Some of the mysteries come forth in parables, symbolically as metaphors. Others are more directly referred to and require an understanding of spiritual things revealed only to the primary initiate (born-again) Christian. The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven are mysteries veiled, only the pure of heart can have them uncovered for it takes the understanding of the Holy Spirit. The symbolic ones require knowledge of God’s Word revealed also by none other than the Holy Spirit and His interpretive powers. Some of the mysteries need only be received by faith, their knowledge acquired by believing that they are not natural things of Man’s wisdom, but truths never before revealed to the heart of Man until the advent of the all-wise Savior, Jesus Christ.

Two of the Gospel’s mysteries are designated as ‘great, therefore they have to be given a special place, an even higher significance in the mind and heart of the disciples of Christ. Both of these mysteries appear in the New Testament: the first appears in the Book of Ephesians chapter five where Christ and His Church is revealed as husband and wife (which is the subject of the extensive chapter of mystery under #9 below); the second “great” mystery of God is in association with the Mystery of Godliness which was written of by Paul in one of his letters to his young helper, Timothy. This great mystery is complex having in six dynamic components. Each of the components are analyzed in an article/chapter in this pamphlet under the section entitled: Godliness.

The other mysteries, amounting to twelve plus some general remarks about mysteries of the Gospel, are discussed below in this chapter and should be helpful for those who want to more than whet their appetite on this engrossing subject of Scripture. Those intrigued by the notion that the mysteries are important to anyone interested in being closer to God and having their nature miraculously transformed into one like the Divine will find this article more than helpful for understanding the Will of God.

In the New Testament there are many mysteries for the Christian to discover. They cover Christ Himself, the Bride of Christ, Satanic things, the spirits of false religion, the mysteries of heaven, paradise and godliness, what paradise will be like, the gift of speaking tongues, and so much more. They are free for the taking of every believer to help build faith and make them wise according to godly wisdom. God recommends that every disciple of Jesus dig them out of the Word and investigate them wholeheartedly. Even though it is to the great advantage of every saint to do so, very few believers actually do dig to uncover the mysteries of the faith.

If one does however search them out, that person’s walk will be enriched beyond a king’s ransom. Their knowledge will help to guide them on their way past pitfalls that often become a snare to health, and even a place of abiding faith. Any snare can enslave a believer in the chains of ignorance. It can blind faith, bruise hope and imprison the soul. God would like to build in each maturing believer a knowledge and faith for the secret things of truth, the mysteries of God and Christ.

Through the understanding of these mysteries, one may understand and believe in the calling of the Bride of Christ. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, Christ holds out to his Church great wisdom by disclosing the mysteries. Any believer is freely offered an understanding of these just for the asking. Seek and you shall find as the scripture advises. Understanding the mysteries, hoping to have them incorporated into one’s faith will strengthen the relationship with the Trinity and make more certain our ability to serve and please God with our whole body, mind and heart.

The mysteries are first broached in the teachings of Jesus Himself. Jesus teaches that the mysteries were ‘hidden from the foundation of the world’ only to be revealed by Him at His first coming. Jesus taught in parables so that those of pure hearts who hungered for deeper understanding could learn about the riches of the Gospel and so that those of dubious contriving type faith would not understand. This was to  exclude the unrepentant heart from the knowledge and understanding of sacred things. The mysteries are sacred. They are the true ‘sacraments’ of the Church (not the ones devised by orthodox Christianity) and should be seen and received as such. As the apostle Paul clearly stated the case for true reverence of the sacred, it is not, touch not, handle not, taste not, the sacraments are not a date on a calendar, a wafer, the cup, the marriage ring or the baptismal fount, or repetitive cardboard prayers. Christ handled the mysteries as the high priest of the gospel truth. We ought to receive them as such. The believer must handle sacred things with reverence and discretion according to the will of the Father. He distributed the sacred mysteries with devout reverence. Christ declared that heaven and earth shall pass away, but God’s Word shall last forever. What could be more sacred than His Word?  He, therefore, with reverence for the Truth and the mysteries of the Gospel, imparted them carefully and did not cast them as pearls before swine, but moved by wisdom, wanted to keep them from men of the wrong selfish spirit who could not help but ultimately use them for their own ill purposes.

