DANIEL’S SECRET - PAUL’S MYSTERY - JOHN’S REVELATION - Pastor J. C. O’Hair
Monday, August 31st, 2009
WILL THE CHURCH GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION?
NOTE: PREVIEW OF NEW PAMPHLET “UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST” AT END OF MESSAGE CONTAINING 33 OF IT’S QUESTIONS
DANIEL SECRET—PAUL’S MYSTERY—JOHN’S REVELATION
We hear many Christians say, “significant events are taking place in Europe and Asia.” Some of them say these happenings prove that this age is rapidly drawing to an end. All over the land the prophetic messengers are seeking to convince their hearers that Daniel’s prophecy is being fulfilled before us every day. They preach that because of this fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies Jesus Christ will soon come to take His Church to heaven. Most of them declare that Christ will cone first for His Church and then, with His Church, will return to establish His righteous kingdom and reign of peace on earth.
Some earnest, faithful Christians are wondering and asking, “is it possible that we have been mistaken in teaching that the Church of Christ will not go into the great tribulation which many guess is right ahead of us?” Others say, “Christians might go into the beginning of this tribulation period and then be raptured.”
Many Christian preachers are quoting Luke 21:25 to 28:
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
They are applying this to the Body of Christ; but the Lord Jesus was talking about the Jews and their city and land, He said, “there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.” What land and what people? The land of the Jews. Israel. The Body of Christ is not Israel.
During the coming tribulation we are told that men shall seek death and shall not find it. “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” Revelation 9:6. If members of the Body of Christ are to have such an experience, they had better seek death before the tribulation when they can find it. But death is not the believer’s hope during this present economy. Death is not our hope. We are looking for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:3 and 4.
Now note carefully Philippians 3:20 and 21:
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.”
There are some dear men of God today, saved Premillenarians, who give a new translation to this verse. They preach, “our citizenship is in heaven out of which we look for Jesus to come for His Church when the Japanese army is in Singapore, when Hitler has conquered Poland and, France, invaded Bulgaria, and is on the way to battle against Greece and Turkey before the down‑fall of Britain.”
Years ago faithful saints, like John Darby and Dwight L. Moody, and many before them, in obedience to the teaching of the Scriptures, looked for the imminent coming of the Lord. Some of the saints in other years thought, because of political and spiritual conditions in their days, that the Lord’s coming must be very near at hand. I am sure if you and I had lived in the days of Napoleon we would have said, “significant things are happening,” “the end of the age must be near.” In the world war of 1914 to 1918 many prophets were sure the climax would be the battle of Armageddon. They were sure the tribulation and the coming of the King were at hand.
Well, we must all admit that world affairs at present are in rather a distressful, deplorable, complicated state. It is difficult to see how there can be any human solution of the world problems. Not only Christians, but many others, feel that some fearful crisis is not far off, that we are rushing on toward some terrible climax. We all know that things cannot continue as they now are: so we wonder what the outcome is to be. We do know that the hope of the Church is the appearing of Christ. We do know that the hope of Israel is the return of their true King David. We do know there will be no world peace, until the Prince of Peace takes over the government of the world.
But is it true that Hitler and his partners are fulfilling the thirty-eighth chapter of Ezekiel? Is it true that Daniel’s prophecy is now being fulfilled in Europe, that civilization is rapidly heading up in the great tribulation? Is it true that the doings of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and the Emperor of Japan are God’s signs for members of the Body of Christ that their redemption is drawing nigh? If this is true, then Christians should be much concerned about the coming of Christ. Christians should be eager to find positive Scriptural proof that they are not going into that awful, terrible period of suffering under the reign of the dragon, the beast and the false‑prophet.
But let the Christian be assured that if Ezekiel’s and Daniel’s prophecies are being fulfilled in Europe and Asia, the Church will not escape the tribulation. As we study Daniel’s prophecy in the light of Paul’s mystery we will learn that the men of God, who are trying to make these prophecies concerning Israel’s tribulation and kingdom fit into the present Divine economy, are workmen who need to be ashamed, because they do not rightly divide the Word of truth in obedience to II Timothy 2:15.
Let us make one statement dogmatically, “no intelligent student of the Scriptures will try to reconcile the teaching that the Lord is soon coming for His Body because of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the present activities of the blood‑thirsty dictators, with the doctrine of the imminent coming of the Lord.” They are altogether irreconcilable. If we have Scriptural authority to teach the imminent coming of Christ, then the rapture of the Church has been a possibility and a probability at any moment since the days of the apostle.
I believe the Scriptural answer concerning the significance of political signs and the Scriptural answer to the question, “will the Church go through the tribulation will be found in the study of “Daniel’s Secret,” “Paul’s Mystery,” and “John’s Revelation”.
DANIEL’S SECRET
Let us read concerning Daniel’s Secret:
“There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these.” Daniel 2:28.
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: And He changeth the times and the seasons; He removeth kings, and setteth up kings; He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding; He revealeth the deep and SECRET things; He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him. I thank Thee and praise Thee, O thou God of my fathers, Who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of Thee; for Thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:19 to 23.
“Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory,” Daniel 2:37.
Note carefully Daniel 2:4‑1 and 45:
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and, it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall came to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure, “
PAUL’S MYSTERY
By way or comparison and contrast read concerning Paul’s mystery:
“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 sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom: that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:24 to 28.
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you‑ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: 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. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:1 to 11.
“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:1l to 13.
JOHN’S REVELATION
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.” Revelation 1:1.
“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” Revelation 1:10.
“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength.” Revelation 1:13 to 16.
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.” Revelation 1:19.
Now let us read concerning, two white horses:
“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him; and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” Revelation 6:1 and 2.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19:11 to 16.
In Revelation 1:16 and in Revelation 19:15 we see a sharp sword is in the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Revelation 19:20.
