THE MYSTERIES OF GOD 1 cor.4:1,2 Jer.4:23-31=Day of the Lord;(Isaiah 13:13;Isaiah 30:27;Rev.6:10-16) I.

Definition: God's secrets which are body of truths previously hidden but is now revealed.(Deut.29:29;Eph.3:1-10;Col. 1:25,26). Duetoronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong unto The LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever that we may do all the words ot this law." There are two things that standout in the verse and they are:"Things revealed" and :"Secret things". 1."Things revealed"-God's program for the nation Israel concerning his kingdom which was promised to Abraham and was prophesied "from the foundation of the world"(Mat.13:35;Mat.25:34;Gen.3:15; Rom.16:20) and was expanded through the Mosaic,Palestinian,Davidic,and New covenant which form part of "the covenants of promise" (Eph.2:12). 2."Secret things"- Include God's hidden plan and eternal purpose for "the church" which was promised in Christ "before the foundation of the world" and was kept secret through the ages from men,angels, including Lucifer(1cor.2:614;Eph.3:10;1pet.1:11,12;Heb.2:14,1John 3:8;Col.2:15)but in the fullness of time was revealed to apostle Paul for the ministering to the gentiles(Eph.3:1-8). "BEFORE vs FROM" "The Foundation of The World" I.Three sets of world: 2 Peter 3:5-7,10-13 The world which "was","now","new". 1. The World which "was": "BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD" A reference to the original earth which was Gen.1:1 formerly inhabited by Lucifer and his angels but later on rebelled against God(Job 38; Job 41;Ezekiel 28;Isaiah 14;Mat.25;Rev.12) which causes the earth to be in a condition found in Gen.1:2 which "was without form and void" and it was found in 2 Pet.3:5-7 "standing in and out of the water" which clearly is not Noah's flood but much greater than that,Job 37;38 gives a clear picture of how God judged the original earth together with the original inhabitants:Lucifer being an anointed cherub is now a serpent and named Satan(Rev.12). This period caused a division among the angelic beings,in which third part of them went with Satan(Rev.12) thus ,they were classified into two groups: 1.Faithful angels who were " the elect angels"(2Tim.5:21),that remains and presently occupying "the heavenly places"(Ephesians 3:10) 2.Fallen angels which were cast down with Satan in "high places"(Ephesians 6:12).

There are two great events that transpired in this period namely: 1.Rebellion: Lucifer and his angels. 2.Redemption: The plan of redemption was foreordained here:(1Pet.1:19,20;2 Tim.1:9;Titus 1:2;Eph.1:4;Eph.3:6) Job 38:1-7 marks the time period of this event which is before the recreation of the earth or "before the foundation of the world" when God laid "the cornerstone"(Eph.2:20) he shew a glimpse of his redemption plan for man" to the sons of God that shouted for joy" 1 pet.1:19,20:Foreordained that Christ will shed blood "as" a lamb "before the foundation of the world". (1 Tim.5:21) 2 Tim.1:9="Who hath saved us,and called us with an holy calling,not according to our works,but according to his own purpose and grace,which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." The much debated issue of salvation in the church age,brought a great degree of confusion among many,bet. the proponents of salvation by works and salvation by grace,full understanding of God's eternal purpose(Eph.3:11)will make one realize and fully understand that truly it's all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and this truth was settled long ago even before any man was ever created. Titus 1:2= A promise that eternal life will be given to those who will receive the grace of God with the coming of Jesus the Christ. Ephesians 1:4= An election that those who will be in Christ will receive the adoption of sonship(Rom.8:15;Gal.4:5,6). Ephesians 3:6 = A promise given in Christ as differ to that of Abraham. Ephesians 3;9-11 = Here the eternal purpose of God for the church w/c was purposed "in Christ" was ordained. 2.The World which is "Now": "FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD" Hebrews 4:3,4= is the time of God's recreation of the chaotic world up until Genesis 4. Luke 11:50.51 = also a time period called "FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD" Rev.13:8 = is the application of the foreordained shedding of the lamb's blood(1pet 1:19,20) Heb.9:26 = provides clearly that it is indeed Christ's figure of suffering and death. Gen.3:15=marks the prophecy of the kingdom.(Rom.16:20). Gen.3:21=sets in the start or the beginning of the old testament,providing several things: 1.Identifying the animal slain to be "a lamb"-Isaiah 34:6;Rev.13:8;Heb.9:26;

