What is the mystery of God that should be finished
spoken of in Revelation 10:7,John 11:25-26? Who does this mystery
involve, who does this mystery affect, and what is the key that unlocks the
mystery? These and other questions we will attempt to answer while studying
together Revelation 10:7. Because of the confusion stemming from the
misunderstanding of this verse, pertaining to the mystery of God declared to be
finished as the voice of the seventh angel is in progress of sounding, we
desire to study this verse in its true biblical setting to learn just what this
mystery is all about! Perhaps no other verse of scripture in all Revelations
has caused as much misunderstanding as this one verse. The church world simply
reads over it, treating it as though it is unrelated to the book it is found
in.
TIME NO LONGER DELAYED
To get a clearer picture, begin reading with Revelation
10:5 which says, “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon
the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven. (6) And swear by him that liveth
forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that therein are and the
earth and the things that therein are, and the sea and the things which are
therein, THAT THERE SHOULD BE TIME NO LONGER.” That is the translation of
the King James Version, however, in its actual setting it means, let time no
longer be delayed, showing the end doesn’t appear abruptly as the snap of the
finger. Instead, it means something is going to happen which will no longer
prolong time and will definitely set in motion things that will bring about the
completeness of the very purpose of these words. Verses 6-7 are two
verses which must go together because it is verse 6 that sets verse 7
in motion as it says, “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 (already) declared to his servants the (Old Testament) prophets.”
SPLITTING UP THE VERSE
Let’s take this verse by sections, and by breaking
it up we will examine certain words found here, and last of all we will show
the key which unlocks the entire verse! Beloved, without a true understanding
of these individual words found in the verse, the entire verse of Revelation
10:7 could be interpreted several different ways as it is definitely being
done today!
IN THE DAYS
The first portion of the verse reads like this, but
in the days. What days? But in the days means in that time period which is
related to the previous verse wherein the angel declared, let time be no longer
(delayed), which means in that certain time period God is going to step up
something, or going to fulfill something, or would set something in motion.
Yes, God is going to set something in motion that will definitely bring to a
climax this mystery of God.
THE VOICE, WHAT IS IT
The second part of the verse read - of the voice.
The word voice here does not necessarily imply the articulation or vocal sound
of a man. Yet, neither can you separate the vocal sounds of the man from the
voice referred to in the verse because it does require a vocal expression to
say something, doesn’t it? The word voice in its true application would have to
refer to a message, not merely to someone’s natural voice. Remember, this same
voice that would bring a message would also say a number of other things which
would be entirely unrelated to the time which this scripture is discussing. In
the first place, if this angel or messenger is not that of a supernatural being
(which it is not) then it would certainly have to be an earthly messenger, and
that is exactly what the seventh angel is spoken of in the verse.(An angel….One
sent of God)An apostle.
HUMAN EXPRESSIONS BY THE VOICE
Moreover, we must realize this angel or messenger
is merely a mortal man subject to human likes and dislikes as would anyone else
and whether people will accept it or not, there will be those times when human
expressions would be made by this messenger, which people of our generation
have refused to allow to be that of mere human expressions or statements.
People are always saying, I say the prophet/apostle makes mistakes. They say
that because that is the way they interpret what I have said. What I said was,
God in sending a prophet to the age that knew the minds of the generation which
he was sent to. And knowing that, their minds would be so carnal they would be
unable to see the God who used this mortal vessel, therefore would be unable by
spiritual revelation to understand what was said in order to know what part is
God in that of the fulfilment of his scripture. Instead, with a carnal mind
they would misinterpret this entire setting as to what God was doing. And doing
so would lead to their own carnal ruin because God knew these carnal minds of
this generation would never see or recognize him who is God. Instead they would
only see flesh and become misled and deceived. Therefore, God is simply going
to leave that carnal mind. So, I take these very words they criticize me with,
throw them right back at them and say they are carnal to ever think in that
manner! They interpret the entire message to their own destruction as their
spiritual blindness causes them to desire to defy the flesh of a mortal man,
who like anyone else was subject to death and was born through the same manner
of conception as other mortals are. Jesus Christ alone is the only one you can
contribute deity of the flesh unto! It matters not how much anyone desires to
quote Luke 17 or whatever, no other man was deity other than Christ
Jesus!
MORTAL SINFUL FLESH, NEITHER GOD NOR WORD
God can use mortal flesh through which to reveal
Himself, yet that mortal flesh is not God by any stretch of the imagination!
Only one person ever walked the face of this earth Jesus Christ. No, not even
the Apostle Paul, who declared that Jesus is the Christ, reconciling the world
unto himself (II Corinthians 5:19) who furthermore declared how God had
chosen him from his mother’s womb to reveal his son in him, even after that
Paul was not immortal, he was a mortal man like anyone else! Paul knew the
flesh in which he walked and the head which one day would roll off Nero’s
chopblock was by no means deity! Remember, it is one thing to walk in mortal
flesh and have the Spirit of God to live in that mortal flesh and even reveal
himself through that mortal flesh, yet in it all, that will never make that
mortal flesh God! Neither is mortal flesh the Word, yet the Holy Spirit, in
whatever measure the Spirit is in that individual, is definitely that Spirit of
truth who can reveal His will, His word and His purpose to and through that
mortal flesh. Yet in all that, that mortal individual is not God.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, VOICE BEGAN TO SOUND?
Continuing on with Revelation 10:7, But in
the days (or in the times) of the voice (or the message) of the seventh angel, being an apostle sent of the lord speaking
things that no one has ever heard,who we have already established was not
some supernatural being, but instead was an earthly messenger only referred to
in the scripture as an angel messenger to the seventh church age. When he,
(this earthly messenger), shall begin to sound – in the end times a strange
message and remember, that phrase does not necessarily imply when he once
begins his earthly ministry or start out preaching, certainly not! Begins to
sound has reference to that message which God brought him into the earth at
this time to fulfill and declare. When that messenger shall begin to sound,
remember also, to begin to sound imply that the man at the time of the sounding
when it stands out in its true dimension has to be alive! Yes, for one of the
greatest mystery is LIFE...LIVING AND NOT DIEYING he MUST be alive at the time
this scripture stands out in its true dimension! It simply means that the
message when it reaches its true dimension, actually begins to echo to the ends
of the earth he must be alive Just as Christ was alive preaching to defeating
death on the cross! Then you can say a message has been declared, a message has
been sent, it has been sounded and uttered to definitely awaken a people and
set certain things in motion which will definitely bring about God’s last fulfilment
of His word and imminent end.
HAD THE MESSAGE NOT COME
Had not God sent a man with such a wonderful jewel
of revelation of truth, the question could well be asked,yes but the world
loved darkness more than light..and if not then where would we be today? Even
within my own denomination in my earlier days I saw many things which were
discouraging, because while reading the Bible in those days I could see certain
things the religious movement I belonged to upheld and propagated as though it
was God’s plan, which even back in those days was sickening/not right. I am
sure had I remained in that system with all the rotten filth going on today and
knowing my attitude against it all back then, no doubt I would have simply quit
or pulled out! Personally, I had rather be identified with the world than to be
identified in such a religious system which is supposedly to represent
Christianity, but is nothing but a religious cloak! Therefore, had God not done
something every one of us would by now be in the world or shut up as some
religious prisoner in some old religious institution going about in all the
forms and rituals, propagating things which God absolutely was frowning and
spitting upon! But thanks be to God He sent first his holy spirit to they that
have not seen him and it will lead them to him refusing wickedness and loving
holiness and righteousness a man has come but not may can recognize him just
like it was with the messiah, though small in stature yet big in the spiritual
image, large enough that when he utters certain words Satan trembled, because
Satan knew all too well what the God who was behind all this was destined to do
in this generation which we are living.
