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The Bible Says
“And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9).
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Matt. 13:11). The word “mystery,” as used here means, “The hidden, eternal plan of God that is being revealed to God’s people in accordance with His plan.” In the Gospels Jesus used the word “mystery” a number of times in a confidential manner when speaking to his intimate friends. To the general public He spoke in parables. These parables were stories from everyday life that illustrated great truths that His Jewish listeners were unable to understand.
For centuries the entire Jewish population, individually and collectively, depended upon the Law of Moses to take them to heaven. Jesus dashed their hopes by telling them plainly and clearly that the law could not save them. This great truth was substantiated by the Apostle Paul, many years later when he wrote: “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith” (Gal.3:11). “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal.3:24). “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 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, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:25,26).
“Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die), but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (I Cor. 15:51,52).
“Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness 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.” “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: that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ.” “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:9-14).
The Jews thought only Israelites could be saved and go to heaven. Even the early Jewish Christian thought one must become a Jew before he could be saved. “All who believe” was declared a mystery. “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; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel . . . . .And to make all men see what is the fellowship of this mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:5,6 and 9).
“For I would not, brethren, that ye be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be blind in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). (The fullness of the Gentiles will take place at the Rapture of the blood-washed Church (I Cor. 15:51, 52). When the church is caught away to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9), Israel will replace the Church as God’s earthly representative people (Romans 11:23. -- Note, read the entire eleventh chapter of Romans).
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now (restrains) will continue to restrain until he be taken out of the way” (II Thess. 2;7). Satan is a clever sales person. He presents sin in such an attractive manner only those empowered by God’s Holy Spirit can resist his temptations. He also has organized sinful standards in all the cultures of the world. The only thing that keeps our way of life from becoming even more wicked is the influence of God’s Holy Spirit through the born-again believers of the church. When the Rapture takes place, there will be no restraining force left on the earth.
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