In the last issue of the Baptist Trumpeter I presented the beginning points of what is called the "Mystery". When speaking of the "mystery," I mean, the Old Testament’s clearly foretold, and yet purposely hidden, two comings of Christ and the role they play in the makeup of the "Body of Christ." This is not something that is new to the world of eschatology, but often, is obscured by its lack of understanding, and thus its exposition. Keep in mind that the mystery has as it's base the gospel message in type, shadow, form and content. The "Good News" of the message of Christ's work for the Elect of God, is what is being revealed by the Spirit in the New Testament. The question of the mystery concerning the Body of Christ in the O. T. is seen for the first time by its calling attention to the issue of timing. As such, many poignant questions need to be answered. For example,

When will the Deliverer promised in Genesis 3:15 bring the crushing blow to the head of the serpent?

When does the righteousness of Christ find application in the believer's life, O. T. or N. T. as first seen in Genesis 15:6?

When do we see the "New Birth" taking place, before of after the cross, as in John 3:1-10?

When will the Mystery that has been hidden since before time began (in God) be brought out into the open Eph. 3:1-13?

What does that look like and why was it hidden in the first place Eph. 4:11-16?

Last but not least, when will we as a Church realize the harm we do to Scripture by dividing the Body of Christ in a wrong dispensational manner?

In my last article I tried to focus on the questions of background and reasoning. The background and environment of the mystery is prophecy. The O. T. prophetic passages that speak of the coming Messiah look to us so obvious and easy to understand but to the mind of the O. T. viewer nothing could have been further from the truth. The reasoning behind this environment was at least twofold. One, the Jewish people would have never killed there Messiah if indeed they understood who He was? The second is a spin off of that blindness which roles out into judgement. They should have known not only what the Messiah was to look like, but also, the timing of His arrival should have been generally understood, but, it wasn't and so we have a Mystery.

Transition with me now, and let me ask you to think with me about the role the Parables Jesus spoke played in the identifying and hiding of this mystery? Most people when asked why Christ spoke in parables will say, "He did so to help people understand." This is only partly true. The use of parables according to Matthew 13:10-17 is to enable those who are the true elect of God to receive instruction concerning kingdom matters. Those who are on the outside looking in with no understanding are in the dark by reason of judgement, which is another way of saying, election or selective application of kingdom understanding. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice. . ." (John 10:27). The religious leaders of Christ's time were outwardly very pious. However they were ruled by self ambition and greed inwardly and thus the truth of whose voice they were hearing is simple, they heard the echoes of Satan, as in the Garden of Eden, as he sought to turn our first parents into self worshipers. These leaders had no revelation from above, they could only discern that Jesus spoke concerning them, but as to the nature of the hidden truth they remained clueless.

With that in mind let us examine a parable and see how we hear it.

The kingdom dispersed:

Matthew 21:28-46; "28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. 33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet."

The "husbandmen" that are mentioned by the Savior in this passage are, the natural Jews or the entire nation of Israel. God by reason of His election (unconditional) has granted to them responsibility in that He chose them as representatives (Gen. 12:2b) of His word, which he delivered to the world through them. They, in a state of rebellion and blindness, thought the salvation of God was to be gained by works and labor rather than mercy and grace and so they killed those servants (the prophets) sent to receive the fruit they should have borne. Their sin continued until at last they killed the Son of His love who was sent in His, the Lord of the vineyards, own place to gather the fruit that was due according to the investment. These men, guilty of murder, now thought they had gained possession of the vineyard only to bring down the wrath they so justly deserved upon themselves. The result was farther execution of the eternal unchanging plan of God; namely that God would lend out His vineyard to others. That would be you and I or the Gentiles who will produce what the husbandmen should have. However this would require another leave of absence and a changing of seasons as the fruit was never delivered the first time. So it waits, even now as the fields which are white grow to the fullness as more laborers are brought forth to work until the final call is sent out.

