THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM ***

[Doug]

Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.


Matthew 13:11 He 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.

Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

The mysteries of the Kingdom were not part of the revelations of the mysteries given to Paul. Jesus stated, in verses above, that the knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom was given to the twelve Apostles.

The parables expounded by Jesus were meant to be hidden to the unbelieving Jews. The parables contain knowledge in regard to the promised prophetic Kingdom on earth. The promised Kingdom at that time was at hand. The Kingdom would be fulfilled after Daniels 70th week of God's wrath. Christ will come to set up His Kingdom, and rule on His Throne. The twelve Apostles will rule with Him. The believing Israel of God will be a nation of kings and priests. Israel will be a light to the nations. Matthew 3:2 Matthew 24:29 Matthew 24:30 Psalms 45:6 Luke 22:30 Exodus 19:6 Revelation 5:10 Isaiah 42:6

It was prophesied that Israel would reject Jesus as their Messiah. It was prophesied in the parables the kingdom would be delayed. Isaiah 8:14

Jesus spoke many things in His parables concerning the coming Kingdom on earth.

Matthew 13 has several parables that speak of receiving the Word of God, and being fruitful; that there would be believers, and unbelievers, that would not be seperated until the end of the world; that the Kingdom was like a mustard seed; and more. Jesus spoke of the nature of the Kingdom, and the attributes of those would enter.

In Mark 13:34 is found a parable, in which, the Son of Man is taking a far journey; this parable conveys watchfulness, bearing fruit, and faithfulness in regard to His coming. In Luke 13:8 Jesus spoke of giving a fig tree one year to bear fruit, or it would be cut down. As can be seen in the parable Jesus spoke in Luke 19:11 and in the the two just cited, He was conveying that the Kingdom was going to be delayed.

It was not prophesied that the Kingdom would be interrupted by the dispensation of Grace, as revealed to Paul. The gospel of Grace, justified both Jew and Gentile freely by faith alone in Christ Jesus and by His propitiation. Ephesians 3:2 Romans 1:16 Romans 3:24 Romans 3:25

 

[CoreIssue]

This is the old question and I don't have a perfect answer for it.

What is clear is that there are five groups of believers in the Bible. There are those that predate Israel and or never heard the gospel or the message of Mosaic law. There are those that were under Mosaic law. There are those in the age of grace, the church. There will be trib saints that are neither Israel or church. And there will be the MK where, like the OT, there will be Israel and Gentiles.

The Bible is clear the wife of God, Israel, will be in the New Jerusalem along with the Church.

While it is clear the others mentioned will be on the new earth in eternity it is not clear if they will live inside or outside the New Jerusalem.

Just as it is clear we do not know where the Angels or pre-Adamics will live.

It is also clear there will be no physical kingdom on the earth until the MK. That the current spiritual kingdom is in heaven.

It is also clear things will change. An example being while the New Jerusalem is in heaven now no one is living there. It is a place Christ went to prepare for us. All references to everyone else, including God, shows them living on the new earth but not in the city.

So calling the kingdom a mystery is totality true. We are told some but not all.


We do know that the outcast will live in hell until they are judged at the white throne judgment and then spend eternity in the lake of fire, wherever that is.

 

[Episkopos]

In our time the mystery of the kingdom is still intact. Who has walked in it?