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The Mystery and the Great Tribulation
In Colossians 1:23-26, in writing of his distinctive ministry, the Apostle Paul, to whom Christ had committed a Dispensation,1 Corinthians 9:17, who called himself ‘the prisoner of Jesus Christ’ ‘for you Gentiles’ Ephesians 3:1-4 and Colossians 4:3-4, wrote that the Dispensation committed to him was a ‘deposit’ 2 Timothy 1:12, a Divine Secret, ‘the mystery of God’s will’ Ephesians 1:9; that which completed, or filled‑up, the Word of God; ‘THE MYSTERY,’ which hath been hid from ages and from generations.’
When God sent blindness upon Israel and set them aside, to remain in that state ‘until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in’ Romans 11:25, and then began a new ‘RECONCILIATION’ movement (Romans 11:15; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; and Romans 5:11), and ushered in a new ‘DISPENSATION’ for the nations, it was not an afterthought with God. It was rather a Divine program which God had ‘PURPOSED’ in Christ, BEFORE the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2-3; Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11; Ephesians 3:11; and Ephesians 3:9).
Surely any minister of Christ, who claims to be a faithful steward of the Mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-4), should know that there is a great difference between ‘the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began’ (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 11:26-29) and ‘THE MYSTERY,’ Which was not spoken by the mouth of any prophet since the world began; but was God’s own predestinated, but untold SECRET, ‘Which hath been hid from ages and from generations.’ (Colossians 1:25-26).
The ‘GOSPEL’ of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 was made known to and by God’s prophets since the world began; for Christ died for our sins and was raised the third day, ‘ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES’ (Acts 13:29-30). But the ‘MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL’ (Ephesians 6:19-20), for which Paul suffered as an evil doer in the Roman jail (2 Timothy 2:7-9), was never made known to, or by, any servant of Christ, until the risen, glorified Christ, far above all heavens, revealed it to His prisoner, the Apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle of Reconciliation. The Apostle Paul was not in jail in Rome for preaching the prophesied ‘GOSPEL,’ but for telling a Secret, for proclaiming the un-prophesied, predestinated ‘MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL."
Now, once again pay close attention...The LORD Jesus Christ, on earth, was a Minister of the Circumcision (Israel), to confirm promises made to Israel (Romans 15:8). God never promised to Israel that they would obtain mercy, in the Dispensation of Grace, through the mercy of Gentiles (Romans 11:31); or that Christ would remain far above all heavens for more than 2000 years as Head of the Church, Which is His Body (Ephesians 1:19-23); that during this present un-prophesied age and dispensation God would build a Body to be presented to Christ as a glorious, holy, spotless, blameless Church (Ephesians 5:26-28).
BECAUSE, this was God’s ‘before-the-world’ ‘PURPOSE,’ not revealed to His prophets, it was God’s ‘SECRET’ or ‘MYSTERY. Keep in mind, in His ‘CONFIRMATION’ ministry on earth Jesus of Nazareth did not confirm ‘the Dispensation of the Mystery’ Ephesians 3:9, because it was not included in the promises which God made to the fathers by the prophets (Romans 15:8).
While on earth Jesus Christ, DID confirm to Israel the promises of God made to their fathers by the prophets concerning ‘THE TREE’, ‘THE TRIBULATION’, and ‘THE THRONE’. Israel had been promised the resurrection OF the dead: they had that hope (Acts 28:20; Acts 23:6; Acts 24:15; Acts 26:6-7). They knew that there would be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15); but they did not know the ‘MYSTERY’ coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-54), the hope of the ‘MYSTERY’ Church, the resurrection OUT FROM AMONG the dead. Yes the ‘TREE’ (Calvary) was in fulfillment of Prophecy. (Acts 13:29-30). The ‘THRONE’, David’s THRONE, the THRONE of Christ’s glory on earth, will be in fulfillment of many Prophecies. The ‘TRIBULATION’ will be in fulfillment of several Prophecies, such as Jeremiah 30:4-11.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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