Reference: Mystery
American
Means strictly a secret, and is so used when spoken of the heathen "mysteries" or secret rites, which were full of all manner of abominations. In the Scriptures the word "mystery" denotes those truths of religions which, without a revelation from God, would have remained unknown to man. Our Savior says to his disciples, that they are peculiarly happy, because God has revealed to them "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven," Mt 16:17; 11:25; Lu 10:21-24. Paul explains the word in Eph 3:1-9; and often speaks of the mystery of the gospel, of the mystery of the cross of Christ, of the mystery of Christ which was unknown to former ages, of the mystery of the incarnation, the resurrection, etc., Ro 11:25; 1Co 2:7-10; 4:1; 13:2; 15:51; 1Ti 3:9,16. These, then, were called mysteries, not only because they included some things which stretch beyond all human thought, and others which would never have been known if the Son of God and his Holy Spirit had not revealed them, but also because they were not opened indifferently to everyone; according to the advice of Christ to his apostles, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine," 1Co 2:14. In one place "mystery" seems to denote the whole cycle of God's secret plan in the administration of the gospel, gradually unfolded even to the end, Re 10:7; 11:15.
Mystery signifies also an allegory, that is, a mode of information under which partial instruction is given, a partial discovery is made, but there is still a cover of some kind, which the persons who desires to know the whole must endeavor to remove. So the mystery of the seven star, Re 1:20, is an allegory representing the seven Asiatic churches under the symbol of seven burning lamps. So the mystery "Babylon the Great," is an allegorical representation of the spiritual Babylon, idolatry, spiritual fornication, etc., "I will tell thee the mystery of the woman;" that is, I will explain to thee the allegory of this figure, 7/5/type/worrell'>Re 17:5,7.
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At that season Jesus, answering, said, "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, because Thou didst hide these things from the wise and discerning, and didst reveal them to babes.
And Jesus, answering, said to him, "Happy are you, Simon Bar-Jonah; because flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven.
In that same hour He exulted in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I thank Thee, O Father Lord of Heaven and earth, because Thou didst hide these things from the wise and discerning, and didst reveal them to babes: yea, Father, because it was well-pleasing in Thy sight. "All things were delivered up to Me by My Father; and no one knows Who the Son is, but the Father; and Who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son purposeth to reveal Him." read more. And, turning to the disciples, He said, privately, "Happy the eyes that behold what ye are beholding! for I say to you, that many prophets and kings desired to see what ye are beholding, and did not see them; and to hear what ye are hearing, and heard them not."
For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye be wise in your own conceits), that a hardening, in part, has befallen Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles come in;
But a natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you gentiles, if, at least, ye heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, read more. that by revelation was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief; respecting which ye can, by reading, perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; that the gentiles are fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partners with us of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel; of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to proclaim, to the gentiles, the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to plainly show what is the dispensation of the mystery which from the ages has been hidden away in God, Who made all things;
having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith as ye were taught, abounding with thanksgiving. Beware, lest there should be any one who makes a spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceits, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ; read more. because in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and ye have been made complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power;
Masters, render justice and equity to your servants, knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven.
But shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strife, and contentions about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of seven assemblies; and the seven candlesticks are seven assemblies."
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God was also finished, according to the good news He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in Heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world became our Lord's and His Christ's; and He will reign forever and ever."
and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
And the angel said to me, "Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Easton
the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph 1:9-10; 3:8-11; Col 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1Co 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence (Mt 13:11; Ro 11:25; 1Co 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized by the marriage union (Eph 5:31-32; comp. Eph 6:19); the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Re 1:20); and the woman clothed in scarlet (Re 17:7), are also in this sense mysteries. The anti-Christian power working in his day is called by the apostle (2Th 2:7) the "mystery of iniquity."
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And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye be wise in your own conceits), that a hardening, in part, has befallen Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles come in;
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him, for a dispensation of the fulness of the seasons, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth; in Him,
To me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to proclaim, to the gentiles, the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to plainly show what is the dispensation of the mystery which from the ages has been hidden away in God, Who made all things; read more. in order that now might be made known to the principalities and authorities in the heavenly places, through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God, according to a purpose of the ages which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
For this cause, will a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking of Christ and of the assembly.
and on my behalf that utterance may be given to me, in opening my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel,
of which I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but was now made manifest to His saints; read more. to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
for the mystery of lawlessness is already working: only He Who hindereth will hinder, until He is taken out of the midst.
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of seven assemblies; and the seven candlesticks are seven assemblies."
