MYSTERY FORM OF THE KINGDOM

MYSTERY FORM OF THE KINGDOM

Mysteries, a word used of secret rites of various religious cults, refers to truth that was not revealed in the Old Testament but is revealed in the New Testament. More than a dozen such truths are revealed in the New Testament, all following the basic definition of Colossians 1:26, which defines a mystery as that “which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” A mystery truth, accordingly, has two elements. First, it has to be hidden in the Old Testament and not revealed there. Second, it has to be revealed in the New Testament. It is not necessarily a reference to a truth difficult to understand, but rather to truths that can be understood only on the basis of divine revelation.

Matthew 13 introduces a different form of the kingdom, namely the present spiritual reign of the King during the period He is physically absent from the earth, prior to His second coming. The mysteries of the kingdom, accordingly, deal with the period between the first and second advent of Christ and not the millennial kingdom which will follow the second coming.

The Mystery Form Of The Kingdom (excerpts)

 The mystery form of the kingdom brings us to a concept entirely distinct from the spiritual and millennial kingdoms. That God was going to establish a kingdom on the earth was no mystery. Since the first sin in Heaven, when God’s sovereignty was challenged, it was His purpose to manifest His sovereignty by the establishment over which He ruled…..  The mystery form of the kingdom has reference to the age between the two advents of Christ. The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven describe the conditions that prevail on the earth in that interim while the King is absent. These mysteries, thus relate this present age to the eternal purposes of God in regard to His kingdom….  Concerning this mystery form of the kingdom, it is observed, in the first place, that it can not be equated with the millennial kingdom, for that kingdom was no mystery but was clearly predicted in the Old Testament. In the second place, it cannot refer to the spiritual kingdom, for that kingdom is constituted only of saved individuals, who enter it by the new birth, but this mystery form of the kingdom is composed of saved and unsaved, alike (wheat and tares, good and bad fish). It cannot refer, thirdly, to the eternal kingdom, for these mysteries are limited in time to this inter-advent period. It can not be limited, fourthly, to the church, for this mystery form of the kingdom includes more than the church. On the other hand, it must be observed, that this mystery form of the kingdom has reference to things that were hitherto unrevealed, is definitely limited as to time, and represents the entire sphere of profession in the present age. It is most important, eschatologically, to keep these three usages of the term “kingdom” separate and distinct…. In the time element in Matthew thirteen, Ryrie writes to show that these parables are limited to the inter-advent period. He says:

…. “The kingdom of the heavens has become like unto.” This sets the time limit for the beginning of the subject matter involved. In other words, the kingdom of heaven assumed the form described in the parables at that time when Christ personally ministered on the earth. The end of the time period covered by these parables is indicated by the phrase “end of the world,” or more literally, “the consummation of the age” (verses 39-49). This is the time of the Second Advent of Christ when He comes in power and great glory. Therefore, it is clear that these parables are concerned only with the time between the days when Christ spoke them on earth and the end of the age. This gives a clue to the meaning of the phrase, “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven….”  (taken from “Things To Come,” pp 142-144, J. D. Dwight Pentecost)

Blessings!