The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’s House
Filled with wisdom as Solomon was, he could not plumb the depths of Prov. 9:11Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: (Proverbs 9:1) as he penned it "Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars." The first part of this sentence is clear Wisdom has built her house. We know that in Wisdom's house her children find rest, and are taught of God. The second part of this sentence is figurative, and full of spiritual teaching. The pillars in Wisdom's house speak of what supports and exalts it. In Wisdom's house seven pillars have been hewn out. We believe these seven pillars are figures of seven great divine secrets now revealed to us.
These seven great secrets originate with God's desire to make Himself known in time. In a past eternity He had His counsels, known only to Himself, to carry out this purpose. But when His Son appeared on this earth, He opened up these secrets to His inner circle for the first time. These were the mysteries of His kingdom. He revealed them when it was clear that He was rejected as King, and so would return to His Father without His kingdom. When He was in glory the way was opened up for Paul mostly, and John to a lesser degree, to reveal the other mysteries. This gives us a key to the mysteries man's rejection of Christ, and God's various responses to that rejection in heaven and earth. God gave us the mysteries because we share Christ's rejection. He does not want us to forget that we will also share His glory.
An Introduction to the Mysteries of God
A mystery is a secret, but it is more than a secret, just as a sign is a miracle but more than a miracle. There are no mysteries in the Old Testament only secrets. God hid the mysteries until Christ was rejected. The mysteries tell us God's purposes for the glory of His Son whom man rejected. God told Daniel the secret of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, but its deeper meaning was hidden until revealed in the mysteries of the New Testament.
To understand a mystery requires divine initiation, implicit in which is the gift of the Holy Spirit as our teacher something unknown to the Old Testament saints. J.N. Darby puts it succinctly "the initiated know mysteries, the uninitiated not that is the meaning of the word; but the true initiated are those taught of God."(1) He also has a word on the effect of being initiated into the mysteries "it brings us into a totally new world." (2) Our spirits escape the oppression of this world, and soar into the realm of divine thoughts and purposes.
So in 1 Cor. 2:77But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7) Paul says "we speak God's wisdom in a mystery that hidden wisdom which God had predetermined before the ages for our glory." In initiating us into His richest and deepest mysteries, God repeats the warning of 1 Cor. 8:11Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (1 Corinthians 8:1) "knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." So in 1 Cor. 13:22And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2) Paul writes "and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries.... and have not love, I am nothing." Does Paul then disparage God's mysteries Paul, the man God used to reveal most of them? Hardly. In 1 Cor. 4:11Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1) he writes "let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." Paul is simply insisting on a balance between the knowledge of God's mysteries, and love the bond of perfectness. When this is achieved the truth is adorned with love and the body of Christ is edified.
Because the mysteries are so rich in divine thoughts, there are several ways of looking at them. The method of presentation chosen here is to delineate seven major mysteries, some of which embrace other mysteries which are tributary to, and may be classified under, the seven major mysteries. These are the seven pillars of Wisdom's house.
The Mystery of God
The first of all the mysteries we will investigate is known as the mystery of God. This is not a generalized term, but a mystery with a specific meaning, standing apart from all the other mysteries. It is the source mystery from which the others flow, although its hidden spring is the mystery of God's will, which we will bypass until the close of this study. Paul stresses the importance of the mystery of God in Col. 2:22That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (Colossians 2:2). He says "the full knowledge of the mystery of God, in which are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (3)The mystery of God may be defined as the understanding of why God allows evil to flourish in the world even to triumph over good at times without judging it. (4) To understand why God is not presently a God of judgment is to understand His ways and purposes to grasp the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
This perplexing question of the prevalence of evil in human affairs is an enigma, not only to men of the world, but also to many of God's people. Jonah was offended at God because He did not judge Nineveh after he had witnessed to it. James and John wanted fire to come down from heaven to burn up the ungodly. God's people justify God in His ways, however, even if they do not understand them. The world tends to accuse God of disinterest in human suffering because, being all powerful, He does not intervene in wars, terrorism, plagues, disease, famines, moral corruption and so forth. Some have even hard thoughts about God as we see in Luke 19:2121For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. (Luke 19:21) "I feared Thee because Thou art a harsh man." This attitude is unconsciously behind the clauses in insurance policies which classify natural disasters as "acts of God." An even better illustration is an incident which took place in a German concentration camp. A Rabbi who was waiting his doom in the gas chambers, was exhorting a group of his fellow Jewish prisoners to maintain their belief in God. One young Jew protested "if God exists He must be a monster, to allow what is going on here." True enough, for the god who is responsible for the chaos in the world is a monster. In Rev. 12:33And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:3) he is called "a great red dragon.”