Is it clear to you from the above scripture reference that the stewards of God failed by reason of wrong understanding? They had no way of knowing that their removal was necessary in order to bring forth the fruit? It was hidden from them. They thought they were it, they thought they alone were the fruit. However their lack of understanding snagged them into the plan and they were powerless to change it. Now let me ask you why? Why was it necessary for them to be removed, and does this mean we start a whole new Body of Christ? Not an easy question to answer. The plan of God has always been to bring in the Gentile nations into a salvation relationship when the timing was in line with the plan.

Gentile salvation is not just a N. T. topic. The prophecies are very conversant with direct mentions and allusions to our coming into the kingdom.

Gen. 12:2b - "families"

Gen. 22:18 - "nations"

Deut. 32:21 - "not a nation"

Isa. 9:1-2; Luke 2:32 - "Gentiles"

Isa. 65:1 - "those"

Hosea 2:23 - "not my people"

Let me ask you another question that will narrow our discussion. In whose righteousness are the O. T. saints clothed and in whose righteousness are the N. T. saints clothed (see Gen. 15:6 [the Lords] Gen. 18:22, Gen. 20:4)? We share the same righteousness because we have the same sacrifice provided by the same Lord. When you have something put on your account you enjoy the fullness of it while it remains unpaid, thus the idea of the "Promise." Yes payment is due, but the promise of God is just as good as if the payment is already accomplished. Thus the mystery is again brought into view. Someone had to come and pay (the Son) and did He not pay for ALL the elect O. T. and N. T. at once with His death on the cross? Is the promise of payment made by God in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:1-4; Rev. 13:8) lacking something until its fulfillment on the cross? NO! The Jews thought they were the only ones who would ever have this God righteousness, but as the parable says the vineyard has been lent out to others. We are new representatives of the same vineyard and we partake of the already started work of those we have replaced. This is not some mystery unforeseen body and age. The concept of Gentile salvation is throughout the whole of the O. T. and explained that way in the N. T. (see Paul's understanding in Rom. 9-11). The issue is further explained in the following parable.

Matthew 22:1-14; "1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

The illustration mentioned now places the issue of judgement upon this generation. Those who were alive in the time of Christ will reap that which they have sown due to the slackness with which they put off the calling issued for in the marriage calling (see verse 7). The rejection of the invitation shows the blindness and the sin in the same motion. They did not consider who it was who was calling and so they missed the marriage by reason of inability. They could not come because they were not made willing (Ps. 110:3; John. 6:44)! The going out into the highways implies the world (gentiles) of which you and I are a part. Those who were at the wedding were found in the dress of right-standing while the one who mingled among those who waited for the wedding was spotted in the attire of the flesh. The king, wanting to visit among the guests, saw one who was in the suit of sin and bound him and cast him out at once; as one would remove a stain from a garment spotted from the filth of the flesh. So it shall be in the end when the wedding is made ready and the guests are come in; the wedding party shall be purged of those who are defiled by the flesh and they shall be destroyed. Therefore, all things are then made ready for the wedding.

Lest we should walk away from this picture thinking that the Gentiles are now become the "New Israel" in a way that is unhealthy, I would like to produce some evidence from the same Saviors lips that dispel this notion as utter folly. Before we leave this though, please pay attention to the context of theses passages. The whores and publicans in the first parable are not gentiles but rather natural Jews of that day. If they weren’t they should have received some sort of prologue announcing a separation as is consistent with those instances in which such a change is brought forth. They were going in before these religious leaders, that is to say instead of them, and all under the message of repentance given by God through John the Baptizer and the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation was at work among them because they were being drawn and justified in the same manner as the others were.

In the second parable the servants who were sent out to bid the others come were already themselves in the service of the King. Thus they were in the make up of the called out ones before they were sent out to the others in the day of his calling. Those who did come in from the highways did not replace the ones already in the service of the king but rather joined them in the wedding hall.

Listen to the list of those mentioned as coming in with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Luke 13:28-30; "28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last."