Let us note Here II Thessalonians 2:8:
“And then shall that lawless one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
DANIEL—PAUL—JOHN
Daniel, Paul and John were Jews. They were all captive Jews. Daniel was Nebuchadnezzar’s captive and servant. Daniel 1:3 and 6.
Now hear Paul’s testimony:
“According to my gospel wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the Word of God is not bound.” II Timothy 2:9.
“Withal praying for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the MYSTERY of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.” Colossians 4:3.
Then hear the testimony of John: “I was in the isle that is called Patmos for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9.
We have mentioned John’s Revelation. But Revelation 1:1 reads, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Hear another testimony of the apostle Paul, in Galatians 1:11 and 12
“But I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me, is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ.”
Paul called the gospel of Christ “my gospel,” Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25, II Timothy 2:8.
Note again Ephesians, 3:3: “How that by revelation He made known unto me (Paul) the MYSTERY.”
Paul’s mystery was the mystery of Christ. The same Lord Jesus Christ who visited John on Patmos for the REVELATION of Himself one day appeared to Paul in the temple at Jerusalem and said something to Paul:
“When I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple. I was in a trance; and saw Him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me. And He (Christ) said unto me (Paul), Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” Acts 22:17 to 22.
Daniel, the Lords prophet, departed from Jerusalem and went to Babylon there he witnessed to the Gentiles and to kings as did Paul. Note what Christ said concerning Paul at the time he was saved: “He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15.
Just how Daniel reached Babylon as King Nebuchadnezzar’s servant is told in the last two chapters of Jeremiah and in the last two chapters of II Kings. Special emphasis today is being given to the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah Ezekiel and Daniel, as many Christian preachers endeavor so earnestly to prove that these Old Testament prophets foretold with accuracy what Hitler and Mussolini are now accomplishing.
Because of the rapidity with which world events are moving, because of the persecution of the Jews by these Gentile rulers, because they think they can see the ancient Roman Empire being re‑established, because many Jews have been going home to the holy land, the present day prophets quote Luke 21:29. “behold the fig tree, and all the trees.” The “fig tree” is the Jew and “all the trees,” the Gentiles. Therefore, signs everywhere seem to prove that the end of “the times of the Gentiles, mentioned in Luke 21:24, is just about at hand.
“AND THEY SHALL FALL BY THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND SHALL BE LED AWAY CAPTIVE INTO ALL NATIONS; AND JERUSALEM SHALL BE TRODDEN DOWN OF THE GENTILES UNTIL THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES BE FULFILLED.”
This statement is very interesting. The predicament of Israel and the awful condition of their land are not to continue as they have been during all these Christian centuries. There is to be a change. Note Acts 3:21 concerning Israel’s Messiah:
“Whom the heaven must receive until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
Jesus Christ is coming back from heaven to earth. When? When “the times of the Gentiles” be fulfilled. When will that be? “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.” Acts 1:7. Let us read Zechariah 14:4, 3 and 9.
“His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives.” “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.” “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one. “
Let us remember that God worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. Ephesians 1:11. Let us believe what Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar more than 2500 years ago:
“Wisdom and might are His: And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealeth the deep secret things.” Daniel 2:20 to 22.
God set up Nebuchadnezzar and God removed him. God permitted Pharaoh to afflict His people and then Pharaoh and his army went to the bottom of the Red Sea.
Note what Daniel said to idolatrous Nebuchadnezzar: Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength and glory.”
Nearly seven hundred years later Paul wrote to Timothy concerning. “the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which in His times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate. the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” I Timothy 6:l4.
“The times of the Gentiles” began with one king of kings (Nebuchadnezzar) and will come to an end when the true Divine King of kings comes. Note how that coming is stated in Luke 21:27:
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Every student of the Bible should carefully read the last two chapters of II Kings and the last two chapters of Jeremiah, for in those chapters we learn of the siege of Jerusalem by a Gentile king, the beginning of the captivity of the Jews, and the beginning of the times of the Gentiles, politically.
After we have read the closing chapters of II Kings and Jeremiah and the second and seventh chapters of Daniel it is not difficult to learn when “the times of the Gentiles”, politically, began. And surely the intelligent, spiritual student of Daniel will see not only the beginning of “the times of the Gentiles,” about 600 B. C., but the course and culmination of the times of the Gentiles. Therein we learn that other world rulers were to follow Babylon.
Finally a Stone out of heaven is to fall and destroy kingdoms of man. With the coming of that Stone the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall not fall. The Stone will become a mountain and fill the whole earth. It was that Stone Who taught His disciples to pray to God, the Father. “Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” That will be realized when the Stone comes back as the Son of man to be King over all the earth.
Note Matthew 25:31 and 34:
“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. Then shall the King say unto them. “
More than one hundred times the Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is coming to earth to establish a Divine kingdom.
“The government shall be upon His shoulder. Of the increase of, His government and peace there shall be no end.” Isaiah 9:6 and 7.
No spiritual, intelligent student of the Scriptures will try to set the date when the King will return as the Son of man. But such a student can learn from Luke 18:8 that the members of the Body of Christ will not be on the earth when the Son of man comes to the earth. Let us compare and contrast Luke 18:8 with Ephesians 4:13:
“When the Son of man cometh shall He find faith on the earth?”
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
The Greek construction of Like 18:8 calls for the negative answer. Therefore, the Son of man will not find faith on the earth when He comes to the earth.
In the light of Ephesians 4:13 we decide then that the Son of man will not find the Body of Christ on the earth when He comes to the earth as the son of man. He will find Israel in the tribulation. He will find distress of nations; the dragon, the beast and the false prophet in control of world affairs. In this connection read concerning “the little horn” of Daniel 8:9 and the two beasts of Revelation 13.
The members of the Body of Christ will be caught up to glory by the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is different from the Son of man coming to the earth to rescue His people in the great tribulation and to establish His prophesied kingdom.
