The Church of the Dispensation of “the Mystery”
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Acts 28

To understand today’s age of The Church of the Dispensation of “the Mystery” we must note a commonly unrecognized truth that must be understood, which is the current “Lo-Ammi” condition of Israel. (Lo-Ammi Hebrew: ‘No people of Mine are ye.’) Before Acts 28:28 Israel was God’s focus, but today, after Acts 28:28, Israel is completing her ‘set aside’ period in that state of “Lo-ammi,” while the Gentiles are in God’s focus. This current “Lo-Ammi” condition of Israel was prophesied here below.

“Then God said call his name Lo-Ammi; for ye [Israel] are not my people and I will not be your God.” (Hosea 1:9)

“For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without am image, and without an ephod, and without a teraphim.” (Hosea 3:4)

(But) “After two days [i.e., 2,000 yrs.] will He revive us, in the third day He will raise us [Israel] up, and we shall live in His sight. (Hosea 6:2)

The present Lo-Ammi period began and ends per these verses’

Latest Lo-ammi Began: “Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” Acts 28:28 (KJV)

Lo-Ammi ends: “For I would not, brethren, that ye [Israel] should be ignorant of this mystery (secret), lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Rom. 11:25

During this current age of Israel’s ‘set aside,’ “the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles…” (Acts 28:28) John’s Gospel also presented Jesus’ salvation message for “whosoever believeth” offering “everlasting life” on the new earth. That ‘everlasting life’ is not the Post-Acts “High Calling” of “the Mystery” to the “heavenly places,” applying to those who God is calling out as his chosen church by “revelation of the mystery [musterion, secret]” that comes through the Holy Spirit revealing the Post Acts “word of truth.

  • God’s ultimate purpose for Israel is to be His Agent Reining ON THE EARTH. (Matt 28:19-20)
  • God’s purpose for His Mystery church is to be His Co-regent IN HEAVEN. (Eph 3:10-11)

“Even the Mystery [secret] which hath been Hid From Ages and From Generations, But NOW [Post-Acts] is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery Among The Gentiles; which is Christ In You, The Hope of [heaven’s] Glory:” Col. 1:26-27

When Paul wrote Col. 1:26-27 the “Mystery” then became known to SATAN, who then, by his ‘powers of darkness,’ worked to hide or veil the truth from generations of people under mountains of False Religious Doctrine with “profane and vain [empty] babblings” (cf. 2 Tim 2:16).

As soon as Paul expounded concerning the Ephesian “Mystery” in his Post-Acts epistles, Satan became aware and opposed it. Since ‘the Mystery’ message was a personal revelation to Paul and not found in the scriptures written before, that was an easy basis on which Satan could plant doubt in the minds of the new Judeo-Christians as he does today. Also, since it pertained to a new Hope and Calling, far beyond Israel’s kingdom hope and calling, it was a new frontier that many believers today are not willing to even consider.

Satan’s minions worked using religion and Rome to falsely accuse and imprison Paul; so it then became a risk to follow Paul’s teaching any longer. Therefore it was easy for the “grievous wolves” (cf. Acts 20:29) to come in and destroy the flock.  By the time of Paul’s second imprisonment and his writing of 2 Timothy, the Judaizers with the leaven of the Pharisees had weakened Paul’s churches. It appears that all had left Paul (2Tim. 1:15) or forsaken him (2Tim. 4:16) except for a few individuals such as Timothy and Luke.

Scripture tells us that Satan is the founder of man’s false worship (Gen. 4:5) and man’s false religion (Gen. 11:4). “Church” history and spiritual understanding tells us that after two centuries of persecuting the Jews and the Christians, Satan established his counterfeit church in Rome beginning in the fourth century. Under Rome’s pagan Emperor Constantine, a corrupted false Christianity became a state religion infested with paganism and idolatry. Pagan temples were confiscated and converted to “church” buildings. This was a trap (snare) set to attract believers who could thereby avoid persecution. Ironically and eventually the genuine Bible believers were persecuted and martyred by this dictatorial false church for not taking the bait and entering the trap. Millions have been slaughtered by the RCC during the crusades. Satan, since Babel, continues to build a universal (catholic) religious system in which he traffics his false doctrines in his Satanic sanctuaries. Satan’s ‘religion’ thrived through the dark ages by coercion, i.e. convert or die.

Satan deceptively called his church the “church of the mysteries,” “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2Tim. 3:5). See; https://www.vatican.va/special/rosary/documents/misteri_en.html  Man’s religious tradition has overruled the Scriptures. Bibles were destroyed so minds could be controlled by the false doctrine and “practice of the Nicolaitanes” who control the people, which “the Lord hates” (Rev 2:6, 2:15). Though raised in a the RCC family, by the grace of God I was called out from among those being deceived.

People had to rely on the hierarchy of the church for their doctrine because most could not read. Obviously, this presents the inherent danger of following error.  Printed and translated Bibles were not available until the sixteenth century. Even then many people could not read.