If this is not a direct reference to Gentiles then what is? In this illustration we can see the provision for Gentile salvation before the Cross. This provision was not made apart from or instead of, but rather, these shall join with those mentioned. This is not something that is new but rather hidden.

I would like to draw your attention to another instance in which the Savior brings Gentiles into the Body by the drawing of water from a well?

John 4:9-42 excerpts; "9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (she was a half-breed)… 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (she wanted relief from her burden)… 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (it was happening all along and the Jew was the vehicle) 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. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (direct revelation) 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her... 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

Notice that she was one of many who believed unto salvation and indeed, confessed the Lordship of Christ. Again this is proof that demands the consideration of those critical of the postribulational position. This is not something new we are looking at but rather a mystery in the unfolding.

Lest we think that only Gentiles were being saved here are some examples of Jewish conversion before the cross:

Luke 1:5-6, "blameless" Zacharias, and Elizabeth.

Luke 1:28, "the Lord is with you" Mary.

Luke 2:25-35, Simeon just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel.

Luke 2:36-38, Anna, "…and spoke of Him to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

Step away from basking in the light of N.T. revelation for a moment and let’s put ourselves in the O. T. saint’s position. Let’s say that God had told us "all things" (Mark  13:23) beforehand about when He will return but has left out the day and the hour. Do you know when He will return? Are there 88 reasons why He had to return in 1988? We look back in hindsight and condemn the O. T. Jew for not knowing when Messiah would appear but we seem to forget our own plight. It all seems so obvious, but to them it seemed so mysterious. A great example of this kind of mystery is the thoughts and questions of many in Christ’s own day concerning who He was. All references found in John: (1) 4:19-26; (2) 6:25-31; (3) 7:31-49; (4) 9:27-41; and, (5) 10:22-29.

This "Mystery" is a calculated blindness for the larger purpose of glory.

The witness of the Scriptures concerning the two advents of Christ to the nation of Israel produces a prophetic voice that testifies to the truth of God’s revelation of Himself to all who can hear it, no matter the generation. This enigmatic prophetic voice was to the O. T. hearer hidden in such a way that for him to see its message was to reflect an apprehension of or encounter with the post death, burial and resurrection understanding we have now come to call the "New Birth". This is not to say that the full articulation of all that Messiah was going to be and do, were ready upon his lips, but surely the abiding of the Spirit of God gave evidence to the validity of a "New Birth" encounter that encompasses all the aspects of what we now understand the gospel to be saying.

Here are some O. T. examples of unveiled N. T. truth concerning the New Birth-Salvation encounter:

Unconditional Election: no terms required by the seed of the woman. Genesis 3:14-15, "14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Covering, substitution: Genesis 3:21, "21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."

Unmerited Grace, alien righteousness acquired by Gods choice alone: Genesis 6:5-8, "5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: Ps 51:7-12, "7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

The New Birth: Psalm 51:13-17, "13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

Resurrection of the dead: Job 19:23-27, "23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."

Imputation of Christ’s righteousness: Genesis 15:3-6, "3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

As to the extension of this "New Birth," or "Gospel" experience and understanding that these patriarchs were born into, it can be said by the testimony of God Himself, "and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." It would be world wide in its application. Notice the following O. T. examples (see also the ten commandments: Ex. 20 1-17):

Evangelistic: Genesis 18:17-18, "17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?"

An eternal priesthood: 1 Samuel 2:35, "35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever."

Direct revelation: Exodus 3:4-6, "4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."

Such an unveiling of God’s glory is hardly a small consideration to undertake in an article against Pretribulationalism. However, I think the bearing this has on the nature and make up of the Body of Christ is warranted and indeed unavoidable. I hope you have enjoyed this look at the mystery and how at least some of it works. I will continue to clarify this in upcoming articles.

Providence Baptist Ministries © copyright_date PBM Desktop Publications © copyright_date All rights reserved Revised: February 14, 2005