So what is the “Revelation of the Mystery” “the Mystery of Christ” and all this Mystery stuff that the Apostle Paul puts so much emphasis on in his letters and that the organized church puts so little emphasis upon? And what is all this Dispensational stuff with these Bible choppers and followers of Paul? I thought we are to follow Christ?
Let’s see if we can unravel a few of these questions and accusations. First, the Mystery information that was given to Paul by revelation, from Christ, is unique to Paul. Before Paul, it was not given to any of the other Apostles nor did they understand it until it was explained to them by Paul. It was not, therefore, a part of the doctrines or message taught by the Twelve, which is why, at the Jerusalem Council, Paul tells us in Galatians 2:7, that it was understood that the gospel OF the circumcision was committed unto Peter and the gospel OF the uncircumcision was committed unto himself and furthermore he said that “they” added nothing to him but that he added to them.
It is also quite clear, from scripture, that Paul’s Gospel was not the Gospel of the Kingdom that had been taught to the other Apostles during the earthly ministry of Jesus which, as Peter tells us, WAS KNOWN since the foundation of the world because it had been prophesied. The Gospel of the Kingdom was the “good news” that the kingdom was at hand and furthermore, it was still at hand even after Christ’s ascension which is why the Apostles continued to preach it and also began to preach the Gospel of God, which was that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was in fact, the promised Messiah. Notice that none of the Gospels that the Apostles were preaching contained anything pertaining to people being saved by believing that Christ had died for their sins. This, “gospel of God” is what Paul came to understand and believe but it is not the same gospel that was later given to him, by revelation, that is called the “Gospel of Christ”. It is also instructive to notice that the Gospel of the Kingdom ceased to be preached after the stoning of Stephen. Paul never preached it because Israel’s program had been temporarily shut down when Israel’s leadership blasphemed the Holy Spirit at Stephen’s stoning and had finally rejected Christ as their Messiah and so the Kingdom was no longer “at hand”. That the Apostles learned this is evident since they only preached the Gospel of God later on, as well as what they learned from Paul. These facts are completely overlooked by the organized, so-called, church throughout most of its history, both Roman Catholic and Protestant.
If Paul’s Gospel of Christ is the same there certainly would have been no need for the ascended Lord to come back and by revelation, teach Paul something that had already been previously revealed to the other Apostles. Surely God would simply have told Paul to go to the other Apostles and learn from them. But this is not the case because what we see is that God was starting something completely new with Paul, as he is put in charge of the Dispensation of the grace of God and called to be the Apostle of the Gentiles and to show All men what is the revelation of the mystery which was KEPT SECRET since the foundation of the world and was NOT made known until it was revealed to Paul.
So what does the Bible say about the “Mystery” information given to Paul?
Romans 16:25 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 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:
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Notice in the above verses that the “revelation of the mystery” was kept secret since the world began and this information was not previously revealed. How do we know that it was not previously revealed? The phrase, “But now” in the very next verse of both the Ephesians and the Romans quotes lets the reader know very clearly that this is the case. It couldn’t be any clearer.
And again, we see below Paul says that it was, by revelation, that Christ revealed the mystery or secret to him.
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Paul also differentiates between his gospel and the gospel of the Twelve when he establishes ownership calling it “my gospel”. This preaching, he says, of Jesus Christ, is according to the revelation of the mystery. It is not according to that which was prophesied but rather, according to this mystery which God kept hid in himself.
Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Here we see the “but now” phrase again in the Colossians reference. So it is very clear by these verses and others, that the mystery was hidden since the world began and that it was revealed by revelation to Paul and that this gospel and the mystery information was unique to Paul and his ministry.
Now some would argue that this mystery was also revealed to the other Apostles and that Paul was just the principal agent to whom these particular truths were revealed but consider what Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:16:
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Here we see Paul says that “in me first” and that he is the “pattern” to everyone who believes that comes after him. So if Paul was first and only those who come after him follow this pattern, ergo those who came before must have followed some other pattern. Perhaps they were following that which was according to prophecy and according to Christs’ earthly ministry; according to those things which HAD been known since the beginning of the world… not a mystery which, is exactly what Peter preaches in Act 2.
