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Appendix Five
Divine mysteries and epochs. "musteria"and "kairois"
"MUSTERIA." MYSTERIES. Strong 3466.
Both the singular “musterion,” and the plural “musteria,” do not mean mysterious, as the English does, but secrets into which a person has to be initiated to know. They are derived from “mustes,” “one initiated into the mysteries;” from “mueo,” 3453, to initiate into the mysteries, to instruct. The verb “mueo” only occurs in Phil.4v12., “I have learned the secret, or been initiated into the mysteries.” Both Jesus and Paul use “musteria,” to speak of “secrets known to the initiated.” Paul tells us that God's divine secrets are foolishness to the worldling. 1Cor.1v23-25. 2v6-16. 2Cor.4v3. The mystery religions of the east were secret societies, with secrets that were demonic in origin. The mysteries of the heathen are demonically inspired fables, “muthois.” The Jews had fables too, and Paul warns us not to take heed to such fables, but to refuse them; 1Tim.1v4. 4v7. Tit.1v14., and warns that in the last days people will turn from divine truth to fables. 2Tim.4v4. In 2Pet.1v16. Peter affirms that he did not follow cunningly devised fables, but that he was an eyewitness, “epoptai,” of Christ's majesty. (“Epoptai” was used of those who reached the highest level in the fables of the Eleusinian mysteries.) Peter says he experienced divine reality, not fables. Jesus in Mt.13v11,16,17., said God gives us the ability to understand, and experimentally know, “ginosko,” God’s mysteries.
The singular “musterion;” and the plural “musteria,” mysteries, altogether occur 27 times in the New Testament.
Mt.13v11. “It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom.”
Mk.4v11. “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God,”
Lk.8v10. “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God,”
Rom.11v25. “I would not, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery-hardening in part to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles as come in.”
Rom.16v25. “According to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now has been made manifest..”
1Cor.2v7. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom.-9 eye has not seen.-10 But God has revealed them to us.”
1Cor.4v1. “Stewards of the mysteries of God.”
13v2. “And understand all mysteries, and all knowledge.” 14v2. “Howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
15v51. “A mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.”
Eph.1v9. “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will.”
3v3. “How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery.” 3v4. “May understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”
3v9. “To make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God
5v32. “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.”
6v19. “Boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.”
Col.1v26. “The mystery, which has been hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints.”
1v27. “The riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.”
2v2. “to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ. v3. In whom are hid all treasures of wisdom.”
4v3. “A door of utterance for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”
2Thes.2v7. “The mystery of iniquity doth already work, only He who restrains.”
1Tim.3v9. “Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.” 3v16. “And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.”
Rev.1v20. “The mystery of the seven stars.”
10v7. “In the days of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God should be finished.”
17v5. “Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and-- abominations.” 17v7. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman.”
The New Testament uses “musterion,” or “musteria,” to speak of the following mysteries.
The mystery of the incarnation. 1Tim.3v16. "God was manifest in the flesh."
The mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. Mt.13v11. Mk.4v11. Lk.8v10. 1Cor.13v2.
Asaph’s prophecy in Ps.78v2., about our Lord’s teaching in parables, is quoted in Mt.13v34,35.. Jesus said that He used parables to reveal truth to the seekers after truth; and to hide truth from the wilfully ignorant, who despised the precious truths that He told. Mt.13v10-17. We have to take heed to WHAT we hear, Mk.4v24, and HOW we hear. Lk.8v18. Paul said he was a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God. 1Cor.4v1. 1Tim.3v9. God's wonderfully wise mysteries are foolishness to the worldling. 1Cor.2v6-14.
The mystery of the Gospel.
The good news of mercy and forgiveness in Jesus. Eph.6v19. Rom.16v25,26. 1Cor.2v7. Col4v3. 1v28. “Him we preach.”
The mystery of the full knowledge of God the Father and Christ Jesus. Col.2v1,2.