a. The part played in the Mystery of God by Satan's present rule of the world: Satan's rule over the world the source of its misery is unquestioned. In 2 Thess. 2:77For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7) Paul speaks of it as the mystery of lawlessness, something which sheds light on the mystery of God. He noted the workings of the mystery of lawlessness even in his days, so it was permitted by God in His wisdom. He tells us that God checks its full blown wickedness at present, but will eventually let Satan have his way in the end time. However that is another matter, and our concern here is primarily to establish the fact of his rule at the present time. In Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2) he is called the Prince of the Power of the Air. He governs evil spirits who support his throne, who are referred to in Eph. 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) as "the rulers of the darkness of this world." Because of this "the whole world lies in the wicked one" as 1 John 5:1919And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19) tells us, meaning that man is happy with the world as it is the way the wicked one organized it. Only God's people see it for what it is evil. In 2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4) the wicked one is called "the god of this world" and in John 14:3030Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30) "the Prince of this World." Satan boasted of his rule to the Lord in the temptation account of Luke 4:5 6 "and the devil, taking Him up to a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him all this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them, for that is delivered to me, and to whomsoever I will I give it. "Since these Scriptures tell us that Satan's rule over the world is an uncontested fact, the mystery of God becomes a question of "how long, O Lord, holy and true?”
b. Why God is not judging evil now but will later: God has postponed judgment because this is a day of salvation. Man has abused the acceptable year of the Lord. Solomon read the human heart in Eccl. 8:1111Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11) "because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." God on the other hand is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). But there is a time limit to the mystery of God known only to God Himself. Paul warned man of it in Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31) "He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that Man whom He has ordained, whereof He has given assurance to all men in that He has raised Him from the dead." When that day comes God will judge evil. Of that day 1 Sam. 2:1010The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. (1 Samuel 2:10) warns "the adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces...the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth." So does Job 38:13,13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? (Job 38:13) telling us that the ends of the earth will be seized, that the wicked might be shaken out of it. Clearly the present world will be purified by divine judgment when the time God has allotted for evil to run its course in the world runs out. Then the Lord will assert His claim to the throne of this world, for Ps 22:8 tells us that the kingdom is the Lord's, and He is the governor among the nations.
The Two Mysteries of the Kingdom Which Precede and Prepare the Way for the Mystery of Christ
When Christ came to this earth, the Jews were familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures just quoted and many others also, which clearly state that Messiah would judge evil and establish His earthly kingdom. The godly in Israel in particular, saw in Jesus Israel's Redeemer, as we learn from the opening and closing incidents in Luke's gospel. His genealogy proved that He was David's son His works that He was God's Son. But man preferred the status quo the rule of Satan rather than the rule of God. The human heart is opened up for us in Luke 20:1414But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. (Luke 20:14) so we may see how it works "this is the Heir come let us kill Him that the inheritance" (i.e. His kingdom) "may be ours." And so they bring the Lord to Caesar's judgment seat to achieve their purpose. Pilate questioned the Lord as to whether or not He was a king. In John 18:3636Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36) He replied "My kingdom is not of this world if My kingdom were of this world then would My servants fight but now is My kingdom not from hence." This tells us that for the present the Lord was forfeiting His kingdom in the world, allowing Satan to continue his evil rule here. But the same statement also makes it clear that He was not abandoning His claim to the kingdom. Instead His kingdom would take a different form until the time came to claim it publicly. What form could this be? The answer is revealed in the mysteries of the kingdom. There are two the mysteries of the kingdom of God and the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens. These terms are different ways of looking at the same kingdom.
a. The mysteries of the kingdom of God: The eighth chapter of Luke opens with an account of the Lord going through the country, city by city and village by village, preaching and announcing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. The twelve apostles were with Him. When a great crowd assembled out of every city, He told them the parable of the Sower. This raised His disciples' curiosity. They asked Him "what may this parable be?" His reply was "to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God but to the rest in parables." The reason the mysteries of the kingdom of God were hidden from the people generally is that they had previously rejected Him. This is clear from Luke 4:28, 2928And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. (Luke 4:28‑29) "and they were filled with rage in the synagogue, hearing these things, and rising up they cast Him forth out of the city, and led Him up to the brow of the mountain on which their city was built, so that they might throw Him down the precipice." That is why the Lord said to His disciples "to you it is given to know" meaning that He was initiating them into the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, as distinct from those not so initiated. The same principle in the same setting, the parable of the sower can be seen in Mark 4:10, 1110And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: (Mark 4:10‑11) and Matt. 13:10, 1110And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:10‑11). It is important then that we understand the meaning of the term the kingdom of God, otherwise we cannot understand the mysteries connected with it.