This, therefore, is the reason why Jesus taught in parables:

“And Jesus said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
   That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” Mk 4:11-12
AND
“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
   That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Matt 13:34-35

Further on in the New Testament we discover that the apostle Paul mentions mysteries many times and tells about the importance of their careful stewardship. In the book of Revelation, there are mysteries that Jesus himself speaks of and some are shown to the apostle John, which are expounded upon by angels. They all amount to great wisdom when considered with the heart. In these last days, their consideration is imperative. We hope you will consider them with your whole heart and mind and incorporate their faith into your own.

The following report is compiled by EOE editors citing the mysteries of Christ in the order in which they appear in scripture. Each being worthy of further study by the individual believer in Christ.

#1 – Twelve Parables that are The Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus taught in parables to his disciples and after one such teaching

“…the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
   He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Mat.13:10-11

So it is shown to us in the Gospels that Jesus taught almost exclusively in parables, each one revealing some aspect of God’s kingdom. The Bride will inherit all things with Christ and here within the mysteries lie the treasures of Godly wisdom to enhance the beauty of Christ’s loving Bride who wants to know everything she can about her husband’s kingdom and the life He lives.

The following 12 scriptures, all from the Book of Matthew are where the curious believer can find the parables related to Jesus’ teaching about the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Each mystery is identified by Christ so the faithful might know, understand and gain wisdom about the realities of the mysteries (or secrets) concerning the Kingdom of Heaven.

1. Mat.13:(3-9)(18-23) Parable of Sower of the Seeds
2. Mat.13:(24-30)(36-43) Tares Among the Wheat
3. Mat.13:31-32 Parable of a Grain of Mustard Seed
4. Mat.13:33 The Hidden Leaven
5. Mat.13:44 Parable of Treasure Hid in a Field
6. Mat.13:45-46 Parable of The Pearl of Great Price
7. Mat.13:47-50 Parable of a Net Cast into the Sea
8. Mat.18:23-35 Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
9. Mat.20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
10. Mat.22:2-14 Parable of the Wedding Feast
11. Mat.25:1-13 Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
12. Mat.25:14-30 Parable of the Five Talents

#2 – Mystery of Jews Blinded by God Romans 11:25

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Seven times in the New Testament there is a plea that we not be ignorant of certain knowledge the Spirit would like to furnish to the saint. On this occasion in Romans we are shown a mystery that God wishes all Christians to understand and not be ignorant. The fact that the Jews are not cast off by God but rather have been made blind (for a season) for our sake has been grossly ignored by Christians who think they are wise, but are not. Men and Christians sadly, have been more wise in the own conceits and high-minded rather than attentive to God’s voice and have done terrible atrocities against the apple of God’s eye through their support and encouragement of wrong teaching, and their obstinate ignorance of this mystery of faith.

Read Romans 10:18 through 11:36 and learn a mystery that has been shown to those who want to know the truth about God’s people. Then one can knowledgeably heed the warning of God to “…Be not high-minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” Rom.11:20-21 Christ’s Bride will be made up of both Jew and Gentile. (This is evident by the disclosure of another mystery.) A day is coming when the blindness of the Jews will be lifted and many will be received into the arms of Jesus and will be given a place in the New Jerusalem, that heavenly city prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The prophets have eluded to this truth and some like Zechariah have directly stated it as a prophetic truth. We know there will be no imperfect separation within the Bride but rather a perfectly completed blended and unified body, a commonwealth of Jew and Gentile, as evident in these words: “And [The Bride] had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel…And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Rev. 21:12,14

#3 Mystery of the Gospel of Salvation Rom.16:25-27

“Now to him that is of power to establish 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:
   To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

Here is the mention of a mystery, kept secret since the world began, but now has been made known according to God’s command which was first revealed by the preaching of the Christ. For his own good pleasure God has had a plan to bring to himself mortal men who have been perfected through Christ in holiness and all purity, now able to abide with Him for all eternity. When God and Jesus created man Satan knew God’s good intentions for mankind and has been hell-bent in his efforts to try and prevent this Godly relationship from ever happening to any soul. The mystery of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ has been unknown even to Satan. Satan had no idea of how God would defeat him when He prophesied in the Garden of Eden, of the seed of the woman crushing the serpent’s head. Even though the scriptures have been filled with prophecies, the Way of this mystery would be kept from being fully revealed according to God’s will in his perfect timing. This mystery, now fully revealed, is the birthplace of the Church and Bride; for every saint is brought into the presence of God’s Kingdom through the obedience of faith and belief of this mystery; that Jesus Christ is the Way.

