BASIC DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN
PROPHECY AND THE MYSTERY

PROPHECY	THE MYSTERY9
Concerns a kingdom; a political organization (Dan.2:44, Matt. 6:10).	Concerns a body; a living organism (I Cor. 12:12,27, Eph. 4:12-16).
The kingdom to be established on earth (Jer. 23:5, Matt. 6:10).	The body given a position in heaven (Eph. 1:3, 2:5-6, Col. 3:1-3).
Christ to be its King  (Jer.23:5, Isa. 9:6,7).	Christ its living Head (Eph. 1:19-23, Col. 1:18).
The kingdom prophesied "since the world began" (Luke 1:68-70, Acts 3:21).	The body chosen in Christ before the world began, but "kept secret since the world began" (Rom. 16:25, Eph. 1:4-11, 3:5-9).
Israel to be given supremacy over the nations (Isa. 60:10-12, 61:6).	Jew and Gentile placed on the same level before God (Rom. 10:12, 11:32, Eph. 2: 16,17).
The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel's instrumentality (Gen. 22:17,18, Zech. 8:13).	The Gentiles blessed through Israel's obstinacy (Acts 13:44-46, Rom. 11:28-32).
The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel's rise  (Isa. 60:1-3, Zech. 8:22,23).	The Gentiles blessed through Israel's fall  (Acts 28:27,28, Rom. 11:11,12,15).
Prophecy mainly concerns nations as such (Isa. 2:4, Ezek. 37:21,22).	The mystery concerns individuals (Rom. 10:12,13, II Cor. 5:14-17).
Prophecy concerns blessings, both material and spiritual, on earth (Isa. 2:3,4, 11:1-9, etc.).	The mystery concerns  "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies"  (Eph. 1:3, Col. 3:1-3).
Prophecy concerns Christ's coming to the earth (Isa. 59:20, Zech. 14:4).	The mystery explains Christ's present absence from the earth (Eph. 1:20-23, Col. 3:1-3).
In prophecy salvation by grace through faith alone is not contemplated.	Salvation by grace through faith alone lies at the very heart of the mystery (Rom. 3:21-26, 4:5, Eph. 2:8,9).
The proclamation of the prophetic program committed particularly to the twelve (Matt. 10:5-7, Acts 1:6-8, 3:19-26).	The proclamation of the mystery committed particularly to Paul (Eph. 3:1-3,8,9, Col. 1:24-27).
The prophetic program revealed through many of God's servants (Luke 1:70, II Pet. 1:21).	The mystery revealed through one man: Paul (Gal. 1:1,11,12, 2:2,7,9, Eph. 3:2,3).10
Old testament writers frequently did not understand the prophecies made known through them (Dan. 12:8-10, I Pet. 1:10-12).	Paul both understood and longed that others might understand the mystery revealed through him. (Eph. 1:15-23, 3:14-21, Col 1:9-10, 2:1-3).

http://geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/chapter2.html

People twist the scriptures when they don't recognize the mysteries that Paul preached.

The mysteries also explain the delay (not deletion) of the prophetic program for Israel as noted in my message entitled:

'Wanna Know Some Secrets' which is on this site:

http://cuf5.tripod.com

If one doesn't recognize the mysteries and the delay in the prophetic program for Israel they will then apply scriptures that speak to Israel, to the church/body of Christ and/or believe that the prophetic program ceased in a.d. 70 as the Preterists believe.

Then the Judaizers and certain Messianics want to apply things Jewish to the Christian, wanting Christians to embrace the Shadow rather than the Son. (Colossians 2; Romans 14)

Paul the apostle didn't put up with this for even an hour. (Galatians 2:4,5)

"And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."

In fact I have had judaizers in my CUF group that I have answered the same way that Paul did.

I have also had Preterists in that group that I described in the same way that Paul did with Hymaenus and Philetus.

When we spiritualize scriptures that apply to Israel, to the church, then is it a shock when the JW's then think that the twelve tribes mentioned in Revelation really are talking about JW's?

The following quote describes the problem well.

I will comment more on this quote later.

"Because of a failure to recognize the mystery, some have supposed it necessary to alter prophecy to account for the present condition of Israel and the presence of the predominantly Gentile church of this age.