Paul was the first to experience this unprecedented mercy because Paul was a blasphemer having blasphemed the Holy Spirit for which there was no remedy. Under God’s program with Israel there was no hope for Paul and since it was by the light of Israel’s rising, according to prophecy, that the Gentiles were to have come to the knowledge of God and now Israel is fallen, then there would have been no hope for anyone. But that is when God shows this unprecedented mercy to Paul offering it first to him and then revealing to him that now all, jew and gentile alike, have the opportunity for salvation whereby, anyone who simply takes God at his word (faith) concerning what His Son’s death upon the cross had accomplished, having been the payment for the sins of the world, they will be saved. The moment someone believes in the Gospel of Christ, they are then identified with Christ by being baptized by the Holy Spirit into his body and become one with him; insomuch as what belongs to Christ now also belongs to the believer; Christs’ righteousness being put on the account of the believer totally unearned. This is why “The Faith” is not a religion. Religion requires that you do something to earn salvation so if your belief system requires works for salvation then you are doomed because what does man have to offer the infinite, eternal God that would be acceptable? Nothing! Only the righteousness of Christ himself is acceptable. Man’s righteousness is as “filthy rags”. If we could satisfy God’s judgment then why did Christ come and die? Either Christs’ payment for sin satisfied God’s justice or it didn’t. God’s word says it did:
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Eph 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9, Not of works, lest any man should boast.
When Paul says that the mystery information had not been made known in other ages and generations this would include those who came before Paul, including the other Apostles. Because, in fact, they were a part of another dispensation or administration of God even though they were Paul’s contemporaries.
The twelve were part of God’s program with Israel and Jesus had told them that they would sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes in the coming kingdom. Israel was God’s elect; God had chosen Israel to be his representative and his people for the redemption of the earthly realm. They would be a nation of priests and it would be through Israel’s RISE that the nations would come to God. But we see in Romans, Israel was, in part, blinded and God, therefore, concluded them all in unbelief so that he could have mercy upon all. So rather than the nations being blessed and coming to God through Israel’s RISE, as had been prophesied, Paul tells us that, it is now by their FALL that a special program of grace, whereby Gentiles could come to God completely apart from Israel and that now there is neither Jew nor Greek but now God’s Elect (chosen conduit or representatives) are those who are saved by believing the Gospel of Christ, apart from Israel. And it is to this body that the message of reconciliation is given to show all men what is “the revelation of the mystery.” Believers of the dispensation of the grace of God are not promised an earthly kingdom but rather, according to Paul, our conversation or literally our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
You see, Satan has corrupted both the earthly and heavenly realms and God is therefore using men, created a little lower than the angels, in his plan to redeem that which was corrupted by sin.
Paul’s Gospel and Ministry
I assure you that the scriptures make it very clear that the dispensation of the grace of God, as Paul calls it in Ephesians 3:2, was particular to Paul as he says “I magnify mine office” and that none other of the Apostles even refers to such a dispensation. In fact, we read in Galatians 2 that Paul had to go to Jerusalem to explain THAT gospel which he preached among the Gentiles. Haven’t you ever asked yourself why it would be necessary for Paul to do that? Were they just wanting to make sure he wasn’t preaching the wrong thing or that he had gone astray? No, it is very clear by the language used that Paul’s gospel was not the same as the “gospel of the circumcision” but that he had the gospel of the uncircumcision. Both sides agreed to this and made a clear distinction between the two. If there were no difference there would have been no reason for this agreement.
There are a number of things that Paul’s gospel of Christ reveals that were not known until it was revealed by Paul having received it from the risen, ascended Christ. What Christ’s death, burial and resurrection accomplished is another part of what was not known before Paul learned it. That Christ’s work upon the cross had reconciled the world to God was not known and for good reason. If Satan had known this would be the result I believe he would have worked to stop the crucifixion, don’t you? Instead, he was an unwitting actor doing his part in God’s secret plan.
If you study it out you will no doubt discover as I and others have that, the clear teaching of the Bible is that God has temporarily put his program with Israel on hold at the stoning of Stephen when Israel’s leadership refused to repent and acknowledge their Messiah and admit their failure to keep the contract they made with God. And remember the parable of the fig tree when Christ said he had found no fruit during his 3 years of ministry but he would give Peter one more year to minister and see if Israel produced any fruit. The stoning of Stephen is the end of that one-year extension. And it is surely no coincidence that this is when Paul comes upon the scene. Paul later writes that it is by Israel’s fall that God concluded them all in unbelief and can now have mercy upon all. As I stated above, Paul was, in fact, the first to receive this mercy which previously was unavailable to anyone especially someone who was a blasphemer, as Paul indicates that he was. Paul was the first and he was the pattern. 1Ti 1:16 (quoted above)
Our Instructions
The doctrine which we are to follow comes from the Pauline Epistles, not from the Hebrew Epistles nor from the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to follow Paul, as he tells us, as he followed Christ, not according to his earthly ministry but rather according to the revelation of the mystery that was given to Paul after Christ’s ascension.
