Part 6 – Comparing the Prophecy and Mystery Programs of God
This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The Prophetic Program and The Mystery Program. |
The “Prophecy” Program Concerns "Israel" and “The Kingdom” to come to earth. | The "Mystery" Program Concerns "the Church, which is His Body"; and its eternal destiny ‘in the heavens.’ |
1. Concerns setting up a kingdom and distinctive national organization (Dan. 2:44; Matt. 6:10). | 1. Concerns Christ's ‘body’, as a living organism (I Cor. 12:12, 27; Eph. 4:12-16). |
2. The eternal kingdom is to be established on earth (Jer. 23:5; Matt. 6:10). | 2. His body is given an eternal position in heaven (Eph. 1:3; 2:5-6; Col. 3:1-3). |
3. Christ is to be its "King" (Jer. 23:5; Isa. 9:6-7) and Israel is to be His "bride" (Hosea 2:14, 16, 19; Isa 54:4-5). | 3. Christ is the living "Head of the body” (Eph. 1:19-23; Col. 1:18), into which believers have been immersed (1Cor 12:13). |
4. The kingdom was Prophesied “since the world began” (Luke 1:68-70; Acts 3:21). | 4. The body "members" were chosen to be "in Christ" before the world began, but “kept SECRET since the world began” (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:4-11; 3:5-9). |
5. Israel is to be given supremacy to reign over the nations (the Gentiles) (Isa. 60:10-12; 61:6; Rev 5:10, 20:6). | 5. Jew and Gentile placed on the exact same level before God (Rom 3:10, 23, 10:12; 11:32; Eph. 2:16, 17). |
6. The Gentiles are to be blessed through Israel’s obedient instrumentality (Gen. 22:17-18; Zech. 8:13). | 6. The Gentiles have been blessed through Israel’s obstinacy and unbelief (Acts 13:44-46; Rom. 11:10-12, 28-32). |
7. The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel’s salvation and RISE (Isa 60:1-3; Zech. 8:22-23). | 7. The Gentiles are blessed through Israel’s ‘FALL’ (Acts 28:27, 28; Rom 11:11, 12, 15). |
8. Prophecy mainly concerns the nations as such (Isa. 2:4; Ezek. 37:21-22). | 8. The Mystery concerns individuals (Rom. 10:12, 13; 2 Cor. 5:14-17) as body members. |
9. Prophecy concerns blessings, both material and spiritual, on earth (Isa. 2:3-4; 11:1-9; etc.). | 9. The Mystery concerns “all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies” (Eph 1:3; Col 3:1-3). |
10. Prophecy concerns Christ’s coming to the earth (Isa. 59:20; Zech. 14:4). | 10. The Mystery explains Christ’s present absence from the earth (Eph 1:20-23; Col 3:1-3; Rom 16:25b). |
11. In the Prophecy program salvation by grace through faith alone is NOT contemplated. Repentance, works of the Law, water baptism are required FIRST. | 11. Salvation by Grace through faith alone lies at the very heart of the Mystery (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:5; Eph. 2:8, 9); apart from any works requirement (Rom 6:14, 11:6, Tit 3:5). |
12. You must forgive first in order to be forgiven (Matt 6:14) | 12. We forgive because we've already been forgiven freely (Eph 4:32) |
13. The proclamation of the Prophetic program was committed particularly to "the twelve" Apostles (Matt. 10:5-7; Acts 1:6-8; 3:19-26). | 13. The proclamation of the Mystery was first committed to Paul THE Apostle to the Gentiles. (Eph 3:1-3, 8-9; Col 1:24-27, Rom 11:13). |
14. The Prophetic Program revealed through many of God’s OT servants, prophets (Act 3:21; Luke 1:70; 2 Pet. 1:21). | 14. The Mystery was revealed initially through one man, THE Apostle Paul (Rom 11:13; Gal. 1:1, 11-12; 2:2, 7, 9; Eph. 3:1-5). |
15. Old testament writers frequently did NOT understand the prophecies communicated through them (Dan. 12:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:10-12). | 15. Paul understood and longed that others might understand "the fellowship of the Mystery" revealed through him (Eph. 1:15-23; 3:9, 14-21; Col. 1:9-10; 2:1-3). |
16. Israel’s eternal destiny is to co-reign with Christ on earth as an everlasting inheritance (Ps 105:7-11; Rev 5:10, 20:6; Zech. 8:23) | 16. His body’s eternal destiny is to dwell and co-reign with Him “eternal in the heavens” (1Thes 4:13-18; 1Cor 15:51-54; 2Tim 2:12, 2Cor 5:1b) |