The Lord's words to Nicodemus in the third chapter of John's gospel shed a great deal of light on the meaning of the term the kingdom of God. From John 3:3-53Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:3‑5) it is clear that the kingdom of God is the moral aspect of the kingdom. We might almost say it is what God expects from us in practical upright Christian life, because we have entered His kingdom and are subject to Him, and He is holy. This agrees with Luke 17:2121Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21) "behold the kingdom of God is within you." The lives of those entering the kingdom of God by the new birth are ruled by God's principles, not man's. In Rom. 14:1717For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) these opposite principles are exposed "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink" man's principles of enjoyment "but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" God's principles. The kingdom of God is a hidden mystery to the lost, because they cannot understand a life governed by an unseen power, and lived by principles opposite to those which motivate the world. A Christian's life is ruled by the spiritual principles of the kingdom of God found in the written Word.
b. The mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens: The kingdom of the heavens is a term only Matthew employs. That is because the theme of his gospel is the king of Israel, in a literal sense. That king was rejected by His people, and has gone to the heavens until the time comes for Him to receive His kingdom. No such emphasis is put on Christ as king in the other gospels. So it is in Matt. 13:10,10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? (Matthew 13:10) 11 That we read "and the disciples came, and said to Him, why speak Thou to them in parables? He answered and said to them because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heavens, but to them it is not given.”
In brief the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens are the consequences to Israel and the world of rejecting Christ as king. As to Israel the mystery of the kingdom of the heavens is supplemented by a tributary mystery, which Paul singles out as this mystery. In Rom. 11:2525For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25) he tells us that we should not be ignorant of this mystery, "that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." Because of this the kingdom has become a kingdom in mystery. Where is the king? Certainly not on earth, where man rejected Him. He has gone to the heavens to sit on His Father's throne, until He shall come out on a white horse to overcome His enemies and sit down on His own throne. That is the theme of the Book of Revelation. That book opens with the kingdom in mystery— "I John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience in Jesus." It ends with the actual kingdom established in power in the world.
The Mystery of Christ
The same Paul who tells us that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in the mystery of God, also tells us about the riches of the glory of another mystery, called the mystery of Christ. Clearly then the riches of the mystery of Christ are heavenly, because the riches are linked up to the glory. That is to be expected, since Christ has returned to the glory without His earthly kingdom, and God compensates Him for this loss by giving Him the Church. The Church is predominantly Gentile because of Israel's partial blindness. To the Gentiles, who had been without hope and God in the world, this mystery Christ in the Gentiles the hope of glory was to be preached. The mystery of Christ in other words the mystery of the king is so called because the king is hidden in heaven. He is exiled, as it were, from His earthly kingdom, but only for a while. His return has become a living hope for believing Gentiles.
The mystery of Christ involves two things. First is the revelation of the mystery for God had hidden it. Secondly, once revealed it is to be made known to the nations by the preaching of the gospel. The gospel is itself a mystery i.e. it is a mystery within the mystery of Christ. Let us explore these two considerations.
The revelation of the hidden mystery of Christ to Paul: In Col. 1:26, 27,26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:26‑27) Paul tells us that God had hidden the mystery of Christ, but would now make it known "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations. To whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory." Then in Eph. 3:3 6 Paul tells us that the mystery of Christ was revealed to him, and he understood it "how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery, as I wrote a little before in few words, whereby when you read you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”
In Col. 1:2323If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23) Paul exhorts the Colossians not to be "moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister." Because Paul received this truth from God he was no ordinary minister of the gospel, but directly accountable to God to preach His message. He emphasized this when he said in 1 Cor. 9:1616For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16) "for necessity is laid on me yes woe to me if I preach not the gospel.”
The mystery of the gospel: In Rom. 16:2525Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25) Paul writes about the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. Then in Col. 4:33Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: (Colossians 4:3) he asks for prayer "that God would open to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of the gospel, for which I am also in bonds." This tells us that the mystery which has now been revealed is to be made known to the nations. But why should Paul be imprisoned for proclaiming such a blessed message as the gospel of the glory of the blessed God?
The reason is that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, as Paul informs the Corinthians at the opening of his first letter to them. Paul's reception by the philosophers of Athens is the historical proof of what he told the Corinthians "and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, and others said we will hear you again about this matter." These wisest of men considered Paul's message absolute foolishness. Some mocked it openly. The more polite distanced themselves from it. Regardless of the form rejection of the gospel may take, God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Paul sums the matter up in 1 Cor. 1:2121For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21) "for after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God" i.e. by the investigations of their philosophers "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.”
The Two Great Heavenly Mysteries of Christ and the Church Which Flow Out of the Mystery of Christ
As we have seen, God's focus has shifted from earth to heaven, because that is where Christ is now. Because He is great two great new heavenly mysteries will now occupy our attention. Scripture uses adjectives sparingly, and when it tells us that these mysteries are great it wants us to pay close attention to them. Between the two great mysteries is a parenthetical mystery which Paul introduces with the words "behold I tell you a mystery.”
The great mystery of Godliness ending with Christ being received up into glory: The great mystery of godliness is given us in 1 Tim. 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16) "and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." The mystery of godliness is from the birth of Christ to His ascension to glory, omitting His death.
(5)No Jew would have believed that Messiah's life would have taken this character. This mystery ends with Christ received up into glory, just as Mark 16:1919So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19) says "He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." The reason the mystery of godliness ends with Messiah on high is that only then could the Holy Spirit be sent down to form the Church. This happened on the Day of Pentecost, and united Christ in glory with His body the Church on earth. This unity is the subject of another mystery that of Christ and the Church. But before we touch on that mystery we must look at the question of death the great barrier to actual union with Christ at the present time.
A parenthetical mystery which must come to pass before we too are received up into glory: Paul told us in Rom. 8:38, 3938For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38‑39) that death cannot separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. But it is not until he opens up the subject of death and resurrection in 1 Cor. 15 that we learn how death is swallowed up in victory. We who have borne the image of the earthy shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Nothing less will do. Our present bodies of humiliation, which are subject to death, are not consonant with the greatness of God's salvation. "For in this we groan" Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:22For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (2 Corinthians 5:2) "earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven." He also tells us in 1 Cor. 15:5050Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1 Corinthians 15:50) that it is impossible to enter the glory of God in our present bodies "now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption." It is at this juncture that Paul introduces his parenthetical mystery, which straddles the time between Christ being received up into glory and the Church being received up into glory. He says "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 trump. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." This mystery rounds out the details of how the Lord is the Savior of the body. He will clothe us with glorified bodies, like His own body of glory. To crown it all, in John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3) He has promised to receive us to Himself. When Christ was received up into glory it was without His bride when we are received up into glory He will have His bride, and we will dwell together.
The Second great mystery the union of Christ and the Church: Speakers at Christian weddings often choose Eph. 5:22 32 as their text. It is suitable because here Paul brings out the relationship in affection God expects between the bride and the bridegroom which is analogous to that between Christ and the Church. This helps a speaker move from the natural to the spiritual plane, exhorting the newly married couple in the Lord. So skillfully does Paul handle his subject that his words are less an analogy than an interwoven topic, the real meaning of which is hidden until the end. Then he informs us "this is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church." This mystery the union of Christ and the Church is true to faith now. It will become a physical reality when the dead in Christ are raised and the bodies of the living saints are changed. Then we will both be received up into glory in bodies of power to dwell with the Lamb forever.
It is the mind of God that Christ should present the Church to Himself restored to the freshness of her first love, glorious and holy. That nearness, that intimacy of bridal affections, was conceived in a past. eternity, wrought out in time, and will be brought to fruition after the rapture. Of that time John writes in Rev. 19:7-97Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:7‑9) "the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white...blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." John also tells us that after 1000 years of rule with Christ His bride will be as radiant as on her wedding day. We learn that from Rev. 21:22And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) "and I John saw the Holy City New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
“God and the Lamb shall there
The light and temple be
And radiant hosts forever share
The unveiled mystery.”
