"In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound [i.e. in the forepart of his sounding,] the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." (Rev 10:7)
It is our understanding that we are now living in the days of the voice of the Seventh Angel. The evidence is that these trumpets mentioned by the Revelator and by Paul (1 Cor. 15:52; and 1 Thess 4:16; and Rev. 11:15), are symbolic of a series of events. We are presently living under the "seventh trumpet," or "last trump," the "trump of God," which will continue until the kingdoms of this world, by a great time of trouble, become the kingdoms of our Lord. (Rev. 11:15.) This, prophetic Scriptures show, will not be fully accomplished until following Armageddon and the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”.
This is called the Trump of God, most likely because during this period of time God exercises his great power over the nations, breaking them in pieces, and grinding to powder the abominable systems of error (the false or professing church), which has so long flourished and made desolate and void God's Word of truth. Likewise, God, during this period, will finish the mystery by letting his saints (Col. 1:27) come to a full appreciation of his glorious plans. It is thus that we account for the great, beautiful and harmonious light, and the strengthening food now being given us as members of the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the glorified Head.
But there is another sense in which the word mystery is used in Scripture. It is used in the same sense as the word church. Thus the true and false churches are called, "The mystery of God," and "The mystery of iniquity." This is altogether fitting, since the true church is the very embodiment of God's plan, and the false church an embodiment of error and Satan's plan.
The mystery of iniquity began in Paul's day, and developed into Papacy and her daughter organizations --which system of errors is to be consumed and destroyed by truth in his presence. (2 Thess 2:7, 8) The mystery of God began in our Head--Jesus--and is being added to by every true member of the vine or body whose names are written in heaven. This is the mystery of which Paul says--"This MYSTERY... is Christ (the anointing) in you." Col 1:27.
"This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Eph. 5:32. The mystery commenced when God was manifest in the flesh of Jesus. The world could not see how he could be any different from other men; yet the spirit of the Lord God was in him, anointing Jesus with power in expounding the truth, and in sacrificing himself, etc. So, too, the same anointing abides on all the true church, and as he was, so are we in the world--a mystery to the world which "knows us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3:1.) The world does not recognize in the saints, "sons of God"--"new creatures," "partakers of the divine nature."
Very shortly now however, this mystery of God, this company of divinely begotten sons, will be FINISHED--completed: "The church of the first born" of which Jesus is the head, will soon cease to be, God manifest in the flesh. The entire company shall be glorified together, and "shall shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matt. 13:43) They shall arise in power and strength to bless all the families of the earth. "The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings"--for the Jew first, and also for the Gentile.
It is for the completion of this church that we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to-wit, the redemption of the body of Christ; the ending of the mystery part of God's plan, in the full glory of Millennial brightness and joy. It is for this event also that the world's release from pain and death waits. The whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now, waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God. Rom. 8:19-24.
The necessity of the veiling of God's mysterious purpose with reference to the church is very evident. If the religious rulers of the Jews had known that Jesus was really the anointed of God, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Cor. 2:7, 8) And had the rulers of the world and of the nominal church, recognized the Lord's anointed body during this age; they would not have had the privilege of suffering with their Head.
Again, Paul tells us that God gave him wonderful revelations concerning the mystery, "To make all see what [are the conditions of] fellowship of the mystery." (Eph. 3:3-6, 9.)
And it is to Paul as our Lord's instrument that we are indebted more than to any other Apostle, for a clear record of the CONDITIONS on which we may become members of this mystery band, and as such be in due time revealed in glory of power. He tells us that we must have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ, if we would have share in His coming glory. We must with our head become dead to the world, its ambitions, its prizes, if we would become heirs of the glory which God hath in preparation and reservation for this mystery church of which Jesus is the Head.
We believe that we are just on the eve of the finishing of this church, or mystery. You and I, my brothers and sisters, are, by our covenants, candidates for a crown of life (prospective members in the body of Christ) and to a position in the throne of the coming kingdom. Let us make our calling and election to that high position sure, by so running our race as to be approved of God, as living sacrifices for the gospel of truth. We have full little enough time to fulfill all our covenant; let us lay aside every weight and all besetting sins, and run, with patience, the race for the prize of our high calling, that when the church is complete-- the mystery finished, we may be among the glorified members. Then no longer the mystery--we shall be Jehovah's agents in blessing all the families of the earth.” (R368 Edited)
In our next post we should like to expand on the differences between “our common salvation” (Jude 3) and this “mystery” the Apostle speaks of and what is required of the believer to participate in each.