And the angel said to me, "Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Fausets
From mustees, "one initiated" into "a revealed secret"; mueoo the verb means "to conceal"; Mu (?), the sound made by closing the lips (m), is the same onomatopoeic sound as in mute. In New Testament usage a spiritual truth heretofore hidden, incapable of discovery by mere reason, but now revealed. Not like the pagan mysteries, imparted only; to the initiated few. All Christians are the initiated; unbelievers alone are the uninitiated (2Co 4:3). The union of Christ and the church is such "a great mystery" (Eph 5:31-32). The church becoming a harlot by conformity to the world is a counter "mystery" (Re 17:5). "Iniquity" (anomia) in the harlot is a leaven working in "mystery" at first, i.e. latently; afterward when she is destroyed iniquity shall be revealed in "the man of iniquity" (ho anomos), the open embodiment of all previous evil, for popery cannot at once be the mystery of iniquity and the revealed antichrist (2Th 2:7-8).
The mystery of God (Re 10:7), in contrast, is man's "redemption from all iniquity" and its consequences; a mystery once hidden in God's secret counsels, dimly-shadowed forth in types and prophecies, but now more and more clearly revealed according as the gospel kingdom develops itself up to its fullest consummation. "The mystery of godliness" (1Ti 3:16) is the divine scheme embodied in Christ (Col 1:26-27). Hidden before "with God" as the "mystery," He is now made manifest (Joh 1:1,14; Ro 16:25-26). Redemption for the whole Gentile world as well as Israel, to whom it seemed in a great measure restricted in Old Testament, is now revealed to all. "The glory of this mystery is Christ in you (now by faith as your hidden life, Col 3:8), the hope of glory" (your hereafter to be manifested life: 1Co 2:7-9; 2Co 4:17). There are six New Testament "mysteries":
(1) The incarnation (1Ti 3:16).
(2) The mystery of iniquity (2Th 2:7).
(3) Christ's marriage to the church, Eph 5:32, translated "this mystery is great," i.e. this truth hidden once but now revealed, namely, Christ's spiritual union with the church, mystically represented by marriage, is of great import; not as Vulgate "this is a great sacrament"; not marriage in general, but that of Christ and His church, is the mystery, as Paul declares "I say it in regard to (eis) Christ, and to (eis)) the church," whereas Ge 2:24 refers primarily to literal marriage. (See MARRIAGE.)
(4) The union of Jews and Gentiles in one body, the present election church (Eph 3:4-6); the Old Testament did not foretell we should form Christ's one body, the temple of the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit not merely gives influences as in Old Testament, but personally comes and dwells in the church, joining Jews and Gentiles in one fellowship of God and Christ; He is the earnest of the coming inheritance and the seal of redemption; the Old Testament saints had "proetermission" (paresis) of sins, the New Testament saints have "full remission" (afesis); the forbearance of God was exercised then, the righteousness of God is revealed now (Ro 3:25-26) in our justification.
(5) Israel's full and final restoration (Ro 11:25).
(6) The resurrection of the body (1Co 15:51).
Ordinarily "mystery" refers to those from whom the knowledge is withheld; in the New Testament mystery refers to those to whom it is revealed. It is hidden in God until brought forward; even when brought forward it remains hidden from the carnal. "Mysteries" (1Co 14:2) mean what is unintelligible to the hearers, exciting wonder rather than instructing; this is in the common sense, but the New Testament does not sanction in the gospel mysteries in this sense. In Re 1:20 "the mystery of the seven stars" is a oncehidden truth, veiled under this symbol, but now revealed; its correlative is revelation. In 1Co 13:2 "mysteries" refer to God's deep counsels heretofore secret but now revealed, "knowledge" to truths long known.
So in Mt 13:11; Mr 4:11; Lu 8:10, "mysteries" answer in parallelism to "parables"; to the receptive "the mysteries," or once hidden things of the kingdom of God, are now known by God's gift; to the unbelieving they remain "parables," on which they see only the outward shell but do not taste the kernel (1Co 2:9-10,14-15; Ps 25:14; 1Jo 4:20-21; Joh 15:15). The parabolic form is designed to rouse the carnal to search and reflection; from whence Jesus did not begin to use it until after He had for some time been speaking plainly. In contrast to paganism, there were no mysteries revealed by God to ministers or priests that were not designed for all. De 29:29; "secret things belong to Jehovah (compare Job 11:7; Ro 11:33-34; at this point we must not presume to speculate; Col 2:18), but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
The little ones must hear all revelation as much as the intellectual (De 6:7; Jos 8:34-35; Ne 8:1-2). Moses and the prophets and the apostles practiced no "reserve." So Jesus ordered (Mt 10:27; 28:19). Paul preached publicly and from house to house the "whole counsel of God" (Ac 20:20,27), "keeping back nothing profitable." They taught babes indeed elementary essentials first, yet did not reserve the deepest truths out of sight, as the pagan mysteries; but set the ultimate goal of perfect knowledge from the first as that to be striven toward (1Co 2:6; 3:2; Heb 5:12).