This is not some new idea that just popped into someone’s head and is spreading with cult-like fervor (actually it’s more akin to pushing a rope) but it is truth that has been obfuscated by centuries of ignoring the words on the pages of the Bible; not “rightly dividing the word of truth” and letting the traditions of men and the biases of previous generations bend our perception of what the Bible actually teaches.
It is no different than what occurred during the Reformation when some began to discover the truth of salvation by grace through faith and not of works. Had this truth always been there? Of course, but through the deceit of men and sleight of hand, this truth had been hidden. The truth that the Dispensation of grace was given to Paul and that he is the singular Apostle of the “dispensation of the grace of God” and of this one “new man” which is made of twain in Christ, as opposed to the TWELVE Apostles who were promised to sit on twelve thrones, ruling the twelve tribes, is clearly taught.
In fact, I challenge anyone to show me where any of the four Gospels or the Hebrew Epistles (letters written to Hebrews) ever refers to “the body of Christ”. You can’t because it’s not there because it is part of the secret God had been keeping, as Paul says, since the foundation of the world. All believers, all those who have taken God at his word are members of one body. That out of two God would make one new man was never known and it was not known that Gentiles would ever be able to come to salvation apart from coming through Israel. Now God is working out this dispensation of his grace that he gave to Paul. When he is finished with this administration he will resume and complete his work with Israel which, has been temporarily shut down according to the parable of the fig tree in which a one-year extension was granted to Israel to repent as Christ explained to the disciples. Israel rejected her Messiah, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, at the stoning of Stephen. Again, remember, this is when Paul comes on the scene! Of course, it was no coincidence that when God shut down his program with Israel He was preparing a brand new Apostle to whom he would share a secret about all that his Son’s cross-work had accomplished.
Pay Attention and Be On Your Guard.
2 Corinthians 11: 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
As we can see in the above verses, it’s not the Devil with horns and a pitchfork that we have to be on guard for but rather it’s the teachers and the preachers; it’s the man or woman standing behind the pulpit spreading the “good news”; the ministers of righteousness – that’s the Satanic program. It has always been Satan’s plan to “rise above the Most High” so he is in the business of imitating the works of God is he not? He desires to take God’s place. So spreading a gospel that sounds really close to the truth would be an ideal way to mislead many would it not? Of course, it would and I am certain it has been a very effective tactic when we see all the division and the lack of understanding of the word of truth that started in Paul’s time and has continued to this day.
When Paul’s admonition to “rightly divide the word of truth” is followed and we get our doctrine from our Apostle, the apostle of the Gentiles and the one to whom was given a dispensation of the Grace of God, it’s amazing how well everything fits together so beautifully. But when we start cramming things together that don’t belong together we have to make excuses and create fanciful, high minded theological fairy-tales to explain things that just– don’t– quite– fit.
When I came to understand that the Bible says what it means and means what it says to whom it says it, it was amazing how the contradictions (that I used to claim were not contradictions) that I used to explain away…Well low and behold!!! I was able to leave them be, once I started rightly dividing and they actually made sense in their proper context.
Still Not Convinced?
I’ve determined that I cannot convince anyone of anything and most will find whatever convenient excuse they can to justify not doing their due diligence like, “Well if the Pauline dispensational position is correct how come I’ve never heard of it or how come almost no churches teach it?” Well, like I said… excuses.
I had been a Baptist my entire life. My dad was a preacher and an Evangelist. I taught Sunday School; led the music and sang specials. I read books and listened to all the so-called greats but when someone pointed out things that were in black and white, right there in the pages of scripture that I had never seen before, even though I had read them many times, I was dumbfounded. I could do one of two things. I could make excuses and go find an expert who would offer a lame but acceptable explanation or I could admit that I had been blinded by tradition and the slight of men. I chose and so will you.
By way of analogy Christ said in Matthew 7:13:
¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
So why do we think the majority has it right? I believe the principle is that there are very few that get it right and many that get it wrong, so if you are going with the crowd it may be a good reason to suspect that you may be on the “broad way” I know I was. And if you think that mainstream Christianity, so-called, has been getting it mostly right for the last 2000 years, maybe you’d better consider the words of Christ above. And consider also what Paul said about his situation at the end of his ministry when he says that all had forsaken him. Don’t be fooled, the majority were getting it wrong then and nothing has changed. Like my dad used to say “I’d rather be right than popular”.
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: