The Mystery Has Been Revealed

We Are Blessed

We truly live in a blessed age. This statement does not focus upon the modern age (although our conveniences and technology are great wonders), but instead on the Messianic age. We live in the time the Hebrews of the Old Testament would call the “Last Days”. We live in the age of the church – the time when all has been revealed. When we look at Biblical characters, especially those who lived in the Old Testament times, it is important to remember how blessed we truly are.

In what way are we blessed? Aside from the wondrous blessings such as: forgiveness of sins, worship in spirit and in truth, all nations unified in one body, etc. we enjoy the blessing of knowledge. More specifically, we have had the mystery of Christ revealed (cf. Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; 15:51; et al.). The “end game” of God’s plan of salvation for mankind was something that was anticipated from the very fall of man – the great expectation of how God would redeem His own.

What Was Not Known

To consider this point completely, it is important to understand just how much those on God’s side did not know before the plan was realized. Peter describes this point clearly when talking about those who had proclaimed the word of God in times past. “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things into which angels long to look” (1 Pet. 1:10-12, NASU, emph. added).

The Old Testament writers predicted great events to come of which they had either no, or only partial understanding. Moses did not know fully of the “prophet” to whom he was predicting (Deu. 18:15). David did not know fully of the Lord who would “sit at the right hand” of God (Psa. 110:2). Isaiah did not know fully the suffering servant who would endure so much (Isa. 53). Not even the angels knew the full plan of God until the plan was realized. Not even Satan understood the plan – because had he known he would not have helped fulfill it himself.

The Full Mystery Revealed

No created being knew what God’s full “mystery” would be until Jesus came to “fulfill all righteousness” (Mat. 3:15). We now know the mystery – a mystery hidden from the people of God for thousands of years. How important has that great revelation been in our lives and the lives of our friends and neighbors?