Category Archives: Mystery

Mystery of God

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Colossians 1:25-27 KJVS
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Apostle Paul was given a dispensation by God to fulfill the word of God. Before we go on, I should point something out. In verse 27 it states, “To whom God would make known”. Not everybody is given the knowledge to understand the significance of the mystery of God. Some understand the importance of it and some don’t. That being said, back to the matter at hand. In Paul’s epistles he prophesied about the end time event of when the saints meet our Lord in the air, and receive a glorified body. The information in regard to this is spread out in various verses throughout many of his epistles.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10,12 KJVS
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. [12] That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints is of course what is commonly referred to as the rapture of the church. Some of the other verses in this prophecy describes events that take place in the end times during the Tribulation. If you use the Strong’s Concordance with the King James version of the Bible, you can do a word study on the word “mystery” and find many of the scriptures that I’m going to use in this article. The word mystery only appears in the New Testament in the KJV. The first time Paul mentions this mystery, is in the last chapter of Romans, almost as an after thought. And he calls it my gospel.

Romans 16:25 KJVS
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

In Ephesians Paul expands upon his knowledge of the revelation of the mystery.

Ephesians 3:1-6 KJVS
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

To me the mystery of God, and mystery of Christ, appears to be synonymous. Fellowheirs are those who are recipient of the promise God gave to Abraham, and his seed, to be heir of the world, Ro 4:13.

Galatians 3:16,29 KJVS
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. [29] And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In 1 Corinthians, he writes about the mystery and goes into an interesting detail.

1 Corinthians 2:6-10,13 KJVS
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

If the princes of this world had known about the mystery, they would not have crucified our Lord. Why is that? Well, the mystery is Christ in you the hope of glory, which speaks of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, working in our lives, making us worthy of salvation. Which culminates in our meeting the Lord in the air, receiving glorified bodies, and ruling and reigning with Jesus Christ for a 1000 years, Re 20:4&6. The Holy Ghost teaches us many things by our comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Now to me that means comparing scripture with scripture, and combining them together to paint a picture, so to speak. The last verse in this chapter informs us that we have the mind of Christ, because Christ is in us, which facilitates our doing just that.

1 Corinthians 2:16 KJVS
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Later, in the same chapter, Paul writes when the saints will be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:42-43,49-52 KJVS
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

In a later epistle, Paul reinforces what he wrote in the above verses.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 KJVS
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

It wasn’t until much later that apostle John would corroborate what Paul wrote and make clear exactly when the saints would meet the Lord in the air. He did that in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 10:7 KJVS
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Now notice, John wrote “in the days”. Because the mystery of God will be finished not at one specific day, but over a short period of time. Re 20:4 indicates that some Christians will have to refuse the mark of the beast, in order to rule, and reign with Jesus Christ for 1000 years.

Revelation 11:15 ESV
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 12:5 KJVS
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The seventh trumpet is the last trumpet to be blown by the seventh angel. Paul called it the last trump. Paul wrote those verses a good 20 years prior to when apostle John wrote about the vision God gave him which he transcribed in the book of Revelation. So in regard to the last trump, Paul’s prophecy lacks a certain degree of clarity beyond the Spirit calling it the last trump. And our Lord’s prophecy in Matthew 24 also lacks specifics because God and Jesus Christ were holding their cards close to their chest, 1 Co 2:7-8, concerning the role that the indwelling Spirit of Christ plays in the salvation of believers, Jn 17:23.

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints

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1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJVS
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:1 KJVS
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

The other day I noticed how unique the opening verses of 1&2 Thessalonians were in contrast with the other epistles. Both verses have this phrase in them. “church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:” Which is no coincidence since both epistles contain details surrounding when the Saints are gathered unto the Lord, commonly referred to as the rapture. Which is the fulfillment of the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, Col 1:27. And that glory is realized…

2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 KJVS
[10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. [11] Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: [12] That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul mentions this mystery of God, mystery of Christ in regards to the rapture in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 KJVS
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

The last or seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation is when the mystery of God is finished.

Revelation 10:7 KJVS
[7] But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Revelation 11:15 KJVS
[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

One should note the phrase “in the days” found in Rev 10:7, that phrase does not limit the mystery of God as being finished just when the seventh trumpet is sounded but in the days when it is sounded. If you are not familiar to the mystery of God you should do a study on the word as it appears in the New Testament. It is the hidden wisdom of God, 1 Co 2:7-8. That was revealed to the Saints of God at a certain point in time.

Colossians 1:25-27 KJVS
[25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Our Lord mentions the mystery of the kingdom of God and uttered many parables concerning it. Notice that understanding this mystery has to be make known to you by God, which is also stated in Col. 1:27.

Mark 4:11-13 KJVS
[11] And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: [12] That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. [13] And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The Strong’s Concordance definition for the Greek word translated into the English word kingdom is in line with what this mystery is.

Strong’s Definition
From G935; properly royalty that is (abstractly) rule or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively): – kingdom + reign.

Properly royalty, royalty that is being prepared to rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years, Rev 20:6.

John 17:22-23 KJVS
[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

In addition to what has already been written , is a observation I just made regarding verses in the book of Revelation that confirms the observation made about Rev 10:7 above. There are two seed of the woman in the 12th chapter of Revelation, the man child who is caught up to the throne of God, Rev 12:5, and the remnant of the woman’s seed.

Revelation 12:17 KJVS
[17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Some if not all of the remnant of the woman’s seed are martyrs for refusing to take the mark of the beast.

Revelation 13:7-8,15 KJVS
[7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. [8] And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. [15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

These members of the body of Christ also rule and reign with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4 KJVS
[4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

There are a myriad of scripture verses in the Bible that comprise a complex interrelated whole. A unified theory if you will, of God’s will for man.

Ephesians 1:9-12 KJVS
[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: [11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.