05 The Great Mystery

The Great Mystery

I Peter 1:10-12 is the great fulcrum of truth on which we can swing into the detailed study and understanding of the Great Mystery. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you. I Peter 1:10.

These were the Old Testament prophets who saw the period of grace between the "sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." They searched diligently for the duration of that period of time, but they could not find it in The Word, for that period is the Great Mystery.

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify [The accurate literal translation is: Searching out or unto the time of the spirit which was upon them did signify of Christ], when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Unto whom [the Old Testament prophets] it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them [the Church apostles and prophets, Ephesians 4:11] that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost [spirit] sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. I Peter 1:11, 12. The Old Testament prophets searched for the length of time of the grace period, between the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Prophecies of Christ’s coming are throughout the Old Testament, as well as the details of His sufferings and glory. The prophets searched the Scriptures in detail for the duration of this period of time but could not find it, for that period is the great mystery.

Even the angels did not know the duration of the period of time between the sufferings and the glory of Christ. This period is the great mustērion, "hid in God" (Ephesians 3:9); "hid from ages and from generations" (Colossians 1:26); "kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25); never made known "in other ages" (Ephesians 3:5). Not a single word was written or heard of this great mystery until it was revealed in detail to the apostle Paul.

Note carefully what Ephesians chapter 3:2ff says about the great mystery:

If ye have heard of the dispensation [administration] of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

How that by revelation he made known unto me the 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...

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God... To make all men see what is the fellowship [oikonomia, administration] of the mystery [mustērion], which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things. The Epistle to the Colossians, chapter 1, verses 24b–27, has this to say of the mystery: For his body’s sake, which is the church:

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation [administration] of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [mustērion], among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Romans 16:25, 26 has this illuminating truth regarding the mystery:

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 [mustērion], 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. In all the scriptures in Ephesians, Colossians and Romans, we note one great truth: the mystery regarding the Church, the body of Christ, had never before been made known until it was made known to the apostle Paul. The mystery "in other ages was not made known"; "hid from ages and from generations"; "kept secret since the world began"; "hid in God" from the beginning. Therefore, that mystery cannot be revealed in the Old Testament or in the Gospels, for then it would not have been a mystery. Once a truth is revealed it is no longer a mystery.