Thankfully, “But they shall proceed no further: for their folly [error] shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was” (2Tim. 3:9). Through the Reformation period (16th Century) and the Restoration period (1790-1840), by use of the translated Scriptures and “sola scriptura” (the Bible only) men began to rise above some of Satan’s false doctrines. 

But how can they “reform” a religion of Judeo-Christian doctrine infused with tradition and paganism and come out with the truth? 

How can they “restore” a Judeo-Christian kingdom doctrine that has been suspended by God and come out with the truth? 

Nonetheless, “the salvation of God”; the eternal-life-giving salvation-in-Jesus Christ message of John’s gospel was restored. Christian doctrine was reformed to Paul’s doctrine of “the just shall live [have life] by faith” (Luther, cf., Habakkuk 2:4). Paul’s doctrines of election, justification, sanctification, redemption, reconciliation, and identification were then preached. “Whether in pretense [outward show] or in truth Christ is preached.” (Phil. 1:18), but “the mystery (sacred secret]” remained hidden until later.

Religious freedom to follow one’s own interpretation of the scriptures without life-threatening persecution is only slightly over 240 years old. For the “Reformers” and “Restorers” a return to the Scriptures for guidance might have revealed a correct form of worship. Jesus stated in John 4:23;

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth [Gk. verity, reality].” John 4:23 

The heaven-bound church of “the Mystery” is “the church, which is His body,” is a spiritual church (Eph. 2:18), invisible to the world, and based on Scriptural truth.  Having Christ in us as our very life, we worship in Spirit and in truth 24/7. The truth sets us free (John 8:32, 36) from bondage to man’s religion (Latin, religio, means religion that ‘binds anew’).

Sadly, Christianity has largely continued to this day in Satan’s form of superficial worship in ‘the flesh’ and in veiled truth. Satan hates truth and freedom. Satan loves to pervert the sound church doctrine of the word of God. For, incorrect doctrine manifests itself in incorrect practice. Church buildings are akin to pagan temples. Religious ceremonies resemble pagan rituals. This also created division instead of unity, witness the over 100s of kinds of Baptists Churches alone. Satan has spawned many religions, many perverted versions of God’s word, all in the name of Christianity, counterfeit Christianity that is.

You may be cut to the heart and ready to stone me? But remember how Stephen was stoned for speaking the truth to corrupted Israel? Corrupted Israel suffered under false prophets just as Christians do today;

“The prophets [of Israel] prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? Jeremiah 5:31 (KJV)

The church is not a building or a denomination. The Greek word “ekklesia” stresses a group of people “called out” for a special purpose.  The revealed church is “the body of Christ” with Christ as “the Head,” and the members are equal (Eph 3:6, 4:3-6). There is no hierarchy (no Nicolaitans). Jesus hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans. “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Rev. 2:6

Here is some salty seasoning: anyone who ‘goes to a church’ likely does not yet understand what today’s true church is. If a person does not understand and acknowledge the doctrine of ‘the church of the dispensation of the Mystery,’ how can he be a member of it? The fact is that only God knows who the members of this invisible church are – we cannot judge. You cannot join this church of “the Mystery,” you must be joined … by seeing by God Reveling It To You.

Those who believe that the church of today began in the Acts period and just evolved from there and that they will be raptured to heaven may need to consider their personal responsibility to study the Scriptures to see if these things be so. Note the difference below; 1, is ‘before’ the overthrow and 2 is ‘from” the overthrow.

  1. According to Paul’s Post-Acts Eph. 1:4, the church of “the Mystery” was Chosen In Christ BEFORE the foundation of the world. “According as he [God] hath chosen us in him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Eph. 1:4 (KJV)
  2. The Judeo/Christians of the Acts period were chosen “from [i.e., Since] the beginning …Chosen To Salvation” From or Since The Beginning. “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from [i.e., since] the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” 2 Thes. 2:13 (KJV)

Compare the two revelators of 2 “secrets.”

  1. The secret of Israel’s Kingdom Gospel was “kept secret from or SINCE the foundation [Gk. katabole, the Gen 1:2 ‘overthrow’] of the world [kosmos]” UNTIL Spoken of By Christ. (cf. Matt 13:35, 25:34).
  2. The gospel of the Post-Acts Ephesian “Mystery [secret]” of “the church which is His body” was “hid in God” from the BEGINNING [creation] of the world [Gk. aion, age]” (cf. Eph. 3:9) … UNTIL Christ In Heaven Revealed It Directly To Paul For Us (Eph. 3:5).

The reason why “the Mystery” of “the church which is His body” is still a mystery [secret] to most believers today is the same reason why … the “mystery of Christ” and “the mystery of the kingdom to come on earth” were, and still are, a mystery [secret] to Israel. But, in due time, God will enlighten the eyes of their understanding. It is interesting that believers today can easily see the Blindness Of Israel, not recognizing Jesus as Messiah, due to their unbelief, but at the same time They Have A Blindness Of Their Own. I know I also was blind for a long time.