The Mystery of God's Will and the Administrative Mysteries Relevant to It
There are four administrative mysteries. Their subject is the administration of the Church in man's hands, and the administration of the 1000 year kingdom in the Lord's hands. With the Church, failure comes in, and one of the three administrative mysteries of the Church tells us how Christ deals with that failure. With the kingdom, Christ's administration is perfect, filling up the mystery of God's will.
a. The Pauline administration of the Church: This subject is really Paul's administration of the Church in the days of its youth and pristine freshness, and also the steps he took to perpetuate godly order after his departure from the Church.
.. Paul's stewardship of the mysteries of God: In Eph. 3:99And 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: (Ephesians 3:9) Paul speaks about "the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God." Then the first chapter of Colossians tells us that Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, was both a minister of the gospel and a minister of the Church. He was a faithful administrator, as he himself points out in 1 Cor. 4:11Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1) "let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." Paul held the Church together in the unity in which God established it during his lifetime, although his epistles make it clear that divisive elements were at work.
.. The mystery of the faith Paul's insistence on godliness: Paul's concern for the administration of the Church can be seen in Titus 1:55For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: (Titus 1:5) "for this cause I left you in Crete that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I had ordered you." Paul insisted on strict moral qualifications for elders and deacons in 1 Tim. 3:9,9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (1 Timothy 3:9) at the same time he introduced the subject of the mystery of the faith. He tells Timothy that the mystery of the faith is to be held in a good conscience. To emphasize the importance of this requirement, Paul inserts it halfway between the moral qualifications of an elder and a deacon. After Paul left the Church these moral requirements were ignored. Church offices proliferated and were filled by men who advanced themselves by emulating the political principles of the world. Paul saw where that would lead, and in 2 Tim. 2:22And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2) made provision for darker days "the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
b. The mystery of the seven stars and the seven golden lamps: Paul had been faithful in the administration of the mystery as we have just seen. But he had forebodings of what would happen when he left the Church. We see this in Acts 20:1717And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (Acts 20:17) when he addressed the elders of Ephesus "for I know this" he said, indicating that he was certain about the matter, "that after my departing" i.e. after he had left the Church, "shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." Later, in Acts 27, we are given a picture of the subsequent breakup of the Church's unity in the story of Paul's shipwreck. It was caused by ignoring what Paul said. The Lord holds man responsible for this, because Paul's words were commandments of the Lord. To show that this is so, the Lord chose seven assemblies out of the many of that day, to pass judgment on the Church as a corporate entity. Except for Ephesus, they were relatively obscure. (6)But they were all located in the Roman province of Asia, the landmark of Paul's ministry. Ephesus, the crown of that ministry, whose elders Paul had warned, is addressed first. Consequently these seven assemblies are representative of the Church as a whole, over which Paul was the minister.
The setting of the Lord's judgment on the Church is the Isle of Patmos, where He appears to John. There is a duality in the Lord's words spoken after His appearance. First they were messages for seven actual assemblies at the time. Secondly they looked down the centuries that lay ahead, giving us in their entirety the Lord's judgment on the Church corporately from beginning to end. The latter aspect is truly Church history, predicted in advance with divine foreknowledge. Many excellent histories of the Church have been written, but none as condensed and penetrating as this. The mystery assures us that the Lord is judging the Church corporately, for He Himself said that the seven lamps are the seven churches. The seven stars are the angels i.e. representatives, of the seven churches, but there is nothing to tell us who they are. The Lord apportions praise and censure. While there are bright spots, His word to Sardis "I have not found your works perfect before God" detect failure. Before closing this subject the broad aspect of the Lord's words should be noted i.e. that He is not exclusively addressing the True Church, but in some cases that which takes His Name in profession only. An example would be Rev. 3:1616So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16) "I will spew thee out of My mouth" which He would never do to His own. This observation will help us understand the mystery of the woman later on.
c. A parenthesis to explain why the mystery of God's will our last mystery cannot be understood until the mystery of God is finished: At this point two mysteries which bring the mystery of God to a conclusion must be explained, for they are the gateways to the concluding mystery of God's will the last of the administrative mysteries, which also concludes this chapter.