It is our understanding that we are now living in the days of the voice of the Seventh Angel. The evidence is that these trumpets mentioned by the Revelator and by Paul (1 Cor. 15:52; and 1 Thess 4:16; and Rev. 11:15), are symbolic of a series of events. We are presently living under the "seventh trumpet," or "last trump," the "trump of God," which will continue until the kingdoms of this world, by a great time of trouble, become the kingdoms of our Lord. (Rev. 11:15.) This, prophetic Scriptures show, will not be fully accomplished until following Armageddon and the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”.
This is called the Trump of God, most likely because during this period of time God exercises his great power over the nations, breaking them in pieces, and grinding to powder the abominable systems of error (the false or professing church), which has so long flourished and made desolate and void God's Word of truth. Likewise, God, during this period, will finish the mystery by letting his saints (Col. 1:27) come to a full appreciation of his glorious plans. It is thus that we account for the great, beautiful and harmonious light, and the strengthening food now being given us as members of the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the glorified Head.
But there is another sense in which the word mystery is used in Scripture. It is used in the same sense as the word church. Thus the true and false churches are called, "The mystery of God," and "The mystery of iniquity." This is altogether fitting, since the true church is the very embodiment of God's plan, and the false church an embodiment of error and Satan's plan.
The mystery of iniquity began in Paul's day, and developed into Papacy and her daughter organizations --which system of errors is to be consumed and destroyed by truth in his presence. (2 Thess 2:7, 8) The mystery of God began in our Head--Jesus--and is being added to by every true member of the vine or body whose names are written in heaven. This is the mystery of which Paul says--"This MYSTERY... is Christ (the anointing) in you." Col 1:27.
"This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Eph. 5:32. The mystery commenced when God was manifest in the flesh of Jesus. The world could not see how he could be any different from other men; yet the spirit of the Lord God was in him, anointing Jesus with power in expounding the truth, and in sacrificing himself, etc. So, too, the same anointing abides on all the true church, and as he was, so are we in the world--a mystery to the world which "knows us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3:1.) The world does not recognize in the saints, "sons of God"--"new creatures," "partakers of the divine nature."
Very shortly now however, this mystery of God, this company of divinely begotten sons, will be FINISHED--completed: "The church of the first born" of which Jesus is the head, will soon cease to be, God manifest in the flesh. The entire company shall be glorified together, and "shall shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matt. 13:43) They shall arise in power and strength to bless all the families of the earth. "The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings"--for the Jew first, and also for the Gentile.
It is for the completion of this church that we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to-wit, the redemption of the body of Christ; the ending of the mystery part of God's plan, in the full glory of Millennial brightness and joy. It is for this event also that the world's release from pain and death waits. The whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now, waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God. Rom. 8:19-24.
The necessity of the veiling of God's mysterious purpose with reference to the church is very evident. If the religious rulers of the Jews had known that Jesus was really the anointed of God, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Cor. 2:7, 8) And had the rulers of the world and of the nominal church, recognized the Lord's anointed body during this age; they would not have had the privilege of suffering with their Head.
Again, Paul tells us that God gave him wonderful revelations concerning the mystery, "To make all see what [are the conditions of] fellowship of the mystery." (Eph. 3:3-6, 9.)
And it is to Paul as our Lord's instrument that we are indebted more than to any other Apostle, for a clear record of the CONDITIONS on which we may become members of this mystery band, and as such be in due time revealed in glory of power. He tells us that we must have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ, if we would have share in His coming glory. We must with our head become dead to the world, its ambitions, its prizes, if we would become heirs of the glory which God hath in preparation and reservation for this mystery church of which Jesus is the Head.
We believe that we are just on the eve of the finishing of this church, or mystery. You and I, my brothers and sisters, are, by our covenants, candidates for a crown of life (prospective members in the body of Christ) and to a position in the throne of the coming kingdom. Let us make our calling and election to that high position sure, by so running our race as to be approved of God, as living sacrifices for the gospel of truth. We have full little enough time to fulfill all our covenant; let us lay aside every weight and all besetting sins, and run, with patience, the race for the prize of our high calling, that when the church is complete-- the mystery finished, we may be among the glorified members. Then no longer the mystery--we shall be Jehovah's agents in blessing all the families of the earth.” (R368 Edited)
In our next post we should like to expand on the differences between “our common salvation” (Jude 3) and this “mystery” the Apostle speaks of and what is required of the believer to participate in each.
