The Mysteries of the Bible.

The statement "a Mystery" is mainly seen in the New Testament, but there is one place in the Old Testament, but using different words with the same meaning, it is found in Daniel 2:18,19;; Daniel 2:27-30,47,; Daniel 4:9
Daniel 2:18,19

"18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. "

You will notice that the translation in King James Bible is "Secret.". However in the New Testament it has the meaning, in classical Greek, of "anything hidden or a secret," it was used in Greek for sacred rites of the Greek religious in which only those who were initiated shared. The root verb is "myõ" means "to close the lips (or eyes)." In the New Testament it has the meaning of "a secret for which no answer can be found." It has divine meaning, revealed by God through His Spirit. Mystêrion is a temporary secret, which once revealed is known and understood.

In the gospels the only use of Mystêrion is found in three places:-
Mark 4:11.

"11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:"

Matthew 13:11

"11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."

Luke 8:10

"10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

In the Pauline Letters we find that Paul used the words frequently, (Twenty-one times we find the word " Mystêrion"

When we find the word "Mystery" in the scriptures, it is always describing something which God has known about but has waited until it was suitable to tell us. They have always been part of the plans of God, yet He had to wait before He exposed the truth.

The Mystery of the Body of Christ

This is often spoken about in todays church, but for the early church is was not known, a mystery.
Ephesians 3:3,6.

"2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:"

This mystery was never revealed nor indicated in the Old Testament, that God intended to make one combined group from the Jews and the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:12-16.

"12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: "

Through the death and blood of Christ, we Gentiles are one body with the Jews, it has always been part of the plan of God to only have one church, to include Jews and Gentiles as one, but He did not reveal this until after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament the Jewish nation were the chosen people of God, it is very clear that they were to be the "light to the Gentiles"
Isaiah 42:6

"6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;"

Gentiles are now able to share in the promises of Abraham by being made one with the Jew.

Also Isaiah 49:6.
Acts 13:46,47.

"46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth."

The Mystery of the Lord living in Believers.

The Old Testament contains many references to the Messiah, but there is no mention that the believer would have the Messiah living in, through the Holy Spirit, once they believed. The fact that God, through His Holy Spirit, would become part of each of the believers, this was totally knew.
Jesus actually made reference to it during the final meeting in the upper room,
John 14:20-23

"20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

This did not actually occur until on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon them,
Galatians 2:20

"20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

The Mystery that the church was the Bride of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:30-32.

"30 For we are members of His body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. "

There are several references to God being the husband of the Jewish nation, an example of His love for His people,
Jeremiah 31:32.

"32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:"

Isaiah 54:5.

"5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."

There is now reference that the Messiah will take a bride for Himself, and that the bride will be the church., a "Great Mystery."

The Mystery of the Rapture

We must remember that there is no prediction or prophecy awaiting to occur before this event will happen, Jesus used the words "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." Mark 13:33.

There was no reference in the Old Testament that at sometime, when the Messiah returns to the earth, there will be believers who will pass straight into eternity instantly, without first dieing. But in the New Testament Paul has the mystery which we call the Rapture, the instant conversion of the living believers from perishable to imperishable, then being changed from mortality to immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

"51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

"13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

When the Lord Jesus next returns to the earth He will only come as far as the clouds to call home all those who have died in the name of Jesus and all who are true believers and are alive at the time.

The dead or asleep in the Lord, will have their bodies returned to them but will be immortal, while those who are alive their bodies will be instantly changed into an immortal body, before they rise up to be with the risen dead and the Lord Jesus waiting in the clouds.

Why is there a Rapture

Why will God the Father act in this way? There appears to be two reasons,:-
The event of the Rapture will signify that the church age has ended and then we shall start the final last seven years of the Tribulation, lead by the AntiChrist as world leader. You do not want to be involved with this period.

The second reason is that God is protecting His personal followers, to keep them from the events involving the great Tribulation, as God vents His anger on those who have rejected Him. It will happen instantly, there will not be any warning to get ready, no preliminaries.

What do we know about our body after the Rapture.

The first thing which will happen is during the "Twinkling of the eye," All those who are ill or have physical parts fitted, like their knee or hip joints, they will all be replaced with a perfect joint, different parts of the body will also be replaced by perfect parts, like our artificial teeth, heart valves and so on. by the time we are passing through parts of the building above us to meet Jesus we will all have perfect, eternal bodies, which are able to pass through solid objects, just as Jesus did when he visited the disciples after HIS resurrection.
Luke 24:34-40

"34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet."

Paul talked about this new body in:-
1 Corinthians 15:42-44

"42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. "

For those who have already died or asleep in the Lord, their bodies will be joined to the remains of the buried body, they will come out of the place of burial .They will be raised up. The bodies will be the same bodies as they had while alive but they will have become changed into eternal bodies suitable for life in heaven. If we still remain, then our bodies will be changed instantly to also become eternal, far superior to the old body you are living in now.

These bodies will be not affected by sickness or death. When Jesus died on the cross and was buried, the risen body did not suffer from any corruption. Our bodies, according to Paul will be incorruptible, they will have no ability to corrupt, to die, subject to an accident, no aging or death. It will also be pain free and disease free, it will never be subjected to death ever again. This is explained in Romans 6:8-9.

"5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. "

Note that Jesus "death hath no more dominion over him." once Jesus left the tomb in the garden, He will never be able to die again, our bodies are sown in corruption but they will be raised in incorruption. Our bodies will be identical to the Body of Jesus:-
Philippians 3:20-21.

"20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

1 Corinthians 15:47-50

"47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. "

1 John 3:1-3

"1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

A further thought about these new bodies, they will be given special physical power, Paul wrote in:- 1 Corinthians 15:43.

"43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: "

A dead body has no strength, but when we come out of the grave, we will be full of energy. Our new body will be full of energy, full of glory, raised in power. Just compare the way Jesus moved around after His resurrection.- John 20:19.

"19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."

Because of the fact that Paul states that our bodies were :-
1 Corinthians 15:44-50.

"44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. "

It was sown a natural body, from Adam, but now it is a spiritual body, like the body of Jesus is now, a glorified body, able to pass through physical objects like walls. The word "Spiritual" does not mean we will just be apparitions, no we will have physical bodies capable of eating, but controlled by the Holy Spirit, we will be on a much high level, suitable for heaven for eternity. The Rapture is the start of a new heavenly life.

Why are there restrictions?

Many may claim What about Mohammed, Budda or any one who claims they are the way to God. Perhaps If I live a good life, I will get there?
You are talking about a God which is full of love, why can’t He accept me, as I am.

The Bible teach's that there is only one way to God, through Jesus. The whole message of the Gospel is that we have sinned against the pure and perfect rules of God. Since God is totally pure, perfect and totally Holy, a sinner cannot exist in His presence. Yet His love for His creation is so great that He has found a way to obtain forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross, He was God-Man, perfect but a man. By His action He took all of the sins of the world upon Him on the cross, died in our place, then rose again to return into heaven. All we have to do is admit to God or Jesus that we are sinners and that Jesus died for us, God has offered forgiveness and a future in heaven with him.
Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:2-6

"3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. "

What happens to those who are not taken by the Rapture?

"46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Luke 13:23-29

"23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
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."

There is one more fact that the Rapture will not be the last opportunity to join Jesus in heaven, during the tribulation there will be some saved, but the bulk of people left will end up at the final judgement before Jesus Christ, they refused to believe and receive Jesus, they will therefore be placed by Jesus, the judge, into the lake of fire, for eternal punishment.
Matthew 25:41.

"41 Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"