Today’s class was quite interesting with our study of Ephesians 3:1-9, and the mystery of the Dispensation of Grace in contrast to the future mystery of God revealed in Revelation 10:7, where John writes the prophecy of the 7th trumpet.
Revelation 10:7: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.Revelation 11:15: And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Luke 4:5-6 records the temptation of Christ in the wilderness, where the Devil promised Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he would bow down and worship him. This was an offer he had no right to offer. The kingdoms belong to God, and Christ will take his rightful place as King of Kings and rule and reign, at the 2nd Advent, as prophesied in Revelation 11:15.
For us, in this mystery called the Dispensation of the grace of God, we are part of Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Ephesians 3:2-9: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Reading this incredible message helps us to clearly see that this Age of the Church, the body of Christ, was hidden or unsearchable, it could not be found anywhere, from the beginning of the world. No one knew, no Old Testament prophet, not even Moses could see this hidden mystery of the Gentile church being fellowheirs and partakers of eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:11-17: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Dear friends, we are part of the most exciting time in history, knowing that who we are in Christ is a mystery – this Dispensation of Grace is unique in God’s overall plan for the ages.