Gnosticism introduced the system of esoteric and exoteric doctrine; the mediaeval church perpetuated it. Christ as God had the power to reserve His manifestation of Himself to a few during His earthly ministry, previous to the Pentecostal effusion of the Spirit (Mr 4:33; 9:9; Lu 9:21); but His ministers have no such right. Paul disclaims it, 2Co 4:2; "we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." On men themselves rests the responsibility how they use the whole counsel of God set before them (2Co 2:15-16).
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What I am saying to you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
going, therefore, disciple ye all the nations, immersing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;
And He said to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those without all things are done in parables;
And with many such parables He spake the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
And, as they were coming down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no one what they saw, until the Son of Man should arise from the dead.
And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; that, seeing, they may not see, and, hearing, they may not understand.
And He, having admonished them, commanded them to tell this to no one;
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us, (and we beheld His glory??lory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
No longer do I call you slaves; because the slave knows not what his lord is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things which I heard from My Father I made known to you.
how I shrank not from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and from teaching you publicly, and from house to house,
for I shrank not from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Whom God set forth as a propitiation, through faith in His blood, for the manifestation of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the formerly-committed sins in the forbearance of God: for the manifestation of His righteousness in the present time, to the end that He may be righteous, even when declaring righteous him who has faith in Jesus.
For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye be wise in your own conceits), that a hardening, in part, has befallen Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles come in;
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past tracing out, For who knew the mind of the Lord? Or who became His counsellor?
Now to Him Who is able to establish you, according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept in silence during eternal ages, but now made manifest, and through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God, made known to all nations for obedience to the faith:
But we speak wisdom among the perfect; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery??he hidden wisdom??hich God predestined before the ages for our glory; read more. which no one of the rulers of this age has known; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but, as it has been written, "Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and that entered not into the heart of man??hatsoever things God prepared for those who love Him";
but, as it has been written, "Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and that entered not into the heart of man??hatsoever things God prepared for those who love Him"; but to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things ??ven the deep things of God.
But a natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. But he that is spiritual judges all things; but he himself is judged by no one.
I fed you with milk, and not solid food; for not yet were ye able to bear it; nay, nor even now are ye able;
And, if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all the mysteries and all knowledge; and, if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing,
For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
because we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in those who are being saved, and in those who are perishing; to the one class a savor of death unto death, and to the other a savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
but we renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, not handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And, even if our Gospel has been veiled, it has been veiled in those who perish;
respecting which ye can, by reading, perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; read more. that the gentiles are fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partners with us of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel;
For this cause, will a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking of Christ and of the assembly.
This mystery is great; but I am speaking of Christ and of the assembly.
the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but was now made manifest to His saints; to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
Let no one rob you of your prize, wishing to do it in humility and in a worshipping of angels, speculating about the things which he has seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,
But now do ye also put away all these; anger, wrath, malice, reviling, shameful talk out of your mouth.
And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you received in the Lord, that you fulfill it."
for the mystery of lawlessness is already working: only He Who hindereth will hinder, until He is taken out of the midst.
for the mystery of lawlessness is already working: only He Who hindereth will hinder, until He is taken out of the midst. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth, and will bring to nought by the manifestation of His presence;
And, confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifested in flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
And, confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifested in flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
For even when, on account of the time, ye ought to be teachers, ye again have need that some one teach you the first elements of the oracles of God, and have become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food;
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of seven assemblies; and the seven candlesticks are seven assemblies."
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God was also finished, according to the good news He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.
and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
Hastings
MYSTERY
The Greek myst
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And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
In that same hour He exulted in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I thank Thee, O Father Lord of Heaven and earth, because Thou didst hide these things from the wise and discerning, and didst reveal them to babes: yea, Father, because it was well-pleasing in Thy sight.