The beginning, the course and the culmination of the Body of Christ was not prophesied as was the kingdom of heaven.
So it is not difficult to learn from the Scriptures that when the Son of man shall come to the earth to bring an end to “the times of the Gentiles” that Son of man will be the smiting Stone of Daniel 2:45. It may be a little more difficult to learn from the Scriptures that “the times of the Gentiles.” politically, will not end at the time the Body of Christ is caught up to appear with Christ in glory.
THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES, SPIRITUALLY
You have observed that we have been referring to “the times of the Gentiles,” politically. Now we are going to refer to “the times of the Gentiles” spiritually. In connection with Paul’s Mystery, he magnified his office as “the apostle of the Gentiles.” Romans 11:13. He said that Christ revealed to him, the Mystery, or the Secret, that he was to preach among the Gentiles: “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8. Paul declared that one phase of the Mystery among the Gentiles is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.
The “times of the Gentiles,” spiritually, began about six and one half centuries after the beginning of “the times of the Gentiles,” politically. “The times of the Gentiles.” spiritually, began after Saul became Paul.
We have referred to the fact that Daniel, Paul and John were Jews. Peter and James and Jude and Barnabas and Silas and John the Baptist were Jews. All of the thirty‑nine Books of the Old Testament Scriptures were written by Jews. If Luke was a Jew, all of the twenty-seven Books of the New Testament Scriptures were written by Jews. Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew. He labored in the land of the Jews. Acts 10:39. Jesus was circumcised as a Jew, presented by Mary as a Jew. Luke 2:21 to 39. As a Jew, Jesus attended the Jewish synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath. Luke 4:16. Jesus declared that the seat of Divine authority was a Jewish seat. Matthew 23:1 to 3. He declared that salvation was of the Jews. John 4:22. Note Paul’s message in Acts 13:23:
“Of this man’s (David’s) seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Jesus.”
Jesus of Nazareth was God’s man in the midst of Israel. Acts 2:22. John the Baptist baptized with water that Christ might be made manifest to Israel. John 1:31. Jesus Christ came unto His own. John 1:11. He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Matthew 15:24. Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision. Romans 15:8. He specifically instructed His messengers “Go not into the way of the Gentiles.” but to Israel in the cities of Israel. Matthew 10:5 to 7 and 10:23. About seven years after Jesus Christ died on the cross it was not lawful for them to go to Gentiles. Acts 10:28. All of the disciples of Jesus Christ for several years after His resurrection were Jews and they preached to none but Jews only. Acts 11:19.
When Jesus Christ was ministering to the Jews on earth He told them to render unto Caesar’s the things that were Caesar’s. Matthew 22:21.
Jesus Christ told His disciples to observe what the occupants of Moses’ seat in Jerusalem told them to do. Matthew 23:1 to 3.
The political seat was in Rome. The religious seat was in Jerusalem. There are some Christian Bible teachers who teach that during the tribulation the religious beast will be in Jerusalem and the political beast will be in Rome. But just at present Mussolini is not getting the revived Roman Empire in shape rapidly enough to suit them. They are trying to figure out where Greece and the revival of Ethiopia are mentioned in prophecy.
After the Jews, in the days of Ahasuerus, were the captives of the Gentiles away in Persia we read. “Many of the people of the land became Jews.” Esther 8:17.
During the years that Jesus Christ was on earth the Gentiles were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.” Ephesians 2:12. “They were alienated from the life of God.” Ephesians 4:18. “They were “a foolish nation”; “no people.” Romans 10:19. They were afar off from God. Ephesians 2:13 to 17. Jesus Christ said to a Gentile “it is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.” Matthew 15:26. Note the attitude of the eleven apostles of Christ toward Peter about seven years after the Lord Jesus had gone back to heaven. They contended with Peter for preaching to, and associating with, a splendid, respectable Gentile by the name of Cornelius. Acts 11:1 to 5.
Then note these statements by the apostle Paul. He said to the Jews:
“It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, LO, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES.” Acts 13:46.
“Have they (Israel) stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousy.” Romans 11:11.
“I (Paul) speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles. I magnify (glorify) mine office.” Romans 11:13.
LO, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES
Acts 13:46 is a most important and significant verse. think of the statement, “Lo, we turn unto the Gentiles,” and then note the statement in Acts 14:27, “How God had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”
In Daniel’s day God took away political or governmental authority from the Jews and gave it to the Gentiles. In Paul’s day God cast away Israel spiritually (or religiously) and turned to the Gentiles.
Daniel had a revelation from the Lord of heaven. Paul had a revelation from the Lord in heaven.
“Then was the Secret revealed unto Daniel. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Daniel 2:19.
Paul declared that the Lord revealed unto him His Secret (Mystery). Ephesians 3:1 to 3. And did Paul bless the God of heaven, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Just read it in Ephesians 1:3 to 23.
Note what Daniel added, “God changeth the times.” Daniel 2:21. What a change of the times. Israel from that change of times has been governed and humiliated and oppressed by Gentile rulers. And the Gentile rulers are still at it. Israel has, a Divine title to Canaan, which is called “their land,” “the land of the Jews,” “the promised land.”
A few of them have gone back there under Gentile domination in complete subjugation.
Pontius Pilate presented Jesus Christ to the Jews and said, “Shall I crucify your King” They answered, “we have no king but Caesar. The blood of Christ be upon us.” The Lord Jesus had warned them and proclaimed their awful doom:
“He sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” Matthew 22:7.
Then what followed? Read it in Luke 21:24 and compare this Word of Christ with the history of the wandering, persecuted Jew.
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
The Lord Jesus had wept over Jerusalem and the Jews. Then on the cross He prayed, “Father forgive them.” Luke 23:34. God gave them nearly forty years of grace in which to repent of their rejection of their King and Messiah. The judgment of Matthew 22:7 and Luke 21:24 did not fall upon them until about 69 A. D. or 70 A. D.