Prov.27:26. Setting as the pattern for the succeding animal sacrifices throughout the O.T. 2.Providing remission of sin and atonement for Adam and Eve.(Heb.9:22,Lev. 17:11) serve as a type for the second Adam(1cor.15: )fulfilling both the sacrifice for sin & sins and as the representative for human race for obedience in w/c the first Adam failed (John.1:29;Rom.5: 15-19 ;1Pet.2:24). 3.Set as a type,example,pattern,shadow of the very image that will come(Heb 10:1-4;Prov.27:26) and that includes the imputation of righteousness. Everything in the O.T. serves as shadow of that w/c is to come. 4.Jesus Christ as the Testator both in the O.T & N.T. having identified as the Alpha & Omega(Rev.1:8),covering" the first testament"(Heb.9:15)from Adam up to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. II. REVELATION: Since mysteries are God's secrets only He himself can and will reveal in his own time and will.(Amos3:7;Prov.25:14;Prov.3:32;Mat.11:25;Mat.13:11,12,17) Dan.2:18-21;says God is the one who can reveal and it is trough revelation(Eph.3:17) no human effort can force the revelation of these things it takes a right heart before God to reveals his secrets. The good news is now these mysteries are now revealed: 1. To his saints:Col.1:26 2. Through" the Church"(Eph.1:23,24;Col.1:24) "The manifold wisdom of God"(Eph.3:10) "The pillar and ground of truth"(1Tim.3:15) 3. The source of revelation:Rom.16:25,26;Eph.3:3,4 The scriptures:originals,copies,translations(2Tim.3;15,16;Luke 4;21;Acts 8;Acts 17;John 19) When we talk of scriptures,we will consider several issues: INSPIRATION: 2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God,and is profitable for doctrine,for reproof,for correction,for instruction in righteousness:" Inspiration provides:

1. Life:John 6:63;Heb.4:12;1Pet.1:23 2. Understanding:Job 32:8 Time and Origin of Inspiration: Traditional belief always traces the origin of inspiration during the time of its writing quoting Gen.2:7 as their proof text,thus;many erred in believing that inspiration start and ends with the originals when "God breathed" into the material body which make that only the original can be inspired since the breathing is a one time act as it was in Adam. TIME AND ORIGIN OF INSPIRATION : Eternal in heaven (Psa.119:52,160;Psa.33:6;Heb.11:3:Psa 119:89) Books and scriptures in heaven (Mal.3:16;Ex.32:32;Luke 10:20;Dan.7:10;Rev.5;Rev.20) TRANSMISSION: 2 Peter 1:21;Jeremiah 36;Exodus 24;Ephesians 3;Revelation 1

TRANSLATION: (Heb.11:5;Col.1:13;2 Sam.3:10) 1. Principle: 1 Corinthians 14 2. Practice:Esther 1;8;Acts 2;John 19(Moses,Joseph,Paul) God uses language, and in the history of men there are languages that are influential in the writing of God's words: Hebrew- a pure language (Zephaniah 3:9) Aramaic-a mixture of Hebrew and Chaldean language Greek- reign of Alexander the Great(N.T) Syriack- Jews scattered,Antioch Syria Acts 11:26(Coptic version,Peshitto a syriack version of the N.T. Latin-reign of the Roman empire German- Reformation,Martin Luther's translation English- The representation of all the gentile languages with the development of the english langage in it's apex in the 1600's,producing the perfect,pure,inspired and preserved words of God in the Authorized Version of 1611 or commonly known as "The King James Bible".

CORRUPTION: (Job.19:23;Job.31:35) Origin: Genesis 3> Satan with Eve:addition and subtraction of God's words. Evident and prevailing:

1. Old Testament: Jeremiah 23 2. New Testament: 2 Cor.2:17 PRESERVATION: (Psalms 12:6,7;Matthew 24:35;Matthew 5:18;Isaiah 59:21;Isaiah 34:16) The line of preservation and corruption: (Acts 5:6,7): Antioch,Syria vs Alexandria,Egypt -Translators * - Interpreters -Formal equivalence * - Dynamic Equivalence -Majority Text * - Minority text -"God" (1Tim.3:16) * - "He,who" -KJB * - Modern versions The test: I John 4:3--John1:1>I Tim.3:16 III. STEWARDSHIP:(I COR.4:1,2) 1. Ministers are Stewards- they are dipensers,distributors of God's mysteries in a dispensation. 2. Dispensation is an economy or management of an household,God dispenses his mysteries to his ministers and requires " faithfulness"(I Cor.4:2) how?: a."To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery"(Eph.3:9) by: -Teaching -Preaching (Colossians 2:8) - Demonstration b. Charge ,commit to faithful men:2Tim.2:2 In the revelation and dispensation of this mysteries God provided several special things: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Special Minister-Eph.3:1 Special Ministry-Eph.3:1 Special Dispensation-Eph.3:2 Special Revelation-Eph.3:8 Special Witness- Eph.3:10 Special Blessings- Eph.1:3 Special Communication-Eph.1:17

IV. THE MYSTERIES: 1. The Mystery of the Grafting in of the Gentiles in the blindness of Israel.(Romans 11:13-25) 2. The Mystery of His will.(Ephesians 1:11) 3. The Mystery.(Ephesians 3:3) 4. The Mystery of Christ.(Ephesians 3:4-6)

5. The Mystery of "The Gospel"(Ephesians 6:19) 6. The Mystery among the gentiles of the indwelling Christ.(Colossians 1:27) 7. The Mystery of God.(Colossians 2:2) 8. The Mystery of "The Father".(Colossians 2:2) 9. The Mystery of "The Faith".(I Timothy 3:9) 10. The Mystery of godliness.(I Timothy 3:16) 11. The Mystery of Change.(I Corinthians 15:51,52) 12. The Mystery of Iniquity.(2 Thessalonians 2:2) 13. The Mystery Babylon.(Revelation 17:5)