COMPLETING THE MYSTERY OF GOD
Note, something else is scheduled to happen within
those days of the sounding of that message (or voice). What is it?The End must
come,Saint need to have attained to an corruptible body where they don’t die
again,1Cor 15:51-57,John 11:25-26,During that period of
time the mystery of God should be finished as had been declared unto the Old
Testament prophets. Did you notice the word mystery is in the singular and not
the plural? What is this (singular) MYSTERY OF GOD that is to be finished when
the voice is being sounded? Scripture teaches this MYSTERY OF GOD should be
finished. Well, if it is a mystery of God to be finished or completed in the
days of the sounding of the voice of the seventh angel, exactly what is this
MYSTERY and where did this MYSTERY that is to be completed, begin? The word
FINISHED is also translated, “shall be completed.” Thus, we see the MYSTERY OF
GOD is to be completed during the days of the sounding of the voice of the
seventh angel messenger.
MYSTERY
UNTO ONE PEOPLE ONLY
I want to show you from the scriptures that this
time period called a MYSTERY is a MYSTERY only unto one element of people, but
is by no means a MYSTERY unto another element of people, and that this period
of time referred to as MYSTERY OF GOD is none other than THE GRACE AGE PERIOD!
Yet within this short grace age period of time, referred to as the MYSTERY OF
GOD unto this one element, during that same time period God will have been
fulfilling certain scriptures within the Old Testament, and doing so will
involve certain revelations being brought forth within the total realm, or
period known as the MYSTERY OF GOD, which will be understood by one element of
people yet definitely misunderstood by another element! You see, to one group of
people it is definitely a time of complete mystery, yet within this same time
period, according to Matthew 13:10-11,John 1:12-13,John 3:16-17,John 20:31,Acts 4:12,John 10;28,john 14:6-9,john 3:36,john 10:10,john 8:51,Rom
6:22-23,john 12:50,john 17:2-3,Acts 17:30, there would be another element
of people who will definitely understand all these mysteries. Therefore,
speaking of it in that term it would be declared MYSTERIES (be finished) as the
prophet often declared.
MYSTERY OF GOD
COMPLETED AT END OF GRACE AGE
Therefore, if this word MYSTERY is dealing with
something that is misunderstood by one element of people, yet understood by
another, and within this great MYSTERY OF GOD are many MYSTERIES to be revealed
and unraveled at the end of the age, let us take the scripture and verify what
this MYSTERY is all about. John was the last apostolic writer on the scene
closing out the first church age. Although he was not the apostle to the
gentiles (seeing Paul was), John definitely was the last Jewish apostle to
bring a great revelation unto the gentile church straight from the throne of
God. This occurred sometime around (96 A.D.). The Jews had already been cut off
and Jerusalem after 70 A.D. lay in ruins, and the Jews were scattered to the
four corners of the earth, sold into slavery. Recall, it was John (a Jew) who,
looking down through the scope of the gentile church age, saw and declared that
this MYSTERY OF GOD would be finished as the voice of the seventh angel would
be sounding (his message). Yes, the MYSTERY OF GOD should be finished or
completed at the end of this MYSTERY age called the age of grace. In order to
clearly see that is exactly what this MYSTERY is (the age of grace) hidden to
the eyes of the Jew, turn first in Colossians 1:24, where Paul discusses
the MYSTERY OF GOD. Remember, here in his discussions of the MYSTERY, Paul is
standing at the beginning of the MYSTERY, not at the end! Watch carefully in our
study how the apostle to the gentiles used the word MYSTERY. The word MYSTERY
found in Revelation 10:7 is identically the same word MYSTERY seen in Colossians
1:26, and other places as well.
The Colossians were a Greek people who had been
missionarized by the Apostle Paul. The occasion has arisen that Paul, in a
Roman prison, is inspired to write his letter to the Colossian church.
Beginning in Colossians 1:24, Paul says, (24) “Who now rejoice in my
sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of
Christ in my flesh for his body’s (gentile) sake. (25) Whereof I am made
a minister, according to the dispensation (of grace, and remember the word
dispensation means an allotted, designated period of time. Continuing on he
says.) according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you (gentiles)
to fulfill the Word of God.” Remember, fulfilling the word of God means
fulfilling those Old Testament scriptures making them applicable and accessible
or understandable unto the gentile church through the apostolic office of his
ministry.
HIDDEN
MYSTERY REVEALED
Verse 26 is the verse I especially want you to pay close
attention to because it says, “Even the MYSTERY (singular) which hath
been hid from ages.” (or other dispensations and generations)! What is Paul
saying? He is speaking of this MYSTERY which began in his hour and is destined
to be finished at the time of the sounding of the voice of the seventh angel, a
MYSTERY which had been hidden for ages and generations throughout the Jewish
dispensations of the law, yes, hidden even to the prophets of old who wrote it!
Because beloved, had they understood what the MYSTERY was, in which the Apostle
Paul by revelation is breaking into, taken strictly from the Old Testament
scriptures, these prophets would have proclaimed it throughout the various
generations of Israel and therefore, it would have been no MYSTERY as to how
one day Christ (God) would be in the gentiles (their hope of glory).
PAUL’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE MYSTERY
Since Paul is speaking of this hidden MYSTERY, a
MYSTERY which was hidden to past ages, surely he knows what MYSTERY OF GOD he
is referring to. Paul is overjoyed writing to the gentiles! And why should he
not be? He too is a Jew, yet God, through his ministry is opening to the
gentile church a MYSTERY no other Jew had ever understood, and he is fully
aware God has placed within him a revelation of this hidden MYSTERY written and
concealed in the pages of the Old Testament scriptures. Prophecies prophesied
by prophets of old yet they were unable to grasp that which they were speaking
which applied only to an hour when God would deal strictly with the gentiles.
Prophecies which told what God would one day do with and for those fallen,
depraved gentiles who were sinners far above that of the Jew who was controlled
by his Old Testament law, Galatians 2:15.
PAUL OPENS UNDERSTANDING OF OLD
TESTAMENT
Each time Paul picked up a pen to write, his heart
would go out to those gentiles who now make up the gentile church, who only a
few years before were so plagued and engrossed with paganism, idolatry, heathen
worship, men and women who had fallen into the vilest sex sins imaginable, I
Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 1:24-32, but were now cleaned from all their
pollution of filth and though they dearly loved the Lord Jesus Christ, yet
still they knew nothing concerning the Old Testament scriptures which spoke of
the hour when God’s love would come to them! Paul rejoiced because he knew it
was through his ministry God would fulfill their joy and spiritual salvation,
and especially give them understanding of the Old Testament scriptures showing
their position in God as God would reveal scriptures unto the gentiles through
his apostolic office, revelations of the MYSTERY which had been hidden for ages
from the Jews and patriarchs and even the prophets of old who were used to pen
these scriptures concerning gentiles’ position in God! For instance, imagine
Isaiah prophesying all those prophecies (concerning gentiles) when he spoke of
how from the isles or regions of the gentile’s God would perfect praise. And
how there would come from the gentiles that continual sacrifice of praise sent
up unto God, sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving coming from gentile lips,
who at that hour of Isaiah’s writing were far more vile and polluted than the
Jew and falling every day deeper and deeper in sin! How could such a thing be
that these people would one day praise the living God?