Here is a paraphrase of Col.2v1-5., “For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and what a great conflict I have on your behalf and for those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, v2. in order that their hearts may be comforted and encouraged, being knit together in love, (“sumbibasthentes” 4822, as in Col.2v19. We read in Col.3v14. that love is the “sundesmos” 4886, that binds Christians together), and advancing towards an abounding wealth of the full assurance of understanding, so that they may finally reach the fullest experiential knowledge (“epignosin” 1922) of God’s sacred open secret (“musteriou” 3466), Christ.. v3. In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are stored up, lie hidden, and are to be found. v4. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with false reasonings and plausible arguments. v5. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”
What a wonderful prayer life Paul enjoyed! Paul’s prayer life was directed by Holy Spirit inspired visions, for though he was absent in body from many churches, he was present in spirit, through the Holy Spirit’s enabling. Paul was directed by vision to pray for Christians he knew, and others Christians he had never personally met. This is the zenith of prayer, but only a few reach this level of continuous Holy Spirit directed praying by vision. However, all Christians can experience, and usually have experienced, burdens for prayer being laid upon their hearts by God. Paul prayed for Christians to have a full knowledge (“epignosis” 1922) of God’s greatest plan, salvation through Jesus, and the full revelation of Jesus to their souls. The Gnostics arrogantly professed to have all the answers and yet they denied the true humanity and deity of Jesus. The glory of Christ’s humanity and deity, was Paul’s answer to the Gnostics perverted knowledge (”gnosis” 1108”), and their “know it all” arrogance and pride, they had an appalling ignorance and perversion of the real truth about God and Jesus.
People who recognise the true humanity of Jesus are of God, those who deny His true humanity are not of God.
The apostle John also writes against the Gnostics in IJn.4v2,3., he states, v2. “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, v3. and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” John states that those who deny the real humanity of Christ, are “not of God” and have the spirit of Antichrist. The Cerinthian Gnostics said the spirit Christ took over the man Jesus. The Docetic Gnostics said Jesus was a spirit being and not human. They were a real threat to the Church, and their false doctrines still plague the Church today, for some Christians say that Jesus was different in His physical makeup and blood to us. This is a satanic lie, for we read in Heb.2v17., “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” It is an amazing fact that out of pure love for us, God the Word became flesh in order to save and redeem us. Is.7v14. Jn.1v14. Rom.1v3,4. Rom.8v1-4.
Christ’s conquest over His humanity was glorious and real, and the Scriptures regarding Christ’s humanity will be recognised and accepted by those who are inspired by God. True Christians also recognise the absolute deity of Jesus mentioned in Is.7v14. 9v6. Micah.5v2. Is.44v6. 48v12. with Rev.1v8,17. 2v8. 22v13. etc. The confession of Jesus being our atoning Saviour, the Lord our righteousness, is equally as important. Is.53. Jer.23v6. 33v15,16. etc. The evil spirits that energise occultists and false teachers, force them to deny these vital and precious truths about Jesus that we rejoice in. It is sad that some Christians, who oppose the gifts of the Holy Spirit, fail to accept this Scripture, and say that Pentecostal Christians who believe in Christ’s absolute Deity, true humanity, and atoning precious blood, are “Not of God,” when this Scripture in Jn,4v1-6., says that we are.
The mystery of "the riches of the glory---of Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col.1v26-28. 2v9,10.
This had been previously hidden from ages and generations, but it is now revealed to His saints, both Gentiles and Jews. Gal.2v20. “In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him.”
Paul states in Col.1v26,27., “The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now revealed to His saints. v27. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus is "the mystery of God," now no longer hidden, but manifested and revealed to us, and Christ in us is the hope of glory. Paul again emphasises the completeness of believers in Jesus again in Col.2v9,10., “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; v10. and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
Paul prays in Eph.3v14-21., that believers may experience the fullness of Jesus being within us, and the immeasurable greatness of His love. We read in Eph.3v14-21. v14. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, v15. from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, v16. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, v17. that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, v18. may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, v19. to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. v20. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, v21. to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (NKJ)
This is an experimental full knowledge, (“epignosis,”) of the Father and Son, that is the result of the full assurance of understanding and insight by divine revelation. This, includes, but is much more than a full exercise of our intellectual powers, it is the result of a God given “spirit of wisdom and revelation,” mentioned in Eph.1v15-19. N.B.v17.
