In taking up the subject of the mysteries in the Word of God, it is important for us to understand what is meant by the word in Scripture. Rather than conveying the thought of a puzzle or something that is hard to understand, the word has the sense of something that is known to some, but not to others. Among the ancient Greeks, there were rites and ceremonies connected with certain secret societies, and only those initiated into the group possessed the knowledge of them. It is in this connotation that we must understand the word “mystery” in Scripture. It is noteworthy that while the word occurs twenty-seven times in the New Testament, it never occurs in the Old Testament. We will see that this is significant.
In Scripture, the word also gives the thought of that which is outside the realm of natural understanding and which thus can be known only by divine revelation and at the time that God decides to reveal it. It is always connected with something God has chosen to reveal. As another has aptly put it, “In the ordinary sense a mystery implies knowledge withheld; its scriptural significance is truth revealed.” The Lord Jesus first uses the word in Matthew 13:1111He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11), in speaking of “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” Here He plainly states that some were given to know these mysteries, while others were not. Other mysteries follow in the New Testament, notably the mystery of Christ and the church, but also the mystery of iniquity, the mystery of godliness, and others. In these other cases where the word is used, it is some new revelation suited to the heavenly character of the church or to the present nature of God’s dealings viewed as an interruption of the course of earthly events foretold in the old prophets. These mysteries were not revealed at other times, but in the wisdom of God they are revealed now. Yet even now, they are revealed to some, but not to others.
The Ways of God
In view of all this, some may ask why God chose to have these mysteries and to reveal certain things at certain times to some, but not to others. Also, why were these things not revealed in the Old Testament? The answer magnifies the ways of God, so that we are led to say, as Paul did, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:3333O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)). While there was a partial revelation of God in the Old Testament, the full revelation awaited the coming of Christ into the world. While God certainly could have revealed, in the Old Testament, certain truths as facts, they would have been mere head knowledge and without the moral effect on those to whom they were revealed. The New Testament is concerned with God’s heavenly counsels, whereas the purpose of the Old Testament prophecies is to make known His earthly counsels. Instead of inheriting the Old Testament promises and fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies, the church forms the most absolute contrast with them. They are so different that the two cannot exist together. While God’s purposes about the earth were being unfolded, the mystery of the church was hidden. While the mystery of the church is being unfolded, God’s purposes about the earth are suspended.
God’s Purposes in Christ
But God’s desire is always to connect revelation first of all with His glory, and then with a known and enjoyed relationship with His creature. When Christ came into this world, God was fully revealed, and then, through Paul, His purposes in Christ were fully revealed. The understanding of the mysteries is connected primarily with this precious truth — that God is now revealed in Christ. The revealed mysteries, rather than being merely facts, are now connected with the One who is the object of all God’s purposes and in whom “also we have obtained an inheritance” (Eph. 1:1111In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)).
In addition to this, the revelation of the supreme mystery, that of Christ and the church, was not given until Christ had been glorified and seated at the Father’s right hand. Rather than having been brought into the good of a truth that we simply know, we can now look up into the opened heaven and see “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Thus the revelation of the mysteries — and, in particular, the mystery of Christ and the church — is connected with the full revelation of God in Christ and with Christ glorified. What a substance and fullness all this gives to God’s revelation! It is in the full knowledge of the mystery of God (which concerns His purposes in Christ) that “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge” (Col. 2:33In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3) JND). Thus the revelation of this mystery, and others which are connected with it, could not be brought out until Christ, and all God’s purposes in Him, had been manifested.
Knowledge and
Moral Conformity
In saying that these mysteries, even now, are made known to some and not to others, we need to be clear that God is not, at this time, willfully keeping some in ignorance, while enlightening others. As it was in the days when our Lord was on earth, so it is today; namely, there are some who would gladly have the knowledge of what God is doing, but without the moral effect of it in their lives. There were those in our Lord’s day who looked for signs and wonders, and who even appreciated His teaching, but who did not want to follow a rejected Christ. Concerning those, our Lord would say, as He does today, “Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath” (Matt. 13:1212For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. (Matthew 13:12)). This verse, with minor variations, is repeated five times in the four gospels, showing us that we cannot have the theory of the truth in our heads without the practical effect of it in our lives. Mere head knowledge will be taken away from us, but God is ready to reveal these mysteries today to all who will come in simple faith, acknowledging His Son as both Saviour and Lord, and wanting to follow Him. However, God will not reveal His mysteries to the natural man (who “receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God”; 1 Cor. 2:14), nor will He reveal them to the unfaithful and worldly Christian.
The Old Testament Saints
But will those godly saints of the past, who lived before all these mysteries were revealed, lose out? No, not by any means. The Old Testament saints, while not in the place of nearness that the church enjoys, will surely appreciate and enjoy, as friends “of the bridegroom,” the everlasting revelation of the mystery. When God has fully accomplished His purposes in Christ to “head up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth” (Eph. 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10) JND), all the redeemed, whether in heaven or on earth, will appreciate the mystery. All will be revealed, for God’s glory and our blessing. We enjoy the mystery now; in that day all the redeemed will enter into it. Truly we can say, with Paul, “Of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:3636For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)).
“God and the Lamb shall there
The light and temple be,
And radiant hosts forever share
The unveiled mystery.”
W. J. Prost