But about ten years before that terrible judgment Fell upon the Lord’s nation Paul wrote:
“For I would not brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this Mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
“And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”
Note the coming of the Deliverer was not the mystery that was written. “All the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, leave likewise foretold of these days.” Acts 3:24.
The Mystery was the fact that God would again change times, postpone Israel’s national redemption, and bring in “the dispensation of the grace of God.” Even the faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ after the Saviour’s death and resurrection said, “We trusted it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.” Luke 24:21.
Well, it shall be He who shall redeem Israel, when He comes for their redemption according to Luke 21:25 to 33. Read it very carefully. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” Verse 28. When the Jews look up and lift up they will be right in their day of God’s wrath upon the earth.
Note Revelation 1:7 and Jude 14b and 15a:
“Behold, He cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so. Amen.”
“Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds.”
When He Shall Have Come
Let us note carefully the truth of II Thessalonians 1:7 to 10:
“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He SHALL HAVE COME to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.”
Note the words “SHALL HAVE COME.” Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming to call His saints to glory and then He is coining to execute judgment upon them who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And the Lord shall consume the lawless one, the son of perdition, the man of sin, with the spirit of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming. II Thessalonians 2:8.
“THEN SHALL YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.”
“WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL, SIT UPON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY.”
In Matthew 25:31 to 11 we learn that the same Christ who lived on this earth as Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of man, is coming back to this earth to sit on the throne of His glory. All nations shall be gathered before the King for judgment.
The time when the Lord Jesus shall thus occupy His earthly throne of glory is called, “the regeneration.” Matthew 19:28. In that verse we learn that the twelve apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, “When the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory.”
All of God’s holy prophets since the world began spoke of this earthly throne of glory. Daniel prophesied of this earthly reign, of the Son of man.
But before the world began God predestinated that members of the Body of Christ should be called and justified and be conformed to the image of His Son and be glorified. Read this part of Paul’s Mystery in Romans 8:28 to 30. These predestinated church-member are the called according to God’s purpose. Romans 8:28. Ephesians 1:11, and 3:11. II Timothy 1:9. In II Timothy 1:9 we learn that this grace and purpose was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began. This is told also in Ephesians 1:4 and 5. Therefore, it is called, “God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:11.
Are you a member of that Church of the Lord Jesus chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world? If so you are leaded for glory not to sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7.
So we can truthfully say. “Our citizenship is in heaven, out of which also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our body of humiliation that it may be fashioned like His glorious body.” Philippians 3:20.
“ When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.”
This is a part of God’s eternal purpose, Divine truth that was God’s own Secret until His Son made it known to the apostle Paul. It is a part of Paul’s gospel, the gospel of grace, the gospel of glory.
God’s purpose in this age. according to Paul’s Mystery is to build up and complete the Body of Christ. This purpose will be fully accomplished and every member of the Body of Christ will be in glorified bodies with the glorified Christ before the Son of man shall come to this earth, in fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. Daniel was never directed by the Holy Spirit to prophesy any Divine truth concerning the special Divine program which the Lord Jesus in heaven made known by revelation to the apostle Paul.
Christians do greatly err, not knowing the Scriptures when they try to make Daniel’s Secret fit into Paul’s Mystery.
Fulfilling the Word of God with the Mystery
Comparatively few Christians have diligently searched For the meaning of Paul’s statement in Colossians l:25 and 26:
“Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God; the MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but is now made manifest to His saints.”
This word “Mystery” is in the Greek “Musterion.” The Greek “muo” means “to close the mouth.” The Old Testament Books were written by Israelites, from Moses to Malachi. The mouth of every one of them was closed, so far as the Divine truth of Colossians and Ephesians concerning the heavenly position and possessions of the members of the Body of Christ were concerned. That truth was hid from ages and from generations. They could say nothing about “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” because they knew nothing of this truth. Otherwise the message and program would not have been called “unsearchable.” One Greek word in the word “unsearchable,” in Ephesians 3:8 is “ichnos.” which means “step” or “track.” The word means “untraceable.” The meaning is, “unprophesied.” This distinctive Pauline message and program was given by revelation from Christ to complete the Word of God. The “MYSTERY,” which completed the Word of God, was not revealed to any one of the twelve apostles. It was revealed to the apostle Paul.
Paul preached many truths that were in fulfillment of prophecies, but nothing of that message would be called “the unsearchable riches of Christ” or “the MYSTERY. “
Let us read Ephesians 3:9 with Ephesians 3:8:
“Unto me (Paul), whom am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach; among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the economy of the MYSTERY which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.”
This truth was called “Gods Mystery” because it had been hid in God front the beginning of the world. It was called “the unsearchable riches of Christ” because no prophet foretold it. It was Paul’s Mystery.
Nothing of Paul’s Mystery was in fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. Daniel’s prophecy will be fulfilled after God has brought to an end this present economy grace.
But why is it that so many Christians are preaching about Daniel’s Secret and so few ever refer to Paul Mystery “?
Note Ephesians 1:9:
“Having made known unto us the Mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.”
We learned that He purposed this Ministry in Christ Jesus before the world began. It was God’s Mystery. This Secret was not disclosed to any human being until the risen Christ revealed it to Paul. Then Paul told it to others. It has been made known. God wants all men to see it. No one sees it who brings Daniel’s prophecy into the dispensation of the Mystery. No one can make known the Pauline Mystery who does not realize that we are living in a parenthetical period during which time the clock of prophecy has stopped and the kingdom prophecies have been suspended or interrupted until God has completed the Body of Christ. We ought to know the truth of Ephesians and Colossians and when we do we will know that completing the Body of Christ depends upon God’s will and power and not upon any thing that any Gentile ruler is doing in Europe or Asia. We will also know that Gentile rulers will not fulfil Daniel’s prophecy until this present economy culminates according to Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
One reason why so many Christian preachers err in bringing Daniel’s prophecy into this dispensation of the Mystery is because of another error. They teach that the dispensation of the Mystery began with Peter and the Eleven instead of with the apostle Paul.
