The Initiative Principle

That principle by which God initiates the believer into His truth through the mysteries revealed in His Word.

The mysteries in Scripture do not mean that knowledge is withheld, but that knowledge is revealed. Truth is revealed by God. Man would never have known of a Redeemer unless it was revealed by God in His Word. Abraham would never have known that he would have seed as the sands of the sea unless God had revealed it.

The Church was never revealed to Old Testament prophets. I Corinthians 4:1: God does not want His people to he ignorant; therefore, let us be "stewards of the mysteries of God."

I. MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

Church: the Body of Christ (Ephesians 3:1-10; Ephesians 1:22, 23).

This mystery is the uniting of the Jew and Gentile into the body (Body of Christ). God makes the Lord Jesus the Head of the Body. In Ephesians 5 the truth emphasized is the Headship of Christ over the Church. This Scripture does not reveal the secret of marriage, for marriage is revealed in Genesis 2.

II. MYSTERY OF THE TRANSLATION

I Thessalonians 4:13-18: This was indeed a new truth revealed. The rapture is revealed for the first time.

III. MYSTERY OF THE TRANSFORMATION (RESURRECTION)

I Corinthians 15:51-58 reveals for the first time the fact that we shall not all die.

IV. MYSTERY OF INIQUITY (LAWLESSNESS)

II Thessalonians 2:7; I John 4:3 -"Not of God";

Spirit of Antichrist. The lawlessness will consummate in the lawless man, in the one who will set himself up as God. It has to do with a man who claims to be equal with God-THE ANTICHRIST.

V. MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

It is revealed to us by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 13.

The mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven are not found in the Old Testament. The prophets foretold the Kingdom, the suffering, the rejection of the King, and later, the rule of the King. They did not foretell what was between the two. A mystery in the Word means a truth revealed for the first time.

First Parable: The Sower (Matthew 13:1.22). The son of Man is Sower.

Second Parable: Tares (Matthew 13:24-30). What happens to the seed which does produce? Tares are sown in the good ground. Tares look like wheat. Tares are wheat of the world; they are not in the Church. Paul says to put the wicked persons out of the Church (I Corinthians 5:13).

Third Parable: Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31, 32). It grows into a tree from a very small seed. Who ever heard of a mustard tree? Untimely growth is what it is speaking about. It is not speaking of, or referring to the Gospel, which the Church preaches and converts the world with, for the world shall never be converted as a whole. Remember, this is the Kingdom of Heaven, not the Church that Christ is speaking of.

Fourth Parable: The Leaven (Matthew 13:33-35). Leaven is always spoken of in Scripture as evil (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 2:11; 6:17; Matthew 16:5; Luke 12:1; Mark 8:15). Woman (in the Bible) is a common sign of evil. Look at the "isms" of today. Most of them have been started by women. Leaven is corruption. The Leaven will take place fully after the Church is taken away out of the world.

Fifth Parable: The Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44). God's people (Israel) are the Hidden Treasure. (Exodus 19:5; Psalm 135:4). Remember, this is talking of the Kingdom of Heaven, not the Church.

Sixth Parable: The Pearl (Matthew 13:45, 46). The Pearl is a choice jewel and speaks of the elect remnant of Israel.

Seventh Parable: The Net (Matthew 13:47-52). It is a picture of angels coming in judgment upon Israel. It is not a picture of the rapture of the Church. Remember, this is the Kingdom of Heaven, and not the Church.

VI. MYSTERY OF ISRAEL'S BLINDNESS

See Romans 11:25. Sometimes it is called the "Mystery of the Olive Tree". The truth that is revealed is the duration of Israel's blindness (Isaiah 6:9,10). Israel's blindness is foretold by Isaiah, but the duration is not given to the Old Testament, but to the Apostle Paul. Israel was blinded only in part; not all of Israel was blinded. Some were and are blind. Elijah thought he was the only one left who loved God, but the Lord held back 7,000 who worshipped Him. Even now God has His few (remnant) (Romans 11:5). (1) Blindness not to all Israel (John 1:11, 12). (2) Temporarily, until the FULNESS OF THE GENTILES BE COME IN. (There is the difference between the fullness of the Gentiles and the time of the Gentiles).

VII. MYSTERY OF BABYLON

See Revelation 17:5, 18. Babylon is Babylon, not the Roman Catholic Church. She could be in it along with others who are left after the rapture. The Scripture tells you the Mystery! The seven kings reign one after another. The ten kings are those who reign at the same time. One of the seven kings shall die, but will be raised again-the Antichrist.

VIII. MYSTERY OF GOD

The Godhead of Christ (Colossians 2:1-11 )-'Mystery of God, even Christ.'

IX MYSTERY OF THE CHRISTIAN

Colossians 1:27-"Christ in you the hope of glory". Not only is Christ at the right hand of God; not only is Christ coming again in glory, but Christ is living in every Christian!

X. MYSTERY OF FAITH

See I Timothy 3:9. If it had not been for the Word you would not have known that salvation comes by faith. Faith demands acceptance. A Christian becomes a member in the body of Christ the moment he is saved. This is revealed through the Word (Ephesians 3). It was revealed to Paul first; it is not in the Old Testament.

XI. MYSTERY OF THE GODLY (SOMETIMES CALLED PIETY)

See I Timothy 3:16-it is without controversy. It means "how men become Godly, how Godliness is restored unto us". It is restored only by Immanuel, which means "God with us".

Six things were declared: (1) His Incarnation, which is, "God was manifest in the flesh", and the name of the Incarnate One is JESUS (Luke 1:35; John 1:1, 14). Without incarnation in the flesh there is no salvation (I John 2:4). Man may have religion but not have salvation. (2) His Resurrection: "justified in the Spirit" (Romans 6:1-11). (3) His Manifestation: "seen of angels". Angels means "God's messengers". (4) His Proclamation: “Preached unto the Gentiles”, to all people of all nations. (5) His Salvation: “believed on in the world”, salvation that came from Him, salvation which is free and eternal (Ephesians 2:8, 9). (6) His Ascension: “Received up into glory”!

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