ONE The Mystery of the Grafting in of the Gentiles in the blindness of Israel (Romans 11:13-25) I.Classification of people in the Bible(I Cor.10:32): a.Jews- Abraham to Moses(Gen.12-Acts28) b.Gentiles- Adam to Babel(Gen.3-Gen.11) c.Church of God- Calvary to Rapture(Eph.2:14-16) II.God's Program for Israel: 1. Promise to Abraham: A nation that will carry out God's kingdom program(Genesis 12:1-3) 2. Promise partially fulfilled with the founding of the nation Israel(Exodus 19:5,6) 3. Kingdom rules through Moses,Saul,David,Solomon,Jeconiah. 4. Kingdom lost,enter the Gentiles 606 B.C. Israel in captivity under the rule of: Babylonian Empire-Nebuchadnezzar Medo-Persian Empire-Darius Grecian Empire-Alexander The Great Roman Empire- Augustus Caesar The last king supposed to be Zedekiah but it's too late the kingdom was gone: "The crown was fallen"(Lamentations 5:6) The kingdom is now a prophecy.(Daniel 2) The kingdom was announced.(Mat.3) The kingdom was offered and rejected.(John.19) The kingdom was re-0ffered.(Acts1-28)

The nation Israel that once ruled is now under captivity and only hope that "the kingdom" be restored unto them,from 606 B.C. they set their hope to the coming messiah. From the days of captivity until the last chapter of Acts, all activities are toward the establis hment and re-offering of the kingdom to Israel,the main theme of this period is "The hope of Israel"(Acts28:20;Acts 26:6,7). There are several things worth noting in studying "The hope of Israel": 1. Deliverance from their captivity:(Luke 1:68-79) The hope of Israel started to be the main course of their activity since the fall of the last king Jeconiah. Since then, "The Kingdom" became a prophecy wherein the whole nation looks forward to (Acts 26:6,7).

DOCTRINAL APPLICATION OF TESTAMENT AND COVENANT Rule I. There must be the death of the testator(Heb.9:15-17). Rule II. Jesus Christ should be the Testator since he is the Alpha and Omega(Revelation 1:8). Observing these rules will help us identify where the old and new testament began and how it affects the plan and program of God. 1. There are two testaments: a.Old Testament: Genesis to Malachi b.New Testament: Matthew to Revelation THE OLD TESTAMENT I. The Beginning: FOREORDAINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (I PETER 1:19,20) Since Jesus Christ is the Testator in both testament we should let the scriptures speak as to how, where and when the old testament took effect. We can find two verses that will supply the query and they are: 1.I Peter 1:19,20 "But with the precious blood of Christ,as of a lamb without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times you."

The Lord Jesus Christ was "foreordained" to shed his blood as of a lamb,the word "as" was given to be a key word,Numbers 12:8 tells us that God uses "similitudes" and "before the foundation of the world" it was already settled, that a lamb to be slain will be the figure of Christ until the coming of the very image.(Hebrews 10:1) II. The Application: "THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD" (Revelation 13:8)

The next phase is the application of it's foreordination "before the foundation of the world",it is important to note the two different periods since from here God perfectly planned and executed his plan and program for KINGDOM and REDEMPTION. 2.Revelation 13:8 "...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The Lamb is no doubt as to who:John 1:29"...the Lamb of God...";Rev.5:6"...a Lamb as it has been slain...";Rev.5:12"...the Lamb that was slain..." We know who the Lamb is,and he is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ but the question is how was the slaining happened in that period called "from the foundation of the world"? before we study the details,it is best to identify primarily where is the location and when is the time of that period. Hebrews 4:3"For we which have believe do enter into rest,as he said,AsI have sworn in my wrath,if they shall enter into my rest:although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." Hebrews 4:4"For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,And God did rest the seventh day from all his works." From here, we have located the period which is from the recreation of the "chaotic earth" that undergone a catastrophic event when Lucifer staged a rebellion,between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 picturing the earth as "without form and void" . So now we have a starting point as to where this period begins and that is from the recreation of the world in Genesis 1:3"And God said,Let there be light:and there was light." The next one is, until when that period "from the foundation of the world" lasted,so we can determine exactly where is the boundary of that period to avoid intruding other dispensational territory. Luke 11:50 " That the blood of all the prophets,which was shed from the foundation of the world,may be required of this generation:" Luke 11:51 "From the blood of Abel..."

The period called "FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD" begins in Genesis 1:3 when God begins his seven days recreation work starting in Genesis 1:3 extending up to Genesis 4 in the slaying of Abel. * The Slaying of "a lamb" as "the Lamb": In our search for understanding as to how and where the Lamb was slain we will confine our search within Genesis 1:3 up to Genesis chapter 4,since we are guided by those scriptures (Heb.4:3,4;Luke 11: 50,51). Since we know that "a lamb" will shed blood as a figure of "the Lamb",we simply search for it within the confines of Genesis 1:3 up to Genesis chapter four and we have it: Genesis 3:21 " Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them."