Gospel of John [Joh 16:1]. The Mystery of the Church part 6. NT documentation of the word

Title: Gospel of John [JOH 16:1]. The Mystery of the Church part 6. NT documentation of the word "mystery."

 

 

 

NT documentation of the word mystery:  

 

2TH 2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him,

 

2TH 2:2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

 

The Day of the Lord is the period that follows the Rapture of the church until the end of human history. Once the church is out of the world, and the restraining ministry of God the Holy Spirit ceases, Satan and his forces will unfold their program.

 

The Thessalonians were told that they were in the Day of the Lord and that they would not be delivered from the terrible 70th week that was reserved for Israel. The mystery doctrine reveals the full eschatological program of God and the bride of Christ will not go through the Tribulation, but will be delivered when our Lord returns in the clouds of the air.

 

Paul does not identify the restrainer in his writing. We have the removal of the Church from the world during the Rapture and so also the ministry of God the Holy Spirit to the Church. Theologians make good arguments on both the restrainer being the Church and being the HS. I would not underestimate the impact that the Church, as divisive as it has been, has had in restraining evil in this world. America is a result of men who members of the Church and devoted to scripture. However, the Church is powerless without God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we would conclude that both have a restraining ministry, but that God the Holy Spirit has a greater effect on restraining the growth of the evil of the antichrists. G/HS is not taken out of the world, but His ministry of restraining evil is removed.

 

2TH 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

 

Man of lawlessness, the son of destruction (perdition) is the antichrist or the beast of the Tribulation. He is Satan's false christ.

 

If the Day of the Lord had already come then the man of lawlessness would soon be revealed. It is also stated that some apostasy would occur first. Paul does not tell us who it is that is involved in this last apostasy. The point is that the Rapture hasn't come because these things have not been seen.

 

John uses the word antichrist:

1JO 2:18

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.

 

Anti means against or instead of. Satan is against Christ and wants to be worshiped instead of Christ.

 

He will one day produce his masterpiece, the Antichrist, who will manipulate the world into the worship of Satan and to believe Satan's lies. It is likely that the phrase "many antichrists" refers to those men who had already claimed to be god, like Caligula for instance, who claimed to be god and actually attempted to have a statue of himself set in the temple in Jerusalem.

 

There are many who are promising peace and safety to the human race, though not claiming to be gods, they are playing god. The fault also lies in those who believe them and together they are setting up the stage for the acceptance of the antichrist.

 

2TH 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

 

REV 13:3-4

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"

 

2TH 2:5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

 

2TH 2:6 And you know what restrains him now [Paul like revealed the "what" (neuter) when he was with them, but does not record it], so that in his time he [masculine pronoun] may be revealed.

 

2TH 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

 

 

This part of the mystery opens our eyes to the workings of evil in this world and how it can be disguised in the form of good or light. In the beginning of the Tribulation the antichrist is a peacemaker and a protector, but that a ruse designed to gain the trust of the subjects he is to rule. Soon the peacemaker becomes the peace-breaker and the protector becomes the persecutor. By means of the mystery we are no longer ignorant of those who proclaim peace and safety so they may become tyrants. And so the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. We are no longer ignorant of satan's schemes.

 

2TH 2:8 And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

 

The mystery revealed is that Satan is using mankind in his world system to set up his masterpiece as his own false christ, ruling over the world.

 

The amazing power of the breath of our Lord:

 

ISA 11:4

But with righteousness He will judge the poor,

And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;

And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,

And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

 

2TH 2:9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

 

Interestingly, these same three words are used of Christ but they are true and not false.

 

HEB 2:1

God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

 

There is one Christ and many fakes in the form of people, but more affectively, in the form of false promises and false doctrines.

 

2TH 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth [love of the gospel rather than love of lies and deceit] so as to be saved.

 

Our final passage containing the word "mystery" is in 1Ti. It has been shown with good evidence that this is a fragment of an early Christian hymn.

 

1TI 3:16 And by common confession [homologeo - to agree with or to confess in agreement] great is the mystery of godliness:

He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated [proved as God/Man] in the Spirit,
Beheld by angels [the spectacle as Victor in AC],
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.

 

"mystery of godliness [eusebeia]" = the mystery of well devotedness, reverence, or respect. The mystery is Christ and the devotedness of the believer comes from seeing Him for all that He is.