Seeing that the fulfillment of prophecy apparently ceased shortly after the crucifixion of Christ, and realizing that there was still much left to be fulfilled, these have supposed that God could not have meant exactly what He said when He prophesied that Christ would sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem as King of Israel. They have supposed that these things must have been intended in a "spiritual" sense and so have concluded that Christ is now seated on "David's throne" at God's right hand, thus confusing earthly Jerusalem with "the Jerusalem which is above." They have further concluded that the church of today is "spiritual" Israel, that heaven is Canaan, etc.

But there is in fact nothing spiritual about this interpretation of the Scripture. It is carnal, not spiritual, to fail to take God at His Word and to seek to explain away difficulties by arbitrarily altering what has been plainly written.

We vigorously object to this whole system of interpretation because:

1. It leaves us at the mercy of theologians. If the Scriptures do not mean what they obviously, naturally seem to mean, who has the authority to decide just what they do mean? If theologians have that authority, then we must agree with Rome that the Church, not the Bible, is the final and supreme authority. Nor will it any longer avail us to turn to the Scriptures for light, for the Word of God does not mean what it says and only trained theologians can tell us what it does mean.

2. It affects the veracity of God. It is a thrust at His very honor. If the obvious, natural meaning of the Old Testament promises is not to be depended upon, how can we depend upon any promise of God? Then, when He says: "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," He may also mean something else. This is unthinkable of God, for it is only just that the promisee should have a fair understanding of the promise, for promised something, he will have a right to claim exactly what he has been promised. A little child is supposed to have said: "If God didn't mean what He said, why didn't He say what He meant?"

3. It endorses apostasy. Indeed, it is the mother of apostasy. When Luke 1:32,33 is "spiritualized" the Modernist agrees wholeheartedly. He agrees that the throne of David and the house of Israel in this passage must be viewed in a "spiritual sense"--and so must the next few verses! Thus Christ was not really born of a virgin. This picture is merely drawn to impress us with the purity of His person, etc.!

And the Modernist denies the resurrection in the same way. Concerning Acts 2:30-32 it is argued that since Christ will not really occupy the throne of David, neither was He really raised from the dead! The Scriptures which say so must be "spiritually" interpreted!

And here comes one of "Jehovah's Witnesses," claiming to belong to the 144,000. Ask what tribe he is from and he will explain that not physical, but "spiritual" Israelites are referred to in the prophecy of the 144,000! Yet we are distinctly told that there are to be 12,000 from each tribe, and the tribes are named!

Rome employs the same reasoning. She is seeking to establish the kingdom of Christ on earth! Because the Church of Rome is really a political system, with a state and a ruler on earth it may seem at first that she leans rather to a literal interpretation of prophecy, but this is not so, for the Church of Rome is not literal Israel, Rome is not Jerusalem, and Christ Himself is not reigning.

Those who have resorted to the "spiritualization" of the prophetic Scriptures because they cannot account for the seeming cessation in their fulfillment, will find the solution to their problem in the recognition of the mystery. Recognize the mystery and there will be no need to alter prophecy."

http://geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/chapter2.html

I was watching the inauguration of the new antechrist on television and couldn't help but think that the Popes and Catholic Priests looked and acted like the Pharisees and Sadducees of Old.

Now I was impressed that in their readings they stuck with
scripture, but mainly the gospel.

Of course there was the communion or as they call it the Eucharist and this is central to their gatherings.

Do Catholics think they are Jews or by their words and deeds are they saying that they have replaced the Jews.

Their Leaders wear flowing robes as the Pharisees and Sadducees did.

Rather than Rabbi they are called Father. (Matthew 23)

They have a special group of priests just like in the OT, not the NT.

The sacrifice is never sufficient. (Hebrews 10:11,12)

They believe in tradition that equals and sometimes surpasses scripture, just as the Pharisees/Rabbis did and do. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

They rely heavily on what is spoken of in the OT and the gospel accounts regarding Israel, but only pay lip service to the rest of scripture.

They emphasize the sacrifice of Christ but only gloss over the resurrection.

Their sacrifice (Catholic Jesus) seems to be always depicted as dead in Mary's arms, a baby, or forever nailed to the cross. An impotent saviour and an All powerful Mother.

Just like Peter and Paul condemned the Jews for the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 2;1 Thessalonians 2:15), they seem to do the same thing with Catholics, leaving the resurrection and true grace out.