In this connection let us keep in mind that after the apostle Paul received his commission in Acts 13:2, there is no further record of the activities of Peter and the Eleven in the Book of Acts except as they had dealings with the apostle Paul. The last seventeen chapters of Acts record the activities of one man, Paul, and only such other persons as had dealings with Paul.
Then Paul is mentioned in the first person pronoun more than one thousand times.
John’s Revelation
John’s Revelation was really “the Revelation of Jesus Christ,” to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass. Revelation 1:l.
The word “revelation” is from the Greek “apokalupsis.” The verb is “apokalupto,” which means “to uncover,” “to take off the veil or the cover.”
It is the same word used by Paul when he wrote that he went to Jerusalem by revelation. Galatians 2:2. He received his gospel by revelation. Galatians 1:12. He received an abundance of revelations. II Corinthian. 12:7. The Mystery of Ephesians was made known to Paul by revelation. Ephesians 3:3. It requires the spirit of wisdom and revelation from God to understand the revelation of Paul’s Mystery. Ephesians 1:17. However that Mystery has been now revealed. Ephesians 3:5 and Colossians 1:26.
Until Paul received from Christ the revelation of the Mystery, it was hid in God (Ephesians 3:9); it was hid from ages and from generations. Colossians 1:26.
Note the words of the Holy Spirit, by the pen of Paul, in I Corinthians 2:7:
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, the HIDDEN, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”
The Greek hid, hidden, is “apokrupto” “to cover up,” “to conceal.” That which God ordained to the glory of members of the Body of Christ before the world, which He kept a Secret to Himself and which was not revealed to the sons of men in other ages, was truly God’s Mystery. But then God made known His Mystery. Ephesians 1:9. And God wants every member of the Body of Christ to open his or her mouth boldly and make it known. Ephesians 6:19 to 21. Colossians 4:3 and 4. Ephesians 3:9 and 10.
After reading the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians we feel that we have Scriptural right to call the Church of Jesus Christ described, as the fulness of Christ in Ephesians 1:23, as the Joint‑Body in Ephesians 3:6, “the Mystery Body,” for the word Mystery is used several times in the third chapter where the Church is called the “Joint‑Body” (same body). Then follows the Holy Spirit, instructions concerning “the dispensation of the Mystery” in Ephesians 3:9.
Now this question: do we have in the opening chapters of “John’s Revelation” the history of “the Mystery Body.” Some Christians say, “yes.” Other Christians say, “no.” Most of them say “yes” or “no” because some Bible teacher said “yes” or “no.” Be a Berean. Acts 17:17. Study and let the infallible Holy Spirit teach you, remembering I John 2:26 and 27. Read these verses.
There are many verses of Scripture that teach positively and definitely that Jesus Christ shall surely come the second time.
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28.
But the statements concerning the second coming of Christ are very confusing unless we are taught by the Holy Spirit that there are different phases of the Lord’s coming. There are a few godly men who believe that the Church or Mystery Body will be in the tribulation when the Lord comes. There are others who teach that the Lord Jesus will come first for His Church, secretly, and then come with His Church openly.
Nearly all of the outstanding Premillenarians who teach this “coming for,” and this “coming with,” teach that in the second and third chapters of “John’s Revelation” we find the history of “the Mystery Body” from Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church. Then in the fourth and the fifth chapters the Church has been raptured. Then in chapter six the tribulation has set in. Thus in agreement with Revelation 3:10 the Body of Christ is kept from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. This is the principal verse used by most Christians to prove that the Body of Christ will not go through the tribulation or even into any part of it.
Of course this teaching is on the assumption, or the presumption, that “the dispensation of the Mystery,” “the Mystery Body,” began on the day of Pentecost with Peter and the Eleven. On that day they preached concerning Joel’s prophecy and David prophecy. In Acts 3:19 to 26 they preached concerning Israel’s prophesied kingdom which all of Israel’s prophets Foretold. Acts 3:21 and 24. None of this had anything to do with “the Mystery Body” concerning which Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel and Joel were both silent and ignorant.
Perhaps you have heard the teaching that the twenty-four elders of Revelation, chapters four and five, represent the Old Testament Church (the twelve tribes) and the New Testament Church (the twelve apostles). But that is a fanciful interpretation, really a travesty on sound Bible exegesis. The twelve apostles are going to sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel when the Son of man shall come and sit on the throne of His glory. Matthew 19:28 and Matthew 25:31 to 34. The saints of God from Abel to Abraham did not belong to the twelve tribes of Israel. There was no Israel until Jacob’s name was changed to Israel about 1700 B. C. There was no Old Testament until Moses, at the age of eighty, received the ten commandments at Sinai. Therefore Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons, including Judah, were not Old Testament men. They lived and died before God took Israel by the hand and led her out of Egypt. Jeremiah 31:31 to 35.
Every intelligent, spiritual Bible teacher will instruct his hearers to study Daniel’s Secret and John’s Revelation together. It would be most difficult to understand much that is in the Revelation without first understanding Daniel’s prophecy.
But the Bible teacher who puts “the Mystery Body,” Paul’s “dispensation of the Mystery,” into the seven churches of John’s Revelation, is as great a blunderer as the one who brings the fulfillment of “Daniel’s Secret” into “Paul’s Mystery.”
As we study “John’s Revelation” let us keep in mind that the coming of Jesus Christ as the Son of Man is His coming to redeem Israel and establish His Messianic kingdom. With this in mind let us carefully consider some verses which should help us to understand the dispensational place of “John’s Revelation.”
Now let us be Bereans, receive the Word with all readiness of mind and then search the Scriptures to see whether these things are true.