The mystery of the Church as the bride of Christ. Eph.5v32. See v28-33.
The mystery of the Church as the body of Christ.
Made up of Gentiles and Jews. Eph.3v1-11. Once hidden, but now revealed. Deut.29v29.
The mystery of the seven stars, the seven Churches in Asia. Rev.1v20.
The mysteries Christians speak when they speak in tongues. 1Cor.13v2.
When Christians speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit enables them to praise and magnify God. Acts.10v46. 1Cor.14v2,15-19. Note well v18.. Some Christians say that as Paul tells us in 1Cor.14v2. that speaking in tongues is addressed to God, all interpreted tongues should be addressed to God. This is shown to be wrong because.
They have failed to recognise the difference between tongues used for praise and prayer, and tongues as a ministry to the Church, as stated by Paul in 1Cor.12v30..
Paul states in 1Cor.14v3,5., that interpreted tongues are addressed to the Church and are equivalent to prophecy for Church edification, and contain divine mysteries.
Paul says, in 1Cor.14v20-22., that tongues can be addressed to men as a sign, when they understand the languages. This can bring quite remarkable evangelistic results, as on the day of Pentecost, when there were 3,000 converts through people from 17 nations hearing “the wonderful works of God” in their own languages. Acts.2v4-12.
9. The mystery of lawlessness. 2Thes.2v7.
God has restrained Satan’s evil plans for the subjugation and destruction of mankind. The removal of God's restraint will result in the time known as the great tribulation. Dan.12v1-13. Rev.12v7-12. “None of the wicked shall understand, but the righteous shall understand.” Dan.12v10. God's children know that this has got to happen to reveal that Satan's plans bring total pain, anguish and chaos to the world. The revelation of the mystery of iniquity is an essential part of the mystery of God.
The mystery of Israel's hardening until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, and Christ returns. Rom.11v25.
We read in Zech.13v8,9., that two thirds of Israel will follow Antichrist and will be executed by Jesus at His return. Only a third survive, because Antichrist will kill the godly Jews who will not deny God, and follow him and worship him and Satan. Dan.11v32-35. 12v7.
The mystery of the harlot city, Babylon. Rev.17v5,7.
This is Jerusalem under Antichrist, the virgin city is called a harlot by God just as she was in Is.1v21.; God called her Sodom's sister in Ez.16v46,48,49,55.. She is said to have shed the blood of prophets in Rev.18v24., the unique sin of Jerusalem. Mt.23v30-39. In Rev.11v8., “The city, the great one,” is said to be “where our Lord was crucified," Jerusalem is here called Babylon, Sodom and Egypt, because under Antichrist she resists God and is given over to idolatry and sexual perversion. Prophecy and history confirm the fact that Jerusalem is here referred to, for the six kingdoms; Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Egypt, Syria and Rome, have ruled Jerusalem consecutively from the start of the times of the Gentiles up to Christ's death.
The mystery of God, and the first resurrection. Rev.10v7. 1Cor.15v50-53.
The prophets foretell a glorious kingdom of God on earth, this starts at the seventh trumpet, when the first resurrection takes place. Is.25v6-9. 1Cor.15v50-53. Rev.11v15-19. N.B. v18 “the time of the dead is come.” 1Thes.4v13-17. Rev.20v4-6. John.6v39,40,44,54. 11v23,24. God longs for this day to come, He can start His wonderful plans for Israel and the Church; His plan of the ages. Eph.1v9,10. 2v7. 3v11. Jesus is expectantly waiting until His enemies are made His footstool, and His great plans for His people begin. Heb.10v13.
KAIROIS, GOD'S EPOCHAL TIMES. 398 Wigram. Strong 2540 and 5550.
The word “kairos,” means an epochal and strategic time; a critical niche in time.