ISRAEL BLINDED TO GRACE AGE
Centuries pass and Paul is seen writing about all
this in his many epistles. Peter, another Jew, writes also concerning these
things in his epistles, how we gentiles (and Jews as well) during this
mysterious age called grace are to offer up spiritual sacrifices and praises
which is our thanksgiving unto Him. Yes, everyone of these Old Testament
scriptures referring to the gentiles, Paul knew by revelation was God’s
fulfillment strictly unto the gentiles during the mysterious grace period.
Moreover, as that group of Jewish apostles began to leave the realm of those
blinded Jews, who, although these things were written in their scriptures
simply could not see into these things. Therefore, to them definitely this age
of grace was nothing other than a MYSTERY. And as those Jews saw these apostles
going in among the gentiles to spread this new doctrine, this new faith, this
new revelation, how a Jewish Messiah had come and as declared by the apostles
was cut off by His own people in order to fulfill scripture, naturally the
Jewish race as a whole, blinded to all this, (MYSTERY) gnashed their teeth and
criticized the entire program of God, which to them was a MYSTERY because to
them in crucifying this Christ they only crucified an imposter and false
prophet who pretended to be God. Legally, they thought they were justified in
doing what they had done. When this bunch of Jews called apostles, etc., a
group which was nothing more than an outcast in Jewish society, was seen going
out among these wicked, sinful, heathen gentiles who the Jews looked upon as
dogs because of their sinful nature, yet these apostles are converting these
terrible sinners to believe in this man who the Jews themselves certainly did
not believe in or accept to be their Messiah. Naturally to them it was a
MYSTERY, yet they recognized it was definitely happening. Strange, isn’t it,
the Jews would not accept Christ as their Messiah although He fulfilled
hundreds of Old Testament scriptures exactly to the jot and title.
JEWS IGNORANT OF GENTILES ACCEPTING CHRIST
Therefore, beloved, on this basis of Israel’s
blindness, can you not begin to see how that as the gentiles in vast numbers
began to turn to this one who declared himself to be the Jewish Messiah, Jesus
the Christ, that it definitely was a MYSTERY unto these Jews who were
completely blinded unto this period of time in God’s program how the gentiles
would be accepting Christ. To them it was definitely a mystery yet they
recognized it was happening. Can you now begin to see how God had hid all these
truths, hid all these revelations and their fulfillment which pertained to the
gentiles in the grace age, hiding the revelation and fulfillment from the Jews
and oncoming generations long before the event actually occurred, although it
had been their own Jewish prophets who had spoken of this so often! Yes, it was
certainly a mystery unto the Jew because it simply had not been revealed unto
them. It was not for them to receive, see or understand, nevertheless God had reserved
it all to be fulfilled among the gentiles.
To those Jewish people who had always served the
law it was a total mystery unto them how such a trashy class of people, people
with the nature of a dog could possibly come to God. Sure, they could recognize
something was going on, but could not explain it. To those Jews they absolutely
had no Old Testament scripture to explain such an event taking place. And to
this day no orthodox Jew, living in his orthodox frame of thinking can possibly
give you any legal justifiable explanation as to why the gentiles would believe
in this Jesus who to them (at best) was only a Jewish prophet. Either the
orthodox Jew would declare you are plainly deceived or else you only think you
believe in this man who pretended to be their Messiah. To the Jews their
Messiah has not as yet come.
Therefore, to the Jew the grace age, although
written and concealed there in the Old Testament, the revelation of it totally
hidden unto the prophets to the Old Testament thus making it a total time or
period of mystery, unexplainable by any orthodox Jew. Yes, the revelation of it
was hidden to the dispensation of the Jews by almighty God. Hence, it could
neither be explained nor understood in scripture by the Jewish race when it
happened.
GENTILES BLINDED TO SCRIPTURE
ALSO
Likewise it is also true concerning the gentile
church world (not the bride of Christ) but the gentile church world, concerning
the millennium or our thousand year reign. We are only a few short years away
from the millennium and the gentile church world is in the same frame of
thinking, in respect to that fulfillment of scripture and prophecies concerning
that period, as the Jews were who lived during the period of time God was
preparing to do something for the gentiles. They simply shut their eyes and
ears unto it! Nevertheless, God went straight ahead and did it anyway. Do you
think for a moment God is going to annul His word today simply because this
poor gentile religious world is blinded to what He is preparing to do?
Absolutely not! God will not stop! He will go right on anyway.
MYSTERY MANIFESTED TO SAINTS
I trust you are able to see up to this point what
the word MYSTERY in Revelation 10:7 stands out to mean. Recall, a
mystery to one element of people is something unexplainable and misunderstood,
while unto the people who are to be the recipients or receivers of it, to them
it is no mystery at all. Paul continues writing unto the recipients of the
mystery in verse 26 as he says, “Even the MYSTERY which has been hid
from ages and from generations BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO THE SAINTS.” Therefore
beloved, can you not see where the age of mystery is not a mystery whatsoever
to the gentile Christians who has the Apostle Paul to explain to them what it
was all about! Whenever you find a gentile declaring they don’t understand what
is going on, you may rest assured that poor soul has been shut up in a
religious prison for so long, never being fed anything other than church
suppers and socials, because Paul plainly declares the MYSTERY is no MYSTERY to
the saints of God! Yet it would still remain a mystery to that old element of
people, the Jewish people, while at the same time the mystery would be
understood by the gentile believers and would during this period of time also
bring forth certain mysteries (plural) to be made known, certain hidden
revelations which would be coming forth to the gentile saints. Because beloved,
that has been the entire purpose of it all, to bring forth these mysteries.
No gentile up until the hour of the beginning of
the grace age or MYSTERY age had any revelation as to who God was or what He
planned to do in the earth, although it was true many of the gentiles had been
proselyted or converted to Judaism. That proselyting took place only because
the gentiles recognized a truth there within the Judaistic frame of religion
which affected their social and moral outlook. Thus, Paul declares that God has
manifested something to the gentile church, that is, how God would make known
what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among gentiles which boils down
to this, CHRIST IN YOU, YOUR HOPE OF GLORY.
WHAT GOD DWELLING IN GENTILES ACCOMPLISHED
Once the Holy Ghost entered into the life of that
gentile saint, giving them the experience of the new birth and began leading
that soul down life’s pathway, the gentiles began to receive a different
outlook on life as well as a different outlook about God, an outlook in which
they had never in all their previous years ever experienced. Life had now
become a joy because the gentiles were living not only for a God who actually
lived inside them (us), He also was GOD
WITH US Immanuel who walked and talked with them! Not only that, from time
to time He would definitely seek to impart to the gentile believer certain
understanding unto His mystery which was already in progress. We might say He
was removing the veil from off certain things and imparting to the believer
knowledge which would increase within us understanding of His will, His plan as
well as what He intended to do in the future. All this He was doing for the
gentiles because He had willed for a certain period of time that He would
bypass the old Judaistic order and would instead come down and dwell inside the
gentile. Therefore, it is unexplainable to a Jew today to hear a gentile
testify how he has received the Holy Ghost because that Jew knows the Holy
Ghost is the spirit of God which you say is in you. To him that Spirit of God
is no second or third person, to the Jew the Spirit is simply God in you.
The Jew is completely aware there is the Spirit of
God in the earth, yet it is a total mystery unto him (how the Spirit is among
the gentiles)! However, are you aware we are also approaching an hour when two
Jewish prophets will step upon the scene in Israel and remove that veil of
MYSTERY from their eyes! God will cause these two Jewish prophets to utter
words which will definitely open the Jews understanding and once their
understanding is opened they will be able to look back over these 1900 years
that the gospel has been among the gentiles and by the revelation presented
unto them by these two men, the picture which for so long has been such a
mystery, will at that hour suddenly come together and for the first time they
will see scripture after scripture after scripture, strictly from the Old
Testament which for centuries and centuries has been closed unto them.
