Paul frequently uses the word “mystery,” which is the Greek ‘musterion,’ meaning ‘a SECRET.” In most cases of its use by Paul he is referring to a God ordained, God-planned, God-kept SECRET that was not revealed until it was first revealed to Paul…  for us.

“¹  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ²  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: ³  How that by revelation he [Jesus from heaven] made known unto me [Paul] the mystery [secret]; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵  Which in other ages was NOT made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; Ephesians 3:1-5 (KJV)

One of those mysteries is the “secret” of the Rapture of the Gentile “body of Christ” that was revealed to Paul for the members of “the body of Christ” before the 7-year Tribulation period.

“⁵¹Behold, I shew you a MYSTERY [Grk. musterion, a God-planned SECRET]; We shall not all sleep [dead in the grave], but we [the living] shall ALL be CHANGED [transformed], ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the DEAD [in Christ] shall be RAISED Incorruptible, and WE [THE LIVING] shall be CHANGED [transformed].

⁵³ For this corruptible [body] must put on incorruption, and this mortal [body] must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1Corinthians 15:51-55 (KJV)

We know from Paul that the believers of the Gentile “body of Christ” consist both of those who were formerly seen of God as Jews and the Gentiles… they are now ‘one,’ all humans are seen as Gentiles without racial distinction. So, to God today there are no Jewish, Italian, Irish, Swedish or any other racial distinctions recognized in “the body of Christ,” as Paul wrote here.

“²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek [Gentile], there is neither bond [slave] nor free, there is neither male nor female: for Ye Are All One IN Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 (KJV)

This then leads us to the mystery of mysteries. Like the “secret” of the Rapture that was revealed to Paul to COMFORT us, we here below in 1Cor 2:7-8 have the greatest “mystery [secret].” This “mystery” concerns the key to the Christians faith. It is the fact that God Kept the Plan and Meaning of The Cross a Secret until Christ from Heaven Revealed It directly to Paul for Us (cf. Gal. 1:12).

“⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [secret], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: ⁸ Which None of The Princes [the Roman and Jewish Leaders] Of This World Knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (KJV)

The phrase “None of The Princes [the Roman and Jewish Leaders] Of This World Knew” means it was necessary that the “mystery” of the Cross be Kept SECRET.

WHY WAS THE CROSS KEPT SECRET?

This is because these evil men were used of Satan to Crucify and kill our Lord and Savior, but they were duped of God. Now, after the Crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection, consider that in retrospect, these men and Satan no doubt would now prefer to have a living uncrucified Jesus still on earth. For now… the Crucified Lord Jesus’ resurrected “Spirit of life” now lives in million and millions of believers… multiplying the family of God… and this foretells the Satan ultimate doom.

So, just as with the Rapture of “the body of Christ,” … God Kept the Meaning of The Cross a Secret… so That Satan and his “Princes,” those who rule on earth [the corrupt national and religious leaders] and Satan’s fallen spirit-princes in heaven [the evil fallen angelic host] would collude and COOPERATING to CRUCIFY THE LORD JESUS.

Paul then received revelation of the “riches of the inheritance” that we enjoy by our faithful union with Christ, all of which Flows To Us From The Cross of Christ … in His Resurrected Spirit of life.

“¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him [Christ]:  ¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what The Riches of The Glory of His Inheritance [now] IN The Saints,” (Eph. 1:17-18 (KJV)