The Mystery of God

Holy Scripture is for all eras. In the Old Testament, the topic at hand was always about the Hebrew people, but the "mystery of God" is that it was all about us as well - all people of all time:

Rev 10:7 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.

John knew the mystery! So did Paul, albeit he usually called it "the mystery of Christ" and revealed it:

Ephes 3:3 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...

No one teaches on it, but there is also the revelation of Paul. Paul's revelation was for the past and present, while John's was about the present and future. Thus, the beginning and end become contiguous when both revelations are combined. Let's examine the mystery in the following verses:

Ephes 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 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:

1. There is one body of believers - Jew and Gentile (verse 6)
2. All people are partakers of the promise. The promise was in OT Scripture. I've always contended that all scripture is all about Jesus. The OT was about the promise of Jesus (verse 6).
3.  The gospel was promised. John 1 is the bridge which connects the old with the new (verse 6).
4. There is a fellowship in the mystery, and all men shall see it (verse 9).
5. Since the beginning things have been hidden to the world (verse 9).
6. That it was Jesus who created all things (verse 9). This means that Jesus was always the plan!

Thus we see that Scripture was always about Jesus, always about his grace (the gospel), and was for all mankind. Most people don't realize that when they read scripture, except in the prophecies, but all scripture is historical, contemporary, and futuristic. Of course, this mystery was not gnostic "secret knowledge" because the patriarchs and the Word - who was to be called Jesus, were in daily communion. Likewise, if we commune to God he will communicate with us in return! Revelation addressed the seven churches of Asia. However, since it was prophetic, there was a message for all mankind therein just as there had been in Hebrew scripture and the gospels.

Ironically, or by God's wisdom, the Church at Ephesus was the first of the seven churches which John envisioned. He saw God sharing the future with them while remembering their past. It is irony because Paul in his ministry shared that mystery with that Church specifically! It can be implied that since Hebrew scripture is all about all of us and Christ, the gospels are as well, and the future is too!

My point is that Revelation is not just to the seven extant Churches in Asia but for Christian Church for all time. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism (Ephes 4:5). We think of that as us only but the Hebrew people are of the same faith. Their patriarchs knew Jesus, albeit the multitudes did not - sort of like Christianity today where the royal priests know Jesus but the masses do not (1 Pet 2:9), making us a peculiar people!

Because modern churches have various doctrines, and some are more liberal than others, there are different types of churches in the end. Since Jesus comes quickly (Rev 22:20), we are part of those types of churches. (Here I use small "c" because I'm not sure all of the seven churches were part of "the universal Church" - capital "C"). 

When the Word spoke with Adam, it was written down at God's direction, not for Adam but for us! When the apostles wrote the gospels, it was not only for the Jews, but for all of us. When Paul wrote his letters to the churches, it was not just for the seven extant churches but for us. Hence, we must look for us within one of the seven churches. By "us", I mean, the churches in this age. 

Throughout the ages there have been different types of churches. For instance, the apostolic church was of the purest form, but as Paul pointed out, they were already contaminated. It appears that Paul spent much time refuting Gnosticism which was an early competitor of Christianity. It is believed to be the "church" of Simon the Magician. John saw the churches sometimes in the future, while recounting their past. It seems that throughout the ages very little has changed. Simon Magus still haunts our churches, provoking every type of heresy. I have written before that Simon may have been Paul's "thorn in the side" but he is the thorn in our sides as well, from Nicolaitism to Universalism! 

Whereas Paul spoke of the mystery of God, Simon Magus revealed false secrets. In those days the Churches had trouble with syncretism - they went to the house of God but believed the secrets of Simon!

Gnosticism's secrets are revealed to only those with esoteric knowledge. On the other hand, Jesus revealed the secret for eternal life flat out! John 3:16 is the best example of the transparency of the gospels. 

Not to fear, but Christianity, specifically the Revelation of John, isn't as hard as it seems! For instance, John saw the seven stars and seven candlesticks, and the mystery was immediately revealed. They were the seven churches and their seven angels. Likewise, the remaining mysteries in Revelation can be found in scripture. The Book of Daniel and the gospels reveal most of the mysteries. What is useful to know is that your eternal life does not depend on deciphering the symbolism and abstract visions of what John saw.

I take scripture literally where it is to be taken literally. When God said "seven days" by faith I accept that. On the other hand, Jesus spoke in parables quite often. They could have been real life events or parallels which he thought applicable. In Hebrew scripture, we must look for Jesus therein. He's always there but we must study the Word to see Jesus. Likewise, in Revelation, there is much symbolism and maybe more things which are hard to describe.

It is obvious that the seven stars and candlesticks are symbolic because John provides us with their representations. When he presents other things, at least in his mind, they are clear. For instance, he was describing future things when words had never been invented to describe them. In the OT the Word describes the hydrologic cycle. If Moses had called it that, who would have known what he meant? The same goes for John. As he looked into the future, he described things which he saw. In his descriptions, he compared what he was seeing to things of which most people knew. Keep that in mind, and don't take his descriptions literally as he describes what he saw.

I'm sure he saw Jesus with his candlesticks, stars, and a two-edged sword. I accept that because it matches how Jesus appeared at the transfiguration. However, the monstrous descriptions of dark angels may be that, but could also be their machinations. Be literal when it's obvious, and think abstractly when it's not so obvious.

Now the mystery of God is obvious to me because God showed me the Light. I received Light by studying diligently God's Word. When studying Revelation do the same. However, keep in mind that difficult thinking is not required for salvation. God still has a simple plan!