Furthermore, it will show them where they have been, why they have been blinded
and so forth.
VEIL
SOON TO BE LIFTED
Thus, as we draw closer to the time God will lift
the veil from their eyes, whereas in the past they have looked upon gentiles
through eyes of not being able to understand, comprehend or conceive; not being
able to accept us (gentiles) in the experience of our belief seeing it was an
age of God’s MYSTERY unto them while the age is in progress. Yet, Paul declared
to the gentile believers it wasn’t a mystery to them! It should be a MYSTERY to
the Jew but not to you. I pray to God it hasn’t been a MYSTERY unto you!
Why did Jesus in Matthew 13, after having
already spoken his seven parables, entered the house and had His disciples to
ask Him for an explanation of the second parable declare, it is given to you
(the disciples, the chosen or elect of God) to know the MYSTERIES of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of heaven, but to them that are without (the
unbeliever, make believer of Israel) it is not for them to know. Therefore
note, Jesus declared in Matthew 13 how there would be mysteries to be
made known during that (MYSTERY) period of time, that period of time which
certainly is a mystery time to the Jewish race, a time they would never be able
to understand or conceive, the MYSTERY age itself, yet on the other hand the
gentile believer would be a people who would be able to receive it, and therefore
MYSTERIES during that period would unfold, revelations would come forth because
God has promised to build His church upon revelation.
EXPLAINING
MYSTERY TO EPHESIANS
Listen to Paul writing to still another church
concerning this very same MYSTERY which John had spoken of in
Revelation10:7. Writing to the Ephesian church during the same year he had
written the Colossian church, we find Paul still filled with that great
enthusiasm, fervency, joy and assurance of heart. Paul, in Ephesians 3, approaches
these gentile Christians at Ephesus where several years earlier he had
experienced a three year revival affecting all Asia. The Ephesian revival
occurred as the gentile dispensation was set in motion and the great Ephesian
age of Revelation 2:1-7 had actually begun. Ephesians 3, (1) “For
this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you gentiles,” (meaning
for you gentiles I am a prisoner for had I remained in my Judaistic social
status of life I certainly wouldn’t be a prisoner today.) (2) “If you 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,” Again we noticed Paul using the word MYSTERY in exactly the
same manner as writing unto the Colossians.
REVEALED TO NEW TESTAMENT
PROPHETS AND APOSTLES
Verse 4, “Whereby, when you 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, (Old Testament prophets) as it is now revealed
unto his (present tense) holy apostles and (New Testament) prophet.”
Recall, the last Old Testament prophet, John the Baptist, is dead and Jesus
has already ascended. Therefore, as Paul speaks of prophet it is now in the
present tense. It is New Testament prophets he mentions here. Something we
note, according to Paul has now been revealed by the Holy Spirit unto both the
New Testament apostles and New Testament prophets and this something revealed
was hidden in the Old Testament scriptures from the Old Testament prophets and
Old Testament saints. All this revealing was pertaining to that mystery which
according to John was to be completed in Revelation 10:7. Therefore, I
trust you can see this MYSTERY is none other than the grace age and definitely
covers a short period of time, and Paul is ready now to show the effects of
this MYSTERY which, remember, was definitely a mystery unto only one element,
yet totally understood by another, how the gentiles should be fellow heirs and
of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.
ABRAHAM’S COVENANT (FIRST MENTION
OF MYSTERY)
Wasn’t it strange how from the Old Testament
scriptures the Jews, scribes, Pharisees, etc., had for so long preached
concerning the coming of the Messiah yet not one of them could possibly
understand any of those scriptures written of the prophets pertaining to what
God intended to do for the gentiles! Why do you suppose they had forgotten the
covenant God made unto Abraham long before they became a nation? Recall back in
Genesis God telling Abraham how unto thee and thy see will I give all this
land? At the time Sarah was barren and could not produce Abraham a son. Years
later God assured Abraham his promise was still true when he told Abraham “your
seed will become as the stars of heaven and in thee and thy seed shall all the
families of the earth be blessed.” This definitely included gentiles,
however no doubt Jews reading this scripture interpreted it to mean that in
Abraham and his seed would all the Jewish families of the earth be blessed. Yet
beloved, that is not what God said, God said in thee and thy see shall all the
families of the nations or languages of the earth be blessed. To them if any
gentile ever got in this blessing they certainly would have to be proselyted to
Judaism in order to consummate, fulfill or have any part in the covenant God
gave Abraham. Yet we know the Apostle Paul picked up that same Old Testament
scripture in Genesis and in Galatians told the Galatian church that seed of
Abraham was not as the seed of many but as the seed of one (being Christ that
promised seed.) Christ was the seed of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). Thus
through that one seed of Abraham God would bless all the families or gentile
nations of the earth. In this covenant promise of God through Abraham shows
where that MYSTERY in Revelation 10:7 would begin! It would begin once
Christ entered the picture. It simply goes to show God’s promise given to
Abraham had always been a misunderstood prophecy to the Jew. Their
interpretation of the passage was entirely different.
Yes, in that very covenant promise of Abraham is
where it all began! By divine revelation Abraham uttered it while other
patriarchs and prophets later picked it up and through divine inspiration added
words to the thought, nevertheless, its meaning remained a hidden MYSTERY unto
the Jew. That is why Paul declared in Ephesians 3:6, the very words he
did, that the gentiles would be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers
of his promise in Christ by the gospel.
UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST
INVOLVES MYSTERIES
Verse 7 states, “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.” Speaking concerning himself in verse 8 Paul says, “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.” Remember
beloved, the unsearchable riches of Christ would definitely involve those
MYSTERIES that were to be revealed during the period of the MYSTERY of God or
MYSTERY period of time called the grace age. Yes, the unsearchable riches of
Christ would involve MYSTERIES unlocking revelations for gentiles hidden within
the Old Testament scripture, scriptures which God had allowed the Old Testament
prophets to speak and write concerning, yet never gave them understanding of
what they were writing about. These very scriptures pertain strictly to the
gentiles and never to the Jews. Therefore, Paul could say that, “I should
preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ!”
MYSTERY MADE KNOWN
Verse 9, “And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world HATH BEEN
HIDDEN IN GOD, who created all by Jesus Christ.” Listen carefully to verse 10, which
says “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
places MIGHT BE MADE KNOWN BY THE CHURCH.” (Church here meaning strictly
the church of the firstborn, not those denominational worldly church systems.
The church is the called out people of God which Paul never refers to by any
earthly title, yet always by its heavenly title.) “the manifold wisdom of
God.” Verse 11, “According to the eternal purpose which he proposed in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” Paul now speaks concerning a MYSTERY that would be going
on yet it would be misunderstood by the Jew. Did you note he told where it all
began and how God had hid certain things Himself although He had allowed
prophets to speak it down through time, yet with no understanding of it!
Therefore, it would still remain misunderstood or never looked at it in its
proper setting.
JEW CHOSEN TO REVEAL MYSTERY
However, when time did arrive for God to fulfill or
give the understanding of this MYSTERY to the gentile church, notice it was a
Jew he chose to hold that office and what was revealed unto him was absolutely
contrary to his religious upbringing! Imagine the mental battle and struggle
that must have gone in Paul’s mind after Paul’s conversion on the Damascus
Road. Years later we hear Paul speaking concerning his Jewish religious
background as he declared he was from the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee of
pharisees as touching the law of Moses. Paul says, I was blameless. Yet as far
as touching the church he was not so blameless because, said Paul, I persecuted
the church daily. And in this persecution many were killed, imprisoned and so
forth. However, summing it all up he said concerning those things in the past I
count as nothing but dung that I might obtain Christ. To Paul obtaining Christ
was far more of spiritual value and after having finally fought that battle out
in his mind he was so thankful to God.