Note carefully Revelation 1:7—1:13 to 15
“BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM; AND ALL KINDREDS OF THE EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM. EVEN SO, AMEN.”
“AND IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS ONE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN, CLOTHED WITH A GARMENT DOWN TO THE FOOT, AND GIRT ABOUT THE PAPS WITH A GOLDEN GIRDLE. HIS HEAD AND HIS HAIRS WERE WHITE LIKE WOOL, AS WHITE AS SNOW; AND HIS EYES WERE AS A FLAME OF FIRE; AND HIS FEET LIKE UNTO FINE BRASS, AS IF THEY BURNED IN A FURNACE; AND HIS VOICE AS THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS.”
Then note Revelation 19:11 to 16 and 20:
“AND I SAW HEAVEN OPENED, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE; AND HE THAT SAT UPON HIM WAS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE, AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR. HIS EYES WERE AS A FLAME OF FIRE, AND ON HIS HEAD WERE MANY CROWNS; AND HE HAD A NAME WRITTEN, THAT NO MAN KNEW, BUT HE HIMSELF. AND HE WAS CLOTHED WITH A VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD; AND HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD. AND THE ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM UPON WHITE HORSES, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN. AND OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOETH A SHARP SWORD, THAT WITH IT HE SHOULD SMITE THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; AND HE TREADETH THE WINEPRESS OF THE FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD. AND HE HATH ON HIS VESTURE AND ON HIS THIGH A NAME WRITTEN, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
“AND THE BEAST WAS TAKEN, AND WITH HIM THE FALSE PROPHET THAT WROUGHT MIRACLES BEFORE HIM, WITH WHICH HE DECEIVED THEM THAT HAD RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST, AND THEM THAT WORSHIPPED HIS IMAGE. THESE BOTH WERE CAST ALIVE INTO A LAKE OF FIRE BURNING WITH BRIMSTONE.”
Now II Thessalonians 2:8 and 9:
“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming; Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”
Now Acts 7:51 to 59:
“Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised, in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of Whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers; Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and, saw, the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. And cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen; calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Now note Luke 13:35 and Matthew 24:29 to 31 and 25:31:
“BEHOLD, YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT UNTO YOU DESOLATE; AND VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, YE SHALL NOT SEE ME, UNTIL THE TIME COME WHEN YE SHALL SAY, BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.” Luke 13:35.
“IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS SHALL THE SUN BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON SHALL NOT GIVE HER LIGHT, AND THE STARS SHALL FALL FROM HEAVEN, AND THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS SHALL BE SHAKEN; AND THEN SHALL APPEAR THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN; AND THEN SHALL ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH MOURN, AND THEY SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. AND HE SHALL SEND HIS ANGELS WITH A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, AND THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER.” Matthew 24:28 to 31.
“WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME IN HIS GLORY, AND ALL THE HOLY ANGELS WITH HIM, THEN SHALL HE SIT UPON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY.” Matthew 25:31.
In the first Chapter of the Revelation we see that Jesus Christ comes in the clouds. Every eye shall see Him. Israel shall see Him. All nations shall wail because of Him.
We see immediately that this is not the blessed hope of Titus 3:13, the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ to receive His Church. When the Lord Jesus calls His Church to glory every eye will not see Him. Israel will not see Him.
JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF MAN
In Revelation 1:13 Jesus Christ is the Son of man. There He is seen with feet like unto fine brass and His eyes as flame of fire. John fell at His feet as dead. In verse sixteen Christ is seen with a sharp two-edged sword in His mouth.
Surely the spiritual, intelligent student of the Bible, will see at once that this is not the Lord Jesus Christ calling the members of His Body to glory, but rather the Son of man coming in awful judgment.
In Revelation 19:11 to 20 we learn that Jesus Christ is coming to make war, not to secretly rapture His Church. There as the Conqueror of His enemies he has that sword in His mouth. There He destroys the son of perdition, the false prophet, with the spirit of His mouth as He is prophesied to do in II Thessalonians 2:8.
We have quoted Acts 7:51 to 59 to show that at the time Israel committed the unpardonable sin by sinning against the Holy Spirit Stephen saw “the Son of man” standing at God’s right hand in heaven.
That is the last time the title “Son of man” is used in the Bible until we come to Revelation 1:13. We may be sure that when Christ is called “the Son of man” God is dealing with the nation Israel. The title, “the son of man,” is used about eighty times in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It was Jesus Christ Himself, and not others, who used that title. Stephen saw “the Son of man standing.” This was God’s message to remind Israel of their pardonable sin against the Son of man and their unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:31 and 32.
In this connection note the words of the Lord Jesus to His twelve apostles in Matthew 10:6 and 7 and 23:
“Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As ye go, preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
The twelve apostles remained in the cities of Israel and preached to the Jews. Acts 8:1. Acts 15:1 to 18. Galatians 2:9.
The Son of man did not come, because Israel’s ruler would not repent. Acts 3:19 to 21. Acts 5:29 to 33. If the Son of man had come, the “these days” of Acts 3:24 would have been on the earth.
God called a new messenger with a new message. “the ambassador of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:18 to 21. Romans 11:15.
God ushered in “the dispensation of the grace of God” for Gentiles by the apostle Paul who became the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Gentiles. Ephesians 3:1 to 3. To Paul was committed the unsearchable riches of Christ for Gentiles. Ephesians 3:8. Christ is not the Son of man to the Church which is His Body.
With the final postponement of the kingdom, the interruption of the kingdom covenants, a parenthetical age began and the Son of man will not come as king until God’s predestinated, eternal purpose concerning the Body of Christ has been accomplished. There are to be many signs in connection with the coming of the Son of man to redeem Israel, signs on earth and in the heavens. But these signs will not be seen until after the Body of Christ has been completed and removed from the earth.
