μυστήριον

mystērion

from a derivative of μύω mýō (to shut the mouth); a secret or “mystery” (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites):—mystery

Mystery…

• something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain, a riddle
• the condition or quality of being secret, strange; a person or thing whose identity or nature is puzzling or unknown
• the secret rites of Greek and Roman pagan religion, or of any ancient or tribal religion, to which only initiates are admitted
• the practices, skills, or lore peculiar to a particular trade or activity, regarded as baffling to those without specialized knowledge
• and chiefly Christian Theology–a religious belief based on divine revelation, esp. one regarded as beyond human understanding, an incident in the life of Jesus or of a saint as a focus of devotion in the Roman Catholic Church, esp. each of those commemorated during recitation of successive decades of the rosary.

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  Ephesians 3:1-6

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Colossians 1:27

God chose the time and the place for His mystery to be revealed.  Just as we are able to understand a Truth in His Word, He knows when to reveal something to our individual hearts and minds.  In Paul’s time, God knew that the time was His to reveal the Truth in order to break down the wall between the Jew and Gentile.  He wanted the Gospel preached to the Gentile world and they would, then, be partakers of the privileges instead of lying in ignorance and idolatry forever.  He surely desired that the Jews, His Chosen People, would also see clearly now.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3

The veil would be removed in Christ.

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.  But their minds were hardened.  For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:12-18

“This mystery, thus made known, is Christ in you (or among you) the hope of glory. Observe, Christ is the hope of glory. The ground of our hope is Christ in the word, or the gospel revelation, declaring the nature and methods of obtaining it. The evidence of our hope is Christ in the heart, or the sanctification of the soul, and its preparation for the heavenly glory.”  Matthew Henry

Behold! I tell you 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. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.  1 Timothy 3:16

Father God, I shout Hallelujah! because You have removed the veil for all to see the Truth of Your blessings, this greatest of all mysteries.  I am so grateful that I know You through Your Son, Christ Jesus.  I have Christ in me, hope of glory in me.  Such blessed moments!  May I seek Your face and kneel before You for You are power and glory and honor and blessing.  You are the God of all, All in all…Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent.  Praising You, Father for revealing Your mystery to us.  I pray in the Name of Your Glorious Son, Christ Jesus.  Amen.  

Daniel 2:27-28a photo/Scripture

1 Timothy 3:16 Photo/Scripture