach knowledge?

and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the

breasts" (Isa.28:9).

 May this instruct those who have been dawn from the breast

 For many years I have pointed out flat the "appearing" and. the "conies" are different ever. I have written

that the "wearing" is a stupendous evat that ends the Dipensation of Grace and ushers in the Government

of God. The "coming" is the spectacuta event that results in a one-thousand year Parousia of the Lord Jesus

Christ on earth.

 In order to truly appreciate the "appearing", I suggest we look at the word  which was translated "appearing"

from Greek into English. The Greek word was "epiphaneia", from which we get our word "epiphany." Looking

at various lexicons and dictionaries, I conclude that it carries with it the meaning of a blazing forth for a favorable intervention on behalf of man. It is said the Greeks used the word "epiphaneia" to mean a divinity witnessed by

men or gods intervening on behalf of man. One lexicon says, "the helpbringing appearing of gods-" Another says,

"a miraculous interposition of God in behalf of His people." Another says of "epiphaneia"; "This grand word was

constantly employed to set forth these gracious appearances of higher powers in aid of men."

 In this light, we read in Acts 14:8-18 that Banabas and Paul were in Lystra. There was a man, who was a cripple

from birth, who was listening to Paul speak. Paul noticed the man and commanded, "Stand upright on thy feet";

the cripple "leaped and walked"(v.10). When all the people saw what Paul had done, "they lifted up their voices,

saying in the speech of Lycanoia The gods are come do to us in the likeness of men" (v.11). To thosese who

witnessed this event, it was to them, an "epiphany„ or an "epiphaneia." They imagined that the gods had favorably intervened on their behalf. In fact, they named Barnabas, Jupiter and Paul, Mercury and set about to offer sacrifices,

to show their devotion to Barnabas and Paul.

 Joseph Rotherham, in his Emphasized Bible, A Literal Translation, translates "epiphaneia" as a Torthshining.'

 This present dispensation ends when Jesus Christ suddenly intervenes in a blaze of glory on behalf of mankind;

this is the epiphany which ushers in the Kingdom of God. This blazing forth is the unveiling of Christ Jesus. This

event can happen at, any moment, no prophecy needs to be fulfilled. It will come suddenly, dramatically and

God will make it plain to every human being upon earth, tribesmen in the jungle, the professors and students

of the great universities, Hindus and Muslims, exactly Who Jesus Christ is and what He is in the estimation of

God the Father. This is the knowledge God will force upon every man, so much so, it that becomes standard

knowledge.

Notice the six times 'epiphaneia' occurs in the New Testament:

 2 Thess.2:8 - with the brightness of His coming

 1 Tim.6:14 - the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ

 2 Tim.1:10 - the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ

 2 Tim.4:1 - at His appearing and His kingdom

 2 Tim. 4:8 - but unto all also that love His appearing 

Titus 2:13 - the glorious appearing of the great God

 The first occurrence of "epiphaneia" (2Thess.2:8) is used with the word "parousia" (coming), but don't

confuse its use here with that of Titus 2:13. This tells us that the man of sin, the wicked one, will be

destroyed by the blazing forth (favorable intervention) or forthshining of His Parousia. The Parousia

of Christ (His 2nd Coming) is an epiphaneia, that is, a blazing forth for a favorable intervention for

His people. God intervenes, and ends the Great Tribulation. But this is not THE EPIPHANY.

 When reading these passages which relate to the "appearing" think of a blazing forth of a favorable

 divine intervention on behalf of mankind.

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the

 dead at His appearing and kingdom" (2 Tim.4:1). This passage is of signal importance and is most

misunderstood. The context relating to 2 Tim.4:1 begins in 2 Tim.3a-9,13, "This know also, that in

 the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,

 proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankfid, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers,

 false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, higtuninded, lovers

of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such

 turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins,

 led away wit divers hub, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes

 and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning

the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was ....But

evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." Jesus Christ intervenes in

 earthly affairs and dispels the "perilous times." Men with corrupt minds will be stopped dead in their tracks

and their folly or madness will be made manifest or wholly known, just like Jannes and Jambres. The blazing

forth causes the whole World to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to theory of God the Father (Phil.2:11).

And Christ's Kingdom will be brought in and He will begin to "judge", that is, to determine, among the living

and dead, who qualifies to live under His With His Epiphany, begins the resurrection out from among the dead

 of those whom Christ deems worthy. This includes those who had never had the opportunity hear the Gospel,

 but "to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life

....for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified ...For when

 the Gentiles, which have not the Law, do by nature the things contained in the Law, these, having not the Law,

are a law unto themselves:" (Rom.2:7,13-14). This will be a time the Lord Jesus bestows rewards. Paul declares, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at

 that day: not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing [epiphaneia]" (2 Tim.4:8). This will indeed

be a favorable intervention for all those who have "loved His appearing." Notice it is, "love His appearing (epiphaneia);

 not love His coming (parousia).

 Is there a "crown of righteousness" for those who think the Appearing and the 2nd Coming are the same? I fear not.

That is, if words mean anything.

 The last reference is Titus 2:13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing (epiphaneia) of the

great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." The literal translation is found to be "the appearing of the glory of the

great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Hence, the emphasis is on the "glory of God" blazing forth as a favorable intervention. The focus is the blessed expectation of the blazing forth of His glory.

The blazing forth of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ is the great work which God is going to

do when He again speaks from heaven and says to the world, "Let there be light." This will fulfill His promise made

 in Hab.2:14, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as waters cover the sea."

 Titus 2:13 is not the revelation of the

 Mystery. One of the grand themes of the Bible is the manifestation of the glory of God. It is in fact, a truth that had been declared many times in Scripture: Isa 40:5, "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" Nu.14:21, "But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." Ps 72:19, "And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." Isa 6:3, "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." 

The epiphania (blazing forth or forthshining) of His glory is the foundational truth upon which God's government in the earth will be established. It is God's next move. We should live anticipating this. It could be at any moment.