Surely we should see that if the political doings of the bloodthirsty dictators of Europe and Asia are in fulfillment of the prophecies of Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Joel, Zechariah and other Old Testament prophets and are signs to show members of the Body of Christ that it is now time for them to lift up their heads and look up in obedience to Luke 21:25 to 33, because their redemption draweth nigh, then of course Paul was deluded concerning “the dispensation of the Mystery,” the Church is Israel and the Church is headed for the tribulation and the critics who call the Premillenarians who believe in the imminent coming of Christ, “the any‑moment theorists,” are justified in their criticisms.
THE PROPHETIC CLOCK
What do the Premillenarians mean when they say, “the prophetic clock has stopped”? I quote from the written message of an outstanding Premillenarian Bible teacher. I quote from page 54, “The Mysteries of God.”
“Jesus Christ had been set aside by men, and with every indignity the wickedness of men’s hearts could devise, has been CRUCIFIED AND SLAIN. BECAUSE OF THIS THE PROPHETIC CLOCK STOPPED AT CALVARY. NOT ONE TICK HAS BEEN HEARD SINCE.”
Before we comment on these statements I quote from another book, by the same author:
“According to God, the new dispensation, that in which we now live, the dispensation of the grace of God, otherwise called the dispensation of the mystery, began the moment the Spirit descended at Pentecost.”
Another quotation from his book:
“A dispensation then is a period of time in which God is dealing with men in some way in which He has not dealt with them before. Moreover there may be degrees of revelation.”
Another quotation from his book:
“ONLY WHEN A NEW REVELATION FROM GOD IS GIVEN, DOES A DISPENSATION CHANGE.”
Another quotation from the same author, concerning the revelation of the Mystery Body to Paul at the time he was converted:
“Who art Thou, Lord? And the glorified Saviour answered, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. “ This was the revelation of the Mystery.”
“What of the apostle Peter. We dare say the same Mystery was made known to him on the housetop of Simon’s residence in Joppa.”
Now a quotation from another book of the same man, concerning Paul’s Mystery:”
“A sacred Secret never known to mankind until in due time opened up by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul.” “It was not hid in the Scriptures to be brought to light eventually; but we are distinctly told it was hid in God until such time as He chose to manifest it. This was not until Israel had been given every opportunity to receive Him both in incarnation and resurrection.” “To the Epistles of Paul alone do we turn for the revelation of the Mystery.” “The Mystery of the Church as the Body of Christ was never made known in Old Testament times, nor yet in the days when our Lord was on the earth.” “The Divine method of making it known was by a special revelation to the apostle Paul.” “It was a ministry committed to him to pass on to the saints.”
Now think it over:
1. The clock of prophecy stopped at Calvary.
2. Not one tick has been heard since.
3. Before the dispensation of the Mystery Israel had every opportunity to receive Christ in incarnation and in resurrection.
4. A new dispensation begins with a revelation from God.
5. Peter received the revelation of the Mystery seven or eight years after Pentecost. (Acts 10.)
6. Paul received the revelation concerning the dispensation of the Mystery in Acts 9 after Israel had the opportunity to receive Christ in resurrection.
7. The dispensation of the Mystery began on the day of Pentecost when Peter and the Eleven address devout Jews from every nation under heaven.
8. To the Epistles of Paul alone do we turn for the revelation of the Mystery.
It is because of this utter confusion and these plain contradictions that this same man of God in his book on Revelation writes that in the second and third chapter of the Revelation we have the history of the Mystery Church during the last nineteen hundred years.
Many are teaching these same inconsistencies and doing absolutely nothing to obey Ephesians 3:9. “make all see what is the dispensation of the Mystery.” No one can begin to see this who has it begin with Peter and his gospel of the circumcision on a Jewish feast day. Galatians 2:7 to 9.
But I am sure when you read Acts 2:11 to 18. 2:27 to 33, Acts 3:19 to 24. Acts 15:13 to 18, Acts 26:22 and 23, you will not say that the clock of prophecy stopped at Calvary or with the “Acts” ministry of the twelve apostles. That clock stopped when Israel had had the opportunity to receive Christ in resurrection as our brother said.
The clock of prophecy did stop with the full revelation of “the dispensation of the Mystery” with the Divine message and program of “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” not to Israel in the holy land, but to the Gentiles, with Paul’s “my gospel,” and “my deposit” (the Greek of II Timothy 1:12). This with the exception of Luke 21:22.
When we have carefully read Colossians 1:24 to 27 and been taught by the Holy Spirit the glorious truth in those verses and compared them with Ephesians 4:8 to 18, we will know that the coming of the Lord for His Church is not to be soon because of the political doings of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and the Emperor of Japan. but He may come today if God completes the Body and accomplishes His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:11.
The Lord is not delaying His COMING for His Body until there is a revival of the Roman empire, or until the gospel of the kingdom has been preached as a witness among all nations.
It would be far more Scriptural to say that the Lord Jesus is delaying His coming until his Premillennial servants wake up and proclaim the truth of Ephesians and Colossians. Read Ephesians 3:9, 6:19 to 21: Colossians 4:3 and 4. And let’s get busy.
SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS
Can you answer these Bible questions? These questions and more than 100 others are answered in our new book “The Unsearchable Riches of Christ”
1. If the Lord Jesus intended that the twelve apostles should go over all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15) why did they remain in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1 and 15:1 to 10)?
2. If the twelve apostles were to disciple all nations (Matthew 28:19 and 20), why did they agree to go to the Jews years after they received Christ’s orders (Galatians 2:7 to 9)?
3. Why was it unlawful for the twelve apostles to preach to Gentiles seven or eight years after Christ gave them the so called great commission (Acts 10:28)?
4. What did Christ mean when He said to the Twelve, “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come (Matthew 10:23)?
5. When did the Lord Jesus rescind His command to the twelve apostles, “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons” (Matthew 10:8)?
6. Why do Christians pray the “Our Father” prayer of Matthew 6:9 and fail to obey the Lord’s other command in the same chapter, verse 17, “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head”?