“Kairos,” is used to speak of such ordinary events as, “the time of the figs,” in Mk.11v13.;” and of, “the time of harvest,” in Mk.12v2., in our Lord's parable of the vineyard. However, “kairos” usually speaks of a divine epoch in time, a time of divine appointment and fulfilled prophecy; a time when God's will and purposes are fulfilled, and His mighty ways and acts are revealed. The plural, “kairois” speaks of epochal events in time; “chronos,” speaks of ordinary chronological time.
The epochal times and seasons are in God's hands. Acts.1v7. 17v26.
Many types and prophecies in the Scriptures speak of a divinely ordained time of fulfilment. 1Pet.1v10-12. N.B. v11. See God's marvellous plan of the ages. Eph.3v11. Note God's appointed times of refreshing and revival. Acts.3v19. See 3.
God's strategically born children and servants.
The epochal time of the birth of Moses. Moses was born for a divine purpose, at a strategic time of God. Acts.7v20.
The epochal time of John Baptist's birth. John was a child of divine purpose; Gabriel told Zachariah that the promise of a child, which Zachariah did not believe, would be fulfilled as God had promised, at the strategic divine time. Lk.1v19,20.
The epochal time of our Lord's birth and ministry. In Gal.4v4,5., “when the fullness of time had come,” “chronos” is used in the sense of “kairos,” God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” “The fullness of time,” speaks of a special time appointed by God, a divine epoch. John Baptist and Jesus started and finished their ministries on prophetic time epochs. Is.40v3. with Mt.3v3. “Now after John was put into prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, v15 and saying, “The TIME (“kairos”) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Gospel.” Mk.1v14,15. Christ had come to fulfil the prophecies concerning Him. “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Lk.4v21. This was the epochal time of Israel's visitation and they closed their eyes to it and missed it, and went on to tragedy and genocide. Luke.19v41-44. v44 “Kairos.”
The epochal time of our Lord's temptation by Satan in the wilderness.
Satan attacks us when we are most vulnerable to temptation, even Jesus experienced these attacks. In Lk.4v13., we read that Satan left Jesus until an opportune time (“kairos”), when he could tempt and test Jesus again. God restrains Satan, and he can only test us when God permits him to do so. 1Cor.10v13. Peter had one of these epochal trials of faith at Satan's hands. Lk.22v31-34. with 22v54-62. The early Church had epochal times of temptation from Satan by persecution. Acts.19v11,23. Special miracles brought special persecution.
The epochal time of temptation, backsliding and apostasy.
Our Lord uses “kairos” twice in Luke.8v13., to warn us, that some who hear the Gospel only “believe for a time," and in a time of temptation fall away.” The decisions to serve or reject Jesus and the Father are epoch making decisions for eternal joy, or eternal judgement.
The strategic and epochal times of revival.
When John was cast into prison, God extended the ministry of Jesus by giving Him twelve ordinary men to be His apostles, it is twice said that this was an epochal time in our Lord's ministry. Mt.11v25. and 12v1. God the Father and Jesus rejoiced over these men, it was good in their eyes. Mt.11v25-27. See Lk.10v21-24. There are strategic times of visitation, revival and refreshing sent from the presence of the Lord. Lk.19v44. Acts.3v19. The day of Pentecost was such a time, when the type was fulfilled in divine and blessed reality. Acts.2v1.
The epochal time when Herod the tetrarch beheaded John Baptist. Mt.14v1.
When Jesus heard about Herod's murder of John and of his reaction to His ministry, He departed into the desert and fed the five thousand; He walked on the water; He healed multitudes of sick people; as many as touched the hem of His garment were made whole. Mt.14v1-36. N.B. v36. There was an extension of our Lord's ministry, and greater signs, wonders and miracles. Our Lord shows us that when great leaders die, we need not retreat, we can advance to even greater things in God.
The epochal time of the death of Paul and God's saints.
Paul says his death is the epochal time of his release to meet his Lord, a time of divine appointment. 2Tim.4v6. Phil1v21-23. 2Cor.5v6-8. 2Tim.1v10. Jesus has the keys of death and Hades. Rev.1v18. Jesus destroys the destroyer. Heb.2v14,15.
The epochal time of atonement and redemption in Christ.