  • Israel’ of the Past: Why, after 2,000 years of types, and shadows, and miracles, and prophesies, and witnesses was Israel deemed to be blind, deaf, and ignorant to the coming of their promised Messiah? In fact, when Jesus came unto them (Jn. 1:11), they convicted Him to death. A few believed and were among the “called out” (ekklesia) as Jesus’ “little flock” church of that time (Luke 12:32).
  • Believers today: Is it likely that after ~2,000 years of Scriptures, religion, doctrines, theology, and eschatology, believers today could be deemed ‘blind and deaf and ignorant” of the hope and calling the church of “the mystery”? Only a few today see, understand, and believe; them being among the “called out” invisible church (ekklesia) now at the end of the 2,000 years of Israel’s Lo-ammi status.

Paul in Romans wrote of Israel in his time saying; “The night is far spent and the day is at hand.” It now could be said of this ‘dispensation of the Mystery’ that the night is far spent and the day is at hand for the Mystery Church (these 2,000 years being the 2-days of Hosea 6:2.) Paul wrote “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, Until The Fulness of The Gentiles Be Come In. And so [then] all Israel shall be saved. (Rom. 11:25-26)

During today’s dispensation of “the Mystery” of “the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) blindness in full is happened to Israel … until the fulness of ‘the church of the Mystery’ be completed… then salvation will be returned to Israel (v26 above).

The mystery of “the church which is His body” is a Mystery [secret] to most believers today because that is the plan and purpose of God. We know God can and will triumph over “the wiles of the Devil” to complete his whole plan.

Only “the faithful” (Eph. 1:1b) who are willing to “rightly divide the word of truth” and depart from the traditions of man’s religious systems to “free themselves from the snare of the devil” (cf. 2 Tim 2:26). They will be worthy of the Post-Acts “prize of the high [heavenly] calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14)

This church of the Mystery is God’s church of God’s choosing (Eph 1:4) to whom are given “the spirit of wisdom and revelation to acknowledge Him and whose eyes of understanding are enlightened to know what is the hope of His calling” (Ephesians 1:17-18).

Today the veiling of Satan with religious doctrine and tradition has been removed by God for those who know and believe the Truth for this age of “the Mystery.”

  • He has blessed us with ALL blessing that is spiritual (Eph 1:3)
  • He has chosen us in Him [Christ] before the overthrow of the world (Eph 1:4)
  • That we should be holy and without blame before Him (Eph 1:4)
  • He predestinated us unto the adoption as sons (Eph 1:5)
  • He made us accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:6)
  • He redeemed us through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7)
  • He abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence (Eph 1:8)
  • He made known to us the mystery of His will (Eph 1:9)
  • He obtained us as His inheritance (Eph 1:11)
  • He sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13)
  • He quickened us together with Christ (Eph 2:5)
  • He raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus where Christ sits on the right hand of God (cf. Eph 2:6, Col 3:1)
  • For, we have died with Him (Rom. 6:3) and… our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Col 3:3)

We know: “When Christ who is our life shall appear (Gk. phaneroo), then shall we also appear (Gk. phaneroo) with Him in [heaven’s] glory” (Col 3:4) Thus, we are: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJV)

  1. We of the Post-Acts “church, which is His body,” are today looking for His “appearing (Gk. phaneroo)” (Col 3:4) and our “out resurrection,” from among the dead. (Phil. 3:11)
  2. By contrast, the Acts-Period Judeo-Christian church was looking for Christ’s return to earth referred to as “His coming (Gk. parousia)” (1 Thes 2:19, 4:17).

These two are separate events to occur in their order. So, we believe God’s next move is the Manifestation of Christ In The Heavens Complete With “His body,” “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” (Eph. 1:23). Til then Christ is currently ‘hid in God’ in His shekinah glory in heaven and He will NOT be manifest until “His body” is filled to the full, per Rom. 11:25.

I expect that after the dead and living members of ‘the church of the Mystery’ have left this world to “appear with Him,” Paul’s Post-Acts epistles will then no longer be relevant except as a historical record and explanation as to what happened to the church of “His body.” For, “He [Christ] is the Head of the body, the church: … For it pleased the Father that in Him [Christ] should all fulness dwell (Col. 1:18-19).

It appears that Proverbs 3:5-6 is interwoven with Eph 1: 17-18 and 2 Tim 2:15.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct (rightly divide) thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Trust in the ‘Word of God’ and not man’s religion (‘thine own understanding’) so that He “may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened” (Eph 1:17-18). He shall help you “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15) so that you “needeth not to be ashamed” and “be approved unto God.”

Satan’s mystery of the Tribulation period is when Satan’s “mystery of iniquity” culminate in its ugly head;

“MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (This is a ‘city’ of a secret name which is the fountainhead of the “mystery of iniquity” found in all the great false religions of the world) (Rev 17:3-6).

This secret city of Satan’s Mystery (musterion), which has long-veiled and silenced the truth of God, will itself then be revealed, and destroyed in that day of the ten kings.

 

(Portions adapted from a paper by Alan Naas)