Imagine what must have gone on in that devout
Jewish mind as God would allow Saul to turn into those Old Testament
scriptures! That is why Paul could tell the church how by revelation he had
received this GREAT MYSTERY which had been hidden to men in other ages. Writing
to this Ephesian church, speaking in that overjoyed tone, he declares in Ephesians
2:18, “Through him (Christ) we (please note, “we” places the Jew and
gentile in the same setting because we do know that early church started out
with both Jew and gentile seated in the same assembly. Thus we hear him
declare, ) through him we both have access by one spirit unto the father!”
(19) Now therefore you are no more strangers or foreigners, but fellow-citizens
with the saints and household of God.” What does Paul mean by using the
phrase “no more strangers and foreigners”? Bear in mind Paul, using
these two words, is showing that he is definitely writing unto both the
converted Jew and gentile. Ephesus, you recall, is a metropolitan city being in
a gentile area in Asia Minor. Furthermore, we know the Ephesian church
established back in 54 A.D., had within its congregation Jewish as well as
gentile believers. Speaking of the two separate classes he says, “You are no
longer strangers and foreigners”, because that is exactly how each group looked
upon the other before their conversion! The old orthodox Jew had a synagogue in
Ephesus, according to Acts 19, and out of that Jewish synagogue Paul
received his first converts of the Ephesian church. Had you been a gentile,
even though you had been proselyted to Judaism, when you were in the Jewish
synagogue you still would have been looked upon as a stranger. And no matter
where the gentiles saw the Jew he automatically looked upon him as a foreigner.
That is why Paul used these two words, “strangers and foreigners” writing to
the church body. Realizing both Jew and gentile was present Paul said, in
Christ you are no more strangers and foreigners for God by one spirit hath
broken down that middle wall of partition.
MIDDLE WALL BROKEN DOWN
Remember that middle wall of partition was the
commandments which separated the two groups but was now broken down. Both
groups are now placed on an even common ground, religiously. In the grace of
God or in the church of God or in Jesus Christ, both groups are no more
strangers or foreigners as they sit in the same service, but instead they are
saints, fellow-citizens of the household of God. How beautiful it must have
been in Ephesus to have seen those Jews and gentiles worshiping God in the
revelation of Christ together, one background having been Judaistic while only
a short time ago the other background was pagan or heathen, though now both
groups have found the right thing and doing so has erased everything.
BUILT UPON FOUNDATION OF APOSTLES
& PROPHETS
In this newfound faith, both Jew and gentile are
declared fellow-citizens and verse 20 declares both groups have been
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. However, please
understand, here prophets have no reference to New Testament prophets as seen
or shown in Ephesians 3:4-6, which shows there something has been
revealed unto them which was hidden in ages past. Yet when Paul referred to the
foundation upon which the two groups were built in verse 20, it is not
New Testament prophets at all that the church is built upon! Are you aware
until the Apostle Paul wrote his epistle there was no New Testament written for
gentiles! Thus the only scripture for the gentiles was that hidden in the Old
Testament, a book which gentiles were totally unfamiliar with and knew nothing
about. Paul, writing unto the gentile Corinthian church declared that he was
the wise master builder who laid the foundation for the gentile church.
Here is the true revelation on which the gentile
church was to be built, Paul’s teaching or revelation of the Old Testament.
Moreover we must examine this phrase, “of apostles and prophets”, in verse
20 in this light. Both groups, Jews and gentiles, are built upon the same
foundation and that foundation is the teaching and revelation of the apostles
as they have brought forth the hidden meaning of what the Old Testament
prophets prophesied concerning the gentiles’ relation to God in the scripture.
Therefore, the word prophet recorded in verse 20 definitely carries an
Old Testament setting because it was those Old Testament prophecies those
prophets prophesied unbeknownst to them the meaning of what was prophesied as
they prophesied concerning the gentiles’ position in God’s program. If that be
true, why then would Paul place New Testament apostles before Old Testament
prophets when everyone knows the Old Testament prophets prophesied or came
first.
WHY NEW TESTAMENT APOSTLES PLACED BEFORE OLD
TESTAMENT PROPHETS
Before answering that, note again Ephesians 3 where
Paul uses prophets strictly in the New Testament sense saying, as God hath now
revealed unto His holy apostles and (New Testament) prophets by the Spirit
(certain hidden things). Here in Ephesians 3:5, Paul is definitely
speaking of the New Testament prophets who also had something revealed unto
them along with the New Testament apostles! However note, when Paul is
referring, particularly to the foundation upon which the church is built or
upon which both groups, Jew and gentile, were built, his words are entirely
different! Here Paul says the church is built upon the teachings and revelation
of the apostles and Old Testament prophets because beloved, it definitely would
require the office of the New Testament prophets to explain unto a gentile
church, a people who only a few years ago had nothing but a heathen background
and was strictly pagan in belief, explain exactly what the Old Testament
prophets by the Spirit had declared concerning the gentiles’ position in this
newfound faith! What gentile I ask you, could possibly open an Old Testament
Jewish scroll and declare he clearly understood what the spirit had hidden
there concerning the gentile’s place in Christ (when the old prophets could
not.)
If is for certain the eunuch in Acts 8 didn’t
know what the scroll in Isaiah was talking about. He had reached the place in
the scroll when Phillip joined him where it said, like the sheep they led him
to slaughter and he opened not his mouth. The eunuch didn’t know what that
meant, nevertheless, God had a man standing alongside the road filled with the
Holy Ghost who did know. Phillip, a Jew, had left the old system but had inside
him a revelation as to what the Old Testament prophet Isaiah was actually
speaking about. The eunuch showing Phillip the scripture in Isaiah, as lamb to
the shearer and the sheep to the slaughter and he opened not his mouth. Who is
the writer referring to, asked the eunuch, to himself or someone else? Here was
Phillip’s signal and by revelation he began to tell the eunuch what the prophet
Isaiah had been discussing.
APOSTLE’S OFFICE REVEALS HIDDEN
MYSTERY
Such a setting as this should show why Paul
declared both Jew and gentile are built upon the same foundation of the
teaching of the apostles and Old Testament prophets, because the revelation
concerning the gentile’s position in Christ was hidden in the Old Testament
prophet’s writings, yet it took the revelation of the New Testament apostles to
explain to the gentile church what the Old Testament prophets had written
concerning them, showing how they definitely had a place in God and it was in
the word! Though it lay there in the Old Testament prophets, it nevertheless
was a mystery until suddenly through the ministry of the New Testament apostle,
God began to take the wrapping off unto the gentiles. Thus Paul says, both
groups are built upon the foundation of the New Testament apostles and the Old
Testament prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.
MYSTERY GOING ON WHILE ISRAEL OUT
OF LAND
According to Paul’s revelation, it was this great
MYSTERY (the MYSTERY OF GOD) unto the gentiles that began to unfold within his
ministry of apostleship. This MYSTERY OF GOD has been continuing right on
through a space of time, covering over 1900 years but it is to be finished in
Revelation 10:7! Note, it was going on throughout the entire period of time the
Jewish people have been out of the land scattered among gentiles. Remember,
during this period of time the Jews that have been out of the land have also,
during this period, been out of the will of God and have drifted further and
further away from what their prophets had taught, drifting more and more into
external religious ideas and traditions. Spiritually speaking as an overall
picture of the Jew, they are at their lowest ebb of spiritual apostasy. True,
many have returned to Israel but they have only returned to be identified with
the race, yet as a whole they have thrown away their ancestral convictions of
belief in Jehovah and the prophets. No, we can’t say all have. We know there is
an element of orthodox Jews very strict and perhaps do have a little influence
upon the total nation of Jews who number between 15-16 million throughout the
world.
