All The Mysteries of the Bible, Part 2
What Is A Biblical Mystery…A Refresher
A Biblical mystery is that which can only be known by revelation. Daniel 2:28a.
Biblical mysteries are important because they are the basic building blocks of a Biblical worldview. Without them, the structure of world and spiritual order would be unknown to us.
The Biblical Mysteries, In Biblical Order
From Part 1 -
The Mystery of the Times of the Gentiles - Daniel 2:28, 36-45
The mystery of the Kingdom -- Matthew 13:10-11, 34-35
The mystery of the blindness of Israel - Romans 11:25
The mystery given to Paul - Rom. 16:25-26, 1 Cor. 2:7-10, Eph 3:1-9, Eph 6:19, Col. 1:26ff, 2:2, 4:3 (of Christ), 1 Tim 3:9 (of the faith).
The mystery of Israel's experiences as typology - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
The mystery of Israel's transformation - 1 Corinthians 15:50-52
The mystery of the fullness of times - Ephesians 1:9-10
According to Hebrews 2:8, we are not yet in this dispensation.
It is revealed to us that someday every person and power will be in subjection to Jesus Christ.
This is not descriptive of our day, but is descriptive of the coming Messianic Kingdom.
The mystery of marriage - Ephesians 5:31-32
Many mistake this mystery to be that the church is the Bride of Christ, but no such information is revealed.
The word for in v. 31 is anti“as a substitute," then Paul goes back to the subject of the church in v. 32 using the word but, and v. 33 begins with nevertheless, returning to the subject of husbands and wives.
Without the Scriptures, we would assume two to be two. With the Scriptures and this mystery revealed, we know two to be one.
This was a mystery revealed in Genesis 2:24 but not called a mystery until Ephesians 5:32.
The mystery of the dead in Christ - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Without this revelation, we would be ignorant (v. 13) as to how the Pauline mystery would conclude. This information is given no other place in Scripture.
With the mystery, we have blessed hope (Titus 2:13) of the body of Christ. Note in this verse how the world needs both the blessed hope and the glorious appearing, for only after the Second Coming will the mystery of the fullness of times begin.
This passage is for those who believe that Jesus died and rose again (v. 14).
**At this event, the dead in Christ (v. 16) will both come with him (v. 14) and their bodies, which remain on earth, shall rise (v. 16). After this resurrection, all believers will be caught up…to meet the Lord in the air** (v. 17).
The mystery of iniquity - 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
If the antichrist is currently withheld and not revealed* *(v. 6), then why is there such iniquity today?
Because there is one who letteth…until he be taken out of the way (v. 7). That is, someday Satan will be arrested, chained, and will not be allowed to perform his deception any longer.
It is important to confuse what withholdeth (v. 6) with he who letteth (v. 7). One is a thing and the other a person.
The mystery of Godliness - 1 Timothy 3:16
Morality is based on God's character and revelation and is unknown apart from a knowledge of God.
Those who reject the existence of God will forever struggle to define right from wrong. As a godless society progresses from God, the majority will determine morality. Eventually, that societies government will decide, and ultimately there will be a dictatorial decision“god," whether the Almighty or a substitute.
The mystery of the seven stars and candlesticks-- Revelation 1:20
“research" to find out what these symbols meant.
Though this is a simple mystery, it displays the meaning of mystery very well.
The mystery of God - Revelation 10:7
This mystery was previously declared to his servants the prophets and presumably recorded by them.
It is very possible that this mystery is the same as in Daniel 2, the mystery of the Kingdoms and their coming destruction.
Mystery Babylon - Revelation 17:5, 7ff, 18
Mystery Babylon is revealed in verse 18 as that great city, which requires a resurrection of the city of Babylon.
“research" the distant future, apart from God's revelation. We would never be able to discover Babylon's reconstruction without this mystery revealed.
Note that this mystery also reveals the destruction of the rebuilt city.