.. The mystery of the woman: This mystery can best be understood by comparing "the woman" with the bride of Christ, and their relative roles with the Lord and His angel. Not only does the Book of Revelation open and close with the Lord and His angel, but at the approximate opening and closing of the text itself we find the Lord and His angel separately revealing a mystery. At the beginning the Lord reveals the mystery of His judgment on the true Church at the end His angel reveals the mystery of His judgment on the false Church. But what a difference there is in the character of the judgments! With the true Church, His bride, His judgments take the form of praise or rebuke they can be nothing more for He has borne our sins and at the end the bride is seen in glory. The Lord's judgments on the false harlot Church end in her utter destruction, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. The bride of Christ is the subject of heavenly mysteries, so the angel takes John to see her in heaven. Although mystery is written on the forehead of the harlot, there are no heavenly springs in her, so the angel takes John to a desert to view her. (7) Nor do we find heavenly wisdom in her mystery. Rather it is what James 3:1515This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (James 3:15) speaks of "this wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish." The woman may think that she has a mystery for her initiates, but God has a different thought. "Come here" His angel says to John, "I will show you the judgment of the great whore." The mystery of the woman is that God will judge her, and remove her from the earth. Why does God judge her? Because she opposed God's testimony on the earth, for John saw her drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs. Then she committed fornication with the kings of the earth i.e. usurped what belonged to Christ and ruled the world by her corrupt principles. God tolerates her until she is found sitting on the scarlet colored beast the last form of imperial rule in the earth. Then in Rev. 17:77And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:7) the angel says "I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carries her.”
.. The mystery of the beast who carries the woman: The scarlet colored beast who carries the woman is the political head of the revived Roman Empire. The angel tells John the mystery of the beast. This beast receives his power from ten kings who hate the woman. The reason is obvious the woman is controlling the beast their recognized political head just as a horsewoman would control her horse. Men of the world resent religious interference in their political affairs, but historically Satan has ruled the world by a skilful blend of religion and politics. The woman astride the beast simply illustrates the principle of the religious element controlling the world's politics in its full blown development. Why then does Satan not resist the destruction of his own well honed tool of world rule? Simply because at the end time he wants to enjoy the undivided worship of himself through the beast and his image, and the woman frustrates that longing. The mystery of lawlessness culminates in the worship of this man as soon as the woman is destroyed. The next step is to make war with the Lamb. How foolish to strive with our Creator. In Rev. 10:77But 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 10:7) we read "but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished." So severe will be God's judgments on the nations that no one will ever again question His apparent failure to judge evil. All opposition to Christ's rule of the earth will be swept away. The mystery of God will be finished, and the mystery of His will our closing consideration will be understood.
d. The mystery of God's will: This is the last and most majestic of the administrative mysteries. It is the last because it comes in when all attempts at human administration have failed. It is the most majestic because the will of God is the spring of all things.
Paul communicates this ultimate mystery to us in Eph. 1:9, 109Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:9‑10) "having made known to us the mystery of His will...for the administration of the fullness of times...to head up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth...in Him." Thus the mystery of God's will is that His Son in Manhood will head up a divine administration and rule the universe. That is why, although Satan may rule the earth at present, it is a restrained rule, for God will never allow any man to rule the world completely except Christ. This principle is found in Ezek. 21-27 "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until He come whose right it is and I will give it to Him." Armed with this knowledge, the Christian knows the world will pass away, though great wars threaten, or mighty nations struggle for the unattainable goal of world dominion. They build their empires but they all crumble away. Our portion is connected with what will never pass away a share in Christ's future administration of the universe. We read of this in 1 Peter 1:44To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4) an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you." This inheritance closes off the passage in Eph. 1:7 11 which unveils the mystery of God's will "in whom we have also obtained an inheritance." May we value that inheritance, and the words which will show that we did "well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
A Parting Look at the Seven Pillars in Wisdom's House
We have now completed our grand tour of Wisdom's house, and admired the seven pillars she has hewn out to support it. Surely we can now form an overall impression of their grandeur.
It is evident that three pillars bear God's Name. At one end of the house is the pillar of the mystery of God, at the other end the pillar of the mystery of God's will, and in the center the pillar of the mystery of Christ. Four pillars flank the mystery of Christ two on each side. Let us say that the two pillars on the left are the kingdom mysteries, and the two pillars on the right the Church mysteries.
Now we can understand the overall plan of the mysteries. We begin at the mystery of God, where we learn that God is not presently judging evil, but will do so at His appointed time. Because of God's temporary toleration of evil, man crucified Christ, and He lost the kingdom of this world for a season. We might say that He then moved the seat of His kingdom to heaven, and the kingdom itself became moral to those who love Him. The heavenly mysteries of Christ and His Assembly are now God's interests. But eventually God will judge the world, and unveil the mystery of His will. That is the ultimate mystery, for it tells us that Christ will rule over all things, sharing that rule with His heavenly bride.