Mystery surrounds everything we call life, the Christian life is no exception. With the simple Bible concept, “peace that passes understanding — shall keep your heart and mind,” we get the idea of mystery. “Love passing knowledge” eclipses the world of concrete imagination. In our Bible we have “knowledge of mystery,” “fellowship of the mystery.” Are we exchanging the precise for the abstract? We read, “mystery of God, mystery of Christ, mystery of marital union, of the church, and of the “Rapture” of the church. The Apostle Paul had a revelation of “The Mystery,” and tells us of the mystery of the gospel.
“A mystery does not lie in the obscurity of a thing, but in its secrecy. It is not in the thing, but envelops it.”
Vincent
Consider these: the mystery of “faith in a pure conscience.” and, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The “Mystery of godliness,” (spirituality), includes “…Christ appearing in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations. He was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory. “1 Timothy 3:16 Weymouth translation
We must admit, every one from this list is a mysterious, still unfolding truth, which we hopefully see, brighter and brighter as we await the perfect day,
A “mystery of iniquity already works” so exclaims Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:7.
Some interpretations include:
- “Anti-Christianity latently working, as distinguished from its final open manifestation.” JFB
- ” …some hidden or concealed depravity – some form of sin which was working secretly and silently, and which had not yet developed itself.” Barnes Notes
- The mystery of lawlessness is the mass of lawlessness yet hidden, but which is to reveal itself in the person and power of Antichrist. Vincent
Friends, “mystery” is a lamp shining in a dimly lighted place, Peter explains,
” …in the written word of prophecy we have something more permanent; to which you do well to pay attention–as to a lamp shining in a dimly-lighted place–until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. But, above all, remember that no prophecy in Scripture will be found to have come from the prophet’s own prompting; for never did any prophecy come by human will, but men sent by God spoke as they were impelled by the Holy Spirit. 2Peter 1:19-21
Yes we have a sure Word, an inspired Word, a revealed Word, but what determines the degree of it’s light’s effect? To complete the metaphor we must visualize a sunrise, first a faint glow, then more brightness, then the appearing of the ball of fire itself not fully, then half full, then complete, and then illuminating the whole earth removing all obscurity.
Undoubtedly you have heard of Isaiah’s vision of the Lord, “high and lifted” in Isaiah 6. Clear? As a bell. We know of Job’s encounter with God Sovereign. A manifestation of glory also to culminate his trial. Then, recorded in Matthew 17, Christ is transfigured before the very eyes of Peter,
“…and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”
A metamorphic appearance, Jesus unfurls His pre-human glory, but also His future existence as well. And all is seen in the present tense of Peter’s viewing.
The bright and morning Star appears again in Revelation 1.
” …one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” Revelation 1:14-15
In closing, we have just touched the surface of mystery revealed. In Isaiah His Majesty and Mercy, in Job, His Sovereignty, in Matthew His Deity, in Revelation, His Glorified Person. And then:
“…called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:11-13
Beloved, He wears blood, He makes war with iniquity.. A sure Word of prophesy. Love ya
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