Having, therefore, obtained help from God, I have stood to this day, testifying both to small and great, saying nothing, except those things which both the prophets and Moses said would come to pass;
I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish;
For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye be wise in your own conceits), that a hardening, in part, has befallen Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles come in;
As touching the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father's sake;
Now to Him Who is able to establish you, according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept in silence during eternal ages,
Now to Him Who is able to establish you, according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept in silence during eternal ages,
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God;
But we speak wisdom among the perfect; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery??he hidden wisdom??hich God predestined before the ages for our glory;
But a natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
And, if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all the mysteries and all knowledge; and, if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing,
For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
And, even if our Gospel has been veiled, it has been veiled in those who perish; in whom the god of this world blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should not shine upon them.
the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
This mystery is great; but I am speaking of Christ and of the assembly.
Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, think this: and, if in anything ye think differently, even this God will reveal to you;
Not that I am speaking in respect of want; for I learned in whatsoever circumstances I am, to be content.
Whom we proclaim, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;
that their hearts may he comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, even Christ,
for the mystery of lawlessness is already working: only He Who hindereth will hinder, until He is taken out of the midst.
for the mystery of lawlessness is already working: only He Who hindereth will hinder, until He is taken out of the midst.
Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief;
Who wisheth all men to be saved, and to come into a full knowledge of truth.
but, if I delay, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in a house of God, which, indeed, is an assembly of the living God, a pillar and basis of the truth,
For as to those who were once enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and became partakers of the Holy Spirit,
having your conduct seemly among the gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, from your good works which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
having beheld your chaste conduct mingled with fear:
For, not as having followed after cunningly-devised stories, did we make known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but as having been made spectators of His majesty.
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of seven assemblies; and the seven candlesticks are seven assemblies."
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of seven assemblies; and the seven candlesticks are seven assemblies."
saying, "Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we shall seal the servants of our God on their foreheads."
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God was also finished, according to the good news He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God was also finished, according to the good news He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God was also finished, according to the good news He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.
and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
And the angel said to me, "Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
And the angel said to me, "Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Morish
This word describes a hidden or secret thing, known only to the initiated. In scripture it stands in contrast to the manifest or public dealings of God. The Lord Jesus having been rejected, is now hidden in the heavens, and the ways of God are secret to the world, but made known, as also His hidden purpose which is being accomplished by His secret ways, to those who have 'ears to hear.' In the issue of those ways the mystery of God is finished. Re 10:7.
The Lord often spoke in parables to the multitude, but explained them to the apostles, because it was given unto them to know the mysteries of the kingdom. Mt 13:11; Mr 4:11; Lu 8:10. Christianity is a mystery to the unconverted. The apostles were stewards of the mysteries of God, and they spoke "the wisdom of God in a mystery." The Apostle Paul spoke of the 'mystery of the gospel,' the 'mystery of the faith,' the 'mystery of Christ,' and the 'mystery of godliness,' or piety. 1Co 2:7; 4:1; Eph 6:19; Col 4:3; 1Ti 3:9,16.
The marvellous purpose of God, the mystery of the church, that had been hidden for ages, was revealed to Paul, as well as its present administration. 9/type/worrell'>Eph 1:9; 3:3-4,9; Col 1:26-27. It is that in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The intelligence of it explains how Christ can be here in a scene from which He has been rejected alike by Jew and Gentile. There is also the mystery of the power of Christ as regards both the dead and the living saints. 1Co 15:51. In opposition to God there is the 'mystery of iniquity,' that was secretly working in the church in the apostles' days. 2Th 2:7. Allied to this is papal Rome, whose name is really "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth." 7/5/type/worrell'>Re 17:5,7. The above scriptures show that though there are several things designated mysteries, yet God in His grace has made them known to His saints.
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And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
And He said to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those without all things are done in parables;
And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; that, seeing, they may not see, and, hearing, they may not understand.
but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery??he hidden wisdom??hich God predestined before the ages for our glory;
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him,
that by revelation was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief; respecting which ye can, by reading, perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ,
and to plainly show what is the dispensation of the mystery which from the ages has been hidden away in God, Who made all things;
and on my behalf that utterance may be given to me, in opening my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel,
the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but was now made manifest to His saints; to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
at the same time praying for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ (because of which I have also become bound),
for the mystery of lawlessness is already working: only He Who hindereth will hinder, until He is taken out of the midst.
But shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strife, and contentions about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God was also finished, according to the good news He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.
and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
And the angel said to me, "Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Watsons
MYSTERY. The Greek word ????????? denotes,
1. Something hidden, or not fully manifest. Thus, 2Th 2:7, we read of the "mystery of iniquity," which began to work in secret, but was not then completely disclosed or manifested.
