Prophecy

Mystery

Concerns a kingdom; a political organization (Daniel 2:44, Matthew 6:10)

Concerns a body; a living organism (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27, Ephesians 4:12-16)

The kingdom to be established on earth (Jeremiah 23:5, Matthew 6:10)

The body given a position in heaven (Ephesians 1:3, 2:5-6, Colossians 3:1-3)

Christ to be its King (Jeremiah 23:5, Isaiah 9:6-7)

Christ its living Head (Ephesians 1:19-23, Colossians 1:18)

The kingdom prophesied "since the world began" (Luke 1:68-70, Acts 3:21)

The body chosen in Christ before the world began, but "kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25, Ephesians 1:4-11, 3:5-9)

Israel to be given supremacy over the nations (Isaiah 60:10-12, 61:6)

Jew and Gentile placed on the same level before God (Romans 10:12, 11:32, Ephesians 2:16-17)

The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel's instrumentality (Genesis 22:17-18, Zechariah 8:13)

The Gentiles blessed through Israel's obstinacy (Acts 13:44-46, Romans 11:28-32)

The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel's rise (Isaiah 60:1-3, Zechariah 8:22-23)

The Gentiles blessed through Israel's fall (Acts 28:27-28, Romans 11:11-12, 15)

Prophecy mainly concerns nations as such (Isaiah 2:4, Ezekiel 37:21-22)

The mystery concerns individuals (Romans 10:12-13, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17)

Prophecy concerns blessings, both material and spiritual, on earth (Isaiah 2:3-4, 11:1-9, etc.)

The mystery concerns "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies" (Ephesians 1:3, Colossians 3:1-3)

Prophecy concerns Christ's coming to the earth (Isaiah 59:20, Zechariah 14:4)

The mystery explains Christ's present absence from the earth (Ephesians 1:20-23, Colossians 3:1-3)

In prophecy salvation by grace through faith alone is not contemplated

Salvation by grace through faith alone lies at the very heart of the mystery (Romans 3:21-26, 4:5, Ephesians 2:8-9)

The proclamation of the prophetic program committed particularly to the twelve (Matthew 10:5-7, Acts 1:6-8, 3:19-26)

The proclamation of the mystery committed particularly to Paul (Ephesians 3:1-3, 8-9, Colossians 1:24-27)

The prophetic program revealed through many of God's servants (Luke 1:70, 2 Peter 1:21)

The mystery revealed through one man: Paul (Galatians 1:11-12, 2:2, 7, 9, Ephesians 3:2-3)

Old testament writers frequently did not understand the prophecies made known through them (Daniel 12:8-10, 1 Peter 1:10-12)

Paul both understood and longed that others might understand the mystery revealed through him. (Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21, Colossians 1:9-10, 2:1-3)