Chapter Four - The Distinction of the Mystery

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2Timothy 2:15)

 

The major division in the word of God is between the prophecy of the kingdom and the mystery of the body of Christ. The burden and emphasis of the prophecy spoken to Israel is the King and His kingdom (2 Peter 1:16-21). Prophecy concerns that which was SPOKEN since the world began through all the prophets. The burden and emphasis of the mystery revealed through the apostle Paul is the spiritual organism, the body of Christ. The mystery concerns that which was kept SECRET since the world began. The things that were SPOKEN by the prophets since the world began can not be the same things that were kept SECRET and hid from the prophets since the world began. Let’s compare and contrast prophecy with the mystery.

PROPHECY Peter said to Israel, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath SPOKEN BY THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS HOLY PROPHETS SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.” (Acts 3:19-21)	MYSTERY Paul said to the body of Christ, “Now unto 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, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST” (Rom. 16:25-26a)
Concerns a KINGDOM; a political ORGANIZATION (Dan. 2:44)	Concerns a BODY; a spiritual ORGANISM  (1 Cor. 12:12-13)
The kingdom to be established ON EARTH (Jer. 23:5)	The body given a position in HEAVENLY places  (Eph. 2:5-6)
The kingdom PROPHESIED since the world began (Luke 1:67-75)	The body was chosen in Christ before the world began, but kept SECRET since the world began (Eph.  1:4; 3:9)
Israel to be given SUPREMACY over the nations (Isa.  61:6)	Jew and Gentile placed on the SAME LEVEL before God (Rom. 10:12; 11:32)
The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel’s RISE & INSTRUMENTALITY  (Zech. 8:13, 23)	The Gentiles blessed through Israel’s FALL & DIMINISHING (Rom. 11:11-12, 15)
Prophecy mainly concerns NATIONS (Isa. 2:4)	The mystery concerns INDIVIDUALS (2 Cor. 5:17)
Prophecy concerns blessings, both MATERIAL and spiritual, on EARTH (Isa. 11:1-9)	The mystery concerns all SPIRITUAL blessings in HEAVENLY places (Eph. 1:3)
Christ comes to His people, Israel, ON EARTH (Rev. 1:7)	Christ comes for His body, the Church, meeting them in the AIR (1 Thess. 4:17)
Justification is by a man's faith and it must be a faith that WORKS (Jam. 2:24)	Justification is by the faith of Christ and is received through FAITH ALONE (Rom. 3:22, 28; 4:5)
The proclamation of the prophetic program committed   to the TWELVE apostles (Acts 1:6-8)	The proclamation of the mystery committed to PAUL (Col. 1:24-29)