2. Some sacred thing hidden or secret, which is naturally unknown to human reason, and is only known by the revelation of God. Thus, "Great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified by the Spirit," &c, 1Ti 3:16. The mystery of godliness, or of true religion, consisted in the several particulars here mentioned by the Apostle; particulars, indeed, which it would never have "entered into the heart of man to conceive," 1Co 2:9, had not God accomplished them in fact, and published them by the preaching of his Gospel; but which, being thus manifested, are intelligible, as facts, to the meanest understanding. In like manner, the term mystery, Ro 11:25; 1Co 15:51, denotes what was hidden or unknown, till revealed; and thus the Apostle speaks of a man's "understanding all mysteries," 1Co 13:2; that is, all the revealed truths of the Christian religion which is elsewhere called the "mystery of faith," 1Ti 3:9. And when he who spake in an unknown tongue is said to "speak mysteries," 1Co 14:2, it is plain, that these mysteries, however unintelligible to others on account of the language in which they were spoken, were yet understood by the person himself, because he hereby "edified himself," 1Co 14:4; Ac 2:11; 10:46. And though in 1Co 2:7-8, we read of the "wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which none of the princes of this world knew;" yet, says the Apostle, we speak or declare this wisdom; and he observes, verse 10, that God had revealed the particulars of which it consisted to them by his Spirit. So when the Apostles are called "stewards of the mysteries of God," 1Co 4:1, these mysteries could not mean what were, as facts, unknown to them; (because to them it was "given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God," Mt 13:11;) yea, the character here ascribed to them implies not only that they knew these mysteries themselves, but that as faithful stewards they were to dispense or make them known to others, Lu 12:42; 1Pe 4:10. In Col 2:2, St. Paul mentions his praying for his converts, that their hearts might be comforted "to the knowledge of the mystery of God, even of the Father, and of Christ;" for thus the passage should be translated. But if, with our translators, we render ?????????, acknowledgment, still the word ????????? can by no means exclude knowledge; "for this is life eternal," saith our Lord, Joh 17:3, "that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." And, lastly, whatever be the particular meaning of the "mystery of God," mentioned Re 10:7, yet it was something he had declared "to (or rather by) his servants the prophets."
3. The word mystery is sometimes in the writings of St. Paul applied in a peculiar sense to the calling of the Gentiles, which he styles "the mystery," Eph 3:3-6; and "the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of Christ by the Gospel," Ro 16:25; Eph 1:9; 3:9; 6:19; Col 1:26-27; 4:3.
4. It denotes spiritual truth couched under an external representation or similitude, and concealed or hidden thereby, unless some explanation of it be otherwise given. Thus, Re 1:20, "The mystery," that is, the spiritual meaning, "of the seven stars: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." So Re 17:5, "And upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great," that is, Babylon in a spiritual sense, "the mother of idolatry and abominations;" and, verse 7, "I will tell thee the mystery" or spiritual signification "of the woman." Compare Mt 13:11; Mr 4:11; Lu 8:10; Eph 5:32; and their respective contexts.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
And He said to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those without all things are done in parables;
And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; that, seeing, they may not see, and, hearing, they may not understand.
And the Lord said, "Who, then, is the faithful steward, the wise one, whom his lord will appoint over his household to give the portion of food in due season?
And this is the eternal life, that they know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou didst send.
Cretans, and Arabians??e hear them speaking in our own languages the wonderful works of God?"
for they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye be wise in your own conceits), that a hardening, in part, has befallen Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles come in;
Now to Him Who is able to establish you, according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept in silence during eternal ages,
but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery??he hidden wisdom??hich God predestined before the ages for our glory; which no one of the rulers of this age has known; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; read more. but, as it has been written, "Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and that entered not into the heart of man??hatsoever things God prepared for those who love Him";
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
And, if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all the mysteries and all knowledge; and, if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing,
For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
He that speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the assembly.
making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him,
that by revelation was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief; respecting which ye can, by reading, perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, read more. which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; that the gentiles are fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partners with us of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel;
and to plainly show what is the dispensation of the mystery which from the ages has been hidden away in God, Who made all things;
This mystery is great; but I am speaking of Christ and of the assembly.
and on my behalf that utterance may be given to me, in opening my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel,
the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but was now made manifest to His saints; to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
that their hearts may he comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, even Christ,
at the same time praying for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ (because of which I have also become bound),
for the mystery of lawlessness is already working: only He Who hindereth will hinder, until He is taken out of the midst.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
And, confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifested in flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of seven assemblies; and the seven candlesticks are seven assemblies."
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God was also finished, according to the good news He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.
and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."