The last few posts have been focused on timing of the rapture, which I feel, plays an important part in end time prophecy. However, as with all prophetic text and study, this really should have no bearing on your personal salvation or spiritual growth. To that end, I’ve gotten a bit of criticism for being too doom and gloom and “not telling the good news”. To that I say, just wait. You haven’t seen anything yet! That being said, it hit me, late one night as I had finished some of my bible studies. Of all the major biblical points why I feel the pre-tribulation rapture concept is a false doctrine, the biggest is based on precedence. I received revelation that the biggest problem with pre-tribulation and many other false gospels coming from the mega church machine. The problem is it doesn’t come from clear defined gospel or scripture. It is taken piece meal here, there, and everywhere, and forms an intricate hidden puzzle that finally reveals this false doctrine. I realized, our God does not work in secret or mysteries or mystical codes. Our God is a God of certainty and clarity, not a God of confusion and deceit. The enemy works in that matter, not our heavenly father. As a matter of fact, there is only one biblical mystery that God spells out in spiritual terms. And I feel this subject takes precedence and is worthy of spending some time away from the main subject of late.
The apostle Paul mentions this mystery some twenty one times in his epistles. What is this mystery and why was it exclusive to Paul? In Romans 16:25 Paul states “Now 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”. Paul specifies this is a message given exclusively to him. What was this mystery and why was it given to him? To understand this mystery fully, you have to go back to God’s promise to Israel. God gave a covenant to Israel, a promise which still stands, however that covenant was based on Old Testament Jewish law and could not be applied to all believers. The mystery which was kept from the world since before its inception, was the arrival of Jesus Christ the Messiah, the word manifest in flesh, the son of God here on earth, who would die for all mankind. The last sacrifice of the lamb, died on calvary for the sins of all mankind, Jewish and Gentile, alike. The great mystery given unto Paul, was that great, tremendous, and powerful resurrection after his bodily death on Calvary. More so, it now meant all believers, regardless of affiliation would fall under a new covenant to all mankind of salvation through grace, the ultimate gift from our Lord Jesus Christ. In Gal 2:20, Paul explains, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” The great mystery was now, Jesus had not only resurrected bodily, but upon accepting Jesus into your heart, the believer now took on a new body, a new creation. The old has been passed away, and a new creation was in its place. No longer could you be separated from the glory of God. This was a completely new covenant and concept to the believer and one that was hidden since the creation of Earth.
Why was Paul chosen to be the steward of such an important and far-reaching concept and promise from God? Paul went through a radical transformation himself. As Saul of Tarsus, he was one of the most feared and hated men of early Christians. He literally hunted down and murdered the earliest of believers in Christ Jesus. Upon his conversion on the road to Damascus, he experienced a complete 180 degrees of transformation. Even followers of Jesus were skeptical of this change for a time. That being said, he was probably the best candidate of his generation to show the amazing power of the gospel of Grace on a singular human being. Someone like this man could be turned, changed, and reborn in an instant, for the glory of God. The second reason was Paul was arguably the most unique apostle of Jesus. The other apostles of Christ Jesus knew Jesus in the flesh. They broke bread with him, walked and talked with him in bodily form. Paul, however, did not. His encounters were after resurrection. I believe this made him much more open to this new spiritual reality he had placed in the believer. This is one of the main reasons why Peter and Paul disagreed on this important concept.
Oftentimes, as Christians, we struggle with situations and circumstances, trials and tribulations. We question our faith, maybe even question or possibly doubt God. Some people seem to believe there is very black and white relationship between blessings from God and curses from the almighty based on works, and works alone. They believer, “do things the “right” way and God will bless you. If things are going wrong, you must be “cursed”. Many struggle because they do not understand this concept and cannot come to the fullness of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. But the reality is, we are no longer bound to law and works. We are free from the bondage of old through the gospel of grace. As Christians, we should not seek to wonder “What would Jesus Do” and live accordingly because Jesus of Nazareth was a perfect being, and doing so is only setting yourself up for failure. Instead we should recognize that Jesus lives in us, and only through him can we continue to make spiritual growth and understand the fullness of our Lord and savior. As scripture says, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” That great mystery, kept since the beginning of time, is the hope of glory, Jesus Christ, that lives manifested in you, the believer. This is the good news.
Biblical prophecy, Spiritual matters, End Times, etc 