7. Why do not Christians obey the command of Jesus Christ in Luke 12:33 “sell that ye have and give alms”?
8. Why is it that signs of Mark 16:17 and 18 do not follow when sinners are saved-by believing the gospel? “These signs shall follow them that believe: In My Name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on-the sick, and they shall recover.”
9. The Corinthians were the least spiritual of all the Christians to whom Paul wrote. He wrote to them, “Ye are carnal”; “ye walk as men”; (I Corinthians 3:1 to 5). And yet they exercised the sign-gifts of I Corinthians 12:8 to 11, “miracles”; “tongues”; “healing”, etc. Why is it that those carnal Christians exercised those gifts and yet the most spiritual and faithful saints today exercise none of them?
10. The first Christians sold their houses and lots and gave the money to the apostles (Acts 2:45 and 4:34 and 35). If this was God’s will, then why is it not today?
11. What did Jesus Christ Mean by His command of Matthew 23:1 to 3: “Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples, saying, the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works”? What does it mean that God’s Son was made under the law? Galatians 4:4.
12. Why was it that from the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist until Peter preached to Cornelius, about eleven years later, no man was baptized who had not first been circumcised?
13. In Luke 6:35, the Lord instructed His people in these words, “lend, hoping for nothing again.” “If ye lend to them of whom we hope to receive, what thank have ye?” Is this Divine command for today?
14. The Lord Jesus thus commanded His disciples, “give” to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away (Matthew 6:42). “And if any man sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.” It this still the Lord’s command to Christians? Could a Christian be a lawyer and obey the sermon on the mount?
15. Can you explain why, on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to Jews, “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the-gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), whereas in his message to Cornelius Peter said, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? Was not water baptism a requirement for Holy Spirit baptism on, the day of Pentecost?
16. Then can you reconcile the two baptisms in these two messages with the statement of Ephesians 4:5, “there is one baptism”?
17. When Paul was converted he was thus instructed, “arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins.” Is this our message today?
18. In Acts 3:19 to 21 Peter told the Jews if they would repent, God would send Jesus Christ back from heaven? Does this fit into God’s message of grace today?
19. In Acts 5:29 to 32, Peter declared that God had exalted Christ to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel? Why did he not say “to give repentance to Israel and Gentiles”?
20. In Acts 13:23 Paul was speaking to the Jews concerning King David, and said, “Of this man’s seed hath God, according to His promise, raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.” Why did not Paul say that God had raised up a Saviour for the Gentiles?
21. Note carefully Galatians 2:7: “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel OF the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel OF the circumcision was unto Peter.” Do you know the difference between these two gospels?
22. Note carefully Ephesians 3:1 to 3: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles. If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the Mystery: (as I wrote afore in few words). Can you say definitely what is “the dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles”?
23. Note carefully Colossians 4:3 and 4: “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.” For what message was Paul in the Roman jail? Do you know what “the Mystery of Christ” is?
24. Moses was 80 years old when the (Old) Testament was given at Sinai. That was about 2500 years after Adam and Eve left the garden of Eden. Have we any Scriptural right to call Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob “Old Testament” characters when they lived and died before “the law was added”? (Galatians 3:19. Romans 5:12 to 14).
25. Do you understand Colossians 1:24 to 26: “Who now rejoice in my (Paul’s) sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, which is the Church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God; Even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints.” What completed the Word of God? Paul had to fill up that which was behind of Christ’s afflictions and the Word of God with the Mystery. What was the Mystery?
26. Have you considered the importance of Romans 11:15 and 30: “For if the casting away of them (the Jews) be the reconciling of the world (the Gentiles), what shall the receiving of them (the Jews). be but life from the dead?” “For as ye (Gentiles) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their (Israel’s) unbelief?” When did Paul begin to preach RECONCILIATION to the Gentiles? Do you know the difference between Peter’s message of Acts 2:38 and Paul’s message of II Corinthians 5:16 to 21?
27. Have you thought of the great blunder of the teaching that Israel had been set aside when Peter and the Eleven preached Acts 2:36? If not, read Acts 3:19 to 21. Acts 5:29 to 32. Acts 10:28. Acts 13:39 to 46.
28. Read Ephesians 3:8: “Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable (untraceable) riches of Christ.” Do you think that the Lord committed to Peter “the dispensation of the grace of God” for Gentiles or instructed Peter to preach the UNSEARCHABLE riches of Christ to Gentiles? Do not forget Galatians 2:7 to 9, Unsearchable, means “UNTRACEABLE” not prophesied in the O. T.
29. What do you think Christians should do about Ephesians 3:9? What would they see if they saw this? Make all see “the dispensation of the Mystery,” “the economy of the Secret.”
30. Compare Romans 15:8 with Romans 15:16, Then compare Matthew 10:5 to 8 with II Timothy 1:9 and 10. What was the difference between the ministry and message of Jesus of Nazareth and His twelve apostles on earth and the ministry and message of Paul after Christ went back to heaven?
31. On earth the Lord Jesus ministered to a Roman man (Luke 7:1 to 12 and Matthew 8:1 to 12). He ministered to a Greek woman. Matthew 15:21 to 28. Mark 7:24 to 30. Do you know of one other Gentile mentioned in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to whom Jesus of Nazareth ministered? Of course you know the Samaritans of John 4 were not Gentiles. Matthew 10:5 to 7.
32. Can you find in the Book of Acts where any of the twelve apostles preached to Gentiles except the one message of Peter to the household of Cornelius? Why did the eleven apostles condemn Peter for preaching to Cornelius? Acts 11:1 to 7.
33. Read how Paul condemned Peter for his cowardice and duplicity in Galatians 2:11 to 14 and state whether you believe that Peter was the Lord’s apostle to Gentiles?
and the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24 . . . II Timothy 1:9),