This mystery of spiritual salvation and eternal life is shown in the parable type teaching that Jesus gave to the religious leader, Nicodemus, who came to Him stealthily and mysteriously by night and Jesus told Him that he must be born-again. Every person is born of water but you must be born of the spirit if you will see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was befuddled at the declaration of this mystery, until He seemed to come to an understanding of it upon Christ’s death and resurrection. It often takes that sort of dramatic experience that leads to revelation and understanding of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. 1Cor.2:7-9, Eph.3:1-11, Eph.6:19, Col.1:26, Col.4:3

#4 Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor.4:1-2

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
   Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Peter exhorts
   “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

We are told here that it is by the abundance of undeserving favor from God that he has given gifts to us.  Receiving the understanding of his mysteries can be looked at in this fashion. As good stewards we are expected to minister what we have received to one another. The Church should not be in competition with one another but rather should be in agreement with Christ who is working to present to himself a glorious church, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; holy and without blemish. This picture of the Bride of Christ should cause us to want to offer in many ways the understanding of mysteries and all gifts we have received to our brothers and sisters for the sake of Christ building his Bride church. Of course, for the sake of doing this work in love, it is necessary that everything be distributed according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” 1 Cor.13:2 It is in the spirit of God’s love and for the purposes of truly loving one another that we should be found good stewards of the mysteries.

In Luke 12:42-43 Jesus said

“…Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
   Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

So as “stewards of the mysteries of God” we ought to embrace, as a duty to our Lord, being faithful and wise, loving and generous, the dispensing of knowledge and understanding of these mysteries within the Church. Always faithful, because God wants us to invest the gifts he has given to us and be ever wise, seeking discernment by the Spirit that we invest in hearts that are true, wanting to understand God’s word. We must be good stewards of sacred things and dispense them with reverence and care.

#5 Mystery of Tongues 1 Cor. 14:2

“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”  

Here is mention of a mystery that within the Church is commonly called speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is taught by scriptures as being evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:4, 10:46, 19:6 Paul has instructed in his writings that, unless God gives an interpretation, when one speaks in tongues he is speaking things unknown; they remain a mystery to us. Many in the Church today have had some sort of experience with witnessing tongues and much of it has been in the form of abuse and disorderly; because of this, a part of the Church has labeled tongues as evil and from Satan. This is not new.

In the infancy of the Church, Paul had to go to great lengths to teach the Corinthians about the proper use of this gift. The Bride, who like the five wise virgins has her lamp trimmed and filled with oil, has properly received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and exercises the appropriate use and purpose of tongues in connection to prayer and prophesying.

#6 The Mystery of the Rapture 1 Cor. 15:49-58

“… know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

This is not merely about the resurrection of the dead, but it is a mystery that some who are actually alive shall also be made immortal. But it is for every man to die once, the mystery is that can and will reckon those who have died to self in this life as having died and therefore eligible to be ‘raptured’ alive. This a mystery indeed. But it is declared that we must labor to enter His rest; we must labor to die to self and if we do, our labor shall not be in vain.

Dying to self is a mysterious process and wins us the reward of the mystery of the rapture. In the “twinkling of an eye” we shall cast off this corruptible flesh and put on incorruptible, which is a new spiritual body. Death shall no longer possess any sting; it will have been swallowed up in the victory of Jesus Christ for those who have followed hard after him. A day is coming when this mortal being will become immortal. That day will soon come for the Bride at the time of the Rapture. This is a mystery about the Rapture that the world does not believe and the Church has greatly misunderstood through much presumption. To those who aspire to be a part of Christ’s’ Bride, however, it is a mystery to be wisely understood and hoped for, a mystery that the Bride has set the eyes of her heart upon as she waits for the sudden appearance of her Bridegroom.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,     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.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
   So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
   O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
   The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
   But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
   Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor 15:51-58

  #7 The Mystery of God’s Will Eph. 1:8-10

“Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
   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 fulness 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:”