APOSTLE’S FROM JEWISH RACE
Nevertheless, it is in a period of time such as this
when whatever God was doing for the gentiles was a total MYSTERY to that nation
of Jews, even though their Jewish prophets of old had declared it in writing.
Morever, it was apostles in the New Testament hour who came from the Jewish
rank who were sent among the gentiles to open up these Old Testament scriptures
for their spiritual benefit. Out of those scriptures came that revelation of
the MYSTERY. Up until the age of grace no gentile knew one day there was going
to come a dispensation whereby the God of heaven would rule and reign here on
earth, yet that very revelation was given to John the Jewish apostle in its
great setting of a thousand year period.
OLD
TESTAMENT PROPHETS
Prophets of old throughout the Old Testament
prophesied and recorded inspiring prophecies pertaining to the gentile’s future
position and relationship with God in Christ. Prophecies, the meaning of which
had to be kept entirely hidden even from the Old Testament prophets as they
would have declared the meaning unto Israel. And what was a mystery unto Israel
concerning gentiles would have no longer remained a mystery!
MYSTERY AGE RUNNING OUT
Therefore, we are living in the day that John saw
and when that messenger to the Laodicean church age would come and sound a
message, and in a scriptural sense you could say that message is the voice of
God, it is the word. And because the voice has sounded it also caused many
other scriptures to come forth and to stand in this end time for God to fulfill
to the benefit of gentile people. Thus, we see during this period of time the
voice is sounding, that age of MYSTERY (to the gentles) is now running out!
Time no longer being delayed, God will definitely step up this MYSTERY and
hasten it unto its final fulfillment. Yes, as this MYSTERY age, misunderstood
by the Jew, closes out, God by His spirit will now be turning back to the Jews taking
all scriptures, especially the Old Testament scriptures pertaining strictly to
the jews benefit and will reveal the MYSTERY to their edification, their
perfection, their enlightment, as well as their understanding. However,
remember all the scriptures which pertain to Israel’s benefit, which is
strictly their inheritance belongs strictly to them and those two prophets
coming very shortly to Israel, will take those scriptures and actually set them
in their proper setting. Doing so will remove the veil from the eyes of Israel
and they too will be able to look upon this which has been a MYSTERY unto them,
the grace age of the gentiles, and say praise God! Why? Because God will have
also opened their eyes causing this period to no longer be a mystery unto them,
how Christ can be in you, your hope of glory. This is the hour God will close
this MYSTERY age and as He closes it, it will also wind up all the MYSTERIES
which pertain to this MYSTERY age. Every revelation pertaining to this
mysterious period of time will come forth right here at the close of the age.
Beloved,
God does not stop and place a period to everything. No, not as long as time is
lingering on and as long as there is a people left here on earth to benefit
from God’s working in their hour and their life. Therefore I repeat, somewhere
out of this Bible on up until the very hour Jesus comes there will never be a
time when there is not a little something coming forth I see an apostle a young man rising from Africa with a seal to
accomplish this and very soon. It is God’s way of taking the wrapper off
it, giving your spiritual mind a little deeper insight into this overall
setting, which unto the Jew has been a total MYSTERY OF GOD, nevertheless God
simply continues enlarging the overall picture to benefit your spiritual
growth.
CHRIST, THAT PROMISED SEED
Therefore, I hope you see what this MYSTERY OF GOD
to be finished is in Revelation 10:7, it is none other than a period of
time when something would be going on in respect to the fulfillment of many Old
Testament scriptures (for gentiles). The period of time would remain a total
mystery unto one element of people (the Jew) while understood by another
element (the gentile). Concerning this period of time, Paul declared in both
his Ephesian and Colossian letters it had been given unto the saints in the
grace age to know these mysteries recorded by Old Testament prophets. Believe
it or not, it was God’s fulfillment of His long awaited promise given to
faithful Abraham, in thee and thy seed (Christ) Galatians 3:14-16, 29,
shall all the families (gentiles) of the earth be blessed. Furthermore note,
while this (mystery) period of time was in progress (this MYSTERY OF GOD) the
Jewish nation would remain in dispersion. This fulfills also the time of
blindness in part which has happened unto Israel until the fulness of the
gentiles be brought in, Romans 11:25.
FIRST
PROPHECY MENTIONED PERTAINING TO THE MYSTERY OF GOD PERIOD PROPHECY
God informed Abraham that his seed would become as
the stars of the heavens and that in him and his seed (Christ), Galatians
3:14-29 would all the nations be blessed. Galatians 3:8, was the
first mentioning of that event which would become a great mystery unto the Jew.
EXPLAINS MYSTERY TO GENTILE
BELIEVER
Paul, desiring the gentile world to know that
through the apostolic office, that which was a complete mystery unto the Jew is
no longer a mystery to the gentile believer. Writing now unto the believers at
Rome, Paul says in Romans 16:25-26, “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. (26)
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.”
MYSTERY OF GOD EARLIER DECLARED BY PROPHETS
Strange isn’t it, that all we gentiles sing,
preach, and talk about is already recorded in the Old Testament Jewish
scripture by their prophets. Remember it was they, not us, who penned the scriptures,
gentiles only became receivers of the benefits. Jews alone had the Old
Testament scriptures yet no Jew was able to see the gentile’s position hidden
there in the Old Testament. It was unto their genetic father, Abraham, the
first promise of gentiles being brought into a rightful relationship with God
was ever mentioned as God declared, in thee and thy seed (Christ), Galatians
3:14-16, 29, shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Yet when God,
some 1900 years ago, began to fulfill the covenant promise the Jews could not
understand it.
KEY THAT UNLOCKS
Back to Revelation 10:7 and into that very
final portion of the verse where we find the key which unlocks the entire
verse. “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 OR
BY HIS SERVANTS THE (Old Testament) PROPHETS!” There it is, this
MYSTERY OF GOD John saw to be completed in those days had (already) been
declared by the Old Testament prophets, yet no Jew could understand it!
In its true English setting the latter portion of
the verse reads, as he hath declared by his servants the prophets. Whenever God
deals with me in respect to a point of truth, it isn’t ever the entire verse He
shows me to be the key which unlocks the mystery. No, somewhere within the
verse can be one small word which allows you to know exactly where to place
that verse in respect to its fulfillment. Don’t miss this! As He (God) hath
(note, hath is past tense) and furthermore hath is the key which unlocks the
mystery in the verse. John declared God had already declared this in the
writings of the prophets of old. Hath or has already declared it unto the Old Testament
prophets! See, it was brought unto the gentiles by those prophets. The word to
and the word by carries one and the selfsame meaning. Note, God brought it TO
THEM, yet unto us gentiles God brought it BY THEM. Originally it came from the
Old Testament prophets.
ALREADY DECLARED
Examining words such as this helps divide and place
the thing in its proper setting. Did not Paul tell Timothy to study to show
himself approved of God (and by God), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth! Therefore, God hath (past tense) already
declared it to (or by) his servants the apostles and prophets. Those who wrote
it in the Old Testament were servants. Thus, when we understand what this
MYSTERY OF GOD really is, it isn’t a mystery to us gentiles at all, yet it is a
total mystery unto the Jews, and strange enough the Jew was the first to read
it! It was written to the Jewish people through their prophet. God brought it
and placed it (hid it) in their writings and it is the great MYSTERY God hid
within Himself. God caused it to be written yet He also caused it to be veiled
in order that the patriarchs or prophets who wrote it, when looking upon their
own writings, were made to wonder what God was talking about. Paul declared it
as not for them to know the MYSTERY, nevertheless God caused it all to be
placed in its chronological order and once time had arrived for the Eternal to
begin to set the mystery in motion God took many of those Old Testament
scriptures and began to bring them into fulfillment, first through the birth
and ministry of John Baptist, and second through the birth and so forth of
Christ’s life (Acts 1:22).
