The Mystery
Thank you for your question. Indeed there are things that were a mystery in the Old Testament that are now revealed in the New Testament. Before we look at these, let’s look at what the word “mystery” means in the Bible.
The word “mystery” comes from the Greek word musterion and means, that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit. In the ordinary sense, a "mystery" implies knowledge withheld; its scriptural significance is truth revealed. (Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)
Mark 4:11:
And He said to them, "To you [disciples] it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
Jesus actually was the first one to introduce the mystery of the kingdom of God. The word “mystery” means something hidden and only revealed to those initiated or allowed to learn the secret. In the passage above, Jesus told the disciples it was given to them to know about the mystery of the kingdom of God. What qualifies someone to learn the mystery of God? It is faith in Jesus Christ. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. (Colossians 2:3) When we receive Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit is sent into our heart to reveal the mystery of the kingdom of heaven to us. (Ephesians 3:5)
So what is the mystery? Let’s follow the course of the use of this word musterion in the New Testament and see. The next time the word musterion is used is in Romans.
Romans 11:25:
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Paul had learned about the mystery and was called by God to reveal it to the Church by the Holy Spirit. The mystery, which is the Church—the age of grace in which we live—was revealed to Paul by Jesus Christ.
Genesis 22:18:
In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
In the Old Testament Christ’s first coming is prophesied in many places. His second coming is also prophesied in many places. There are some verses that describe Jesus’ first coming followed by verses describing His second coming, which seem to suggest they are one event. However, between the two events is a time period called the church age.
Isaiah 61:1-2:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn…
This verse was fulfilled by Jesus when He began His ministry. He stood up in the synagogue and read this prophecy. (Luke 4:16-19) However, He did not mention that He would proclaim “the day of vengeance of our God.” In His first coming, Jesus came to preach grace and the gospel. However, at His Second Coming, He will bring “the vengeance of God” against all who have rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior including Satan, Antichrist, and all their followers. Isaiah did not mention the 2000 year time period between His first and second comings called the church age. This was a mystery in the Old Testament. The Church and everything associated with it was a mystery in the Old Testament.
Let’s look at another scripture where the word musterion is found.
Romans 16:25:
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.
Notice, the Gospel—the preaching of Jesus Christ, was part of the mystery kept secret since the world began. The Gospel is salvation offered by grace through faith to all who accept it.
1 Corinthians 2:7-10:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
Which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
Again, the mystery, hidden from ages past, is now revealed to us by the Spirit. Part of the mystery is the fact that the Gentile church would share in the glory of God. By Christ dying on the cross, salvation was made available to all who believe. If the rulers of Jesus’ day would have known this, they would have not crucified the Lord of Glory.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52:
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The rapture of the Church was also a mystery in the Old Testament. This is because the Church itself was a mystery. All the verses in the Old Testament referring to a resurrection actually refer to the resurrection that will occur after the Great Tribulation, and not the rapture of the Church.
Ephesians 1:9-10:
Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
Ephesians 3:3-6:
How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel…
Here plainly it states that part of the mystery is that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with believing Jews in the promise of eternal life.
Eph 3:8-10:
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
The mystery also includes the fact that through the Church, God would show His manifold wisdom to Satan and all His hosts.
Ephesians 5:32:
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Again, Christ and His relationship with the Church is the great mystery hidden in the Old Testament.
Ephesians 6:19:
…and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel
The gospel of grace to the church was also included in the mystery.
Colossians 1:26-27:
…the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Included in the mystery is that Christ is in us!
1 Timothy 3:16:
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, received up in glory.
Another part of the mystery is that Jesus is preached among the Gentiles (non-Jews) and believed on in the entire world and not just exclusive to Israel.
Revelation 1:20:
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The mystery is symbolized by seven golden lampstands, which represent the seven churches. Seven speaks of completeness. This speaks of the entire Church being the mystery.
The Gentile church was a mystery in the Old Testament. Everything that belongs to the Church and the age of grace was a mystery in the Old Testament. The new birth, speaking in tongues, the priesthood of every believer, the indwelling of the Spirit, the righteousness of each believer, each believer being a saint, sharing the authority of Christ, and the rapture of the church were all a mystery in the Old Testament.
You live in a special time. The salvation you are enjoying today was not understood or known by those who lived during Old Testament. The mystery of your salvation was kept secret from the beginning of time and was revealed to you when you believed. All the blessings in Christ have been hidden from the beginning of time to be revealed to you now by the Spirit of God. Jesus is saying to you also: To you it has been given to the mystery of the kingdom of Heaven! Now go and tell others and let them in on the secret. They can become saved and blessed by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior through faith. Go tell someone the secret today!
Rick McFarland
Director/Singles Director
Real Answers bookstore
Grace Church
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