God promised eternal life in Jesus before the ages began, or any creature was made; and at His appointed epochal time, God entrusted the former rebel and blasphemer Paul with the proclamation of these truths. Oh, the wonderful grace of God!! Tit.1v2,3. 1Tim.1v12-17.
In Rom.5v6. we read that in due time (“kairos”) Christ died for the ungodly.
In 2Cor.6v2., we read, “I heard thee in “a ('kairos') time accepted,--now is the acceptable ('kairos') time of salvation.” 2Cor.6v2. We are in the age of grace, the time of prophetic fulfilment of redemption truth. 1Pet.1v10-12. N.B. v11.
As we have seen, “the fullness of 'chronos' time,” is used in the sense of “kairos,” in Gal.4v4,5., to speak of the supreme epoch in the history of mankind, the atoning death of Christ. In 1Tim.2v6., the plural “kairois,” is used to say that, the testimony to Jesus is to be given in due epochal times. Mt.12v31,32. Jesus spoke of the time of His death as “My time,” in Jn.7v6,8. and Mt.26v18., both are “kairos.”
The epochal "times of the Gentiles." Lk.21v24. Rev.11v2.
Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Lk.21v24. These times of the Gentiles started at the captivity in Babylon, and they will continue until the second coming of Christ. The pride of the Gentiles is being broken by the proven failure of all nations to rule righteously.
THE EVENTS OF THE EPOCHAL LAST DAYS.
The perilous times of the Last days. 2Tim.3v1. 4v3.
This is one of the signs of Christ Second Coming. Acts.1v7. Mk.13v33. Terrible signs and appalling world distress precede Christ's Second Coming. Mt.24v3-29. Antichrist will be revealed in his epochal time, but then he and Satan will only have a short time. Rev.12v12. Antichrist's coming is an epochal time of disaster for the whole world. 2Thes.2v6,7. Antichrist and Satan make the last 3½ years of this age epochal years of woe. Rev.12v9-12. “Kairos” is used three times in Rev.12v14, “times, time and half a time.” God allows Satan to do his worst with the world, to expose Satan's evil character and the effect of his evil plans on mankind.
The strategic epochal time to feed people with prophetic truth.
Our Lord in Lk.12v54-56. called the multitudes hypocrites when they failed to discern the “kairos” time of their day. It was a “kairos” time of decision. Lk.13v1. In Lk.12v35-48. Jesus gives a warning of the necessity of Christian leaders to feed people with truth in the days before His coming, v42 is “kairos.” In Mt.24v45-51., Jesus warns us that correctly interpreting prophetic truth will be a vital ministry at that epochal season, “kairos,” v45. The parables of the servants and the ten virgins warn us of the effect of lack of truth and prayer. Mt.24v45 to 25v13.
The epochal time of the resurrection of the dead. Rev.11v18. Is.25v6-9. 1Thes.4v13-17. 1Cor.15v50-53. Rev.20v4-6.
The time of rewards and the joy of being in our Father's kingdom. 1Pet.1v5.
The epochal time of judgement.
Herod was executed at one of God's strategic times. Acts.12v1.
Elymas the sorcerer was judged for a divinely appointed “kairos” period of judgement. Acts.13v11.
The time of judgement on demons and evil angels. Mt.8v29.
The time is come when judgement begins at the house of God. 1Pet.4v17.
The time of the harvest and the time of judgement. Mt.13v30. See 31-50. 25v30-46. Judge nothing before the “time.” 1Cor.4v5.
The epochal "fullness of times," Eph.1v10.
The most epochal time for this world will be when the kingdom and rule of Christ take place at the fullness of “kairos” times; all other “kairos” times await this start of the eternal kingdom of God. Eph.1v10. The “time of reformation.” Heb.9v10.
Conclusion. We need to know the time we are in, and put on the armour of God. Rom.13v11. We need to redeem the “kairos” time because the days are evil. Eph.5v16. Col.4v5. We need to humble ourselves and God will exalt us in due time. 1Pet.5v6. The time is short. 1Cor.4v29. The time is at hand. Rev.1v3. 22v10.
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