Hundreds of Old Testament scriptures were fulfilled
in a very few short years during the first advent of Christ, therefore, just as
all that happened (fulfilling scripture) we, too, live in a generation when God
once again is doing the very same thing! Thus, if this MYSTERY spoken of in Revelation
10:7 is to absolutely be brought to a close, then in its consummation every
scripture relating to it in any manner which has already been written somewhere
in the Old Testament pertaining to the gentiles in our inheritance, our being
blessed in inheritance, our being blessed in any manner, you may rest assured
all these scriptures will be fulfilled as God closes out this age of grace to
us gentiles.
Another very important thing, please note, in
relation to a certain time period which will also accompany Revelation 10:7
and second was also declared by the month of Old Testament prophets, is a
statement found in Acts 3:21. Moreover Revelation 10:7 and Acts 3:21 are
the only two scriptures in the entire Bible which speak in the language term
these two do! Both these scriptures deal with a precise period of time and both
were declared by the mouth of prophets of old! John, under the inspiration,
wrote unto the churches and that letter was heralded down through the ages brining
out its spiritual application. And out here on the very end of the grace age
Revelation 10:7 was to bring to completeness all God had declared long ago
by the mouth of his servants, the Old Testament prophets for whom - - the
gentile saints. Unto whom and for whom was it to benefit? The gentiles of
course!
FULFILLING SCRIPTURE FOR JEWS
With that in mind, let us now examine Acts 3:21
and here see something also spoken by the mouth of Old Testament prophets which
would benefit strictly Israel, not gentiles! Peter, preaching his second sermon
to Jews says in Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore and be converted.” Note
carefully, these words are not spoken unto gentiles but unto Jews, that element
who had recently crucified the Messiah. Their minds were still fresh on the
recent impact, turmoil and upheaval which transpired in Jerusalem. The very
depths of the foundation of Judaism had been shaken. The veil of the temple had
been rent and here after Pentecost stands Peter on the very temple compound
preaching his second sermon to Jews declaring, “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.”
TIME OF REFRESHING - ISRAEL’S
REVIVAL
Note, times of refreshing is God’s fulfillment of
His spiritual awakening to be fulfilled in Israel strictly among Jews! Ezekiel
prophesied how God would sprinkle clean water upon them (Israel) and take away
their stony heart, placing within them a new heart of flesh, that speaks of a converted
heart. Tie that statement of Ezekiel and Peter into Revelation 11, where
under the ministry of two Jewish prophets 144,000 are to be sealed away by a
great spiritual revelation. See beloved, that is their refreshing! No, the
refreshing or the receiving of spiritual revelation was never fulfilled in
Peter’s hour when he preached this! Their refreshing was still future!
Verse 20, “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which
before was preached unto you:” However, note Israel must first be spiritually
refreshed or given that revelation of who Jesus is, before they can see that
glorious appearing of their Messiah!
TIME OF RESTORATION - “RESTORING
BACK” PERIOD
Verse 21, “Whom the heavens must receive until the
times of restitution.” Recall, it was in Peter’s hour the ascension had just transpired and
Peter speaks of times of refreshing and also the times of restitution. Keep in
mind, refreshing is one thing for the Jew, and restitution is still another!
The refreshing brings out the spiritual impact or the spiritual revival which
awakens the people of Israel, while restitution means giving back unto them
something which has been taken away from them. It was God who had allowed
Satan, through certain world gentile systems or empires, as prophesied by Joel,
to take away something from Israel and Joel’s prophecy (Joel 1:1-14) declared
four creatures that resembled insects had gnawed and gnawed away at Israel
until there wasn’t anything left only that which resembled a stump. Yet through
Joel God prophesied, I will restore (to Israel), Joel 2:25.
REFRESHING AND RESTORATION BOTH
FUTURE
The word restitution means an act to restore or
replace something which has been taken away. Peter is declaring, until the
times or until the seasons or until the period of giving back, the returning or
restitution of all things to Israel. I repeat, the statement or promise here
belongs strictly to Israel, not to the gentiles! Watch carefully how this verse
in Acts 3:21 also closes out with prophets of old having a part in this!
Whom the heavens must receive until the times or periods of giving back. That
is, replacing or restoring all these things which God hath (past tense)
declared by the mouth of ALL HIS HOLY PROPHETS SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN! Hath
declared by the mouth of his holy prophets, yes beloved, Revelation 10:7 and
Acts 3:21 are the only two scriptures in the entire Bible dealing with a
people in relation to periods of time as has been declared by prophets of old!
All that Peter spoke here belongs strictly to the Jewish people and is still
future but note, it had already been declared by the Old Testament prophets!
Time wise you can see this event getting ready to happen because we are living
in a day where slowly we are witnessing God’s hand through world conditions and
world systems creating upheavals and causing certain things to be maneuvered
into place to fulfill His scriptures. God is slowly restoring back
geographically, government wise, racially those Jews into their true Biblical
setting.
As we
gentiles begin drifting backward into the old framework of living, drifting
back into that old framework of thinking, social, moral and religious wise, we
can see how today many are leaning toward such atheistic trends in their
intellectual concept while other gentiles are turning to witchcraft, to
demonistic cults which deals with blood and the sacrifice of humans, sexual sin
corruption. Can’t you see what is happening, beloved? That was exactly our
gentile background of thinking before grace ever came to us in the beginning of
this age of grace! People today strain at a gnat and swallow a camel worrying
over whether someone is going to become too religious over this book, you don’t
become too spiritual! Many people today certainly don’t want their youth to
turn out bad yet the pathetic thing is, they don’t want them to become very
spiritual either! It just so happens you are living in a day when you will do
one of two things, either you will sell out to God completely or He personally
will allow the devil to come and take you over completely. Do you think as a
gentile society we can possibly escape the curse and judgment God is about to
bring upon this gentile world over the way we have treated His book? If you do,
face it, you are wrong! Over 1900 years God has been so gracious to the
gentiles, seeing He lifted us up out of our ancient filth of the past (Romans
1:24-32, I Corinthians 6:9-11). Find that eternal rock of ages and flee
unto Him for safety if you don’t want him to blind your eyes and therefore be
forever shut out of His presence!
ISRAEL’S BLINDNESS BENEFITS
GENTILES
Recall how the Apostle Paul in Romans 11 strictly
warned the gentiles to beware of their relationship to God (not take it
lightly) seeing that blindness in part had already happened to Israel until the
fullness of the gentiles had been brought in! Remember, we were the wild olive
tree Paul spoke of that was grafted into the very root, the promise of God’s
word in order to be made partakers of the goodness of God. However, through our
unbelief while our brain goes upward and our spirituality and morals drift more
and more downward into the filth and into the pit, we absolutely have no other
promise of escape other than find our refuge in Jesus Christ.
Through Peter’s mouth in Acts 3:21, God
promised those Jews that the times of refreshing and restitution would come
from the presence of the Lord. Times of refreshing is that spiritual revival to
come for Israel, under the two prophets (Revelation 11) while the
restitution deals with the restoring back to Israel of that which has been
taken from her and both the refreshing and restitution are still out in front
of us and comes about for Israel in Revelation 11:3-8 through the
ministry of those two Jewish prophets, one with the spirit of Moses and the
other with the spirit of Elijah for that hour! Lay Acts 3:21 beside Revelation
11:3-7!