The mystery of God’s will is that whatever He decides or wants because of His own purposes is to be accepted as perfect, no matter what we may think or what we may regard. Those who have been brought into the sheepfold of Jesus through faith in Him alone as the straight and narrow gate will be found by God to be in Christ according to the way He has ordained it. Beyond this initial embrace of our savior, if you who have heard the call by the Spirit to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and you aspire to have the same faith as the Philadelphia church spoken of in the book of Revelation, then you are likely to among those whom God has willed to be part of the call to Brideship in Jesus Christ. The Bible says many are called but few are chosen, this holds especially true to the ones who are of the Bride, for it is said of them on the day that they return to earth with Christ’s army that these are they who are called, chosen and faithful. This gathering together in one, all things that are in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth is going to be a wonderful event; how much more wondrous will it be for those who are chosen as Jesus’ Bride and her bridal party?

#8 The Mystery of Christ Eph. 3:3-12 Mysteries must be learned and absorbed by revelation, none more than the mystery of Christ. The mysteries come only to those who seek them by the teaching of God which is the true meaning of revelation.

“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
   Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
   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.” Eph 3:3-5

   

God once spoke to man by the fathers and the prophets but now He has spoken to us by His dear Son. We are introduced to the teaching of the mystery of Christ here in Ephesians:

“That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel…
   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;
   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:
   To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Eph 3:6, 8-10

   

The purpose of God designed in the Christ was to make us fellow-heirs and of the same body and to have fellowship in the mystery of this ultimate purpose brought about by the Christ. The mystery of Christ also includes and begins with the understanding of who and what the Christ really is. Christ is Savior. Christ must be man. Jesus called Himself the Son of Man because only a man could save mankind, be the pardon for their sin. The word Christ both implies and demands a Man. The mystery of Christ is that He be Man the Redeemer of Man. Man should not be alone. Even Redeemer Man must have a spouse or be relegated to eternal loneliness. Thus he must have fellow heirs, we must be one in the same body with Christ. We need to see the mystery of the Son of Man, the Christ, that we may see what is the fellowship of this mystery of the Christ.

 GO TO FULL ARTICLE> THE MYSTERY CALLED ‘GREAT’: CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

#9 Christ in you, the hope of Glory Col. 1:27

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

This is a mystery that can only be understood by pure experience. How can God live in us? This, however, is the real hope of glory. If that which is perfect can live in us and prevail in us, then we may be perfect if we live in His life. this is the essence of the Bride’s perfection, that the Bride would be perfectly submitted to her husband. There is no excuse because He loves her perfectly. She can rely on Him totally without reservation. Christ in you means we are told that we are one together with Him. Purely one. This is why Paul can declare that he sees his duty as presenting every man perfect before God:

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
   Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Col 1:27-28 

He saw it as His duty to strive in behalf of each one of the sheep in his care to be presented perfect before God, as one with Christ. This ought to be the ultimate aim of every worthy pastor, especially in these last days when the pastor worth his salt will be trying to make each saint rapture ready and perfect in the sight of God as a candidate for the Bride of Christ.

#10 The Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thes. 2:7-8
It is a mystery that God would allow iniquity (the perversion of the truth that works unto sin) to find its way into the Church.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
   And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” (read 2 Thes. 2:1-12)

 For God’s purposes of fulfilling all prophecy and the trying of men’s hearts within the Church, He has not completely blocked the spirit of antichrist from entering in. A day of judgement is coming when God will separate within the Church the wheat from the chaff. Satan, the father of all lies, and the men who have followed after his subtleties against the anointed Messiah will one day suffer at God’s hands. Satan is always franticly at work trying to take as many of the souls of men with him into the pit that he knows awaits him. Yes, there are men within the Church that will perish. Men, that were deceived by their own unrighteousness because they did not receive the love of the truth, will perish.

At the birth of the Church Satan stood by ready to spin iniquitous works at his first opportunity. God has allowed the spirit of antichrist that prevails within the Church and the world to work toward His fulfillment of all things. It is wisdom for us to know that this is so and to not be shaken off balance or thrown off the course of our disciplined walk with Jesus when we encounter this mystery of iniquity at work within the kingdom of heaven. Paul warned the church many times, and history has proven that evil doctrines, false prophecies and many other things antichrist have come forth from the Church. It is for each one of us to walk wisely in this understanding and to stay on the path which the Holy Spirit will lead us along. We are told this mystery by God when it was written in Prov 30:18-19, “things which are too wonderful for me” and pointed out “the way of a serpent upon a rock.” This alludes to the wonder of how Satan is allowed by God to tread upon the holy things of Christ. But God who sees all and knows all things will use even Satan to bring about his will.

