deut 30:11-14
rom 10:6-11
act 16:31
rom 10:9
( there is no mystery in christ, we should not just reley on others to teach us what and how to believe. we should always go first to the soucre of or salvation, and read his plan for our lifes.)
most importantily we need to test all things. just because someone teaches you one thing, search out and see if it lines up with what God says. rom 3:4 "let God be true and everyman a lier"
Hello again Amy, there is no denying that the Mystery of Christ is a biblical truth which was only revealed at the appointed time:
1 Corinthians 2
King James Version (KJV)
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 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.
In view we have the mystery which even the disciples, until the Day of Pentecost, can be seen not to understand.
Had those that crucified the Lord (Satan being behind this) known this previously unrevealed truth, they would not have crucified Him.
The following...
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.
...is usually thought to be a reference to Heaven (i.e. we just can't imagine how great it will be) but in fact the context seems to have this referring to the work of Chrsit on the Cross, a foreshadowing of Chrsit which we nor any man would have understood outside of the knowledge of the work accomplished but also one more very important factor:
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
One can have an intellectual knowledge of Christ but only we as believers indwelt by God can actually understand not only the work of Christ but the prophecy of Messiah in the Old Testament.
Again we see the Gospel of Christ spoken of as a mystery:
Romans 16:25
King James Version (KJV)
25 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,
Here it said to have been hidden since the world began. Spoken of in Genesis 3:15, but the context was not clear to them.
And again:
Ephesians 3
King James Version (KJV)
1 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)
5Which 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;
Little commentary is needed here but to point out that a focus on Gentile inclusion is present though equally important to keep v.9 in view as we digest this great honor that we in this Age have been given.
Again we see the source for understanding is the Comforter. He revealed and reveals it to men (general term to include both male and female).
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Before we decide that this mystery only extends to Gentile inclusion, we read on:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
In order to keep this short a look at Strong's will help a further study of
mystery.
That a "mystery" is a previously unrevealed truth can be seen in many of the verses where it is found. This is one of the points which a Pre-Trib believer is going to bring up in relation to this:
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
King James Version (KJV)
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.
In and of itself there seems to be no compelling reason to see this as referring to a pre-trib rapture, however, if we go through this chapter we find that Paul is teaching, and quite extensively...on resurrection. In light of that and the fact that resurrection is a foundational principle of the Doctrine of Christ how exactly do we make Paul's statement that we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed, or glorified?
Only if the previously unrevealed truth speaks of a particular resurrection, which it does...the rapture. It could be viewed as referring to the fact that there will be those that are alive that will be resurrected but that seems a little weak since Daniel 12:2 alludes to this very thing.
Now, consider that if we backtrack through the teaching of 1 Corinthians 15, we see that in view is a denial of Christ's resurrection. That is what brings this extensive teaching concerning those changed from physical to spiritual (v.44). If we try to force a resurrection of every believer before the end of the Millennial Kingdom, we run into problems, and that is what is in view: we shall all be changed. Does he mean all believers of all time? No, only those concerned in this resurrection, which teaching is directed at the Church.
Physical believers will in fact survive the Tribulation to enter into the Tribulation, they will not at this time be changed from corruptible to incorruptible. So unless we make this resurrection take place at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, or, as our amillennial brothers believe, reject the teaching that there will be a MIllennial Kingdom, then we are forced to consider that this resurrection is not the resurrection which takes place at the end of the Tribulation, as there would be nbo physical believers to fulfill that spoken about those in the Kingdom, such as long life and benefitting from their labor.
Just something to think about.
And I have to say it is nice to have well working functions, lol: the forum I am on right now has horrible functions.
God bless.