Those promises prophesied by the mouth of God’s Old
Testament Jewish prophets, men who were His servants who prophesied those
things pertaining to us gentiles, all those prophecies we will see as God
closes out that great MYSTERY hour of His dealing for us gentiles, bringing us
into our completeness, bringing us into all fulfillment pertaining to the
gentile people such as all things pertaining to their salvation, their perfection,
yes, and things pertaining unto them even up until the very hour of the great
change of their bodies in the catching away! While all these Old Testament
scriptures dealing with this period begin to converge on that hour and point of
climax for the gentiles, you must rest assured the hand of God will have
already reached over and begun dealing with another element of people.
SCRIPTURE SPEAK OF ISRAEL AS NO
OTHER BOOK DOES
And while all that would be going on may I remind
you that within the gentile realm of theologians, in their seminary unbelief
they will stumble and stagger at the very hand of God doing the things He will
be doing in Israel! How dare gentile theologians and gentile Bible translators
fuss and stew over the infallibility of God’s book! Why, if they would open
their eyes they could see its fulfillment in reality by simply watching the
Jewish people! No book ever spoke concerning a race of people in the manner
this book has spoken concerning Israel. True revelation causes the saints to
understand this book because revelation makes all those promises that much more
real! Yes, here at the end while others fuss over its truthfulness, another
group stands in their earthly illiteracy, seeing that is the way people of the
world look upon true Christians, and they look into the book and say, Amen, I
see it! Carnal theologians look in the book and declare, I don’t know about
that, I don’t see it that way and therefore they continue to fuss over the
translation of one word!
CUTTING OFF ONE GROUP WHILE
RESTORING ANOTHER
It brings us to this point, we are living in the
days God is causing all these verses pertaining to us gentiles to be fulfilled.
Time is zeroing in on everyone of these verses pertaining to the gentiles of
this hour. As they are being fulfilled, on this earth is a gentile people
receiving God’s last dealings. The total gentile society is slowly being cut
off, while at the same time another element of people, the Jew, is slowly being
reinstated into His plan and purpose. While God is in a process of reinstating
one group, certain things among the gentiles are being taken away. Yes, as He
slowly takes from one element, He is slowly giving back to another. As He deals
with one element for their last hour, and this last generation will surely see
the wind up of it, to another element He is just beginning to open up the
depths of His mercy and grace. However, note, once again that which God is
opening up has already been prophesied and promised to that group by the mouth
of His holy prophets! Are you able to now see how both these verses of
scripture concerning what is to be done to and for these two separate groups
had already been prophesied by the mouth of the Old Testament prophets and
recorded there in the Old Testament! Because beloved, had it not been recorded,
understand this one thing, somewhere in scripture these two groups during their
respective hour could not have accepted what was going on!
SCRIPTURES DECLARED WHAT EARLY
CHURCH ACCEPTED
In order to bring out the beauty of this fact and
show how, had it not been somewhere recorded in the Old Testament, not even the
Jewish apostles could have accepted it! To see this most important example of
how whatever was to be accepted had to first be written somewhere in the
scriptures, let us examine Acts 15 in closing. Paul and Barnabas have
gone up to the Jerusalem church to discuss with the elders this subject of
gentiles observing circumcision, Peter having reminded the group how that by
his mouth the gentiles had first received the gospel, Acts 10. After everyone
had held their peace and now speaking in defense of Peter’s ministry we hear
the Apostle James beginning Acts 15:14, using Old Testament scripture as
a basis as he says, “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the
gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.”
OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE AGREED
Where, may I ask you, did James ever get such
authority to make such a statement as that? Read carefully verse 15 and
you will see. “AND TO THIS AGREE THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS AS IT IS WRITTEN.”
There you are! Oh, how important the words of the Old Testament prophets
were in relation to whatever move that early church made! No revelation has any
authority whatsoever unless somewhere it is anchored in scripture. Peter could
have returned from Cornelius’ house and declared as he did in Acts 11:1-18 about
what a great revival he had among the gentiles, yet did you know, had there not
been some scripture somewhere in that Old Testament which would have shown
God’s dealings among the gentiles, that early church would never have accepted
what Peter had done! It could simply be summed up by saying, had there not been
any scripture to back up this move of Peter’s, as far as the early church was
concerned, Peter was merely led off on a wild goose chase! But he wasn’t led
off on a wild goose chase and even though Peter himself that day did not
understand what God was doing at Cornelius’ house, yet somewhere after they had
returned to Jerusalem and sat down to discuss and study this thing out and
examine it from the scriptural standpoint there he saw it was scriptural, there
would be a time God would go unto the gentile. Somewhere they saw a revelation
within those Old Testament scriptures which verified what had been done!
Therefore, we hear James declaring what he did in Acts 15:15, and to
this agree the words of the prophets as it is written! Here it was in the
Prophet Amos’ writing, Amos 9:11-12, however, it took a spiritual
revelation from the ministry of the apostle to see this hidden truth and place
it in its proper setting! Acts 15 , (16) “After this I will return and build
again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; and I will build again
the ruins thereof, and I will set it up; (17) That the residue of men might
seek after the Lord, and all the gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith
the Lord, who doeth all these things.”
By studying the Old Testament scrolls of prophecy
James, Peter and the elders of Jerusalem came to the realization what had been
accomplished at Cornelius’ house (Acts 10) was actually the fulfillment
of Amos 9, as the prophet Amos showed God would visit the gentiles to
take out of them a gentile bride, a people for His name! For His name means a
people who would bear the name of the Lord, who would carry it in water
baptism, be identified and willing to be called by the name of Jesus. James was
quoting that prophetic verse!
For 1900 years God has been among us gentiles
taking out a people for His name in order to fulfill Amos 9, and one of
these days that calling out among the gentiles will come to a close, and when
it does it will all happen in a generation of time when God will take all the
prophet Isaiah, all the prophet Jeremiah as well as the Psalms, etc., yes, all
God has prophesied to Abraham in Genesis and there God will consummate this
MYSTERY, fulfilling it to us gentiles - - AS HE HATH ALREADY THOUSANDS OF YEARS
AGO, DECLARED TO OR BY HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS! Thus, God will bring to a
close all that has been a MYSTERY to the Jew as He completes His work among us
gentiles. When is it to be brought to a close? In the days of the sounding of
the voice of the seventh angel messenger, when his message begins to be
proclaimed and herald, God will take all those Old Testament scriptures which
He spoke by His prophets, scriptures which held this MYSTERY OF GOD for the
grace age and wrap them all up or fulfill them. Just as the gentile world is
slowly being cut off and the Jewish race being reinstated, as God consummates
this for the gentiles He will be in the process of refreshing (or spiritual
revival) and the restitution for Israel. And, Oh, the refreshing there will be
for those Jews! How glorious the climax will be as the gentile bride is being
perfected and made ready and called home to glory, the Jewish nation is
spiritually awakened, restored and revived.
The world, because of the tension in which we live
today, could overnight be thrown into a nuclear war simply because they do not
know what to do with Israel! Month after month, year after year, pressures in
gentile governments continually mount over this ever growing perplexing
problem: WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THE LITTLE NATION CALLED ISRAEL? IT ALL LETS ME
KNOW WE ARE LIVING IN THAT GENERATION WHO WILL SEE ALL THESE THINGS BROUGHT TO
A CLIMAX!A