God did not invent or create evil, evil is simply the work of iniquity, the refusal to follow or concede to the Will of God. This is the truth of the mystery of iniquity, the evil that reaches out and touches people through the force of sin. The day is coming when God will put an end to all sin, transgression and iniquity, but this will not come until the end of the Tribulation when Christ comes will a sword in His hand to impose righteousness on the earth. See dialogue on Imposed Righteousness.

#11 The Mystery of The Faith 1 Tim. 3:9
This mystery is closely connected with the aforementioned “Mystery of the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ.” Paul wrote to Timothy that those appointed in the Church should be found “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” This “mystery of the faith” is the confident belief in the whole gospel of Jesus Christ. It is belief bolstered by the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. (See: Living by Faith & Section on: FAITH TOWARDS GOD) True belief in this gospel does not come simply by the will of heart and mind but by the Spirit of God. Believing (Greek word pisteuo; trusting in, adhering to and relying on) the whole gospel is far beyond the capacity of any man to do on his own. This requires the support of faith from God himself.

The Word teaches faith is both a gift and a fruit of the Holy Spirit, “without faith it is impossible to please God and faith comes to us by hearing and hearing comes by the word of God”. Heb 11:6 All of this requires a deep operation of the Holy Spirit. So, for one to know all about the message of salvation, the mystery of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ and yet not have pisteuo belief supported by God given faith, it will bear no good fruit in the kingdom of heaven. It is both empty and meaningless to God, a vanity of vanities.

Like a trusting wife and one that has thrown aside all of her own selfish desires, the Bride of Christ will turn to Him for her every need. He is the author and finisher of her faith that she will hold in pureness, an unadulterated conscience, one that is not corrupted with the ideas and moral standards set by the teachers of this world but by the loving and righteous voice of her husband, Jesus himself.

#12 The Mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3:16

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Paul writes that this is a great mystery. This mystery is also held without controversy. No debate, no argument or need for discussion is necessary as to whether this mystery is anything else than what follows in this verse. Six elements make this mystery of Godliness whole.

“God was manifest in the flesh.” God came to men of this world in the same flesh and blood that you and I behold. God became man in the person, Jesus.

“Justified in the Spirit.” Jesus was declared just or in another way, blameless and upright before God the Father, according to the Spirit of God, not by men or any other imperfect standard.

“Seen of angels.” All of heaven witnessed this incredible act of God. Jesus said and did everything in the open for all of creation to witness, including all the angels, those in heaven at God’s throne and those fallen with Lucifer too.

“Preached unto the Gentiles.” Not only did Jesus come to fulfill what the Jewish prophets of God had foretold but He also came that all men might be saved, including the pagan and heathen ones called Gentiles. In fact (another mystery) God has blinded the Jews for the sake of the Gentiles that they might inherit with the Jews the promises God has made.

“Believed on in the world.” This is an amazing miracle; that any mortal man in this life and in this ungodly world would trust in, rely on and adhere to Jesus and his gospel of reconciliation to our Creator.

“Received up into Glory” After Jesus was crucified God raised him from the dead. He was taken up before the eyes of men in his glorified state into Heaven where he is now waiting at his Father’s right hand for the command to come and gather up the first fruits resurrected ones, The Bride. These also will be received up into glory.

All of these works of God through Jesus are the most magnificent show of His own Godliness. Godliness with fact in the flesh with honor. See: Godliness in Section of Divine Nature.

#13 Mystery of the Seven Stars and Seven Candlesticks Rev.1:20

“The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”

Jesus himself reveals the mystery here. The mystery of the seven stars that Jesus holds in his right hand reveals there are angels of the seven churches. These angels are assigned by Jesus to stand over and be messengers. They existed two millennia ago and still, they stand waiting as watchful guardians to each church. They minister good news and encouragement and firm warnings and harsh rebukes; whatever Jesus tells them.

The mystery of the candlesticks is that they are the seven churches that Jesus still inhabits today. He stands in the midst of these candlesticks with the hope that any who hear his Spirit might overcome. These churches to which he wrote letters can be viewed in three ways. First, actual churches that existed in the days when John wrote down the vision as it was shown to him and the letters were sent to these churches of Asia-Minor.

Second, church history reveals a progression in the church that took on these faiths as it grew and developed over the last 2000 years and none of them have disappeared but still remain today.

Third, they can each be view at a personal level by all saints to see where each may stand today in their faith and let the admonishing words of Jesus speak to their hearts.

Amongst these candlesticks is the place where the Bride of Christ can be found in all her beauty before Jesus. She is one among the churches who is found listening to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. In contrast to her are churches who have no need of Jesus, who have forgot their first love, who have known the depths of Satan and who eat things sacrificed to idols and commit spiritual fornication.

* The Mystery of God Will Be Finished 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.”

When the seventh angel begins to sound, then the mystery of God will be finished. What is the mystery of God that will finish at this time? A look ahead to Revelation 11:15 says “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” From this verse we see that the allowance by God of letting the kingdoms of this world be ruled and reigned over by foreign authorities other than his sovereign rule is what will come to an end.

That God would allow something like this to go on for so long is a mystery and one of the things that puts on trial the faith and patience of the Bride of Christ. This is all part of God’s providential plan of the ages. It is a plan for saving those who believe in His Son and are willing to follow after Him to the very end. It is a mystery that God would shadow His own glory but it is revealed to the prophet John that after the seventh trumpet sounds the glory of God, Jesus, will shine forth, all judgement will be pronounced; reward given to the prophets and saints, destruction to them which destroy the earth, opening of the Temple of God in Heaven and the revealing of the ark of his testimonies. Rev. 11:15-19 God, by his own incredible love that is long-suffering and patient, is holding back His wondrous glory. His holding back and waiting to let all things prove themselves as righteous and holy or unjust and filthy is mysterious but it testifies to his desire of having with himself those who love him freely.

¤ Lastly: The Mysteries that Wreak Havoc on the Church ¤

The Mysteries of The Woman and The Beast That Carries Her
In Revelation chapter 17 we see the revealing of the mystery of who the Beast and The Woman are.

“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT. THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
   And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
   And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” Rev. 17:5-7

“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
   And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
   And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
   And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
   These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
   And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
   And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
   For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
   And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (vss. 17:8-18)

The final mention of mysteries in the Bible concern false mysteries which wreak havoc in the Church. God’s consternation and disgust are revealed, their ultimate judgment and dismissal are prophesied. Here are a few notes to help in understanding the revealing of these mysteries.

The scripture above shows us that the Beast is a vehicle upon which the Woman/Whore is carried throughout the entire earth. The two use each other to further their agendas, but ultimately they against their will, fulfill God’s Will. The Beast is shown that it personifies the antichrist spirit. That he was, is not and yet is alludes to a very long spiritual existence. Satan and his spiritual cohorts have ascended from the very pits of Hell and will certainly return there one day to be imprisoned for all eternity. They have influenced the hearts of evil men in the world for thousands of years and one day soon the spirit of antichrist will be embodied in a the person that is ‘the’ actual Antichrist.

This antichrist spirit has built kingdoms and empires and in the last days the Antichrist person will sit among ten kingdoms of this world. During his short reign the Antichrist, Satan and the False Prophet will use all their power and influence to control men, kingdoms, as well as the ‘Woman’ as he reaches for his ultimate goal of being worshipped as God himself.

The Woman, ancient in time, has always been used by the antichrist spirit. Mystery Babylon is written upon her in this vision which points to her connection with the ancient gods, even the first humanism trinity born in Babylon and worshipped as gods: Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz. She is the epitome of false religion. She is the height of spiritual adultery and idolatry against God. She is shown as a great city, reigning over the kings of the earth among peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues and her position of sitting upon seven hills connects her to Rome and the religion that is seated there. From Babylon to Rome she has trafficked in the souls of men and made herself drunk on their blood. She is a stark contrast to that holy city we see later in Revelation who is the Bride of Christ. She is today – Rome.

Seek the Spirit to teach you more concerning the mysteries of the faith.